|
Mick's Picks :: Week 8
by Scott Mickels
Published: October 23, 2008, 11:15 am
Make sure to check here every week! Each week I'll help you make those critical waiver wire decisions that can make or break your team. Also, check out the FPM Weekly podcast , to not only hear any changes to my Mick's Picks, but you can hear podcast co-host Matt Ridley, list of his "Ridley's Releases" as well.
Mick's Picks - Week 8 
Donnie Avery, WR, STL (@NE)
FPM Spin: This seems to be my "WR Edition" of Mick's Picks this week. I try to mix things up, but there just weren't many other positions that lent themselves to being pick-up worthy. At any rate, Avery leads things off this week. He's quickly on his way to establishing himself as the #2 receiver in St. Louis, if he hasn't already. On the season he has 15 catches, but 12 of those have come in the last three weeks alone, so it appears he's becoming more and more integrated into the offense. He has great speed and sure hands, so he makes a nice compliment to the aging Torry Holt, who isn't the Rams deep threat as he was during "The Greatest Show on Turf", but is now more of a possession receiver who can occasionally get deep—similar to the role of former teammate Isaac Bruce. As long as Avery remains in the starting lineup, and for the foreseeable future it seems he will, he makes a decent #3 receiver or flex option going forward into Week 8. 
Antonio Bryant, WR, TB (@DAL) FPM Spin: While Joey Galloway has been out with a foot injury, Bryant has made the most of his opportunities in Tampa. So much so that head coach John Gruden has said he would leave him in the starting lineup even when Galloway returns, which could be as soon as this week. This season he's hauled in 31 balls for 406 yards and a score. Bryant's production this year has pretty much went about as well as the pass defense he's playing. In three games against the Bears, Broncos and Seahawks' porous pass defense, he's averaged just under 8 receptions for over 100 yards. Against more stout competition in the Panthers and Packers, he's averaged about 3 catches for 25 yards. This week the Bucs face a very suspect Cowboys secondary, so he should make a decent option as a #2 in most leagues. He also makes a good long-term option at receiver as the season progresses because the Bucs have some very favorable match-ups coming up in the next month or so against Minnesota, Detroit and New Orleans. Stats - 31 receptions, 406 yards, 1 TD
Mike Furrey, WR, DET (vs. WAS) FPM Spin: It's no coincidence Furrey's biggest game of the year came on the heels of Roy Williams being shipped to Dallas. He out-gained his entire season's yardage production in one game. Before Week 7's game against the Texans, Furrey had all of 8 catches for 52 yards, making his monster 2006 season a distant memory. However, he finished the game last week with 6 catches for 89 yards as the Lions' leading receiver. It obviously doesn't help that he has a backup quarterback throwing him the ball in Dan Orlovsky, but as bad as the Lions are, they're destined to be playing from behind and should be throwing often. Plus, with a big talent like Calvin Johnson getting most of the defenses' attention, Furrey should be able to be to sneak in as a decent fantasy producer for the rest of the season. He makes a decent pick-up as a #4 receiver in deeper leagues or as a #3/flex bye-week filler.
Stats - 14 receptions, 141 yards, 0 TD HONORABLE MENTIONSJeff Garcia, QB, TB Josh Morgan, WR, SF Kevin Curtis, WR, PHI
|
|
