Hot Pickups – Week Three
Knile Davis – Davis was of this off-season’s top handcuffs due to the sheer workload he would see if Jamaal Charles got hurt. Davis went off this week after Charles left the game with an ankle injury hauling in six receptions for 29 yards and taking 22 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Now while the yards per reception and yards per carry are not overly impressive what we should note is the 28 touches, nine targets in the passing game and the two trips to paydirt. Depending on the severity of Charles’ injury Davis could be one of this week’s top pickups. The speed score darling is available in 83 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Brian Quick – Quick followed up his seven reception, 99 yard week one with a seven reception, 70 yard week two and looks like the Rams number one receiver at least until Stedman Bailey returns to the team. Quick has always had talent and the requisite skill set to be an impact fantasy player but took a while to adjust to the NFL ostensibly because he came from a smaller school. Whatever the reason for his emergence Quick needs to be owned in more than just 16 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Quick is a flex2 option until further notice in deeper leagues.
Jeremy Hill – Somehow still available in 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues Jeremy Hill should be owned in all leagues, especially standard and touchdown heavy formats. Despite being Giovani Bernards backup Hill is a weekly threat to find the end-zone even if Gio gets some goal line work as well. The ground game will be a even bigger point of emphasis with AJ Green on the shelf. Hill has not yet attained the lofty RB2 status we pegged him at in the preseason but he still seems destined to end up ranked there, especially in standard formats.
Jonathan Stewart – Available in 82 percent of Yahoo! leagues Stewart should be owned as long as DeAngelo Williams is on the shelf. Though his yards per carry do not indicate it Stewart looked beastly on a few of his runs against a tough Lions defense that had not given up a rushing touchdown in 12 games and will be an upside RB3 until DeAngelo Williams returns. Stewart is the passing down back and should have some deep league value as a bye week filler with flex upside even when DeAngelo returns to the lineup.
Darren McFadden – Available in 64 percent of Yahoo! leagues Run DMC is slated to be the starter again in week three and should be owned in all competitive leagues. McFadden has never been short on talent and in fact is one of the best talents in the league but he has been stymied by injuries, system changes and a lack of continuity at the quarterback position. Ride D-Mac while he is healthy and at the very least until MJD returns from his injury.
Ahmad Bradshaw – Available in 58 percent of Yahoo! leagues Ahmad Bradshaw has secured a timeshare role with the plodding Trent Richardson and has flex value going forward especially during the bye weeks. Bradshaw was a star on Monday Night Football as he amassed 96 yards on 18 touches including 5.6 yards per carry on 13 totes of the rock.
Isaiah Crowell – Available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues Isaiah Crowell has made Terrance West’s dynatsy owners nightmare a reality as he continues to shine as West’s backup. The simple fact here is that Crowell is the more talented rookie and if Ben Tate does not return soon Crowell should pass West on the depth chart to start for the Browns. Crowell is an ideal stash in dynasty leagues and is someone deep leaguers should look to stash on their bench.
Khiry Robinson – In a surprise injury update Mark Ingram has been diagnosed with a broken hand and will miss 4-6 weeks of action leaving PT Cruiser and off-season sleeper Khiry Robinson to pick up the slack. Available in 81 percent of Yahoo! leagues Robinson should boast flex value for the next month while the impressive Mark Ingram is sidelined.
James Jones – Jones is available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues and looks set as the teams number one receiver following the injury to Rod Streater. The clubs signing of Vincent Brown indicates that the tight-lipped Raiders expect Streater to miss some time and Jones should benefit by developing solid chemistry with rookie Derek Carr. Jones now profiles as a WR3 with weekly WR2 upside for the Raiders.
Donald Brown – With Ryan Matthews banged up once again Donald Brown figures to get some run as the Chargers early-down back with Danny Woodhead operating as a change of pace and passing down back. Those in deeper leagues may want to put in a claim for Donald while Matthews owners who did not handcuff him should definitely take the waiver or FAAB plunge. Brown is available in 92 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Jerick McKinnon – With Matt Asiata proving he is Matt Asiata AP owners and speculating deep leaguers will want to roster Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon was handpicked for Norv Turner’s offense and if AP does indeed get the six game ban as expected than McKinnon will be the preferred back to own in the Vikings backfield. McKinnon is a special athlete and has much more talent than Asiata and is available in 88 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Mohamed Sanu – With AJ Green expected to be out until after the teams week four bye Sanu steps in as the Bengals most talented healthy receiver. While Sanu is more of a number two or number three type he can be productive when fed targets and is someone who should be on the radar for those in deeper PPR leagues. Sanu is available in 92 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Davante Adams – One of our favorite rookie receivers DaVante Adams seems to have already passed the less-talented Jarrett Boykin on the Packers depth chart and is now a must-own in 12 team plus and deeper leagues. Adams is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues and may be someone you can sneak past waiver claimers in less competitive formats. Adams should be looking at 700 yards and five plus touchdowns now that he has a seemingly defined role in the Packers offense with the upside for much more.
Niles Paul – Paul displayed excellent chemistry with fellow backup Kirk Cousins and should be on the deep league radar as long as Jordan Reed is on the shelf. He will lose his fantasy upside when Reed returns but should be a serviceable TE2 until that time. Paul is available in 96 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Miles Austin – Available in 91 percent of Yahoo! leagues Austin should be owned in deeper leagues until Josh Gordon returns from his suspension. Austin is nothing more than bye week filler material for now but Brian Hoyer has proven that he can produce fantasy relevant receivers and we may see Austin rise to flex level value within the next couple of weeks as the duo continue to develop chemistry.
Andrew Hawkins – Peppered with 12 targets in week two Hawkins should be owned in most PPR formats. We are quite surprised by Hawkins’ low ownership number but understand that many Yahoo! leagues are not that competitive or are downright shallow (less than 12 teams, inactive managers) slightly skewing the results. Hawkins should be owned in all PPR leagues. Hawkins is available in 68 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Jordan Matthews – Available in 78 percent of Yahoo! leagues Jordan Matthews saw more targets than Riley Cooper on Monday Night Football and this should become a recurring theme for the rookie sooner rather than later. Arguably his team’s best wide receiver Matthews should see his role expand week by week. Matthews is currently nothing more than bye week filler but we should see him emerge with flex value within the next several weeks.
Kirk Cousins – Those in need of a bye week quarterback could do worse than Cousins and he is one of the higher upside options that may be floating on your wire. Cousins looked like a solid fit for Jay Gruden’s system and is available in 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Those who drafted RGIII probably already had a backup plan and may not look to Cousins to fill the void. Cousins is nothing more than a QB2 but when all of the talent around him is healthy he may creep his way into a couple QB1 weeks.
Aaron Dobson – Available in 81 percent of Yahoo! leagues Dobson should be universally owned. Dobson is his teams best outside receiver and possesses legit 1,000 yard, 10 touchdown upside with Tom Brady at the helm. Dobson is an upside WR3 going forward.
