After their monster games in Week 12, wide receivers Jacoby Ford (four receptions, 108 yards, one score) and Ben Obomanu (five receptions, 159 yards, one score) are likely no longer available in your leagues. In their absence, which free agent receivers can help you in Week 13?
Here’s a quartet of extremely under-owned wideouts who could pay fantasy dividends:
Brian Robiskie, Cleveland Browns (0 percent owned in Yahoo! and ESPN). Once touted as a better prospect than Browns teammate Mohamed Massaquoi, Robiskie hauled in a career-high seven receptions (for 50 yards) in Week 12. Only six players — Jason Witten, Andre Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Derrick Mason, Wes Welker and Jason Avant — caught more balls. Can Robiskie do it again in Week 13 when the Browns visit the Miami Dolphins? I say yes: the Oakland Raiders receivers — Ford and Louis Murphy — each had strong days against the visiting Dolphins in Week 12. (Murphy caught four passes for 73 yards.) Robiskie will have extra motivation: Dolphins WR Brian Hartline, whom Robiskie overshadowed at Ohio State, has been a much better pro than Robiskie.
Jason Avant, Philadelphia Eagles (4 percent owned in Yahoo!, 1.3 percent in ESPN). Coming off his best performance of the year — eight receptions for 83 yards at the Chicago Bears — Avant is poised to have another big game Thursday night when the Eagles host the Houston Texans, who are abominable defending the pass. The Texans surrender 286.2 passing yards per game (31st) and have yielded 25 touchdown passes to their opponents (32nd). To watch the Eagles is to know: Avant is a big part of the game plan. His 41 receptions are a testament to that.
Early Doucet, Arizona Cardinals (1 percent owned in Yahoo!, 6.0 percent in ESPN). The Cardinals offense might be the last place to turn after its pathetic showing in Monday night’s 27-6 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Still, the numbers don’t lie: Doucet has snagged at least five receptions in two of his last three games. Now in his third year, Doucet has one explosive outing on his resume: last year’s 51-45 Wild Card win against the Green Bay Packers, in which he scored twice and caught six passes for 77 yards. That game didn’t help fantasy owners, but it revealed Doucet’s upside. Hosting a porous St. Louis Rams defense in Week 13, Doucet and the Cardinals could have an revival. The Rams have surrendered more than 30 points in each of the last two weeks.
David Nelson, Buffalo Bills (0 percent owned in both Yahoo! and ESPN). Quick: Who is the Bills No. 3 receiver? It’s Nelson, and the question is relevant because of the Bills’ dangerous offense. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has tossed 19 touchdown passes in nine games, eclipsing 220 passing yards in seven of them. Earlier this season, as the Bills No. 3 WR, Roscoe Parrish posted four straight games with at least four receptions and 57 receiving yards. In Week 12 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nelson (six catches, 58 yards) appeared ready to assume the mantle of Parrish’s productivity. In Week 13, the Bills visit a Vikings defense that is overall strong against the pass, but has allowed 18 touchdown receptions to opponents.
Keep this quartet in mind in RosterSlots, where the Week 12 scoring leaders among receivers and TEs included several previously obscure WRs: Not only Ford and Obomanu, but also unheralded sources of fantasy points such as Bears WR Earl Bennett (3 percent owned in Yahoo!, 0.6 percent owned in ESPN) and Rams TE Billy Bajema (0 percent owned in Yahoo!, 0.2 percent in ESPN). When it comes to receiving touchdowns, there are surprises every week. The trick is guessing who they’ll be before they post their first big game.
