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2008
Season Top Free Agent Pickups for Week #11 |
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TOP FREE AGENT PICKUPS
Quarterback
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Player |
Rationale |
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Tyler Thigpen
Kansas City Chiefs |
With a QB rating OVER 100 for the last 3 games, Kansas City may actually have reason for optimism for the future. Tyler Thigpen is showing guts and a playmaking ability that KC has lacked for a long time. Tyler Thigpen will continue to be a quality spot start and backup for the remainder of the season. He has the great fortune of facing some extraordinarily weak pass defenses within his division. Take advantage and grab T2. |
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Matt Hasselbeck
Seattle Seahawks |
Matt 'Knight Rider' Hasselbeck looks to return in Week 11 from a 5 game hiatus caused by a bulging disk. He hasn't been ruled the starter for Sunday yet, but if he's healthy he will be the guy. Seattle has a (somewhat) talented group of pass catchers with Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, and John Carlson, and a serviceable RB with Julius Jones, but the offensive line is, well, offensive. Still with the tools around him and Mike Holmgren directing the offense, Matt should put up plenty of useful fantasy days as he finishes the season against the likes of Arizona (Week 11), Dallas (Week 13), and St. Louis (Week 15). If you miss out on Thigpen and need a decent backup for the playoffs (I'm looking at you R-berger owners) take a shot on Hasselbeck and hope he stays healthy.
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Running Back
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Player |
Rationale |
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Ricky Williams
Miami Dolphins |
Even with Ronnie Brown in the starting role, Cheech is getting alot of playing time and is finding himself in fantasy relevancy once again. Against a very suspect Oakland run defense in week 11, Ricky is a quality play and could find paydirt. He should help your opponent's chances of victory go Up In Smoke. |
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Tatum Bell
Denver Broncos |
'Taco' Tatum Bell signed with the injury-ravaged Denver Broncos for his second stint with the mile-high city and the great Satan of fantasy football, Mike Shanahan. With the Broncos forced to start FB Peyton Hillis after all four of their starting RBs went down, Bell was signed due to his familiarity with the zone-blocking scheme and his previous success in Denver. It will take Bell some time to get up to speed, but he'll get some touches this Sunday and should be the starter by default come Week 12. Last season's debacle notwithstanding, Bell has a great career average (4.8 ypc) and has plenty of gas left tin the tank. He could develop into a good RB2 for your playoff push. |
Wide Receiver
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Player |
Rationale |
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Michael Jenkins
Atlanta Falcons |
I never thought I'd see the day but Michael Jenkins is....a quality fantasy play in week 11. Apparently, the days of offensive ineptitude in Atlanta are long gone. Matt Ryan looks like a fantasy stud in the making (excellent keeper candidate) and Roddy White and Michael Jenkins are racking up stats as a result. Jenkins is not always a great play, but in week 11 he should have a top 15 WR game. He is only owned in 48% of leagues.
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Mark Bradley
Kansas City Chiefs |
It looks as though the emergence of Tyler Thigpen has also opened doors for other players on the Chiefs to become viable fantasy players. Mark Bradley has snagged 18 catches and 2 TDs in the last three games, and now is the #2 WR in the Kansas City offense. With Dwayne Bowe drawing the toughest coverage from opposing Ds, the play of Tyler Thigpen, and the likelihood that the Chiefs will still be playing from behind a bit this year, Bradley should be a solid WR3/Flex play in most leagues. Especially juicy matchups in Weeks 14 (@DEN) and 15 (vs. SD) mean he should be on your roster right now.
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Tight End
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Player |
Rationale |
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Billy Miller
New Orleans Saints |
It's looking more and more like the Saints got swindled in the Shockey trade as Miller Time takes over. With Jeremy Shockey still recovering from a groin injury, a newly sprained ankle, and a dressing down by Drew Brees on the sideline, it looks like Billy Miller will see an increased role for the foreseeable future. He grabbed 5 passes for 65 yards in Week 10, and has had no less than 53 yards since Week 5. As Colston and Shockey slowly get back into things, Miller will see plenty of action in the league's most prolific passing attack. |
Defense/Special Teams
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Player |
Rationale |
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Miami Dolphins |
In week 11, the Dolphins get to face the Oakland Raiders, who have scored a total of 16 points in the last 3 weeks. Expect another near shutout so long as Darren McFadden and Jamarcus Russell miss another game. Even with those two players, Miami is still a very good play. |
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