Week 14 WR Pickups
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

Here they are. I put them in the order I’d pick them up in.

Wide Receivers:

Josh Gordon (vs KC), WR Cleveland Browns
He’s a unique talent that’s hard to find a comparison for. It’s been a great year for rookie QB’s but unnoticed by many is that it’s also been the year of the rookie WR. Josh Gordon is at the head of that pack and is only 45% owned, coming off a monster performance at Oakland. At the very least, he should be rostered as a defensive measure against your playoff foes. With a gunslinger at quarterback and two nice matchups at home in Week 14 and 15, I am very bullish on Gordon. He should be started over a lot more familiar names the next two weeks.

Golden Tate (vs ARI), WR Seattle Seahawks
We’ve been high on Tate for about a month now in our rankings, and it keeps paying dividends. Tate has scored over 15 fantasy points in 3 of his last 4 games. There were Thanksgiving reports that the Wilson and Tate families were fond of each other and had a growing relationship. It is showing up on the field. Tate played 94% of offensive snaps last week, he gets a big boost coming home.

Chris Givens (@ BUF), WR St. Louis Rams
Another filthy rookie receiver. Givens has proven to us 6 times now that when Danny Amendola is out, he is virtually a lock for double digit fantasy points. Givens played 92% of offensive snaps in Week 13 and received an impressive 14 targets. Danny Amendola’s return in Week 14 is anything but certain. Givens is a solid start at Buffalo.

Kendall Wright (@ IND), WR Tennessee Titans
Oh, what a surprise. Another rookie on the list. Wright plays less snaps than his co-workers but he clearly has the best chemistry with Jake Locker. He had 10 targets for 78 yards in Week 13 and a terrific matchup on the horizon at Indianapolis. Wright is almost a guarantee for 5-6 points with the possibility of double digits if he scores.

Donnie Avery (vs TEN), WR Indianapolis Colts
It’s flip-flopped, now T.Y. Hilton (another rookie) is 60% owned and the veteran Donnie Avery is only 35% owned. Avery had 14 targets for 91 yards and 2 TDs in Week 13. He played 99% of offensive snaps. I like every wide receiver in an Andrew Luck offense. Avery gets a great matchup this week at home on the fast track.

Riley Cooper (@ TB), WR Philadelphia Eagles
I was wrong after the Senior Bowl last year. Nick Foles is a good quarterback. It was hard to measure intelligence at that event, and I believe he excels in that category. Not to mention the vastly improved rhythm to his passing in a setting where he’s been able to establish timing with his receivers. What does this mean? I love Riley Cooper. With DeSean Jackson out for the season, Cooper played 98% of snaps last week. His 5 targets for 31 yards and a beautiful touchdown were good for 9 fantasy points. He’s practiced with Foles on the 2nd team all year and you don’t get a better matchup than Tampa Bay. Jason Avant deserves honorable mention with his 5 targets for 79 yards in Week 13. He is also a consideration for the reasons stated above, but he plays less snaps than Cooper.

Mike Thomas (@ GB), WR Detroit Lions
I will start by saying that he did absolutely nothing last week. Actually, he went negative to be exact. With Ryan Broyles lost for the season and malcontent Titus Young Sr. banished from the team, who else is Matt Stafford going to throw it to? Oh yeah, Calvin Johnson. Sure, he’s going to get a ton of action but Green Bay will shift full attention in his direction. This should yield some opportunities for Thomas in a game that will require points. The Lions throw the ball a ton.