Week 11: Pickups of the Week

QB Sam Bradford, ---

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Bradford faces some tough competition in the coming weeks, but he showed on Sunday he is up to the task. His 104.1 passer rating is the highest of any 49ers opponent this season*. He looked very sharp and can probably credit much of his success to the healthy return of Danny Amendola. The two form one of the best QB-WR tandems in the league and should produce more solid fantasy outings down the home stretch. Bradford is a safer option for those owers who are looking to replace bye-weekers and concussed pivots.

*Not including Tim Tebow, who scored a 104.2 rating based on a single pass he threw and completed for nine yards back in Week 4.

QB Nick Foles, ---

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Healthy quarterbacks look to be in short supply this week, making this an ideal time to take a flier on a guy like Foles. Foles is in line to start for the injured Michael Vick on Sunday in a game with potentially huge repercussions for the Eagles. Vick's concussion doesn't just put his Week 11 availability in question, it also jeopardizes his soft hold on the starting job through the end of the season and beyond. His turnover-prone play coupled with Philadelphia's miserable record means Foles is essentially auditioning for the full-time gig. A solid performance by Foles against Washington -- one of the weakest teams in the league against the pass -- could push Vick to the bench for good.

QB Colin Kaepernick, ---

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With Alex Smith joining the long list of concussed or otherwise injured quarterbacks, owners need to consider adding Colin Kaepernick. The happy-footed backup racked up 66 rushing yards and a touchdown in just over half a game. And though his strong passing stats don't tell the whole story, Kaepernick was effective as a dual-threat and brings an intriguing dimension to the 49ers offense. Smith hasn't been ruled out of Week 11 yet, but deep and two-QB leaguers should factor Kaepernick into their contingency plans.

RB Chris Ivory, ---

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Ivory was playing mean on Sunday. In a crowded backfield he has a lot to prove, and knows that he must make the most of opportunities while Darren Sproles is out of the lineup. Ivory's rugged rushing style has now netted him touchdowns in consecutive games. With Sproles expected to be out again, the bruising youngster should factor heavily in the Saints' plans for their juicy Week 11 matchup with Oakland. The Raiders looked just awful last week against Baltimore and have now given up 97 points in the past two weeks alone. The high-scoring Saints offense could bust things wide open this Sunday. If they get up early, look for Ivory to carry a significant workload.

RB Marcel Reece, ---

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It turns out Oakland's coaching staff doesn't trust tailback Taiwan Jones to hold onto the football, so they once again turned to fullback Marcel Reece on Sunday. Reece's production makes it tough to believe he's a 255lb blocker and not a usual feature back. Not only did he haul in seven passes, he also carried the ball 13 times against the Ravens. As long as Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson remain out of the lineup, it looks like Reece will be a focal point for this offense. He's in line for a busy day: this week's matchup with New Orleans is shaping up to be a wild west shootout with neither team having shown much in the way of defense this season.

WR Danario Alexander, ---

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Signed by the Chargers in mid-October, Denario Alexander drew the start this week and wasted no time putting his stamp on game. He snagged the first pass thrown his way and ran it 80 yards for a touchdown, putting to bed any threat of a time share on the day with Robert Meachem. Alexander has long been considered a plus talent who just can't stay healthy. As long as you're not counting on him to finish out the season, Alexander has sky-high upside now that he's running with the starters and catching passes from Phillip Rivers.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, ---

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Though he still has a long way to go if he hopes to erase the "bust" label that has plagued him since the Raiders made him seventh overall back in the 2009 draft, Heyward-Bey has been performing at a high level this season and is earning back some lost respect. Last week, in his finest performance so far, he logged a TD and 82 yards on five catches. His role in the offense looks to be growing and at just the right time: two of his next three games are against teams who rank near the bottom of the league at stopping opposing wideouts. He first faces the Saints who, despite getting the win, gave up 100-yard receiving games to two Falcons last week. Then in Week 13 he'll look to exploit a Cleveland Browns team that is conceding nearly a touchdown and a half per game to wide receivers.

WR Laurent Robinson, ---

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Laurent Robinson led his team with 15 targets last Thursday against the Colts in his first full game since missing four weeks due to his latest concussion. Though he competes for targets with Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, Robinson should retain solid value as a trusted short and intermediate option who has a strong connection with QB Blaine Gabbert. Cecil Shorts may be the better vertical scoring threat, but Robinson deserves a look in deep or PPR leagues.

TE Dennis Pitta, ---

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Pitta snapped a five-game stretch of disappointing fantasy performances with a solid scoring day against the Raiders. Owners willing to take a risk on him will be hoping he can re-create the magic of his early season play when for a short few weeks he led all NFL tight ends in targets. He could be worth stashing on the bench, considering his team's schedule during the fantasy playoffs. Washington (Week 14), Denver (Week 15) and New York (Week 16) have all been thoroughly victimized by opposing tight ends this year.

PK Kai Forbath, ---

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Between them, Olindo Mare and Josh Brown played as many seasons in the NFL as Forbath has seen years on this earth. But with youth on his side, it was the former UCLA Bruin who out-duelled the grizzled vets to win Washington's mid-season kicking contest and the right to a job. Kai Forbath was signed to replace the ineffectual Billy Cundiff, whose five misses in the first five games were enough to get him kicked to the curb. Since taking over full-time kicking duties, Forbath is a perfect eight for eight on field goals, though he did have an extra point blocked back in Week 8. No matter. In a high-scoring role the rookie Redskin is a sneaky source for fantasy points and remains low on people's radar following his team's Week 10 bye.