In light of Week 14 being the first week of the fantasy playoffs, I am going in a slightly different direction with my start/sit suggestions this week. You can click here for a look for a refresher on last week’s picks, but I can sum up where “I Knew It” and “I Blew It” from Week 13. Most of my suggested starts were spot on, but each recommended sit turned in a nice fantasy stat line. You win some; you lose some.
For Week 14, you are either coasting through a bye week, fighting to get into the next round or are completely out of it. Regardless of where you stand in your season-long leagues, there is still a lot of football to be played. This week, I will also be providing you DraftKings and FanDuel pricing for my start/sit suggestions. Let’s get right to it.
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Who’s Hot – Start
Fire Starter: Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles
DK: $5,400, FD: $7,500
In Taylor’s past two games he has thrown for six touchdowns and one interception. These back-to-back 20+ point games came against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. Both teams rank within the top-20 defenses against quarterbacks. This week the Bills travel to Philadelphia for a matchup against the 32nd-ranked Eagles’ defense, which is allowing an average of 19.1 fantasy points to quarterbacks per game.
Sammy Watkins – WR – Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles
DK: $6,100, FD: $7,200
Watkins figures to be the beneficiary of Taylor’s projected high-scoring day. The Eagles’ secondary is the most generous in football and has allowed 20 touchdowns to receivers this season. Eight of those have come in the past three games.
Watkins has turned nine receptions into 267 yards and three touchdowns over his past two games and has his best matchup ahead of him this week. He is almost a lock to score, but the question is how many times? This may be the most vengeful of all revenge games for LeSean McCoy, and he will be heavily featured but when it comes time to throw the ball I have my money on Watkins going for over 100 yards for a third week in a row and scoring more than one touchdown.
The Taylor/Watkins stack is one of my favorite this weekend. Together they will cost you 23% of your cap on DraftKings and 25% of your cap on FanDuel. Both should hit value and be worth the quarter of your cap space.
Allen Hurns – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
DK: $5,500, FD: $6,600
Hurns had a seven-week touchdown streak before cooling off and ultimately missing a game due to a concussion. He has cleared protocol and will be suiting up against the Indianapolis Colts. Back in Week 4, Hurns had his best game of the fantasy season against these same Colts. His 11 receptions for 116 yards and a score netted him 28 fantasy points. Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ receivers had a party against the Colts’ secondary, combining for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.
Doug Martin – RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
DK: $6,200, FD: $8,000
If you are a Martin owner, he is a must-start for you anyway, but I have included him in case there was any doubt. After his 235-yard explosion against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11, Martin has failed to reach the century mark in two games since. His past two games combined have netted him one more point than his Week 11 performance, which could have some people off his radar.
He has a cakewalk of a matchup against the New Orleans Saints this weekend and may look to redeem himself from his 21-carry, 78-yard game against them in Week 2. As the Saints’ defense continues to trend down, the Buccaneers’ offense continues to trend up. We are looking at two different teams from their first meeting, and Martin’s ceiling is as high as ever.
Martin will be a highly-owned running back in daily fantasy this week and makes a great play in cash games. His high ownership will not be enough for me to fade him in tournaments, as the matchup is just too good.
Shaun Draughn – RB – San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
DK: $4,800, FD: $6,500
Since taking over the starting job in San Francisco, Draughn has been an asset as both a runner and a receiver. In all four of his starts, he has scored double-digit fantasy points and added a minimum of 35 receiving yards in each game. This week, he will keep the ball rolling against a Cleveland Browns’ defense that is allowing running backs an average of 18.3 points per game. His nonexistent backfield competition combined with his usage in the passing game makes him a solid play this week and for the duration of the fantasy season.
In terms of running back pricing, Draughn is still on sale and well worth his low cost. Playing a running back like Draughn will allow you to pay up at other positions this weekend.
Jordan Cameron – TE – Miami Dolphins vs. New York Giants
DK: $2,500, FD: $5,000
Cameron has been a total bust this season, and that is putting it lightly. He has two touchdowns this season and has had more than three receptions in one game. He is a tight end who is probably on your waiver wire right now.
If the Dolphins are ever going to feature Cameron more prominently, it could be this week as the New York Giants’ defense ranks in the bottom five across the league. He is a boom-or-bust play. The tight end position is generally injury-riddled this year, and you may need someone to plug in this week. I would take a shot on Cameron.
$2,500 is as cheap as it gets on DraftKings for tight ends, and $5,000 on FanDuel is right there at the bottom of the barrel as well. Cameron is not a viable option in cash games but if you are looking to be bold in a tournament he has the potential to separate you from the pack.
Who’s Not – Sit
Ice Cold: Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
DK: $6,100, FD: $7,100
There are a few things to consider with Ryan. He has thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game once this season. In four games he threw for two touchdowns each, six games for one touchdown each and he had a game where he did not throw any touchdowns. On the season, he has 13 interceptions to his 17 touchdowns. He scored 20+ fantasy points on one occasion.
Ryan simply has not been great this year and this week he has, by far, his most difficult matchup of the season. The Panthers’ defense is cruel, and only Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees have been able to abuse them while still ultimately losing the game. To make matters worse, his top weapon, Julio Jones, will be shadowed by Josh Norman this week. You see what I am getting at. Put Matty Ice on ice this weekend.
DeSean Jackson – WR – Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears
DK: $4,800, FD: $6,700
Jackson has come to life in his past three games, hitting double-digit fantasy points and scoring in each. He is a touchdown-dependent deep-threat since the end zone is essentially where all of Jackson’s scoring comes from. You simply cannot bank on him to catch a bomb for a touchdown week in and week out. The Bears, to their credit, quietly rank 12th against receivers and have mostly kept them in check as of late. If you choose to play Jackson this week, you will be crossing your fingers for a deep touchdown.
Amari Cooper & Michael Crabtree – WR – Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos
DK: Cooper $6,200, Crabtree $5,900, FD: Cooper $6,900, Crabtree $6,700
Mike Wallace is the only wide receiver to score the lone touchdown the Denver Broncos have allowed to the position this season. There really is nothing more to add.
If you are adamant about playing an Oakland receiver in daily this week, I would go with Crabtree, who is cheaper than Cooper and has outplayed him each week since Week 9.
Jeremy Hill – RB – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
DK: $4,600, FD: $6,400
Hill has outproduced and outsnapped Giovani Bernard over the Bengals past two games but the matchup for Hill this week is not a favorable one. It is hard to bench a player this late in the game, especially one coming off of his best game of the season. I just do not see Hill advancing you through the playoffs against the league’s second-ranked rush defense.
I would consider Hill in a tournament on DraftKings this week due to his pricing being under $5,000, but he will not make it on any of my FanDuel rosters this weekend.
Javorius Allen – RB – Baltimore Ravens vs. Seattle Seahawks
DK: $5,300, FD: $7,000
Much like Justin Forsett last year, Allen has been a waiver-wire gem who may have had a hand in your current playoff run. However, facts are facts, and the Seahawks are the best team in football against running backs. With the uncertainty at the quarterback position in Baltimore, I like Allen even less. Put him on your bench if you have the depth to do so.
Allen has been lighting it up for me in daily fantasy over the past few weeks but his rising price, and matchup this week will leave him off all of my daily rosters.
Richard Rodgers – TE – Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys
DK: $3,900, FD: $5,600
Last week’s hero is this week’s zero. Seriously, he very well could be held without a catch this weekend. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense does not do many things well but when it comes to tight ends, they are downright stifling.
Most notably, they held Rob Gronkowski to 67 yards on four receptions. Last week, they held PPR-machine Jordan Reed in check to the tune of 33 yards on three receptions. Only Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson scored double-digit fantasy points against the Cowboys this season.
I do not have a crystal ball and can only rely on research and good old intuition. I may hit or miss on a few, but I’ll keep myself honest with a full disclosure section next week when I give you your “Who’s Hot” and “Who’s Not” for Week 15. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!
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Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros, featured writer at Gridiron Experts and senior writer at Football Diehards. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.