By Andy Goddard @Godsy1985
So week 13 decided to throw up some real dud performances just when we needed them most. Did you miss the playoffs thanks to Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Terry McLaurin?? There were, however, some stellar performances from players such as Matthew Stafford, Cam Akers and Cole Beasley that could have capitulated you into the postseason. This all highlights once more how difficult fantasy football can be!
The late slate this week contains games of significance for the NFL postseason with the biggest game looking to be the Pittsburgh Steelers, fresh from their surprise defeat against the Washington Football Team, travelling to Buffalo to take on the Bills. Let’s look at the all important starts/sits for week 14!
Don’t forget to keep your #EyesPeeled for tomorrow’s podcast where we dive into a full preview of the weekend games and make sure you head over to Twitter (@F10YFantasy) for “Start ‘em, sit ‘em, GIF ‘EM!”.
Sunday Late Games
New York Jets @ Seattle Seahawks
Start of the Game
Russell Wilson (QB) – Seattle Seahawks
It feels quite a while ago that people were mentioning Russell Wilson’s name in the MVP conversation. He has been performing poor recently and struggled in week 13 against the New York Giants where he completed 27 of 43 passes for 263 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also fumbled the ball. He has a great matchup this week against the Jets and I think he gets back to his best in this one.
Other Notable Starts
New York Jets – Jamison Crowder (WR), Breshad Perriman (WR)
Seattle Seahawks – Chris Carson (RB), DK Metcalf (WR), Tyler Lockett (WR), D/ST
Sit of the Game
Ty Johnson (RB) – New York Jets
Johnson stepped into the week 13 game almost immediately after Frank Gore exited with a concussion injury. He rushed 22 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 13 yards. It may be tempting to pick him up due to volume of work but I wouldn’t be trusting him after one game!
Other Notable Sits
New York Jets – D/ST
Seattle Seahawks – N/A
Indianapolis Colts @ Las Vegas Raiders
Start of the Game
Jonathan Taylor (RB) – Indianapolis Colts
Against the Texans, Taylor carried 13 times for 91 yards and added 44 yards on three receptions, scoring one touchdown. He has racked up 249 scrimmage yards on 49 touches in the past two games and has a favourable matchup in this one. Taylor is a must start.
Other Notable Starts
Indianapolis Colts – Philip Rivers (QB), TY Hilton (WR), Michael Pittman (WR)
Las Vegas Raiders – Josh Jacobs (RB), Henry Ruggs (WR), Darren Waller (TE)
Sit of the Game
Derek Carr (QB) – Las Vegas Raiders
Carr had a great game for fantasy owners in week 13 throwing four touchdowns and finished 28 of 47 for 381 yards. Before you get too excited, this was against the Jets who appeared to do their upmost to lose this game. You never really know which Derek Carr you are going to get and the Colts have a very stingy defence.
Other Notable Sits
Indianapolis Colts – D/ST
Las Vegas Raiders – Nelson Agholor (WR)
Washington Football Team @ San Francisco 49ers
Start of the Game
Jordan Reed (TE) – San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers tight end caught three of four targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in week 13 against the Buffalo Bills. Reed is used exclusively in short yardage situations and is averaging 9.1 yards per reception. This is a revenge game that may actually play out!
Other Notable Starts
Washington Football Team – Alex Smith (QB), Terry McLaurin (WR)
San Francisco 49ers – Raheem Mostert (RB), Deebo Samuel (WR), Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
Sit of the Game
Logan Thomas (TE) – Washington Football Team
Thomas had a career game in week 13 when he exploded for 98 yards and a touchdown on 9 catches. He is averaging 5.8 targets a game but the 49ers are good at defending the tight end position.
Other Notable Sits
Washington Football Team – D/ST
San Francisco 49ers – N/A
New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles
Start of the Game
Taysom Hill (QB) – New Orleans Saints
With Drew Brees still unlikely to return for the Saints, Taysom Hill will again lead the offense. Against Atlanta, Hill threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns whilst adding 83 yards on the ground on 14 carries. The Eagles may provide a stiffer test this week but the dual-threat abilities that Hill brings keeps him as a must start.
Other Notable Starts
New Orleans Saints – Alvin Kamara (RB), Michael Thomas (WR), D/ST
Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Hurts (QB)
Sit of the Game
Miles Sanders (RB) – Philadelphia Eagles
Sanders production has reduced dramatically. Over the past two games, Sanders has just 18 touches and has gone three straight weeks finishing outside the top 30 fantasy running backs. He has a tough matchup this week and although there may always be upside, the risk is starting the outweigh the potential.
Other Notable Sits
New Orleans Saints – Jared Cook (TE)
Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Reagor (WR), Dallas Goedert (TE)
Atlanta Falcons @ LA Chargers
Start of the Game
Keenan Allen (WR) – LA Chargers
In week 13, Keenan Allen was held in check against Stephon Gilmore and the New England defence as he caught five of his 11 targets for just 48 yards. He has now been under 50 yards for three consecutive games but all have come against good secondarys in difficult matchups. This week he is facing the subpar Falcons D so should return some good fantasy numbers.
Other Notable Starts
Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan (QB), Julio Jones (WR), Calvin Ridley (WR), Hayden Hurst (TE)
LA Chargers – Justin Herbert (QB), Austin Ekeler (RB), Hunter Henry (TE)
Sit of the Game
LA Chargers – Defence/Special Teams
I don’t like putting a defence/special teams down as a ‘sit of the game’ but did you not see that performance against the Patriots in week 13?! The defence gave up 31 points to a Patriots offense that had been struggling and the special teams unit allowed a punt return for a touchdown and a blocked field goal to also be returned for a TD. The coaching of the special teams unit in particular is shambolic!
Other Notable Sits
Atlanta Falcons – Todd Gurley (RB)
LA Chargers – N/A
Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
Start of the Game
Matthew Stafford (QB) – Detroit Lions
Stafford is coming off his best performances of the season in the week 13 win over the Bears when he went 27 of 42 for 402 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Stafford threw two touchdowns against the Packers in week 2 and this one could be a shoot out with both QBs putting up good fantasy numbers.
Other Notable Starts
Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers (QB), Aaron Jones (RB), Davante Adams (WR), Robert Tonyan (TE)
Detroit Lions – D’Andre Swift (RB), Marvin Jones Jr (WR), TJ Hockenson (TE)
Sit of the Game
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR) – Green Bay Packers
Valdes-Scantling has been held without a catch in the last two games. He had just two targets in last weeks victory over the Eagles and finished the game with one carry for negative 4 yards. His snap count and production are both trending in the wrong direction.
Other Notable Sits
Green Bay Packers – N/A
Detroit Lions – N/A
Sunday Night Football
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
Start of the Game
Cole Beasley (WR) – Buffalo Bills
In week 13, Beasley hauled in nine of his eleven targets for 130 yards and a touchdown as the Bills beat the 49ers. It was the second time in three weeks that Beasley has finished with more than 100 receiving yards and with John Brown still out injured, his production and targets should be high. The Pittsburgh defence are middle of the pack against slot receivers so Beasley has a good chance of delivering for you again this week.
Other Notable Starts
Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Roethlisberger (QB), Chase Claypool (WR), Diontae Johnson (WR), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Eric Ebron (TE)
Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen (QB), Stefon Diggs (WR)
Sit of the Game
James Conner (RB) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Conner has been activated off the COVID-19 list and is set to start for the Steelers but this game should be a shoot out with both QBs doing most of the work. The Steelers have struggled to run in the absence of Conner so they may lean on shorter passes. All of this could limit Conner’s productivity.
Other Notable Sits
Pittsburgh Steelers – Benny Snell (RB), D/ST
Buffalo Bills – Devin Singletary (RB), D/ST
Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Start of the Game
Jarvis Landry (WR) – Cleveland Browns
Landry has racked up 21 targets across the last two games and has become the short yardage option for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Against the Titans he had eight receptions on ten targets for 62 yards and a touchdown. He averages 6.2 yards per target and had a longest reception of just 13 yards in week 13 but his targets shouldn’t drop off making him a valuable option in fantasy.
Other Notable Starts
Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson (QB), JK Dobbins (RB)
Cleveland Browns – Nick Chubb (RB)
Sit of the Game
Kareem Hunt (RB) – Cleveland Browns
Against the Titans in week 13, Hunt carried the ball 14 times for 33 yards and added three receptions for 24 yards. Nick Chubb is rolling right now and the Ravens don’t give up many receptions to opposing running backs. Hunt is TD dependant and that’s risky.
Other Notable Sits
Baltimore Ravens – Marquis Brown (WR), D/ST
Cleveland Browns – N/A
For the latest on each player’s start and sit status, make sure you checkout @F10YFantasy on Twitter. Remember, keep those #EyesPeeled.