No less than four starting quarterbacks went down with injuries during Week 10. It’s not unprecedented, but it is unusual. After all, the running backs and wideouts are usually the ones getting banged up in the open field.
The good news is that there are a lot of good backup options. Here are the top pickups for the week:
1. Nick Foles: Don’t listen to Andy Reid. The Michael Vick era is over and it’s time to see what the third-round rookie can do. Considering the situation Foles was thrown into with no practice time against a strong Cowboys secondary, I thought he performed well. He keeps his eyes down the field, has a big arm and isn’t afraid to take hits. He has elite weapons that can do things after the catch for him. He faces the Redskins’ 30th-ranked pass defense this week. I’d bet on at least 200 yards and two touchdowns.
2. Marcel Reece: Hopefully you listened last week and added Reece. The Raiders staff clearly doesn’t trust Taiwan Jones and Darren McFadden is iffy for Week for Week 11. Reece is a beast in the passing game and showed reasonably as a one-back runner against the Ravens as well.
3. Danario Alexander: He’s supplanted Robert Meachem as the Chargers’ starter and every-down wideout opposite Malcom Floyd. DX always had the talent, but his knees never cooperated. Now he feels healthy and building some serious chemistry with Philip Rivers.
4. Colin Kaepernick: The only reason Kaepernick isn’t higher on this list is because Alex Smith (concussion) figures to miss one game at most. But anytime Kaepernick starts he’ll be a top-12 quarterback play for me. He runs like Tebow and throws much, much better. Tons of upside.
5. Donnie Avery: What hip injury? Avery played through some soreness and held off TY Hilton for an every-down role last Thursday. Now he’s had extra time to prep and Andrew Luck loves to chuck it deep to him.
