Fantasy Football Playoffs: One Last Chance To Pick 'Em Up

Pickups and Drops

by Pharmacist ForgetItJake™

QUARTERBACKS

Drew Stanton (QB - Det) - The kid actually looked pretty darn good against one of the better Ds in the league last week (Bears), and anybody who went to a Big Ten school (specifically Michigan State) knows he has both the passing skills to hold water and the scrambling tools to get himself out of trouble.  The Lions will always need to pass the ball, and if he can do as well as Shaun Hill in this offense, he's worth a shot.

Tarvaris Jackson (QB - Min) - If Favre happens to be hurt for awhile (which actually, he's not), he could be a decent pickup with Rice back and Harvin coming back from his one-week migraine absence.  With the Vikings out of the playoff hunt and Favre sure to retire next year (yeah right!), Minnesota may take the reigns off of Jackson in an effort to see what he has for the team's future.

Running Backs

Tashard Choice (RB - Dal) - The guy had 14 carries for 38 yards on the season before Sunday's game against the lowly Colts, so don't get too excited about this one.  Still, it looks like Felix got a little too heavy in the offseason and Barber's running style isn't working well of late. With Dallas' offense clicking on all cylinders, he's definitely worth a gamble to those in need.

James Starks (RB - GB) - Starks could be an outstanding dynasty league pickup at this point. He had never carried the ball as a pro until Sunday, and yet the Packers, a playoff team, gave it to him 18 times. This green fella should be able to benefit from a team that needs to find its running game if they plan on doing anything in the postseason. He's a bonafide every down back with the size, skills and speed to possibly become next season's Arian Foster.

Marshawn Lynch (RB - Sea) - This call is a little more on the "maybe he was dropped out of utter frustration" side, but the Seahawks are running the ball well right now and doing so often, so he might be worth a chance.  Fugly No. 24 had three touchdowns this past week, so maybe, just maybe, he'll decide to go beast mode for you the rest of the year.

Wide Receivers

Sidney Rice (WR - Min) - This is obviously a big "just in case he was dropped" guy, and if he was, the kid can flat out make big plays with the best of them.  He has just eight catches in three games since returning from hip surgery, but last week looked like the start of something big and with or without Favre, Rice has major upside playing in his favor.

Mohamed Massaquoi (WR - Cle) - Honestly, there's not much here, but if you need a guy on your team for any reason, Massaquoi is actually pretty darn talented and seems to have a pretty good rapport with current QB Jake Delhomme.

Deon Butler/Golden Tate (WRs - Sea) - With Mike Williams being out at least one more week (possibly longer) and Obomanu not being a sure bet to come back this week with a severe laceration on his hand, one of these two guys could be the de facto WR1 against a weak 49ers pass D this weekend. Tate can make the big plays and while Butler looks like a prepubescent boy dressed up in pads, he seems to have a nose for the ball as well.

Tight Ends

Jared Cook (TE - Ten) - It's been two weeks in a row now where Cook has led the team in targets while amassing four catches with 40-plus yards each week.  He's a FAR better talent than Bo Scaife, and if you happen to be in a dynasty league go ahead and grab him immediately.

Ed Dickson (TE - Bal) - Todd Heap looks like he may be shelved for at least awhile, if not the year, and Dickson has all the talent in the world to produce in his absence.  The third-round pick out of Oregon could be used quite a bit in the coming weeks as the Ravens play Houston (allow the most fantasy points to TEs in the league), New Orleans and Cleveland, so take a chance in this slim tight end market.

Kickers

Clint Stitser (K - Cin) - Stitser is the new kicker for Cincinnati and went three-for-three in his debut last week (23, 29, and 47-yarders).  If you happen to be in the market for a boot-boy, Clint could be the man you're looking for.

Previous Pyromaniac Pickup & Drops Articles:

BEFORE WEEK 13

BEFORE WEEK 12

BEFORE WEEK 11