Hot Pickups – Week Three
Matt Jones – Most of those in leagues with the roster size to do so will already see exciting rookie owned but those of you fortunate to have seen a rival owner give up on the rookie after his slow week one and Alfred Morris huge one should take a serious look at making a claim. Matt Jones was handpicked by Jay Gruden and it is easy to see why as he is an underrated runner who possesses every down skills. Jones broke out in week two with 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns and another 23 yards through the air on three receptions. Jones will not see 22 touches every week but has certainly carved out a bigger role for himself and with Washington looking to ground and pound and rely on their D there may be room to see both Morris and Jones emerge as every week fantasy options. Matt Jones is available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues and is a deep league flex2 option with upside. Buy now on Matt Jones in all dynasty league formats.
Michael Crabtree – Crabtree showed on week two that Derek Carr can indeed support two fantasy relevant receivers and looks like an upside WR4/flex option going forward especially in PPR leagues. Tied for fifth in the NFL in targets and currently available in 78 percent of Yahoo! leagues Crabtree displayed solid on field rapport with Carr and has the opportunity to act as at least a solid upside bye week filler going forward. If Crabtree and Carr can keep their connection going on a consistent basis Crabtree will solidify a spot in the WR3 picture.
DeVonta Freeman – Available in in 55 percent of Yahoo! leagues Freeman can emerge as one of this week’s hottest pickups if the rib injury to Tevin Coleman proves long term. It has become obvious that Coleman is the superior talent in this backfield but Freeman will have upside RB3 value if Coleman were to miss any time. Freeman is a talented and exciting running back in his own right and is sure to impress owners with a couple highlight reel worthy runs if he is forced into a larger role on offense. View Freeman as a bye week filler with a healthy Coleman and an RB3 without.
Travis Benjamin – Benjamin looks like he has emerged as the Browns top playmaker and is worth at least an end of the bench stash in most formats. Deep league players will want to make the addition with an eye at possibly starting the explosive young wide receiver. View the 89 percent available Benjamin as a upside flex option going forward.
Karlos Williams – Williams continues to impress in limited playing time and is a injury away from immediate RB2 status. Williams is a must have handcuff for the banged up Lesean Mccoy and may emerge with bye week filler upside in standard leagues if he can keep on finding the end zone. Williams is currently available in 79 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Dion Lewis – Still available in 67 percent of Yahoo! leagues Dion Lewis still managed to shine with LaGarette Blount off suspension as blount saw only two carries. This will not be the workload split going forward so it would be wise to still temper expectations but what has become clear is that Lewis, until further notice, will have fantasy upside week to week in PPR leagues even with Blount back in the lineup. We are holding back on pegging him as anything more than a flex2 option in deeper leagues until we see a more true depiction of the potential week to week workload split between the two backs. Add Lewis in all but the shallowest PPR formats.
David Johnson – A deep league special David Johnson has proved himself to be a playmaker after scoring two touchdowns and it may not be long until he carves out a permanent week to week role in this offense even when Andre Ellington returns. For now Chris Johnson will still run as the starter but David Johnson will hold upside flex2/bye week filler value at least until Ellington’s return. Johnson is available in 67 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Leonard Hankerson – It has become apparent that Leonard Hankerson is indeed being utilized in a target heavy enough role that he has fantasy relevance as the Falcons attempt to keep Roddy White fresh and healthy for a playoff run. Hankerson is no Roddy White but will start pushing for WR4 status and is now a WR5/bye week filler option. Hankerson is available in 96 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Rishard Matthews – It has become apparent that Rishard Matthews is going to continue to fight for fantasy relevance in the Dolphins offense and that Ryan Tannehill views him as a trusted weapon. DaVante Parker will eventually work his way into a larger role on offense but those snaps may now instead come at the expense of Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills. Those in deep leagues should look to add Matthews as a bye week filler/injury replacement type while those in the deepest leagues can slide him into one of your many flex spots. Matthews is available in 99 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Darren McFadden – Darren McFadden’s role is set to expand in this offense with Tony Romo expected to be out for eight weeks with a broken clavicle. Available in 57 percent of Yahoo! leagues Darren McFadden is worth an end of the bench stash as an upside flex3/bye week filler option.
Andy Dalton – Don’t look now but through two weeks of the regular season Andy Dalton is sitting pretty as a top ten quarterback in most formats and owners who lost Tony Romo and don’t have an in house backup option may wish to look to the wire at the uninspiring Dalton. Dalton continues to put up solid fantasy numbers despite being just a slightly above average real life quarterback and owners with an eye on bye weeks or who are dealing with injuries at this key position should take a hard look at the Cincinatti Bengal who is currently available in 69 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
Tyrod Taylor – For owners who lost Tony Romo this week Tyrod Taylor has to look like one of the best options that may be available on your league’s waiver wire. Available in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues Taylor has been a QB1 so far this season and he has the scrambling ability to continue to push for this level of fantasy production as the season progresses. For those of you in who find themselves in need for someone QB1 upside the next several weeks you may have found your man in Tyrod Taylor.
Deep league radar: Kenny Britt, Marqise Lee, Marvin Jones, Aaron Dobson, Tedd Ginn, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Javorius Allen, Willie Snead, Nate Washington, Jeremy Langford, Charles Sims, James Starks, Ty Montgomery.
