Pick 'em up

I know I'm looking for every edge I can find to push my hovering-right-around-.500-fantasy-squads into the playoffs and I'm sure some of you are too. So here's an abbreviated pick 'em up: players (currently owned by 30% or less in Yahoo! leagues) you should consider plugging and playing Week 12 (if they're still available).

TE Dustin Keller, Jets (owned by 30%): I have to start a tight end in three out of four leagues, and this guy has been as good as any for the past two weeks. I know, I know, what about the first nine weeks of the season where he didn't do anything? Keep in mind he's a rookie, and it's taken a few weeks for him to establish himself as Favre's favorite target. But look at his thrown-to numbers for the past five weeks: 3, 5, 5, 7, 10. Steady improvement. 6-107 in Week 10, 8-87 in Week 11. That's better production than you're getting out of Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Owen Daniels, Jason Witten, et al.

WR Justin Gage, Titans (owned by 28%): He's very inconsistent, but how many other receivers that are available in 72 percent of leagues have three touchdown catches in the past two weeks. Kerry Collins appears to be targeting his receivers more over the past couple of weeks.

RB Peyton Hillis, Broncos (owned by 21%): I guess people are still shying away because he's a converted fullback, they've been through so many other guys to get to him, they picked up Tatum Bell and/or he hasn't been piling up huge rushing totals. But over the past three weeks, only 11 players in the league have earned more fantasy points than Hillis. He's obviously not going to get the 116 receiving yards he had Week 9 in every game, but he'll keep getting touchdowns until Bell possibly takes over and/or Selvin Young returns (which won't be anytime soon, believe me, I own him, and I've been waiting). And Denver plays Oakland this weekend.

QB Shaun Hill, 49ers (owned by 9%): 201 yards per game, 5 touchdowns (plus a rushing TD), 2 interceptions in three games. And he actually posted very similar numbers in three games last season. Hey, he's better than Daunte Culpepper.

RB Antonio Pittman, Rams (owned by 7%): 14 carries, 95 yards last week. And Stephen Jackson is out again this week.

RB Pierre Thomas, Saints (owned by 15%): Same deal. Big week last week (16-88 with a TD, 4-56 receiving) and Reggie Bush sounds like he's still out. Only difference with Thomas is Deuce McAllister is going to steal some carries.