How is it that the regular season is already 25 percent gone?! Anyway, while time continues to fly by, make the best of it by grabbing these players if they are available in your fantasy football league.
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
I hope this rookie hasn't fallen out of sight, out of mind for you. When we last saw him, Wentz was turning the Steelers' defense into mincemeat. His completion percentage has improved each week, he still hasn't committed a turnover and has a stupendous upcoming matchup against the Lions. It's one thing to get beaten by the likes of Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers, but Detroit allowed Brian Hoyer to put up more than 300 yards, a couple of TDs and a 120.1 passer rating just two days ago.
Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
The logic here is similar to that which applies to Wentz; try to catch your competition napping. Ertz is owned in many more leagues compared to his quarterback, but that percentage is only about 60. He caught six passes for 58 yards in Week 1 before missing the next couple of games due to a rib injury. However, Ertz is ready to go once again, and that Lions defense, while being bad in general against the pass, has been particularly inept at slowing down tight ends. They have given up a touchdown to a TE each week this season and six in total.
Terrance West and Kenneth Dixon, RBs, Baltimore Ravens
For one week at least, there was a rare sight coming out of the Ravens' backfield: clarity. West took 21 of the team's running back 24 carries for 113 and a score versus the Raiders. Buck Allen got three totes while Justin Forsett was a healthy scratch. That kind of workload would put West on the RB2 radar every week. Alas, Dixon, a fourth-round rookie who has yet to play this season due to a knee injury suffered during the preseason, is expected to be added to the mix Sunday versus the Redskins and their weak run defense. Dixon is more athletic, more explosive, much quicker. Really, he should be picked up based off of potential alone. But since West has been a stellar pass blocker this season and is currently at the top of this group, he is the preferred short-term pickup. Again, the Redskins have been consistently gashed on the ground.
Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo Bills
Without Sammy Watkins around, someone's gotta catch passes for Buffalo. And for two weeks running, that someone most of all has been Woods. He has snagged 13 of his 18 targets during that time for 140 yards. He is not a high-upside option -- Woods has never topped 700 yards or five touchdowns during his three-year career. Yet, he can be a reliable, high-floor WR3, especially in PPR formats. Those kinds of players definitely have value as bye weeks diminish fantasy rosters.
Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears
Royal is about as inconsistent as they come. Depending on him is always a dangerous game. But it's worth nothing that he caught each of his seven targets Sunday for 111 yards and a TD. And with Kevin White needing an MRI, Royal might move up a rung in Chicago's wide receiver pecking order. He also has three pretty nice matchups on tap from Weeks 5-7: Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Green Bay, respectively.
