Quarterbacks:
T.J. Yates — Texans ($3 FAAB value)
The Texans are down to the rookie from North Carolina, and he takes the rein of an offense with a plethora of weapons and a great offensive line. The trouble with picking him up is twofold: he has been taking third-string reps all season, and the Texans are going to run the ball 75% of the time if they can help it. Yates was well-regarded in some circles coming out of college, and rookie quarterbacks with good weapons have had success this year, so maybe there is something here. He really only has value in two-quarterback or massive leagues, though; there should be better options even inf 14-teamers.
Caleb Hanie — Bears ($4)
Facing the Raiders in the Black Hole is not the most ideal of situations for your first real start, and it showed with Hanie throwing three interceptions leading to an abysmal 56.3 passer rating. He did, however, top 250 yards and toss two touchdowns, making for a pretty good fantasy day in the end. Oakland showed what most teams are likely going to try to do – choke up on Matt Forte and the rush and make Hanie throw the ball. Hanie is not a great fantasy option, but desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose.
Matt Moore — Dolphins ($7)
He has put up good fantasy numbers for most of his recent games (what a vote of confidence), and again I say he has a favorable schedule down the stretch with the Bills and Patriots to close out the fantasy season.
Kyle Orton — Chiefs ($5)
By many accounts, Orton is a quick study, and he has Dwayne “Ricky Watters” Bowe to throw to. It will be hard to be anywhere near as bad as Tyler Palko has been during his two starts, at the very least.
Running Backs:
Maurice Morris — Lions ($8)
Lost in all of Kevin Smith’s fantasy lovefest last week: he is injury-prone. Maurice Morris entered for the injured Smith against the Packers and had a monster PPR game, catching 9 balls for 81 yards. The problem with Morris is that he does not possess a lot of upside, and the Lions have not used him like that in other games. Perhaps he showed he can handle the load as a pass-catching back, though, and with Jahvid Best on IR that means Morris is the de facto starter for now. There is a good chance he was dropped after Smith became the season’s hottest pickup last week, so grab him if he is there. Just be mindful that Smith’s injury is reportedly minor and Keiland Williams is also lurking.
Toby Gerhart — Vikings ($5)
Gerhart had a decent fantasy game, but only because he got in the end zone. The Vikings are simply not a good team, and Gerhart is not able to overcome his offense’s faults the way Adrian Peterson can. Gerhart gets a decent matchup against the Broncos rush defense next week, making him a decent plug if Peterson is still out with an injury.
C.J. Spiller — Bills ($4)
Spiller got a tough matchup against the Jets, though the Bills wound up scoring 24 points. The fact that he is now the man in Buffalo gives him value, though. The Bills get the Titans next, a much better matchup for Spiller. If he can get things going, he could have a nice fantasy day.
Wide Receivers:
Johnny Knox — Bears ($8)
Knox had a great game against the Raiders. Perhaps a change of scenery behind center is what he needed. One man’s loss (Earl Bennett’s) seems to have become another man’s gain. Knox has a nice schedule that gets better through championship week, facing the Chiefs and Broncos before getting the Seahawks and Packers. Knox is every bit the homerun/strikeout fantasy start, and he has never been a model of consistency, so pick him up with a big grain of salt.
David Nelson / Brad Smith — Bills ($5 / $3)
Here is some advice if you were outraged at Stevie Johnson’s celebration: get a hobby. Unfortunately he is likely owned in your league, but Nelson and Smith had unexpected success against the Jets defense too, perhaps signaling the Bills have gotten out of their offensive funk. It would be nice if they had a better schedule — Buffalo is facing the Titans (13th-ranked pass defense), Chargers (9th), a much-improved Dolphins defense that shut the Bills down in their first meeting, and the Broncos (17th). Perhaps we have seen the new pecking order with Fred Jackson sidelined for the season, though, and that includes more Nelson and Smith.
Santana Moss — Redskins ($13)
If he is still available in your league, pick him up before he is snatched up. He gets a bad matchup against the Jets this week, but it’s smooth sailing from there for him. He easily led the team with 10 targets last game, though converting them into catches proved difficult as he only nabbed four of them.
Tight Ends:
Marcedes Lewis — Jaguars ($4)
Lewis was targeted 12 times, and if he could stop dropping easy touchdown catches he could have a late-season fantasy surge. He has been a huge disappointment because of his over-regression, but that only makes him a positive regression candidate for the rest of the season. Based on opportunity, he is worth a look.
Questions and comments are always welcome via Twitter – @PFF_Alex.
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