We’re entering Week 14 of the NFL season! Or what I prefer to label as the nightmare bye week! Did Lamar Jackson elevate your chances for the fantasy playoffs? How about Joe Mixon? Derrick Henry? Jayden Daniels? Nico Collins? They won’t be of any assistance this week! Trust me, as I have Jackson, Daniels, and […]
We’re entering Week 14 of the NFL season! Or what I prefer to label as the nightmare bye week! Did Lamar Jackson elevate your chances for the fantasy playoffs? How about Joe Mixon? Derrick Henry? Jayden Daniels? Nico Collins? They won’t be of any assistance this week! Trust me, as I have Jackson, Daniels, and Mixon in my dynasty league. Of course, many leagues haven’t started their playoffs yet, which is a relief, but there’s no denying this week will be challenging, particularly if a win is essential for your entry.
If you’re interested in my insights, it won’t be difficult to apply these considerations to your lineup choices. For reference, I’ll refer to the FantasyPros PPR Expert Consensus Rankings as my foundation.
Aiden O’Connell, Raiders at Buccaneers
O’Connell exhibited a solid performance last week against the formidable Chiefs pass defense, completing 340 yards and tossing two touchdowns. This week, he faces a considerably more favorable matchup against Tampa Bay. Throughout this season, the Buccaneers have surrendered the second-most completions and highest fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Sam Darnold, Vikings vs. Falcons
Darnold consistently delivers valuable stats weekly, positioned in a pass-heavy scheme and backed by a strong group of receivers. The Vikings shouldn’t encounter much difficulty moving the ball against Atlanta. The Falcons have yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, while Darnold is ranked fifth in yards per attempt. He has also surpassed 20 completions in five consecutive games, posting two or more touchdown passes in 9 out of 12 games.
Bryce Young, Panthers at Eagles
I had high hopes for Young last week against the Buccaneers, but now traveling to Philadelphia to face the rejuvenated Eagles’ defense, I can’t recommend starting him. They have allowed the third-fewest passing yards and the least passing yards per attempt. Young and the Panthers require straightforward matchups to excel, and this certainly isn’t one of them.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Chargers
The league has discovered ways to mitigate Patrick Mahomes, but they haven’t cracked how to consistently beat his team. As long as they keep winning, they will persist in their current strategy, which may not always be beneficial for fantasy owners. Earlier in Week 4, the Chargers held Mahomes to 19 completions on 29 attempts for 245 yards, one touchdown, and one pick. Mahomes should still be started in most deep leagues or if your starter is on a bye, but his potential seems limited.
Tyrone Tracy, Giants vs. Saints
Tracy faced repercussions last week for his fumbles, resulting in him not starting, yet he emerged as the lead back. I’m confident he’ll secure both the start and the bulk of the workload this week against the Saints. New Orleans concedes the highest yards per carry at 5.17 and the second-most fantasy points per running back target/touch. They also rank fifth in running back receptions and receiving yards allowed. Tracy should have ample opportunities to score fantasy points this week.
Rico Dowdle, Cowboys vs. Bengals
The Bengals are rated 26th in run defense DVOA, yet teams frequently resort to passing against them due to their powerful offense. The Cowboys, however, lack numerous offensive weapons beyond CeeDee Lamb. At present, Dowdle is the second-best asset on the team, and he’s poised for a significant workload both running and receiving.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers at Eagles
Even if the Eagles weren’t among the top defenses in the league right now, we’d still be cautious about Hubbard. Jonathon Brooks had a slight increase in opportunities last week, particularly following Hubbard’s fumble. We might see more of Brooks this week, potentially diminishing Hubbard’s touches. That’s not ideal against the Eagles, who yield the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.
Gus Edwards, Chargers at Chiefs
Kansas City leads the league in yards per carry and rushing yards allowed to running backs this season. Teams also average a league-low 16 carries per game against the Chiefs due to their strong rush defense and knack for establishing leads. Edwards is sharing work with Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, making it tough to have an impact in a challenging matchup like this one.
Calvin Ridley, Jaguars at Titans
Ridley has a personal storyline this week against his former team, but more significantly he’s been receiving a substantial number of targets since Deandre Hopkins was traded, and the Jaguars are facing a weak pass defense. While his performance has been inconsistent, the target volume has given him enough opportunities in the latter part of the season to warrant a starting position weekly in fantasy.
Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Falcons
This is where I might jinx Addison by labeling him a favorable start against the Falcons. His inconsistency results from fluctuating usage. However, he has recorded three touchdowns in the last five games, with target counts of 8, 9, and 6 in his previous three outings. The Falcons have given up the second-most targets and fifth-most receptions per game. Teams prefer to throw rather than run against them, which aligns perfectly with the Vikings’ strategy.
Rome Odunze, Bears at 49ers
The 49ers’ run defense has been problematic this season, but their pass defense has remained strong. They have surrendered the fifth-fewest receptions, sixth-fewest receiving yards to wide receivers, and the third-fewest touchdowns. Additionally, they rank sixth in DVOA against the pass. Although the Bears have shown improvement after changing coordinators, heading to the bay area to face a tough pass defense should make you cautious about all Bears receivers.
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Jets
The Jets have stifled wide receivers this season, allowing the fewest receptions, third-fewest yards, the lowest completion rate, and the third-fewest yards per reception, while ranking sixth against the pass in DVOA. Waddle just had a breakout game with eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in Week 12. While he possesses the potential for performances like that, this matchup will pose greater challenges, and throughout the season he has exceeded six targets only twice.
Jake Ferguson/Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys vs. Bengals
The Bengals’ defense is subpar, evident from their performance against Russell Wilson and the Steelers last week. However, Joe Burrow and his teammates can score quickly, which compels other teams to exploit their weak defense. Currently, it’s uncertain which Cowboys’ tight end will start, but whoever it is, I have confidence in this matchup.
Will Dissly, Chargers at Chiefs
Dissly recorded a disappointing zero last week, yet this week’s matchup is likely to provide him with more opportunities. Considering the six teams on bye, Dissly could serve as a reasonable alternative. The Chiefs’ defense has performed well throughout the season, but they do struggle against tight ends. Presently, they rank 30th in fantasy points allowed to the position.
Cole Kmet, Bears at 49ers
Kmet has flashed potential this season, yet he isn’t seeing consistent enough targets to be dependable. Throughout the season, Kmet has reached five targets only four times in 12 games. The 49ers have also limited tight ends to the fourth-fewest receiving yards and fifth-fewest fantasy points this year.
Juwan Johnson, Saints at Giants
Johnson may see increased usage with Taysom Hill sidelined, but the Giants have been tough against tight ends this season. They’ve allowed the second-fewest yards, receptions, and fantasy points to tight ends throughout the season.
