Couch Potato Blitz: Week 14 Fantasy Edition
Week 14 of fantasy football marks the start of the playoffs for most of us – no need to panic; you’ve come to the right place. Although I will be advising you on who to start this weekend, the best advice I can give you is to go with who got you here. Don’t entirely jump off the bandwagon of a player because he had a rough week, or a couple of down weeks.
If I don’t address your fantasy football concerns in this edition, please contact me via Twitter and we can work it out.
Fantasy Studs – Start’em
Quarterback
If you were lucky enough to pick-up, or smart enough to draft Michael Vick then you know first hand what he has done in prime time games this season. Vick has had 19 fantasy points or better in every game he’s started and finished this season.
Two auto-starts at the QB position this weekend are Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Both of these guys should get your fantasy teams started off on the right foot.
The Bears defense has played well overall against QBs, but as of late they have given up at least 18 fantasy points to opposing QBs. I wouldn’t hesitate to start Tom Brady this weekend, especially with the way he has been playing.
The Texans have given up 24 or more fantasy points in 4 out of the last 5 games. Joe Flacco should be able to score in the high teens during this game.
It is a tough weekend to start most QBs, but if you are in a bind look to Jay Cutler, Jon Kitna, and possibly even Josh Freeman, even though Washington has been play solid against QBs.
Running Backs
There are a ton of great match-ups for RBs this weekend starting with Peyton Hillis, with the Bills having given up 80 fantasy points total to RBs over the last three weeks. Other RBs with favorable match-ups would be Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson, Michael Turner and Ray Rice.
You definitely want to find a spot for Knowshon Moreno. He has gone for +15 fantasy points in the last 4 games. The Cardinals are the last ranked team against RBs in fantasy football.
The Cowboys have given up 4 rushing TDs in the last 2 games, making LeSean McCoy a great play. McCoy is averaging 14.8 fantasy points per game; you can expect at least that on Sunday.
My personal favorite must starts are Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, and LeGarrette Blount. All of these players’ opponents have been embracing the season of giving when allowing fantasy points to RBs.
Remember to check the status of Brian Westbrook and Adrian Peterson Sunday morning. If they are inactive, check the availability of Anthony Dixon and Toby Gerhart.
If you are feeling crazy you may want to play Tim Hightower. The Broncos have been terrible against the run this season and Hightower played well last weekend.
Wide Receivers
In the last 4 games, Greg Jennings has been money in the bank notching double-digit points in each game. In his first game against the Lions this season he only caught 2 passes but 1 was for a TD.
Lately Jeremy Maclin has been receiving more love from Vick, but that shouldn’t stop you from starting DeSean Jackson. They both have a great chance to get in the end zone and rack up yards.
Anquan Boldin and Reggie Wayne re-emerged as top fantasy receivers again last week. They are both facing defenses that will give them the opportunities to have big fantasy weekends.
Big names you must start this weekend are Miles Austin and Marques Colston. Both players have favorable match-ups that should lead to great fantasy performances.
Three players that you should start if active would be Roddy White, Sidney Rice, and Calvin Johnson. As of Wednesday they were all listed as questionable.
Fantasy Duds – Sit’em
Quarterback
The Cardinals have been playing well against QBs and Kyle Orton struggled last week against the Chiefs. Also, you never know when the Broncos will decide to hand the keys over to Tim Tebow.
Since Leslie Frazier has taken over as Vikings head coach they have only allowed 14 total fantasy points in 2 games. Be cautious starting Eli Manning — twice in his 3 three games he has gone under double-digits in fantasy points.
Two guys that have been considerations in the past weeks should be off limits in week 14 – Carson Palmer and Matt Schaub. They are playing Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and the risk does not out weigh the reward.
I wouldn’t chase magic with Jason Campbell or Drew Stanton two weeks in a row. Campbell had 17 fantasy points in a win and Stanton had 18 fantasy points in the loss to the Bears.
Running Backs
This season Arian Foster has been the horse for the Texans offense. On MNF he is going to run against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Foster has plus 20 fantasy points in 6 of the last 7 games, but the Ravens defense hasn’t surrendered a TD in 4 weeks. I know I told you to go with who got you here, but take a look at your other options on this one.
RBs have failed to score a rushing TD in the last 5 weeks against the Vikings. I wouldn’t start Ahmad Bradshaw, especially since he is listed as questionable.
If you start Javarris James and Tashard Choice do so with caution. James had 14 fantasy points and his counterpart in last weeks shootout, Choice had 16. That is nice, but this is the post-season and you’d better be sure before you set your line-ups.
The Bears and Steelers haven’t given up a rushing TD in 4 weeks. You might want to avoid playing Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis against Chicago, or Cedric Benson against Pittsburgh at your flex position.
Wide Receivers
The Titans are a mess and it only became more apparent when the head coach wasn’t sure if Kenny Britt would start over Randy Moss. Moss hasn’t play great since joining the team, but Britt has been out for 6 weeks and his endurance must be a concern. I wouldn’t start either of them until you see how things work out.
Last week the Broncos shut down Dwayne Bowe and he actually has a QB. I would be willing to bet that Larry Fitzgerald would give anything to have Matt Cassel at QB. Fitzgerald has 9 total fantasy points in the past 2 games.
This weekend I don’t like Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens against the Steelers. Ochocinco is the better play since Owens is slightly banged-up.
You should probably start Bowe this weekend against the Chargers, but be warned that San Diego is the No. 2 ranked defense against WRs in fantasy football.
Players at that flex position to think twice about from the WR position are Danny Amendola, Mike Thomas, Eddie Royal, and Jacoby Ford.
Thank you for sitting in on another week of the “CPB” Fantasy Football Start’em and Sit’em. Please be sure to check out my picks and predictions article on all of the games for week 14.