Week 1: Pickups of the Week
WR Brandon LaFell, CAR
MyFantasyLeague availability: 48%Over the course of the preseason, LaFell has emerged as a starter and will open play against Tampa Bay this week opposite Steve Smith. Behind Legadu Nanee for most of 2011, LaFell still managed an impressive 613 yards on just 36 catches. As a full-time starter on an explosive offense headed by one of the top young quarterbacks in the game, he could approach 1,000 yards and will bear consideration as a flex play or WR3 most weeks.
WR Laurent Robinson, ---
MyFantasyLeague availability: 85%Robinson hit the free agency jackpot this offseason. Long damned to fantasy purgatory because of the flashing "fragile" label on his back, he managed to parlay his first (mostly) healthy season into a $32.5-million contract. We're not saying the Jaguars overpaid, but prior to his 11-TD breakout in 2011 Robinson had not scored more than twice in a season over his first four years in the league. Fortunately for fantasy owners, Robinson's services come cheaper in the realm of fake football. One of last year's breakout players is sitting on the waiver wire in many leagues right now. You don't need to trust his health or sign his paychecks, just throw him out there for Week 1 and trust he will exploit a Minnesota secondary that was extremely generous to visiting wideouts last year.
Injury Status: Injured ReserveWR Rod Streater, OAK
MyFantasyLeague availability: 81%A training camp and preseason darling, the undrafted Streater could pay serious dividends for owners in PPR leagues. With Jacoby Ford ailing, Streater seems to have a direct line to the starting slot job in Week 1 -- a position he might never relinquish. Unlike other Raiders receivers, Streater is a big-bodied concise route-runner with great hands. He's not as speedy as his teammates, but he could prove to be more consistent. Worth a gamble in deeper formats.
WR Kendall Wright, TEN
MyFantasyLeague availability: 46%A 2012 first-rounder out of Baylor, Wright draws a starting assignment right out of the gates thanks to a Kenny Britt suspension. The rooke impressed in preseason and seemed poised to fill Britt's shoes long-term when it looked like the veteran was going to miss multiple games. Instead, Britt benefits from a rare instance of leniancy from the league's discipline committee and Wright gets a one-week test run. If you have the roster space, it might be worthwhile to roll the dice with the youngster versus a Patriots defense that struggled in coverage all last season.
TE Dustin Keller, MIA
MyFantasyLeague availability: 54%Keller quietly put together a solid 65-ctach, 815-yard season -- if it's possible for any player to do things quietly in the football fishbowl that is New York/New Jersey. Only his limited touchdown output (five) kept him from cracking the top ten fantasy tight ends. He'll have an outside shot to ascend to the ranks of the TE1-worthy this season and opens with favorable competition against the visiting Bills. Buffalo gave up nearly a touchdown per game to opposing tight ends in 2011.
Remember to read all our columns for this week and use our Who To Start Rankings
