Hot Pickups – Week Six

Hot Pickups – Week Six

Zac Stacy – After a slow start to the season, pre-season favorite Zac Stacy has ascended the depth chart and wrestled the starting job from over-matched Daryl Richardson who has proven he is best served as a versatile change of pace back rather than a dominate the snaps starter. Stacy is extremely interesting and managed 78 yards on the ground on 14 carries for 5.6 yards per carry. If he had not been left out of the game after getting the wind knocked out of him he would have easily had a 100 yard rushing game in his first NFL start. Stacy looks like a low-end RB2/high end RB3 next week versus the Texans and should keep the job for the rest of the season. Stacy is available in 81 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be added wherever available.

Keenan Allen – Keenan Allen has finally justified the WR4 ranking we gave him in the pre-season ranking him just one spot below Vincent Brown (47 and 48 respectively). Allen went off this past Sunday for 115 yards and a touchdown off of six receptions. Allen’s nine targets were tied for second most on the team and he undoubtedly earned both Philip Rivers trust and a bigger role going forward. Allen is available in 94 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be added in 12 team leagues and deeper.

Shane Vereen – With all of the Patriots running back struggling Shane Vereen’s return cannot come soon enough for the Pats. Vereen is the most explosive runner and the team’s best receiver out of the backfield and he will get as many snaps as his body will allow upon his return. Vereen always seems to be injured but is an explosive moveable chess piece when healthy. Vereen will return to immediate RB2 status in this fantasy wasteland of running backs. Vereen is available in 67 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Harry Douglas – With news breaking that Julio Jones may be lost for the season Harry Douglas gets a serious fantasy value boost and can now be considered a WR4 with WR3 upside. Douglas is just an average receiver but can rack up the receptions with opposing defenses focusing on stopping Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. Add him if you are a Julio owner or just in need of a solid bye week filler. Douglas is available in 95 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Andre Ellington – Averaging over 6 yards per carry on the season it is becoming painfully obvious that Rashard Mendenhall is done as a starter in the NFL and that Andre Ellington is the Cardinals most talented active running back. Ellington should be owned in all 12-team leagues as Bruce Arians is bound to realize that his former Steeler mate is not the answer for the Cardinals at running back. Arians does not believe Ellington can hold up for a full complement of snaps week in and week out but there is no reason Arians will not eventually concede to giving the explosive Ellington 15 touches per week in the near future. Ellington is a weekly flex option during the byes and is available in 76 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Willis McGahee – Willis McGahee is starting to get his game legs under him and is the starting running back for a Browns team that has now won three game in a row. McGahee finished week five with 72 yards and a touchdown. While his 2.8 ypc was disappointing his 26 carries signals he is ready to take on full workloads going forward buoying his fantasy value. McGahee is a RB3 going forward and is available in 52 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Rueben Randle – Available in 62 percent of Yahoo! leagues Randle will continue be inconsistent but should see his role continue to grow as the disappointing Giants start grooming him for his starting role next season when they let Hakeem Nicks walk in free agency. Randle has loads of talent as can really take advantage of single coverage with his large frame when given the chance. He excels lining up on the opposite side of the field from Cruz and Nicks but can also be effective in two wide sets or aligning on the same side as either Cruz or Nicks. Randle is a weekly WR4 with WR3 upside. Randle will slide into WR3 with WR2 upside if Nicks or Cruz miss any time.

Jonathan Stewart – Jonathan Stewart may return as soon as week seven and should be added in all leagues immediately. Stewart is the most talented tailback on the Panthers and also functions as the team’s third down back when healthy giving him a boost in fantasy value particularly but not limited to PPR leagues. Stewart is available in 94 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Percy Harvin – Available in 68 percent of Yahoo! leagues Percy Harvin is eligible to return from the PUP list as soon as week seven and while he may not make it back than he is on track to return within the next several weeks. Harvin is a WR1 talent that may spend most of the season as an upside WR2 when he returns. Harvin should be added wherever available.

Mario Manningham – The 49ers have declined a deal with the Cleveland Browns for Josh Gordon as they believe Manningham and Crabtree will both return before the end of the regular season. Manningham may return as soon as week seven and is worth the add for those with the roster space to allow for it during the bye weeks. Manningham will slide in as an immediate WR4 with WR3 upside until Michael Crabtree returns in mid to late November. Manningham is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Andre Brown – He’s running! According to Andre Brown’s twitter he has resumed running and should be on track to take the feature job upon his return to the Giants in week ten. David Wilson has been a Ryan Mathews circa 2012 bust and Wilson owners should be scrambling to the wire to add Brown this week. Brown is available in 92 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be snapped up wherever rosters will allow.

Marcel Reece – With Rashad Jennings getting knocked out with a concussion Marcel Reece is in line to be the lead back this week for the Raiders. Reece has RB3 value while McFadden is out and has RB2 upside in PPR formats. Reece is not a special runner but is a plus receiver and can rack up the points in PPR leagues. Reece has a tough matchup against a daunting Chiefs defense but even if playing from behind he will still be involved as the teams passing down back. Reece is available in 92 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Terrence Williams – Available in 82 percent of Yahoo! leagues Terrence Williams may have just stole Miles Austin’s job with his standout 151 yard and a touchdown performance this past Sunday afternoon. Austin is on his way out of Dallas to begin with, is injury prone and is best suited for the slot. Terrence Williams is a WR4 going forward with WR3 upside every week Austin misses.

Austin Pettis – Available in 89 percent of Yahoo! leagues Pettis caught two touchdowns in week five and has emerged as a red zone favorite for Sam Bradford. With Givens and Austin both being on the smaller side and Quick still not ready Pettis has emerged as a deeper league fantasy option. Those in touchdown heavy formats will also want to see if their roster allows for the add. Pettis has always had intriguing talent due to his size and seems to finally be coming into his own despite preseason skepticism. Pettis is a solid flex2 during byes.

Heath Miller – Heath Miller is a solid add in PPR leagues where he has creeped into the TE1 conversation despite a deep tight end pool. The Steelers have been throwing a lot and Heath is among the Steelers most reliable receiving options leading to a high dosage of weekly targets going forward. Heath is even more valuable in leagues that allow you to flex a tight end as most owners will have drafted another tight end with Heath missing the regular season opener. Heath is available in 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Da’Rel Scott – If you are looking for a bye week filler or are a Wilson owner you may want to look into Da’Rel Scott who was re-signed by the Giants after being released last week. Wilson is injured an ineffective and Jacobs is fumbling without contact. Scott has more value in PPR formats as the passing down back but is still nothing more than a upside flex play while Wilson is shelved. Scott is available in 98 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Roy Helu Jr. – Alfred Morris will be back this week but Helu can be counted among the handcuffs with the most fantasy upside making him still worth a non waiver add. Helu has every-down skills but is not a special talent, if Morris were to go down again he could threaten 100 yards from scrimmage weekly. Stash Helu if you have the space and especially if you are a Morris owner. Helu is available in 81 percent of Yahoo! leagues.