Let’s have everyone who had Scott Tolzien on your fantasy roster before this weekend raise your hand. Anyone who raised your hand, put them down, drive to the nearest store and buy a lottery ticket. You’re clearly the luckiest person on the planet.
The former Wisconsin standout’s rise from complete anonymity (even the Sports Guy didn’t know who he was) to Green Bay Packers starting quarterback in the span of a few hours was just one of many storylines from an action-filled Week 10. When a victory for the Jaguars isn’t the weekend’s top story, it’s definitely been an interesting slate of games.
The world of fantasy football moved one week closer to the playoffs in Week 10, and it had its share of significant developments, as well. Chief among these might be the Titans’ loss of Jake Locker to a season-ending foot injury, about which your resident fantasy football expert is still in denial. The rest of the important storylines will be discussed below, so I’d like to take this time, on the day after Veterans Day, to acknowledge the men and women who bravely serve our country. Thank you. We’re coming home in this week’s trends.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 11 Who's Up Who's Down
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Aaron Dobson WR – New England
Dobson has been the one of the biggest beneficiaries of the return of Rob Gronkowski; the rookie receiver has gone for 190 yards and three TDs over the last two games and broke the 100-yard barrier for the first time in his career in New England’s Week 9 win over the Steelers.
Gronk’s presence on the field forces defense to key on him and leaves more room for Dobson and the other Pats receivers to operate. Dobson certainly took advantage of this development on an 81-yard catch and run for a touchdown against Pittsburgh. The former Marshall star had problems with drops early in the year, but those issues have been largely dormant recently and Dobson has become an important piece in an offense that is once again explosive (it hung 55 points on the Steelers).
Dobson has good speed and has become one of the Patriots’ top big-play threats, so he can score touchdowns in bunches. He’s owned in less than 15 percent of leagues, so pick him up if you’re in a deeper league. He won’t have 130 yards every game, as he did against Pittsburgh but he should continue to grow and be consistently productive.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Andre Brown RB – New York Giants
I’m normally an advocate of the “wait and see” method for players after a single solid game (hence why you won’t find Week 10 star Tavon Austin on this week’s list), but Brown’s is a special situation because the Giants’ running game is such a mess.
The 26-year old Brown missed the first eight games of the season due to a broken leg sustained in the preseason, but immediately received the lion’s share of the workload upon his return, toting the football 30 times against Oakland in Week 10. With David Wilson now on IR, Brown’s 115-yard performance against the Raiders’ stingy run defense has set up the former fourth-round pick to be New York’s feature back for the rest of the year, especially after Peyton Hillis fumbled in the first quarter against the Raiders.
The Giants will probably lean on Brown and the run game going forward, with Eli Manning continuing to lead the league in interceptions, so expect high carry totals for the former NC State star. Brown is only owned in 25 percent of ESPN leagues, so pick him up for what is sure to be a game of field position against the Tolzien-led Packers in Week 11.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Jordan Reed TE – Washington
Reed had a breakout game against the Bears in Week 7, catching all nine of his targets for 134 yards and a touchdown. He hasn’t reached those lofty heights in the three weeks since, but he has certainly emerged as a consistent target and security blanket for RGIII.
The rookie has been targeted a combined 32 times over those last three games and has responded with 22 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown; he now leads all rookies in catches this season (44). Reed’s not on the level of Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski just yet, but he seems to be developing very quickly and will likely only get better as the season goes on and he gains experience.
Washington faces the Eagles’ 31st ranked pass defense in Week 11, so look for a big day from their 2013 third-round pick. If you’re looking for an upgrade at tight end in deeper leagues, Reed is still only owned in 64 percent of ESPN leagues, so he could be available. In keeper leagues, he’s a great buy-low option, as he has incredible upside going forward.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Larry Fitzgerald WR – Arizona
Fitzgerald has been a star ever since he entered the league in 2004 and he is probably a future Hall-of-Famer, but he just hasn’t been his usual explosive self at all in 2013. The 30-year old has managed just one 100-yard receiving game and five TDs on the year, and has largely been a disappointment to fantasy owners.
It is true that injuries have bothered Fitzgerald for much of the season, but he was not listed on the injury report before Sunday’s game against Houston and he still managed just three catches for a paltry 23 yards. The former Pitt Panther has actually only had nine catches for 88 yards in his last three games combined, an incredibly meager total for a player owned in 100 percent of fantasy leagues.
For those who do own Fitzgerald, it’s time to bench him until he proves he’s a viable receiving threat once again. The Cardinals are still bereft of a consistently good quarterback (Carson Palmer just isn’t the star he once was), so don’t expect a magical reemergence of the Fitzgerald we’re used to seeing.
Arrow Pointing: DOWN
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Riley Cooper WR – Philadelphia
Offseason controversy aside, Cooper is quietly enjoying a breakout campaign in his fourth season in the league. The former Florida wideout has already set career highs in receptions, targets and receiving yards and has become Nick Foles’ favorite target since the quarterback took over for the injured Michael Vick.
Cooper has at least 88 yards receiving in four of the five games since Foles took over in Week 6. The receiver has crossed the 100-yard mark three times over that stretch, after having no more than 29 yards in any previous game. The former fifth-round pick has gone for 241 yards and pulled in five touchdown passes over the last two weeks alone and is quickly cementing himself as Foles’ favorite target.
The 26-year old Cooper doesn’t catch many passes, but the receptions he does have are usually big plays; his 19.8 ypc average ranks second in the NFL. With a game against the reeling Washington defense up next, Cooper is probably in line for another big game. He’s only owned in 31 percent of ESPN leagues, so pick him up and watch his connection with Foles continue to produce highlight-reel plays.
Arrow Pointing: UP
