Week 9: Pickups of the Week

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, ---

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A pedestrian showing against Kansas City should dial back owner expectations that went sky-high following Fitzpatrick's miracle game against Baltimore. The Harvard kid still threw the ball 48 times on Sunday, but showed he's not always going to be a world beater. With six more teams on bye this week, owners have few other places to turn. Fitzpatrick has ranged from average to exceptional this year where any other prospective pickups have at least one truly awful game on their record. Despite facing a tough Bears pass defense, he's probably the most reliable option out there.

QB Josh Freeman, ---

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If your starter has the week off and you just need a live body to warm the chair, pick up a few yards and not murder you with dumb interceptions, Freeman is your man. He's a steady hand who provides predictably modest production week in and week out. Seven games in, he's thrown only eight TDs and is averaging just over 200 yards per game. On the positive side, he hasn't shot himself in the foot with negative plays. He's thrown only three picks and is exactly the caretaker type of QB that risk-averse owners are looking for to hold down the fort while the Ortons, Bradfords, Youngs and McNabbs of the league get some much needed R and R.

RB LeGarrette Blount, ---

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Blount's name was in these virtual pages last week, but I'll admit I didn't expect it to top the Week 8 headlines. The undrafted rookie out of Oregon had been steadily stealing his way into the top spot in the backfield pecking order and solidified his new role with a virtuoso 22-carry, 120-yard, 2-TD outburst that included a highlight real vault during a 48-yard 4th quarter run. There's a very short list of running backs -- seven, at present -- who average 20 carries or more per game on the season. Over the second half, Blount could well join them. He's clearly in control of the Tampa ground game and should be their go to guy down the stretch.

RB Mike Tolbert, ---

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The dreaded committee is in full effect in San Diego and those who were holding out hope that Ryan Matthews would emerge as the top dog need to come to terms with the facts: Tolbert has scored in five consecutive games and has eight touchdowns now on the season. Four of the league's top running backs have this week off. If you've been avoiding this platoon, now is the time to get entrenched. Outside of Mike Tolbert, who's unowned in almost half of all MyFantasy.com leagues, you're unlikely to find this kind of scoring potential unclaimed.

WR Bernard Berrian, ---

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Berrian was a massive disappointment over the first half of the season and tumbled out of the starting lineup when Randy Moss was signed. Well, the Moss experiment lasted only four games and Berrian now gets a second chance -- from the Vikings and maybe from fantasy owners too. With Sidney Rice still likely a few weeks from returning (and a banged up Percy Harvin now facing double-coverages), Berrian will have some opportunities. Just two years ago, he was one of the league's top deep threats. He still has the speed and just needs a confidence-building performance. Harvin's ankle-injury could make Berrian the top target this week against a mediocre Arizona pass defense. Expect him to come up big.

WR Steve Breaston, ---

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After three weeks off due to injury (four with the bye), Breaston returned with a bang, piling up 147 yards on eight catches last weekend. A clear number two, he nevertheless has now crossed the century mark in yards two times more than his counterpart, Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's talent makes him a coverage magnet, and that frees up Breaston. Though Breaston was a preseason sleeper, some owners dumped him while he was hurt and have forgotten to pick him up since his return. It's at least worth a check to see if he's still out there -- as of Monday night, he was unowned in 30 per cent of leagues.

WR Anthony Gonzalez, ---

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Gonzalez is healthy again and ready to push Blair White to the bench and resume full-time slot duties for the Colts. He looked a little rusty on Monday night, but that's to be expected after a year and a half away from the field. With Austin Collie sidelined for the next few games, Gonzalez should round into form quickly and deserves to be heavily rostered in fantasy leagues now that he's back.

TE Greg Olsen, ---

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Like Breaston, Olsen was a preseason sleeper. But it was irrelevance, not injury that saw him kicked to the curb in many leagues. He picked up his play a bit just before the bye and is a solid bounce-back candidate over the remainder of the season. This week he faces a generous Bills defense that has, three times this season, turned opposing tight ends into fantasy heroes. Buffalo gave up two touchdowns to Dustin Keller in Week 4, two TDs to Marcedes Lewis in Week 5 and two more to Todd Heap in Week 7. Lewis, Vernon Davis and Chris Cooley have the week off, so owners should think about forgiving Olsen his lackluster start and seeing if he can't exploit a soft Week 9 matchup.

TE Jacob Tamme, ---

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For anyone who doubts Peyton Manning or the Colts offense, here's even more proof that Indianapolis can make a star out of any player. In the last few years, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark were locks for stardom -- the rest were unknowns. Yet any given week, Indianapolis seems to trot out a new receiver who can step in to do what needs to be done for this offense. Brandon Stokley seamlessly became Ricky Proehl, who turned into Anthony Gonzalez, who became Austin Collie and is now Blair White. When Harrison retired, Garcon was there to pick up the torch. And with Dallas Clark on the shelf, it looks like Jacob Tamme will pick up right where his predecessor left off. Tamme had six catches for 64 yards and a score in his first career start; playing in this fantasy factory, he could be a borderline TE1 going forward.

Las Vegas

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Oakland is on an unexpected roll and, while much of the credit is going to an improved running game, their defense is actually doing the bulk of the damage. The Raiders lead their division with 12 takeaways on the season and are holding opposing teams to a wretched 77.6 QB rating. A fierce pass rush marks the difference between this year's men-in-black and last year's doormat team. Oakland is currently tied for third in the NFL in sacks behind relentless pressure from Matt Shaughnessy, Richard Seymour, Kamerion Wimbley and Tommy Kelly. Only news of Nnamdi Asomugha's ankle sprain keeps me from getting behind this rejuvenated defensive 100 per cent.