Congratulations. If you give a damn about this article it means you've made the playoffs in your fantasy league. Since it's crunch time, most players who have the ability to put up any numbers whatsoever are already taken. However, just in case there are managers in your league caught sleeping, here are five guys that are available in nearly 50 percent of leagues or more and might help you cross the tipping point into a fantasy championship.
Note: percentages are based on Yahoo statistics as of 12:00 noon PST, Monday, December 2.
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Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him @JHelmuth or "like" CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Week 14 Top Pickups
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Cordarrelle Patterson (25% owned)
My dark horse of the week, Patterson has 14 touches for 113 yards with two touchdowns over the last three weeks. He even scored a rushing TD last week. Although he's a boon-or-bust kind of player, if your team is in a pinch heading into the playoffs you could do much worse at your WR3. Patterson was a big pre-season sleeper candidate and it looks like he might just now be coming into his own. I really like the matchups of Philly and Baltimore over the next two weeks.
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Donald Brown RB - Indianapolis (44% owned)
Here he is again -- on my list of players you want to have. Look, Trent Richardson is awful. I love Trent -- I mean, I'm an Alabama alum -- but it's obvious he can't bust holes like he needs to and the Colts have completely given up on him (Brown played 52 snaps on Sunday to Richardson's 13). Brown is projected to score between 8-9 points every game the rest of the way for the Colts and should be considered for your Flex, especially against the Texans next week.
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Julian Edelman WR - New England (53% owned)
We all know that the New England receiving corps is a weekly lottery ticket. But Edelman has had two great games back-to-back, racking up 33 fantasy points in the process. Is he Wes Welker? Not quite. But I still love Tom Brady. I would start Edelman as a WR3 this week as hopefully this pair continues to connect on routes.
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Michael Crabtree WR - San Francisco (47% owned)
Is Crabtree back to 100 percent? Probably not. But by playing in his first game this season on Sunday and reeling off a 60 yard catch in the process, it's only a sign of things to come. Crabtree needs to be owned in all leagues, simply put. Pick him up if he's available. While you don't want to start him against the Seahawks this week, you'll want to consider him for your WR3 spot the final two weeks against Tampa and Atlanta.
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Mike Tolbert RB - Carolina (30% owned)
Do I absolutely love Tolbert? Not really. How can you? Sure, this team is run-first, but Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart and -- when healthy -- DeAngelo Williams all share the load. Tolbert still needs to be owned, and being the goal-line back he is, could help any team in a bind at the Flex if you start him on the right day. Tolbert can also catch passes, which helps his value.
