Week 9: Pickups of the Week
QB Matt Cassel, ---
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Leading up to his team's Week 6 bye, Cassel was on a three-game tear during which he tossed seven touchdowns against only one interception while completing an impressive 68% of his passes. The Oakland game was a big step back; San Diego a more pedestrian performance. But next week Cassel and the Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins -- currently the softest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks. This is a great chance for Cassel to get things rolling again. With so much uncertainty at QB and two of the better fantasy options (Matt Stafford and Cam Newton) taking the week off, Cassel deserves another look.
RB Chris Ogbonnaya, ---
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Montario Hardesty is out for the next two games. Peyton Hillis has already missed a game and is dealing with a nagging injury. If he can't go on Sunday, Chris Ogbonnaya will get the start against Houston. It's a tough assignment, but some fantasy owners won't have other options available to them. And if Hillis' injury continues to nag, those who pick up Ogbonnaya now will be in line for some nice return on investment after he faces the lowly St. Louis Rams (his former team) in Week 10.
RB Javon Ringer, ---
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With nearly half the season now in the books, Chris Johnson is on pace for a paltry 690 rushing yards -- that's less than half his 2010-11 total and about a third as many yards as he recorded back in 2009-10. It appears he's now reached the end of the very long leash he had been afforded by Tennessee's coaching staff. Mid-way through yet another ineffectual performance last Sunday, he was replaced and badly outplayed by Javon Ringer. Two weeks ago, coach Mike Munchak shot down insinuations that Ringer deserved a bigger share of the backfield duties. It seems he's changed his tune. Both backs got 14 carries against the Colts and it was Ringer, not Johnson, who was on the field during the 4th quarter to ice the win. That 50/50 split is what we should expect to see again next week as the #1 RB job in Tennessee is now officially up for grabs.
WR Early Doucet, ---
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Doucet now has touchdowns in back-to-back games against murderous defenses and should be thrilled at the prospect of facing the Rams this weekend. Only Indianapolis has allowed more touchdowns to opposing receivers. Though Doucet is listed as the team's number three receiver, he is really the Cardinals' second next best receiving option and will continue to reap the benefits of squaring off against weak corners and nickelbacks while teams expend their coverage resources trying to contain Larry Fitzgerald.
WR Greg Salas, ---
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As if playing for an 0-6 team wasn't humiliating enough, Sam Bradford had to suffer through the indignity of watching from the sidelines this week as A.J. Feeley led his team to their first victory on the season. Feeley was unspectacular, but got the job done and made good use of Greg Salas,the rookie who had been developing into Bradford's favourite target. Whether or not Bradford makes it back this week, Salas remains a solid play. Arizona defensive backs have failed to cover anyone this year, meaning this could be another big week. And Salas' prospects will continue to improve as soon as Bradford comes back.
