Week 15: Pickups of the Week

QB Nick Foles, ---

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Foles is the opposite of Michael Vick. And while that would have been an insult just a year ago, in the eyes of Eagles fans it is what makes him the right man to lead their moribund team into a new era. Where Vick was the picture of athleticism, Foles is lead-footed and built like a desk-jockey. Yet somehow he's managed to avoid the mistakes that had plagued his predecessor. Since taking over at QB five weeks ago, Foles has committed a total of four turnovers -- none of which have come in the past three games. He's improved steadily in his short stint as starter and last week delivered a fantasy gem: 381 passing yards, two touchdowns by air, one by ground, zero picks, zero fumbles. Vick has been unofficially shut down for the season so that Eagles brass can take a closer look at their young up-and-coming pivot. They like what they've seen so far. RG3 owners might want to give him a tryout if their athletic QB can't make it back from his injury this week.

QB Brandon Weeden, HOU

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Weeden is not (by a long shot) one of the league's top rookie quarterbacks. But you have to allow that he's been overshadowed by what will likely go down as the best rookie crop of signal callers ever. Now the man who arguably leads that bunch -- Robert Griffin III -- might be out of action during a crucial fantasy playoff week. This could be Weeden's big opportunity to step up. He faces Griffin's squad this week -- and they've been much less impressive on defense than on offense. The Redskins have given up the most passing touchdowns and are second only to Tampa Bay in passing yardage allowed. Weeden isn't on the marquee, but right now he's now the big name in Week 15's Cleveland vs. Washington tilt.

RB Montell Owens, ---

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Our advice from last week still applies. Montell Owens is a reasonably healthy running back. That's really all you need to know about him. No one else in Jacksonville can make that claim right now, so Owens will be the man until team doctors can -- like the king's horses and men -- put one of the others together again. Jalen Parmele is on IR, Rashad Jennings is concussed (and largely ineffective besides), while Maurice Jones-Drew is due back eventually. If MJD can't go this week and you're hurting for a back, feel free to give Owens a shot. He rushed for an impressive 91 yards and a score in his first career start last week.

RB Bilal Powell, ---

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The Jets, an offensive laughing-stock most of this season, have actually won three of their last four. Over that span, Bilal Powell has scored four touchdowns while averaging more than 13 carries and 54 yards per game. His fantasy relevance is the product of the statistical black hole that is the Jets passing attack. And even though he shares a backfield with a 20-carry-per-game RB, he'll keep taking a significant number of handoffs to ensure Jets QBs don't have to force a significant number of throws. That makes him a worthy playoff flex option in 12-team leagues.

RB David Wilson, ---

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Relegated to the bench early in the season due to a case of butterfingers, Wilson lost his spot on the depth chart to Andre Brown and was viewed as just a return specialist. And though he leads the league in kick return yardage, he had no clear path to fantasy relevance. Then Brown suffered a season-ending injury. Then Ahmad Bradshaw got banged up. And then, suddenly, David Wilson had re-written the Giants' single-game record for all-purpose yardage. He dominated last week and could do so again this week against an Atlanta team that gives up 4.9 yards per carry on the ground. Keep an eye on New York's injury updates this week and get ready to plug Wilson into your lineup if it looks like Bradshaw is anything less than 100 per cent healthy.

WR Jason Avant, ---

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DeSean Jackson is on injured reserve and that has opened the door for Jason Avant, who gets the added bonus of working with fellow former practice-squader Nick Foles. Foles has looked Avant's way 17 times over the past two games and has connected with him for 11 catches, 212 yards in that time. Avant has shown exceptional hands and, while he lacks the kind of downfield speed we expect from Philadelphia wideouts, he could be a useful playoff addition to fantasy rosters in PPR leagues.

WR Josh Gordon, ---

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As the anti-Greg Little, Josh Gordon has put together a solid rookie campaign and is now a reliable number one option in Cleveland. On Sunday he set new single game highs in catches (8) and targets (12), helping to spur his team to a third consecutive victory. The Browns face Washington's league-worst pass defense this week. That matchup offers massive fantasy potential for all members of Cleveland's passing attack. Gordon isn't flying under the radar any more and should now be considered starter-worthy (even in some ten-team leagues).

WR Kevin Ogletree, ---

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Ogletree leaped into the collective fantasy consciousness after a huge Week 1 line (8/114/2), then promptly fell into irrelevance. He's found the end zone only once since and has been locked into a time share for the Cowboys' third receiver job with Dwayne Harris. However, Dez Bryant's broken finger could elevate one of Harris or Ogletree to starter status. We give Ogletree the slight nod, although he could also be effective should he be given a full share of snaps out of the slot. If Bryant can't go this week, Ogletree is a decent replacement option.

TE Dennis Pitta, ---

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Pitta has been hot and cold all season long, alternating between solid performances and occasional vanishing acts. He stunk it up in Weeks 9, 11, and 13, but scored TDs on strong receiving games in Weeks 10, 12 and 14. Owners who acquire his services this week, plugging the holes left by Brent Celek and Jared Cook, will be hoping Pitta can get over his unfavorable even/odd week split. A matchup with the Denver Broncos, who have been torched at times this season by opposing tight ends, could help him snap that pattern.

PK Phil Dawson, ---

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Week 13 saw Phil Dawson's streak of 27 consecutive field goals come to an end. But he got right back on track in Week 14, going 3-for-3 and capping a five-game stretch during which he has scored eight or more points per contest. If reliability is important to you at the kicker position (it should be), you might want to consider dropping inconsistent David Akers or banged up Robbie Gould -- each owned in about twice as many leagues as Dawson and each averaging fewer fantasy points on the season.