Hot Pickups – Week Three
Eddie Royal – Eddie Royal has always had talent as evidenced by his lights out rookie debut against DeAngelo Hall. The problem with Royal has always been his health. With that said, two games into the NFL season he has already matched his career high in TD receptions with five which also happens to be the same amount he has caught in the four years since his rookie season. Royal looks like a WR3 this week and a high upside flex option going forward. Royal is still available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues and should be the number one claim this week.
DeAndre Hopkins – Available in only 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues Hopkins should have been drafted in all formats. If you are in one of those shallow, uncompetitive or inactive leagues go ahead and make the add, though if you are reading this it is very likely you already have him on someones roster in your league anyways.
Bernard Pierce – Available in 54 percent of Yahoo! leagues Pierce needs to be atop your waiver claim list this week after Ray Rice suffered a non contact injury in week two. Rice has a hip flexor strain and is questionable for week three. While their week three opponent will cause problems for most running backs Pierce would be an RB2 option if Rice was declared out.
James Starks – After Eddie Lacy suffered a concussion in week two it was James Starks not Johnathan Franklin who carried the load. Starks is a former WMFL favorite but is clearly less talented than Lacy despite his 168 yards from scrimmage against the Redskins. Starks looks like a solid RB3 if Lacy is declared out with obvious RB2 upside. If Lacy returns he is nothing more than a flex3 option in deeper leagues despite distinguishing himself as the Packers number two back. Starks is available in 88 percent of Yahoo! leagues after seeing an 11 percent spike overnight in daily transaction leagues.
Marlon Brown – Somehow still available in 75 percent of leagues Brown should be universally owned as a flex option at the very least. Brown can take Jones’ job with another good couple of weeks and has now found the end zone in his first two contests of the season. Add Brown wherever available as an upside flex option.
Kendall Wright – Kendall Wright bounced back from a horrible week one to the tune of seven receptions for 78 for 54 yards and a touchdown. His 11 targets were a team high and that total accounted for more than 33 percent of Locker’s throws. Wright is still a flex play in PPR leagues but is still nothing more than a bye week filler in standard leagues due to the fact the Titans use Wright as more of a possession receiver than his skill set dictates and of course because Jake Locker still hasn’t proven to be a very capable NFL quarterback. Wright is stunningly available in 83 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Aaron Dobson – A lot of people saw a rookie receiver who struggled to catch passes this past Thursday. I on the other hand saw a receiver who repeatedly found ways to get open but failed to secure his targets. If Dobson can find some sort of consistency he will instantly become the Patriots number one receiver and big play threat. It is no question why the Pats had him inactive in week one, but he showed glimpses of WR3 potential against a formidable cornerback duo of Cromartie and Millner. Dobson is nothing more than a bye week filler for now but has the potential to breakout any given Sunday. Dobson is available in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Isaiah Pead – Pead was unimpressive in his season debut but Daryl Richardson is proving he is better suited for the change of pace work he received last year behind Steven Jackson. This backfield is in a state of flux with Pead having a clear opportunity to run with the starting job if he has a breakout game. Pead was drafted for a major role but has not been impressive thus far in his career. Pead is worth an add in deeper leagues where he is an intriguing bench stash of desperation bye week filler. Pead is available in 86 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Brandon Jacobs – If you play in a deep TD heavy format there are worse options than Brandon Jacobs. He may be a short term fix but should be able to help during bye weeks until Andre Brown returns from injury. Jacobs is available in 89 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Jordan Todman – If MJD is to miss time with his foot injury Jordan Todman is the Jaguars running back to own after an impressive preseason. We don’t expect him to be handed an every down role but he should be the lead back unless he struggles early. Todman is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Charles Clay – Clay has entrenched himself on the deep league radar after an impressive first two weeks to the season. Clay rushed for a touchdown this week on top of hauling five passes for 109 yards. Clay is an upside TE2 who looks like a Tannehill favorite. Add him in deeper leagues or leagues that allow you to start two tight ends or allow flex tight ends. Clay is available in 97 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Jordan Reed – Reed continues to look impressive for the Redskins and may have caught up to Fred Davis in terms of dynasty league value. Reed has hauled in only eight receptions for only 56 yards so far this season but has found the end zone and has more receptions, targets and first downs than Fred Davis. Reed is only on the deep league radar for now but will be a solid TE2 if he manages to supplant Davis as the starter. Reed is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Austin Pettis – Austin Pettis had the game of his career this past Sunday and showed the fantasy world why the Rams value him as a possession receiver hauling eight of his 11 targets for 78 yards and a score. Pettis is 6’3 and is a reliable big bodied target for Bradford, especially when Cook is asked to block. Pettis is nothing more than a bye week filler for now, but could find himself on the flex radar with another good performance or two. Pettis is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Bilal Powell – Ivory proved this past week that he is the better running back but Powell’s versatility is going to keep him on the field and also keep the Jets a little more predictable when Ivory is in the game. Powell found the end zone in week two and his late game scamper for 12 yards brought his yards per carry to a more respectable 3.7 (3 ypc on other carries) and he hauled in two of his five passing game targets. Inexplicably still available in 65 percent of Yahoo! leagues Powell is worth an add in case he establishes himself before Mike Goodson returns.
Keenan Allen – A WMFL favorite this off-season we believed Allen would move up the depth chart due to injury to Royal or Brown or Floyd ineffectiveness, unfortunately Floyd suffered a scary injury which helped ascend Allen. Allen arguably has the most talent of any receiver on this team and should become a staple in the starting lineup. Rivers appears to already have trust in him and the once highly touted prospect hauled in two of his three targets for 34 yards. With Floyd expected to miss week three and maybe more time Allen will get a chance to make his depth chart ascension permanent. Consider Allen a deep league flex2 or flex3 for the time being until he proves it next week. Allen is available 98 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Allen should be owned in all dynasty leagues.
Joique Bell is unowned in 25 percent of Yahoo! leagues but they must all be six man leagues. We would opt for Jason Snelling over Jacquizz Rodgers if Steven Jackson misses time.
