Hot Pickups – Week Ten
Nick Foles – Available in 76 percent of Yahoo! leagues Foles may have stole the starting job with an NFL record tying seven touchdown passes against the hapless Raiders in week nine. Yes, it is true Foles tends to go off against the bad teams so far this year, but an NFL record is an NFL record. Foles makes less mistakes than Michael Vick and should be the starter for the rest of the season barring the unforeseen. Foles will be a QB2 with QB1 upside based on match-ups the rest of the way.
Shane Vereen – Available in 54 percent of Yahoo! leagues Vereen is nearing a return and should be picked up immediately in all leagues. Ridley has finally got it going for the Patriots but Vereen will still demand 12-15 touches per game upon his return. When healthy Vereen is the teams best running back and should settle in as a high end RB2 by week twelve. Vereen has RB1 upside in PPR formats.
Andre Brown – Available in 63 percent of Yahoo! leagues Andre Brown should already be on your roster. The Giants have struggled in the run game despite a ‘one night only’ vintage performance from Brandon Jacobs. Andre Brown should get all the work he can handle this week health permitting and will be an instant RB2 come week eleven. Pick him up now.
Jonathan Stewart – Available in 82 percent of Yahoo! leagues Jonathan Stewart returned this past Sunday versus the Falcons and put up 65 yards on 12 touches while DeAngelo Williams put up only 54 yards on 15 touches. Stewart is the lead back and the passing down back in this offense and should be picked up in all leagues. Stewart has RB1 talent but should settle in as a RB2 and top-25 running back with 15-18 touches per game the rest of the way.
Chris Ivory – Available in 54 percent of Yahoo! leagues Chris Ivory should be picked up immediately. He is finally getting a chance to show the juice that made him a RB2 favorite this preseason and the Jets offensive philosophy may have finally altered after the Jets win against the Saints. The Jets like to play ball control versus good offenses but should look to establish the run despite the opposing QB going forward which will also help protect Geno Smith. Ivory has RB2 upside going forward.
Aaron Dobson – Available in 62 percent of Yahoo! leagues Dobson has emerged for the Patriots and has become the number two wide-out for Tom Brady. Thompkins may have been more NFL ready to start the season but Dobson was the player the Patriots continuously hyped and he is starting to vindicate their belief in him. Dobson has emerged as one of the Patriots top play-makers and is a sure-fire WR3 with weekly WR2 upside going forward. Add Dobson if still available in your league.
Riley Cooper – Cooper has found his way back to fantasy relevance over the recent weeks by averaging 90 yards and a touchdown per game over the past four weeks. Cooper is still no more than a low-end WR3/high-end WR4 but he was downright impressive versus the Raiders abysmal defense. Cooper is an interesting end of the bench candidate who has a chance to see his fantasy stock rise further in the next few weeks. Cooper is available in 86 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Rashad Jennings – Darren McFadden aggravated his hamstring injury this past week versus the Eagles and Jennings stepped in to put up a solid fantasy day. If McFadden misses any time Jennings will be a RB3 with RB2 upside in PPR formats. Jennings has a bit of talent and it showed against the Eagles on Sunday. Jennings is available in 87 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Mike Brown – Brown could be the beneficiary of a lot of garbage time production going forward with Justin Blackmon succumbing to stupidity and finding himself suspended for the year. Brown will be a WR4 with WR3 upside going forward with a chance to ascend to WR3 territory. Brown has ample talent and should be able to have some nice fantasy days when the Jaguars are in catch-up mode. Brown is available in 93 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
