Week 12 Pickups

By Gabriel Harber

I trust everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, and that you made it through visiting with your in-laws without any Ndamukong Suh type incidents.  It was a great holiday for football as the Cowboys once it again made a winnable game unbearably nail-biting, Coach Harbaugh took home a victory, and the Packers smacked that ass once more.  Most of you are heading into the playoffs soon and this weekend could be pivotal for your inclusion or seeding.  Fortunately we’ve got some additions that are good for what ails ya.

The Pick Ups

Kyle Orton:  The artist formerly known as Neckbeard gets a second second (that’d be a third) chance in Kansas City and falls into a situation with some natural receiving talent.  Dwayne Bowe, Jon Baldwin, and Steve Breaston should all contribute to an offense that looks to be exponentially more effective than they’ve been the last three weeks.  I’m sure many owners dumped Orton when he was benched in week five, and rarely do you find a guy with QB1 potential on the wire right in time for the playoffs.

 Steve Breaston:  His value is directly tied to how Orton performs, but with Matt Cassel (and even Tyler Palko at times), Breaston has excelled.  He’s one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL dating back to his days in Arizona.  If you can snag him before he resumes producing you could end up with a solid WR3 for the rest of the season.  Because of shear yardage production I have to believe he finds the endzone at least a few more times.

Caleb Hanie:  He couldn’t make it happen on the field, but from a fantasy perspective he certainly got the job done.  His three interceptions and sacks were offset by two touchdowns and 50 rushing yards, while he also passed for 254 yards totaling 16.16 points.  I wouldn’t expect him to find as much success through the air every week, but I have to believe he’ll get some check down TD’s to Matt Forte and Marion Barber, as well as cut down on the turnovers as he gets more reps with the first team.  All in all, I’m buying here if I need quarterback help.

Roy Helu: 

• Fact: Helu totaled 164 yards and a touchdown on 30 touches.
• Fact: Shanahan came out and said that Helu will make an excellent #2 running back heading into the future.
• Fact: Shanahan also said that he finally thought Helu was ready for a starter’s workload.

If you have any idea what to make of any of this please let me know.  I just know Helu must be owned if he’s getting touches.

CJ Spiller:  At least we have good old Chan Gailey who, staying true to his word, featured Spiller heavily.  Though he was far from effective, the Bills were also playing against a Jets defense that was backed into a corner with their season on the line.  If you have the roster spot available I would definitely pick up Spiller, especially in PPR leagues. Like I said previously, if he is getting touches then he should be owned.

Jason Avant/Riley Cooper:  The Eagles have a short week which means they may be rolling with the same offensive unit as Sunday’s game against the Patriots, most likely.  Cooper and Avant both played well enough to be owned as long as they’re seeing time and targets, and with Vince Young continuing behind center and playing for a contract I have to believe he’ll be showing the world what he can do.  Avant is the safer pick.

Marcel Reece:  Relegated to a makeshift receiving corps, Carson Palmer’s favorite target on Sunday was fullback Marcel Reece.  Reece, who was a wideout in college, shined in his expanded role and may be in line for a repeat performance given the battered and bruised state of Oakland’s offense.

Greg Little:  After weeks of teasing us as one of the highest targeted receivers in the league, Little finally found the endzone, rewarding owners who’ve stuck with him.  Peyton Hillis was back and added another dimension to the offense that the Browns had been sorely missing, opening the passing game up for Colt McCoy and company.  If you’re in a PPR league I would gobble Little up like Grandma’s leftovers.

I’ll see you back here next week!  Until then, be sure to shoot me any questions you might have on Twitter.

Crazy Gabey's Week 9 Pickups

By: Gabriel Harber

I know how to man up.   

Unlike a Cowboys defense or your favorite PeopleOfWalmart.com star’s pants, I know how to make adjustments.  When Miles Austin’s hamstring fell off against the Seahawks, I knew it would only be a matter of time before my prediction of Laurent Robinson being a bust from last week’s article was disproved.  It’s my proverbial half-time, and my advice to you is to snag this guy as quickly as you can.  A hamstring is a tricky, lingering injury and Austin has now had trouble with both legs this year so there’s no telling what the future holds.  Robinson looks pretty swell as the Cowboys number two for a few weeks.

This brings me to something very important that I’d like to discuss.  

No matter what you’ve previously done, don’t be afraid to make adjustments.  I’ve seen many owners make a bad move, or trade away someone only to have them go off for the rest of the season while the guy they received falls off the map.  Too often, these mistakes lead us to a place where we get down on ourselves and begin making more, even worse decisions.  Rarely is a team beyond repair, and if you play the wire carefully and stay in close communication with other owners and their wants/needs, then you will find that you can right the ship much easier than you ever thought possible.   

Even if you are out of it for this season, set a goal for yourself and focus on achieving it.  Practice is always good (unless you’re Allen Iverson) and you never know when a situation will happen again, only maybe next time it will be when you’re 7-4 and fighting for a playoff spot.

The Pick Ups

Laurent Robinson:  See above.

Antonio Brown:  This guy has been here for a few weeks but I’m including him because if he’s on your wire you need to stop reading this and go submit your claim now!  The Steelers passing attack has turned into one of the NFL’s premier units and Brown’s emergence has been a major reason why.

Roy Helu:  It looks like Shanahan finally sees what us fantasy football owners have known all along.  A whopping fourteen receptions on seventeen targets shows the game plan was definitely tailor made to Helu, and he delivered in a big way.  He becomes an instant low end RB2 and a solid flex play until we get Shanahaniganed.

Matt Moore:  Moore had been flirting with not being as bad as we thought he was (don’t worry, she’s not into him) for the past couple weeks, and Sunday was sort of a mini breakout session for the embattled veteran.  I wouldn’t expect that sort of production every week, but ten to fifteen points is reasonable from a suddenly awakened Dolphins offense that only stands to improve once Daniel Thomas returns to full health.

Jake Ballard:  Anyone who watched this guy play has to be scratching their heads at the production he’s 

exhibited thus far this season.  With more lumbering than running, Ballard has been quietly solidifying himself as a solid tight end play with significant upside in a fast paced Giants offense.  At this point in the season, he’s probably the best bet to salvage the likes of Dallas Clark or Vernon Davis owners.

Joshua Cribbs:  With Mohamed Massaquoi feeling woozy, Cribbs provided his second strong effort in a row.  He won’t give you consistency, but he has home run potential written all over him that can post fifteen points any time he sees enough snaps.  If your league has return yardage he becomes a very appealing option.

Steve Breaston:  Breaston was featured here a few weeks ago, so I won’t beat a dead horse (you would call PETA anyways).  It’s tough to predict Kansas City’s offense from week to week, but the numbers show that Cassel is looking his way.  If nothing else, his contract assures that he’ll continue to be a featured part of the offense and the Chiefs remaining schedule is a cakewalk of secondaries.

Torrey Smith:  The young man has all the talent in the world, and if he ever drops the pass dropping (see what I did there) he’s got future WR1 written all over him.  Sunday’s game winning touchdown was a big step for Smith and the second week in a row he’s come through in the clutch.  As his teammates continue to rally around him, I believe he’s poised for a huge second half.

Denarius Moore/Jacoby Ford:  As Carson Palmer experiences a renaissance, the playmakers for the Raiders should begin to shine as well.  Moore was targeted a ridiculous twelve times and Ford made the most of his looks with a touchdown and a twenty one yard per catch average.  Both are of course gambles, but Palmer should only get better and Oakland seems dedicated to involving the young duo on offense. (Note: Darrius Heyward-Bey was benched in this game, so that will be a situation you might want to keep an eye on.)

Chris Ogbonnaya:  Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty have already been ruled out of next week’s contest with the Rams, which makes Ogbonnaya the default workhouse against a sloppy St. Louis run defense.  I would temper expectations here, but if you’re banged up and need a spot start, then you might be able to scratch out enough points to make it worthwhile.

Earl Bennett:  Fully healthy (obviously), Bennett looked extremely impressive in Monday night’s win.  Showing exceptional rapport with Cutler, it’s obvious that he’s in no danger of losing his job to Sanzenbacher yet (though he would definitely lose the coolest name contest.)  Proceed with caution as it’s only a one game sample size, but if you’re lacking wide receiver depth you could do much worse than taking a flier on Bennett.

With many of you fighting tooth and nail for those last few playoff spots, it’s easy to kick yourself for making mistakes and for things that happen outside your control, just remember to stay calm and not allow the situation to compound itself.  If you focus on the negative you’ll be too wrapped up to notice the opportunities to turn it all around.  Thanks for reading and stay positive! 

Have a question? Ask Gabe on Twitter (@CrazyGabey).

Crazy Gabey's Week Eight Pick Ups

By: Gabriel Harber

What’s going on here?

The Saints beat the Colts by 437 points, then lost to the Rams by a bruised ego.  The Cowboys beat the Rams handily the week before, then got shellacked by the Eagles, who were supposed to be in disarray.  The Colts took the Steelers to the wire a few weeks back, and the Steelers beat the Patriots, who had to come from behind to beat the Cowboys.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Steelers edged out the Jaguars, who grinded out the Ravens, who hobblestomped the Steelers week 1.

Making sense yet?  Of course it does.

You see, by using the transitive property of fantasy football congruence, and multiplying pi times the quadratic formula we arrive at the eventual champi…………..

Nevermind, I have no clue what the hell I’m talking about.  Let’s just get to the pickups.

 
Smoke and Mirrors

Brent Celek:  Don’t buy into the hype.  What you saw Sunday night was the Eagles coming off a bye week, with a specific game plan, and attacking a specific weakness on the Dallas defense.  Vick’s wide open style has proven to rarely feature tight ends and I would be looking elsewhere if I needed help.

Laurent Robinson:  Robinson’s big day was a product of a Tony Romo shoulder shrug, not his own talent.  The Cowboys offense has 3 passing weapons atop the pecking order before Robinson, and you won’t see many games like Sunday’s too often.  You can find consistency elsewhere on the wire.

The Pick-Ups 

Roy Helu:  Shanahan went scoreless for the first time in his career, flipping the bird to all of you who thought there would finally be some predictable production in his backfield.  Torain ran like he had cement shoes on, and with the ‘Skins season quickly slipping away, they’ll have to pull out all the stops soon.  Helu is the most natural talent at running back, and with his pass catching abilities could become a force if given the touches. (Note: Redskins later went on to claim Tashard Choice from waivers)

Maurice Morris:  Morris delivered for everyone who chose to take a gamble on him, gaining 58 yards and touchdown.  What impressed me the most was his 4.5 yards per carry which is exactly what the Lions need to take the pressure off of Mathew Stafford.  Best is notorious for durability issues, and even when he comes back I could easily see Morris getting 10-15 touches a games.  That, coupled with the injury concerns for Best make him worth rostering.

Titus Young:  I know his big play had more to do with a defensive breakdown than skill, but as I mentioned above, if Detroit continues to establish some sort of running presence then Young will be worth rostering in deeper formats.  It helps that Detroit wide receivers have a great schedule the rest of the way.

Deion Branch:  You know exactly what you’re getting here, so temper your expectations.  Branch’s value is directly tied to Brady’s success, and as long as the Pats are throwing Branch should get you in between six to twelve points a game.

Javon Ringer:  No one saw this coming, but since it’s here, we might as well chat about it.  CJ(insert number here)K is bad.  I don’t just mean he’s not playing well, I mean he just looks like he’s not a good player any more.  Ringer has been a perennial waiver wire discussion piece the past few seasons, but strictly as a handcuff to Johnson.  Now I’m advocating Ringer as the primary back, and the Titans, who are hungry for a playoff berth, will go with the hot hand to make it happen.  If losing his feature back status doesn’t light a fire under Johnson’s ass, it’s safe to say this will be a time share moving forward with Ringer being the greater value.

Kyle Orton:  Remember Jake Delhomme?  I do.  Remember how much John Fox loved Jake Delhomme?  I remember that too.  As much as I believe Tebow is the guy (yes I’m a Timmy lover), I think Fox would love a return to the traditional style of Orton and Sunday’s game may have given him exactly the out he was looking for.  Just like Delhomme was kept as Carolina’s starter far longer than he should have been, I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of Orton.  Denver has an extremely soft passing schedule from here on out which helps the upside of this play.  Grab Orton if you’re weak at quarterback and you might just hit the lottery.

Tavaris Jackson:  Maybe Jackson has Jason Terry syndrome.  After sitting out the first two drives, Tavaris came in and engineered one of the best statistical games of his career (though his no touchdowns killed his fantasy day.)  I mentioned earlier in the year that I saw quite a bit of improvement in him from last season, and to play the way he did against an unforgiving Bengals unit was impressive.  I like the outlook on Jackson moving forward.

Torrey Smith:  This kid has all the talent (and speed) in the world, and as long as he continues developing

rapport with Flacco, he could become the Lee Evans the Ravens always wanted.  His big time pressure catch was what stars are made of, and in order for the Ravens to compete in the suddenly hyper-competitive AFC North they’ll need to balance Ray Rice with a passing attack; something they’ve failed to do in previous weeks.

Antonio Brown/Emmanuel Sanders:  The Steelers' new look offense has provided a fantasy boon for owners everywhere, and if you happen to need wide receiver help I like both of these guys more than anyone else this week.  If you have to choose between the two, I would go with Brown as he seems to have more big play potential, but honestly I don’t think you can go wrong either way.

Scott Chandler:  Chandler is an interesting case because he either catches touchdowns (good) or does nothing (bad.)  I wouldn’t view him as a long term solution to the tight end position as he has only 15 catches all year, but if you’re in a deeper league and need a bye week fill-in, you could certainly do much worse than to take a gamble on the high-powered Bills offense.

Johnathan Baldwin:  Baldwin finally showed us why the Chiefs used a first round pick on him tonight, manhandling the coverage assigned to him.  He actually played better than his number indicate (and his numbers are impressive), and with Bowe and Breaston lining up alongside, this looks to be an extremely potent aerial assault.  He immediately becomes a mid-range flex play and a WR3 with upside.

Curtis Brinkley:  The Chargers backfield has been a M.A.S.H. unit this season, and with Mathews legs falling off every game (hey at least he waited until the fourth quarter this time) Brinkley was thrust into a starring role.  What I saw tonight made me question why Norv Turner has been sitting quietly on this kid all year.  He cut back, darted, leapt, and burst through holes like an elite level talent.  He even caught a difficult pass late in the fourth to move the Bolts into scoring position.  Post-game reports have him being examined for a concussion so be sure to monitor his status throughout the week, but it’s tough to not advise an add when you combine Mathews’ health and Tolbert’s general ineffectiveness.  Should either running back miss significant time Brinkley would become an overnight RB2 play. (Edit: Curtis Brinkley has a concussion.)

Good luck figuring out what the next week holds and see you back here.  Until then I’ll be using my TI-84 to perfect my lineups. Check out my Twitter for all of your troubles.