Week 15: Deep League Pickups

At this point in the season, deep league pickups is more about the here and now than long-term educated guessing. (Also it is getting very hard to recommend folks since the regular pickups column is having to dig deeper and deeper)...To paraphrase Dennis Green: the players are who we think they are. Outside of injuries that provide playing time for unknown backups (Chris Jennings, Arian Foster), the focus for owners in deep leagues should be primarily about adding players that can help their starting lineup this week, that have a great match-up in the coming weeks or are worth adding simply to keep them away from a fellow playoff hopeful. Do not go cutting a viable player for a one-week rental, unless it is an "all-in" type scenario. Besides, all contending fantasy teams should have scant dead weight on their roster if they have been adding the recommended players mentioned in this column and other places on FFToolbox.com.

On Tuesday's podcast, I will be joined by fellow FFToolbox writer Brian Murphy and George Bissell. We will breakdown all of the Week 15 games, including what to make of Reggie Wayne's skid, the emergence of backs like Quinton Ganther and potentially starting Brady Quinn over Jay Cutler. Plus, we will analyze the Week 15 value of players like Percy Harvin, Ryan Grant and Hakeem Nicks. And of course, breakdown the key starts, sits and free agents of the week.

QB Jason Campbell, OAK

MyFantasyLeague availability: 54.95%

As a Redskins fan, watching their inept offense perform the past couple of years has certainly taken a few years off my life, but there has been a ray of hope of late and its name is Jason Campbell. Yes, the passing game continued to have its issues over the first half of the season, but a change at play caller has clearly helped Campbell (as has the growth of his young receivers). Through Week 11, Campbell threw 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions; in the last three games he has seven TDP and three picks while averaging 273 yards. The Redskins have scored at least 24 points in three straight games and now face a Giants secondary that continues to give up big time points and yards to opposing passers. Do not go swapping out a top-15 QB for Campbell this week, but for those who have been waiting for Matt Ryan to return or struggling with Carson Palmer and Jay Cutler, take a closer look at the Skins' QB... a much closer look.

RB Chris Jennings, ---

MyFantasyLeague availability: 100%

So last week every pundit ended up with egg on their face after jumping on the Jerome Harrison bandwagon after his 17 touches for 97 yards performance in Week 12. It did seem logical, especially combined with his earlier season production (even though Jennings had been getting more PT in the prior weeks). Well, that all changed after the rookie racked up 20-73-1 against a tough Steelers defense last week. Now the Browns face the Chiefs and Raiders the next two weeks, teams that have been giving up yards on the ground like they are passing out lollipops at a pediatricians office. Look, the Browns are at the same level as those teams so let's not carried away. Plus, who knows for sure which RB the coaching staff will favor this week. Still, if they play like they did against the Lions earlier this year, they could score plenty of points over these two weeks. For those in a pinch, Jennings makes for a good flex play reach this week and maybe more if his number is called early and often.

RB Leonard Weaver, PHI

MyFantasyLeague availability: 96.84%

Though he has yet to crack 10 touches in either game, Weaver has come up with consecutive productive fantasy for owners daring enough to use the Eagles' fullback following the absence of Brian Westbrook. LeSean McCoy had been getting the bulk of the touches immediately after Brian Westbrook went out of the lineup with an injury, but he has a combined 80 yards on 23 touches over the last two games -- compared to 17-141-2 for Weaver. The Eagles are not a ground oriented team so his number of carries will likely remain in the 6-10 range, but he catches passes and is getting looks around the goal line. Assuming Westbrook is out another game, expect McCoy to see an uptick in looks this week, but Weaver will remain a factor and could have a nice day if the Eagles end up inside the Niners' 5-yard line more often than not

WR Austin Collie, IND

MyFantasyLeague availability: 32.29%

When we get this deep into receivers, the one point I always come back to is who is throwing them the ball. There are not many passers that spread the wealth enough to warrant considering the 4/5 receiving option, but there are not many passers like Peyton Manning. Collie has scored in back-to-back games and that comes right after he tallied 70 yards in Week 12. Defenses have been taking Reggie Wayne away the past month, but Manning continues to find his other choices with ease, and that should continue against the a sub par Jags pass defense. This could be the last game the Colts go all out for four quarters before they start shutting it down a bit for the playoffs. Collie could see additional snaps if they decided to rest Wayne and others along the way. His typically low yardage totals make him a risk, but I'd take my chances with a Peyton Manning target over other comparable choices any day.

WR Johnny Knox, CHI

MyFantasyLeague availability: 13.2%

This call is largely based on the potential absence of Devin Hester for the second straight week. The Bears' offense has been borderline laughable for weeks on end and playing the Ravens (even in a down year for their defense) is not a great way to get jump started. However, they will likely have little success on the ground against that sixth-ranked run defense, so expect them to throw 35 or more times. That brings the discussion around to the rookie Knox, who led the Bears with 83 receiving yards and scored for the second time in three weeks. Devin Aromashodu caught eight passes last week, but Knox remains the big play target with the other Devin out of the lineup and is an upside, but low-end WR3 play.

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