Hot Pickups – Week Seven
Alex Green – Green is somehow still available in 49 percent of Yahoo! leagues despite being named starter mid-week. Green will get his touches but will not be a detriment to Aaron Rodgers owners the way Cedric Benson was. Making the start in week six Alex Green saw 23 touches to James Starks’ five, leaving no doubt as to who the starter is. Green showed pre-injury explosiveness in week five on his 40 yard run but understandably could not find a big crease against defensive line terror JJ Watt and the Texans run D. Add Green as a flex option in all formats.
Felix Jones – With DeMarco Murray picking up an injury against a weak Ravens run defense Felix Jones came back from the running back scrap heap to the tune of 92 yards off of 18 carries. It has become evident that Felix Jones is nothing more than a change of pace back with home run ability but with Murray set to be sidelined in week seven, Jones could have another big fantasy game against a soft Panthers run defense. Jones is available in 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be a solid RB3 while Murray is sidelined.
Josh Gordon – It has become pretty clear to everyone what has been clear to most since he was drafted, Josh Gordon is the most talented receiver on the Browns roster. Regularly getting behind the secondary for big scores including a 71 yarder in week six, Josh Gordon is now second among all rookies in receiving yards after only two starts. Gordon makes Weeden look better than horrible and will help open up the field for possession receiver Greg Little and dynamic running back Trent Richardson. Gordon looks like a solid flex option with WR2 upside the rest of the way. Gordon is available in 87 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Kendall Wright – Wright is on pace for 80 plus receptions this season and needs to be owned in all PPR formats. The big plays are destined to come for Wright who has been used primarily as a possession receiver thus far this season. Wright can run all the routes and has special hands and it is only a matter of time before his average of 8.6 yards per reception raises into the teens, especially considering 4.5 of that 8.6 came after the catch. Wright is a solid flex option in PPR formats and a solid flex2 in standard scoring formats. Wright is available in 63 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Stephen Hill – Available in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues Stephen Hill should be looked at as the Jets number one receiver. Hill has a unique size/speed blend and can be very dangerous anywhere on the field. He will continue to be incredibly inconsistent but is worth an add as a bye week filler/bench stash with the upside to become a solid flex option down the stretch. He will probably be ranked as a flex option week in and week out.
Chris Givens – When they were drafted there were whispers that since Brian Quick came from a small school in Appalachian State that fellow rookie Chris Givens was more pro ready and ready to contribute for the Rams. Six weeks into the fantasy football season and we now know initial assessments don’t account for beat writer and coach optimism and hyperbole. Givens is a speedster with a limited route tree but we all know of a few players who have found a ton of success with exactly that skill set before refining their route running and becoming fantasy mainstays. Dynasty leaguers needs to add Givens in all formats while those in standard formats will also want to give Givens a look as a bye week filler/bench player with upside. Givens is available in 97 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
David Wilson – With Andre Brown sidelined David Wilson gets a chance once again to make some noise in the Giants backfield. Fumbling issues or not Wilson is still a superior talent than Ahmad Bradshaw and he should by all accounts take his job before long…at least on early downs. Wilson is still a work in progress in pass protection which means his snaps will be limited until he improves in that area. Wilson is available in 75 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Mike Goodson – Mike Goodson has solidified himself as Darren McFadden’s handcuff and Taiwan Jones’ owners can now safely drop the diminutive speedster. Goodson was a top recruit coming out of high school and we saw his skill on his 40 yard run in week six. Goodson has every down skills and would be a solid upside RB3 if McFadden were to go down with an injury. Goodson is available in 95 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
