Hot Pickups – Week Eleven
Andre Brown – Somehow magically still available in 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues as of Sunday afternoon Brown got the start and went off for 115 yards rushing on a whopping 30 carries despite reports that he would not start and in fact be limited. Congratulations if you made the add as we have been suggesting for the past four weeks. Brown should be a RB2 with RB1 upside going forward as the only competent back the Giants have. As evidenced this past Sunday Brown is an every-down back and will rarely come off the field except for a breather.
Jonathan Stewart – Available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues Stewart needs to be universally owned. It is true that he splits carries with Cam Newton, Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams but Stewart is the passing down back which gives him additional snaps and thus fantasy value. Tolbert has been seeing a few more pass protection snaps so far as Stewart works his way back into game-shape but this trend will quickly correct itself. Stewart looks like a RB1 talent mired in a RB3 situation; Stewart has weekly RB2 upside going forward.
Riley Cooper – Love him or hate him Riley Cooper has shown some solid chemistry with Nick Foles over the past few weeks and has worked himself into the WR3 conversation for the time-being. Cooper does look a bit like a boom or bust weekly play but he is averaging an elite WR1 level 112.2 yards on 4.2 receptions with six total touchdowns in Foles’ four starts this season. Cooper is available in 52 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Rishard Matthews – Matthews broke out in a big way on Monday Night Football against the Bucs racking up 120 yards and two touchdowns off of a whopping eleven receptions. Matthews had more yardage and receptions in this game than he has totaled all season so do not blow your FAAB budget on him but he is a decent add for those in deeper leagues who can afford to take a wait-and-see approach while they stash him on their bench. Matthews is available in 97 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be a WR4 with WR3 upside in PPR leagues.
Tavon Austin – Austin finally strutted his stuff in the NFL to the tune of 138 yards and two touchdowns off of two receptions and 172 return yards with a 98 yard return touchdown. Austin also added four yards on his lone rush attempt bringing his all-purpose yardage total to 314 for the afternoon. Available in 56 percent of Yahoo! league Austin has breathed some life into his fantasy stock but is still no more than a upside WR4/low-end WR3 option until he shows some sort of consistency going forward.
Case Keenum – Keenum looks like no more than an average quarterback but mercifully he knows how to get the ball to his stud wide receiver as he has shown the past two games. AJ and Keenum have solid chemistry and that alone should lead to Keenum being a QB2 consideration the rest of the way. Keenum is available in 71 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Mark Ingram – Ingram has never actually been short on talent he has just lacked a coaching staff willing to feed him the ball 300 times in a season which is what he needs as a workhorse back that wears defenses down and improves carry to carry. For his career Ingram has averaged 4.1 ypc with 313 carries for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns, numbers that would have him in the RB1 conversation if he played on a team willing to utilize him as his talent dictates and give him that workload over one season instead of spread across three. Unfortunately Ingram remains on the Saints and loses 95 percent of the passing down work and only manages around 40 percent to 60 percent of the rushing work when healthy and clicking. Ingram is a dynasty hold but those in redraft leagues should be cognizant of his misuse in New Orleans when contemplating the waiver add. Ingram is available in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Rashad Jennings – Jennings is finally coming into his own as an NFL running back and making good on the talent he showed in college at Liberty. Jennings looks to have forced his way into a timeshare even when McFadden returns this season. Until D-Mac makes it back Jennings looks like an RB2 play with significant PPR upside. Jennings is available in 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Shane Vereen – Still available in 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues Vereen should be owned in all leagues. Ridley has finally stepped it up as of late but Vereen is the superior talent in this backfield and should see 12-15 touches right out of the gate. Vereen projects as the potential yards from scrimmage leader in this running back committee week in and week out and has added value in PPR formats. We have Vereen as a RB2 the rest of the season.
Michael Crabtree – Available in 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues Michael Crabtree has started practicing with the 49ers but has yet to be activated of the PUP list. When and if Crabtree returns he will vie for WR1 value after he gets a game or two under his belt. Kaepernick needs Crabtree in a big way and has not looked very impressive this season without his star receiver. If you have the bench space and are past most of your byes, make the add if he is still available.
Jarrett Boykin – Left for dead by many including myself after Seneca Wallace took over as the Packers QB Boykin proved to be more than just a flash in the pan effectively utilizing his large frame to box out defenders and high pointing catches in single coverage. Boykin has officially earned himself a role even after Randall Cobb returns and will be an upside WR4 when that happens. Boykin is currently an upside WR3 who should perform down the stretch regardless of who is in at quarterback for the Packers.
Brian Leonard – With Mike James being declared out for the season Leonard should see significant snaps in the Buccaneers backfield. Leonard is a plus blocker but leaves much to be desired as a pure runner. The good news here is the Bucs probably will not need Leonard to run the ball since they are expected to be playing from behind most games which will leave Leonard to split passing game targets with the more explosive Bobby Rainey. Leonard is no more than a RB3 in deeper leagues but will probably be named the starter which is enough of an impetus to make the add. Leonard is available in 93 percent of Yahoo! leagues..
Bobby Rainey – Rainey does not look like someone any team in the NFL ever envisioned as their lead back but Rainey is a better runner than Leonard and may see significant snaps going forward. Rainey is well built at 5’8 and 205 lbs and could actually prove to be a serviceable fantasy option down the stretch especially in deeper leagues. Rainey is available in 95 percent of Yahoo! leagues and has the looks as a plus runner and receiver.
