Stock Rising- Jason Avant

Jason Avant amassed 133 receiving yards on 7 receptions Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Analysis: This is Avant’s second big fantasy week in a row. He is obviously benefiting from the absence of DeSean Jackson and his impact has been significant. Avant has 17 targets, 11 receptions and 212 yards in his last two games. He is not much of a touchdown threat which does hinder his value but he may be of use in these final weeks. Nick Foles does spread the ball around on a pass heavy team so Avant should continue with a healthy amount of targets.

If Pierre Garcon does not have RG3 throwing him the ball next Sunday against Cleveland his fantasy value does take a hit. Is Avant a better fantasy option than Garcon if RG3 is out? Possibly, but he is not the red zone threat that Garcon is. Yes, there is an amount of risk in starting Avant next week but if LeSean McCoy remains out it will continue to boost his value. Avant is available in virtually every league but his stock is certainly rising.

Three Ball Help- Randy Foye

Randy Foye’s minutes in Utah have risen recently and to no one’s surprise so has his fantasy production.

Analysis: Randy Foye has been averaging thirty minutes per game over the past few weeks and his increased playing time is paying off. Foye has averaged 3.0 three pointers made and 6.6 three point attempts over his last five games. His greatest asset has always been his long range shooting ability so it’s good to see him shooting threes at a career high clip.

Foye may have point guard/shooting guard eligibility but you can’t really play him at the point. He only averages 1.8 assists per game this year and has not been a viable fantasy point guard since his days in Minnesota years ago. But Foye does bring some others tools to the fantasy table. He’ll give you about one steal per game and he’s a career 86% free throw shooter. He is available in eighty percent of leagues which doesn’t exactly make sense since he is getting thirty minutes per and hoisting up threes like it’s going out of style but keep in mind that he can hurt you with his field goal percentage if and when he cools off.

Why Not Brandon Myers?

Oakland tight end Brandon Myers caught 14 balls for 130 yards and a score Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Analysis: Brandon Myers has caught at least five balls in seven of his last eight contests and he has four touchdowns in his last five games. He isn’t a sexy fantasy player but he is a Raider tight end and that is a great thing to be at the moment. Oakland does not even have a semblance of a running game. Carson Palmer has thrown at least 40 passing attempts in five of his last seven games and no one is benefiting more than one Brandon Myers. Myers was targeted 15 times Sunday and has 38 targets over his last four games. All this twenty-seven year old does is produce these days.

Keeping his huge game Sunday in mind it is a must to pick Brandon Myers up now if you even have a chance to. He is outperforming the majority of the tight ends in the NFL and only four weeks are left in the season to capitalize. He’s available in over seventy percent of leagues and he may reach 1,000 receiving yards this year… unbelievable!

Russell Wilson Is Streaking

Russell Wilson threw for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns in Chicago Sunday afternoon.

Analysis: Russell Wilson now has 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions over his last four games. As much as everyone likes to rave about Andrew Luck he has thrown 8 interceptions over his last four games. Russell Wilson is simply playing smart, consistent football. Sunday’s game in Chicago is an impressive one and next up on the schedule is the lowly Arizona Cardinals. The following week is the Buffalo Bills which may be a good game to start the rookie over some big names like Flacco(vs. Den), Cutler(vs. GB), Luck(vs. Hou).

At the moment Wilson is available in eighty percent of fantasy leagues but how can you make a case against him at this point? His 9 touchdown/0 interception streak came against the Vikings, Jets, Dolphins and Bears… so there were not any defensive pushovers in that span. Seattle is one of the most run heavy teams in the NFL but Wilson has averaged 32 passing attempts over his last two games. The Seahawks are in the thick of the NFC playoff race and will certainly rely on his arm going forward and that is a good thing for his fantasy football value.

Last Call On Patrick Patterson

Patrick Patterson is not rebounding the ball particularly well but he is producing.

Analysis: Patrick Patterson is on a tear right now and he is still available in about half of fantasy leagues which will not last long at all. Patterson has three 20 point games over his last four contests and he’s averaging over thirty minutes per game in the last week. On his current five game streak he’s putting up 19.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG and he’s shooting 56% from the field. He’s also hitting over one three per game as his attempts from beyond the arc have increased dramatically this year.

Everyone is in love with Patterson now but it is rather disappointing that he is receiving so many minutes(29.7/g) yet he’s only averaging five rebounds per game. It’s just something you are going to have to live with from the power forward as the fantasy season moves along. He does pick up steals and blocks around a 0.5 per game clip, so he does contribute but not significantly in those areas. Keep in mind that Patterson is the hot power forward on the wire at the moment and he’s been playing great ball for over a week so many people are starting to catch on.