Hot Pickups – Week Ten
Adrian Peterson – AP is going to be one of this weeks hottest pickups with news breaking that he will plead to a misdemeanor and thus open up the possibility of him returning to the field this season. We do not yet know whether the Vikings will allow him back or if he will face further discipline from the leagu`e office but on the off chance that he is going to be reinstated he needs to be owned in all leagues. Available in 58 percent of Yahoo! leagues AP will win titles for his owners if he is allowed to return.
RGIII – RGIII is back and available in 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Need I say more?
Mark Sanchez – I have long been of the opinion that Mark Sanchez could have had success in New York given proper weapons; I have also been of the opinion that Nick Foles is not as good as everyone thinks and that even Mark Sanchez could have success in Chip Kelly’s offense, and he did. Sanchez will be one of the hotter pickups this week with Foles set to be sidelined anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Like Foles Sanchez should flirt with QB1 value some weeks but is still more of a QB streaming option than every week starting QB1. Sanchez is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be prioritized based on your current QB situation.
Martavis Bryant – Martavis ‘Big Town’ Bryant has become a fantasy star in just three weeks and is looking like a must start going forward after posting an insane five touchdowns off of his first ten NFL receptions. Bryant somehow got left on the wire after breaking out two weeks in a row and if you are in one of those uncompetitive leagues we suggest checking your wire to make sure he is not just sitting there for the taking. Bryant is available in 59 percent of Yahoo! leagues and looks like a touchdown dependent WR3 the rest of the way. Think of Bryant as Mike Wallace’s and Plaxico Burress’ love child, that is his skill set.
Jordan Matthews – Even though he is operating out of the slot Matthews has continued to get dump offs over the middle and has a very pedestrian yards per catch thus far on the season. Cousins with Jerry Rice this rookie is teeming with talent and may be unlocked with Foles out for the foreseeable future. Matthews is available in 82 percent of Yahoo! leagues and despite the otherwise ho-hum three receptions for 40 yards Matthews is his teams second most talented receiver and he should start to see the statistical production that conveys that fact sooner rather than later.
Matt Asiata – Available in 69 percent of Yahoo! leagues Jerick Mckinnon owners saw Asiata vulture not one, not two, but three touchdowns this past Sunday. Asiata is exactly what he looks like, a touchdown dependent low floor fantasy option but those in deeper standard leagues could do worse for a bye week filler. Asiata’s low floor is highlighted by the fact that even though he is tied for second in the league in rushing touchdowns he has got all of those scores in two weeks and has been waiver wire material since he lost the starting gig to Mckinnon.
Charles Sims – Available in 75 percent of Yahoo! leagues it is only a matter of time before Charles Sims grabs hold of the feature job in Tampa Bay and never looks back. Sims was a prolific receiver out of the backfield in college and looks set to be a potential PPR dynamo in short order. Those pondering a FAAB or waiver claim will want to remember that coach Lovie Smith formerly of the Bears compared his rookie to top five PPR fixture Matt Forte. Take that into consideration when prioritizing your claims this week.
Davante Adams – Adams’ chemistry with Aaron Rodgers continues to develop and is now at the point where Adams should be owned in all leagues and should be started in deeper formats. Despite being the Packers third receiver Adams is available in 87 percent of Yahoo! leagues and could pay huge dividends down the stretch as he has seen seven plus targets in two of his last three contests. Adams has talent and has been getting looks in the red zone as well and is an upside WR4 going forward.
Tre Mason – Available in 62 percent of Yahoo! leagues Tre Mason should be owned across the board. The Rams are still divvying up carries but Mason is the most talented runner on the team and should continue to pace this backfield in touches. Mason possess RB2 talent when truly set loose but projects more as an RB3 option with the Rams maddeningly giving work to Stacy and Cunningham. Add Mason where rosters will allow, even if it is just to block your rival GM’s.
Terrance West – West paced the Browns backfield in touches in week nine and is becoming evident that this is becoming a backfield to avoid with not even starter Ben Tate assured regular touches. Despite his video game numbers at Towson we rate West as the least talented back out of the Tate, Crowell, West trio but with Tate a huge injury risk and Crowell in the ‘dawghouse’ due to dropping the rock West possesses solid upside for those in need and desperate for options at running back. We suggest sitting him until someone distinguishes themselves but those in deeper leagues could do worse this week. As a feature back West possesses RB2 upside and should be owned in most leagues. West is available in 75 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Kenny Britt – Kenny Britt has taken over as the Rams top receiver with Brian Quick lost for the season and should be owned in most leagues. Though he does not always put it on display Britt is one of the twenty most talented players at his position in the entire NFL and with a better QB than Austin Davis would boast WR1 upside. With that said Britt is now a low floor, upside WR3 play and should be owned in all leagues. Britt is available in 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Allen Hurns – Popular early season pickup Allen Hurns has broken out again with two touchdowns and 112 yards off of nine receptions in week nine. He had a similar effort with a two touchdown, four reception, 110 yard effort in week one but failed to show any consistency since then leaving him to be 86 percent available in Yahoo! leagues. Those considering a pickup will want to remember that he now has over 40 percent of his total yards and four of his five touchdowns on the season across two games and has been waiver wire ineffective the rest of the contests.
Stedman Bailey – It is obvious that Bailey and Davis do not have the requisite on field rapport just yet but Bailey has the best hands on the team and should become a PPR asset down the stretch. Bailey is no more than a WR5 at the current time but could become an upside WR4 in PPR leagues in short order. Those in the deepest of formats should take a flier on a high upside play like Bailey. Bailey is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Paul Richardson – Richardson has a relatively quiet week nine but as the teams best deep threat he is likely to have some big games down the stretch. Richardson is nothing more than a bench flier at this point of the season but there is hope that he pushes Jermaine Kearse for starters snaps and explodes in the Seahawks play-action game. With the Seahawks play-action prowess and Russell Wilson’s ability to extend plays Richardson should emerge as a legit fantasy option by the fantasy playoffs. Richardson is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Michael Vick – Available in 91 percent of Yahoo! leagues Vick has been named the starter for week ten and should continue to improve as he gets his game legs back under him. Vick hardly ran and had an abysmal QBR in week nine but posted a solid passer rating and unlocked Percy Harvin and Chris Johnson for fantasy owners.Those in a bye week pinch or Foles owners should be looking to acquire Vick if possible.
Kyle Rudolph – Available in 72 percent of Yahoo! leagues Rudolph should be stashed across the board in anticipation of his week eleven return. Those in leagues with deep benches should have already made the move but those who had heavy bye weeks in week nine may still see Rudolph on the wire. Rudolph will quickly become one of, if not the go-to receiver for rookie Terry Bridgewater and will be one of the top options in the red zone. All of that coupled with the fact that he is playing under tight end whisperer Norv Turner should be enough for all of us to make the add.
