We all know what the end of Week 6 in the NFL means…that the New York Giants are officially out of it? No, not really (well kind of).
What it means is that we're closer to week 7, when players who were placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP list) prior to the start of the season are able to come off of it and play. Not all of the players who are eligible to come off the list will do so, and not all of the ones that do will play well, but there are certainly some players you might want to consider stashing before someone else does.
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or "like" CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 6 PUP list
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Andre Brown RB - New York Giants
For those of us who aren’t buying the Brandon Jacobs resurgence, Brown remains the lead candidate to lead the Giants backfield for the majority of the second half of the year. David Wilson has been ineffective, injured and fumble-prone, the Giants have beef with Da'Rel Scott and Jacobs will likely fall apart after his next 20-touch game. That leaves Brown, the same guy that totaled 471 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games last season, as the last man standing in New York.
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Jonathan Stewart RB - Carolina
After missing just two games over his first four seasons in the NFL, Stewart only suited up for the Panthers nine times last season; the results were not pretty. J-Stew did not go over 100 total yards even once in 2012 and only made it into the end zone twice. It sounds like he is probably going to be playing in Week 7, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be effective. That said, running backs are scarce and Stewart is a more proven commodity than a lot of the other players who might be floating on waivers.
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Michael Crabtree WR - San Francisco
There’s no guarantee that he will get back to the form he was prior to injuring his Achilles tendon, but Crabtree’s numbers from the last six games of last season (including three playoff contests) are straight-up compelling: 39 catches, 629 yards and seven touchdowns. Average that out and it comes out to basically 6.5 catches, 105 yards and one touchdown per game. Those are numbers that owners in the fantasy playoffs would probably not have an issue with. Even though he will likely be back sooner, Crabtree’s teammate, Mario Manningham, seems like a far less dynamic option.
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Percy Harvin WR - Seattle
With the Seattle Seahawks having all the makings of a championship team -- except having a dynamic playmaker -- they acquired Harvin during the offseason to come in and be the offensive threat that would put them over the top. His injury has put that plan on hold, but only temporarily. In addition to his skills as a receiver and a rusher, Harvin has returned at least one kickoff for a score in all four of his NFL seasons. Although head coach Pete Carroll has said “it’s not important to rush him back,” expect Harvin to come back with a vengeance when he does return. If the Seahawks are going to contend, he’s going to be a big part of it.
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Shane Vereen RB - New England
He played this year and isn’t eligible to come back until Week 11 after his short-term I.R. designation ends, but Vereen should be on the radar for owners who have started off 4-1 or 5-0 and can afford to carry some dead weight. The Patriots planned to utilize Vereen a ton this season and it showed in Week 1 when he went off for 101 rushing yards on 14 carries and caught seven passes for 58 yards. The most versatile player on New England’s roster, Vereen should slide back into a major role as soon as he gets back and could be a major asset in the last few weeks of the season and the fantasy playoffs.
