Pick-ups

Well if your league is like mine then you are entering the last week before the playoffs start this week!  Time to earn your week 14 bye or solidify your playoff spot.  At this point in the season Weekly additions are hard to come by and typically injury related.  So lets use this chance to cover all eventualities that could hurt you down the stretch!  Some of these pick-ups will be all wrong for your team and are not a concern, but if you have a roster spot up in the air due to concussions… (who doesn’t… honestly!) then having one of these players may pull you out of a tough jam!  This week I will be going by position and talking about the most likely available people at each spot.

QB

Alex Smith (SF) – This QB was expected by most to be inside the top 10 Sunday with a very good match-up against Jacksonville.  If you are among the people nervous about the Warner or Roethlisberger injuries then Smith can provide relief.  Apart from a 2 point flop against Chicago, Smith has provided double digit fantasy points in each game he appeared (including his second half against Houston).

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) – This is a big stretch, but there are leagues out there that start two QBs and have 12 or 14 teams, given the injuries and uncertainties in some of the NFL franchises you can do worse than Fitz.  Given that Brady and Brees haven’t played yet this week Ryan Fitzpatrick sits at number 3 among all fantasy QBs (as always based on ESPN standard scoring) and he played a very solid Dolphins defense.  This team is on a bit of a turn around at the moment, and in a fantasy perspective this guy out performed almost everyone… including both Manning’s, Schaub, Rivers, Romo, and McNabb!

Vince Young (TEN) – His style has never been effective in translating to fantasy productivity, and I do not see anything changing.  From a real perspective Young looks polished, disciplined, and like a leader as the Titans needed!  You shouldn’t ever need Young to break 20 points but you can rely on double digits from how it looks.

RB

Three of the top four RBs in fantasy football this week were at the beginning of the season were virtually nobodies!

Justin Forsett (SEA) – This guy has been on add lists all over the place including my own, and for good reason.  Number one fantasy back honors for week 12 against a phenomenal match-up Sunday vs the Rams.  If your league managers have been in a closet for three weeks it’s not too late, grab him now!

Fred Jackson (BUF,)  -  Being in Buffalo I have heard a lot about the Jackson Lynch time-share today and it is going flip what we have been expecting and seeing since the duo got together.  Jackson is expected to become the starting back and Lynch will be a compliment to him.  Fewell has this team believing in itself and on a short week Jackson is a solid RB2 down the stretch assuming the Bills stay on this path!

Jamaal Charles (KC) – Again, If your fellow managers have been living under a rock don’t think it’s too late this guy is on the rise!

Lex Hilliard (MIA) – Williams had another very good game this week in a tough loss to the Bills, but he is 32 and cannot handle the workload Ronnie Brown had, Hilliard has been productive when he gets carries which will be increasing all the rest of the season.

Jason Snelling and Jerious Noorwood (ATL) – Turner owners are at a loss for words after he re-injured his ankle after the surprising and stupid decision to test the ankle so soon.

WR

Jason Avant (PHI) – DeSean Jackson has a concussion and owners should expect a week or two off, Avant is a great addition to any team that needs help these weeks, but especially to those of you who lost Jackson!

Kenny Britt (TEN) – This team is scary good since Young started taking snaps and everyone is benefiting greatly, Britt becomes a decent flex or WR3 choice from here on out.

Antonio Bryant (TB) – 91 yards and a TD Sunday and because of his injury he is available in over 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

Chris Chambers (KC) – If you were skeptical before you really can’t be any more…

TE

I heartily recommend that owners ignore stats other than fantasy points allowed to tight ends.  They require the defender to have a unique skill set to cover in the passing game, only certain teams have players capable of keeping a TE consistently covered.  And also many times a team’s offensive success HURTS the tight end as if the receivers are getting open deep the check down is not used.

Fred Davis (WAS) – Davis broke double digit points this week with a TD catch and is available in 87% of leagues.  Been some injuries at the position this season and there is no reason to keep adding and dropping based on match-ups.

Bo Scaife (TEN) – Again, this team is on the swing, and Scaife’s targets will be up.

Dump List!

Hester, Moats, Lynch, Julius Jones, Westbrook, Bowe, McGahee (still owned in over 50% of Yahoo! leagues… I can’t believe that!)

Good Luck making the last minute playoff push! Remember, you can submit questions to me on twitter by following me (see the link above!) and get answers right away as well as featured in my weekly mailbag post!

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Rock Cartwright – After Betts was carted off the field midway through the first quarter on Sunday Rock Cartwright was thrust into the lead role. From the time he became the lead guy he racked up 13 carries for 67 yards, as well as showed ability in the passing game as well being targeted 8 times for 7 catches and 73 yards. Portis is already ruled out for week twelve so Cartwright is set to have a good game versus an okay match up in Philly next week making him my pickup of the week.

Terrell Owens – Its just weird typing his name in the Pickup of the week article to be honest, but with his best game of the season coming the week after a new head coach and starting QB and installed, you’ve got to figure that TO is set to benefit from these moves. T.O. Would have been on my dump list for the last month if the site had been up that long, so if he was let go GRAB HIM UP! Owens will be a flex play at best until the Bills can prove they are consistently able to get him the ball. Next week you should be safe to start him versus a Miami defense that has played mediocre at best this season.

Fred Jackson – Fast Freddie is an explosive back that wears down a defense over the course of the game. In the first three games of the season Jackson was a very serious fantasy threat. Given the offensive woes he was unable to find the end zone very much if at all, but yardage wise he was a big surprise. Lynch was carted off the field Sunday with a shoulder injury, and will likely be a game time decision. If Lynch cannot go Sunday, I would expect to see a pretty good fantasy game from Jackson.

Kahlil Bell – The Bears RB got the first carry of his NFL career and scampered for 72 yards. I know I almost fell outta my chair… but that was largely because I thought that Forte finally was gonna break 100 yards rushing! If you are in a very deep league or have a playoff birth in the bag and a dead-spot in your roster grab Bell and wait to see what happens. The Bears have re-dedicated themselves to the run as to give Cutler a chance to utilize the play action and keep opposing defenses guessing. If Bell can show that he has the ability to handle a larger work load he’ll get the chance and Forte would be pushed to more of a third down back. This is a long shot, so you had better have the ability to probably never play him.

Chris Chambers – had another really good game this week with Bowe on suspension. Three more weeks of Chambers being the top guy so if you have an injury issue or are light at WR go ahead and grab Chambers… he should put up solid performances at least while Bowe is out!

Kevin Boss – 4 TD’s in his last 3 games. The Giants and the Falcons looked much improved this week, and the Giants has a record that will keep them in the playoff hunt. Boss is a nice outlet for Manning who seems to like him in the red zone.

Jason Snelling and Justin Forsett – I am gonna lump these two together as they were number one and two on my add list last Monday. Snelling barely eeked out the top spot on the list last week, and did not disappoint. In Turner’s wake he was the second highest scoring back in the league on Sunday. Forsett had a terrible match-up versus a stout Vikings pass D Sunday and still managed to show his worth to fantasy owners that were desperate with the slew of injuries this week. While not a single point gained was on rushing yards (only 9), Forsett still managed 80 yards receiving and punched in a goal line carry for a rushing TD. Forsett is very unlikely to lose the top spot on the depth chart when Julius Jones returns, so he should be an option down the stretch, however Snelling is only likely to see one more game as the lead back and that should be with Jerious Norwood back sharing some time as well.

Alex Smith – If you have injury or bad match up concerns at QB or are in a 2 QB league Smith has a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the season and while his play has been inconsistent he sure could do some good getting you through a rough patch.

Dump list!

Dwayne Bowe has three more weeks of suspension left to go, and wasn’t producing all that well before. I wouldn’t trust him after a month off and very few games left in the season.

Felix Jones couldn’t even produce when Jerry Jones was screaming that he needed the ball more.

Roy Williams looks like he will indeed be too inconsistent to be a good fantasy football option

Devin Hester has seen his targets AND production on a sharp decline in the past few weeks, and I expect this trend to continue. It is a stretch to just drop him, but if TO or Chambers is there, I say make the move.

Kyle Orton totally collapsed last season after he hurt his foot, I’m scared for Orton AND the Broncos.

Ryan Moats – Can someone please make sense of whaat Coach Kubiak is doing here… cuz I can’t…  Slaton looked explosive off the ball, and you could SEE that he was protecting the ball.  The Texans lost last night because they couldn’t control the ball and extend drives.  Schaub played well but Kubiak is likely joining the unemployment line after this season if he doesn’t get them in the playoffs!

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Bruce

Is T Owens worth keeping as a wide receiver?

Probably not, unless you are in a deep league with like 12 teams and starting 3 WRs you probably do not need to worry about Owens.  Evans is the better fantasy option in Buffalo and T.O. is on my dump list this week.

I have two kickers on my team and am going to be dropping one, Longwell of Minn has been pretty consistent all year but last week Carney of NO gave me 13 points who would be better for the rest of the year

Both are pretty good options, its pretty even and almost impossible to pick kickers.  Assuming neither have had issues with misses that I’m unaware of I’d say Longwell is best.

Brad

If Michael Turner can’t go who in the free agents might look good, what about his back up in Atlanta

Jason Snelling and Justin Forsett are both solid options as pick-ups this week.  Snelling is the guy you want if you need a player right now, Forsett has a tough match-up against the Vikings stout run D Sunday.

Andrew

So in my fantasy league, I am thinking about making a trade. I am strong at RB (I have DeAngelo Williams, Frank Gore, Ricky Williams, and Marian Barber). I can only start 2 RB and a Flex. I am a little weak at WR so I was thinking I could try and get stronger there. Someone is putting Gregg Jennings, Steve Smith (NYG), Mike Sims-Walker, and T.J Houshmandzadeh up on the block. I was told I could give up DeAngelo Williams, Ricky Williams or Frank Gore for 2 of the WR. Or I could give Marian Barber up for Gregg Jennings (or maybe Sims-Walker or Houshmandzadeh)…What should I do?!?

I would hold onto your three top RB’s your set to benefit from the injury to Brown being season ending.  Ricky is 32 and cannot handle a full workload, so he won’t be picking up where Brown left off, but he wont be getting any less productive.  I am a firm believer in a solid group of running backs being the key to a deep fantasy playoff run.  I do not think you have any need for Barber so make the lesser trade for Houshmanzadeh if you can get him, if not you have to ask yourself if Jennings will rebound and be able to outperform Sims-Walker.

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Jason Snelling – 61 yards and a TD, not that bad as a stand in. I’ve been looking for something promising on Turner’s injury since it happened and I cannot find anything. The Falcons have been very quiet about the extent of the injury and it is looking more and more like Turner will miss significant time. Justin Forsett was going to be my number one pick of the week as I think he keeps the job that he just won through the remainder of the season. However with how severe Turner’s injury is looking to be, I am making Snelling my number 1 pickup of the week!

Justin Forsett – This is a guy that has been a decently productive back when given the chance this season. He was effective enough for the Seahawks  that they felt comfortable dropping Edgerrin James mid way through the season. Forsett has averaged 6.15 yards per carry when given the chance to run prior to this week. On the 17 carries this week he averages slightly over 7 yards, showing his ability to be productive over the course of a game. He will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks as defenses are going to study him much more on film. His first challenge as a fill-in will be vs. a very stout Vikings run defense making him an unlikely start this week except in a deeper league or an injury related emergency…

Donnie Avery – Avery may be on a bad team; however he is the one bright spot apart from Jackson. Avery is a deep treat that has shown his ability to get open in the red zone. He is the receiver that has developed the most chemistry with Bulger. On 4 receptions this Sunday he got 67 yards and 2 TD’s. He may not be a weekly starter because the Rams are that bad, but in 3 WR leagues and leagues with 12 and 14 teams he is an easy WR3 or flex play, with the potential to score on any play. Also in Avery’s favor is the fact that the Rams find themselves behind in the ball game early and often leaving them little options except to go to the air.

Jamaal Charles – Wow, the Chiefs finally scored a rushing touchdown! The last team in the league to score on the ground was the chiefs who’s rookie RB had a breakout game in week 10 amassing 103 yards rushing including his 44 yard score. He has earned a role in the offense, and he’ll get it.

Bernard Scott – Benson Owners nervous about whether he will play? Pick up Scott as a solid back-up to Benson so that should he miss any time you will be all set.  However Adam Shefter is reporting that Benson will be ready to go vs Oakland in week 11 so you should likely be OK.  Larry Johnson is reported to be signing with the Bengals this week… hold off here and keep an eye open!

Deeper League Pickups

And lastly Leonard Weaver is a solid flex option now with Westbrook down for the count with another concussion, but still probably in deep 12 and 14 team leagues.

Dump List! (as this is my first one, so some may not be new to the list!)

Alex Smith – He may be a better QB than the guy he replaced but he is far from a serious fantasy option.  I would drop unless your in a 14 team league or a team that plays 2 QB’s or has an offensive player flex.  I’d rather have Josh Freeman honestly.

T.O., Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Willis McGahee, LenDale White, Tashard Choice, Felix Jones, Willie Parker, Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Todd Heap

edit (6:54 PM) This is a little preemptive but I’m putting Westbrook on my dump list as well, reports are all concerned with his long term health.  Westbrook is most likely done for the season if not for his career.

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Poor Julius Jones… He left Sundays game with a chest injury and did not return, it was unclear the extent of this injury until recently.  Adam Shefter reports on twitter that Jones has internal bleeding in his lungs, and he was kept at an Arizona hospital while his team traveled back to Seattle after a tough loss on the road versus the division leader and playoff bound Cardinals.  Jones had a fairly decent start to the season but his fantasy production had taken a steep drop after week three.  While Jones had a good game (16 points in ESPN standard scoring) last week it was most likely due in large part to the favorable match-up.  On a positive note for the Seahawks Jone’s replacement Justin Forsett had a very promising game with 17 carries and 123 yards (that’s a 7.2 per carry average!).  He appears to have an elusiveness and quickness that has faded from the older Julius Jones and he will give the Seahawks a much more balanced attack.

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