Matthew Stafford will be the latest QB to attempt to shred the Saints’ defense
The injury bug made its way around the league again this week. Andy Dalton, Brian Hoyer, Thomas Rawls, Jonathan Stewart, and T.J. Yeldon have gone down at one of the worst times imaginable. If you own any of these players or their effected teammates you should get to work on the waiver wire.
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WEEK 14 RECAP
Let’s take a look at a quick recap from Week 14.
I Knew It
Sammy Watkins – WR – Buffalo Bills – 5 rec, 81 yds, 1 TD
He was shy of 100 yards but when he found the end zone he finished with 19 points for you.
Allen Hurns – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars – 3 rec, 105 yds, 1 TD
Hurns’ touchdown streak remains alive and he made the most of his three receptions last week.
Doug Martin – RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 11 att, 81 yds, 1 TD
Martin had his best fantasy performance in three weeks and finished with 15 points.
Matt Ryan – QB – Atlanta Falcons – 224 yds, 1 INT, 1 FUM
This was the worst fantasy performance of Ryan’s season. He finished with four points and showed why he belonged on ice last week.
DeSean Jackson – WR – Washington Redskins – 2 rec, 43 yds
The deep touchdown you would have needed from Jackson was non-existent.
Amari Cooper – WR – Oakland Raiders, Michael Crabtree – 4 rec, 19 yds
Cooper was held without a catch while Crabtree contributed very little. The Denver Broncos’ secondary remains in top form, having allowed one touchdown to receivers this season.
Jeremy Hill – RB – Cincinnati Bengals – 7 att, 16 yds, 2 rec, 8 yds
Hill was no match for the Steeler’s second-ranked rush defense.
Javorius Allen – RB – Baltimore Ravens – 8 att, 14 yds, 5 rec, 44 yds
He was much more effective in the passing game but finished with just eight points.
I Blew It
Tyrod Taylor – QB – Buffalo Bills – 268 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 8 rush, 53 yds
Taylor failed to capitalize against the worst secondary in the NFL.
Shaun Draughn – RB – San Francisco 49ers – 11 att, 43 yds, 2 rec, 8 yds
Draughn felt like a great play, but he turned in his lowest fantasy output since taking over the starting job.
Jordan Cameron – TE – Miami Dolphins – 3 rec, 39 yds
This was a boom-or-bust suggestion that turned out to be a total bust.
Richard Rodgers – TE – Green Bay Packers – 1 rec, 3 yds, 1 TD
I thought there was a good chance Rodgers would be held without a catch. He had one reception and he made it count.
WEEK 15 START/SIT SUGGESTIONS
Who’s Hot – Start
Fire Starter: Matthew Stafford – QB – Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints
DK: $6,100, FD: $7,800
It is becoming a trend to beat up on the Saints’ defense, but it is warranted. We have seen Stafford play at an elite level against softer defenses in the past, and he will have an opportunity to do so again this week. This game currently has the highest Vegas line at 51 points. You may not see the five-touchdown performance you saw against the Philadelphia Eagles, but I think you will see him get over the two-touchdown hump he has been on his past two games.
There are nine quarterbacks priced higher than Stafford on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He has the upside and matchup to finish as the QB1 this week.
Michael Floyd – WR – Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles
DK: $4,400, FD: $6,100
There are talented mouths to feed in Arizona but if I am going to pick a player against the 31st-ranked Eagles secondary I am going with Floyd. Over the past two weeks, he has been the top receiver for the Cardinals and has notched back-to-back 100-yard games. He also has led his team in targets over those past two games. That momentum should continue this week against a team that has allowed 21 touchdowns to receivers this season.
Of the three notable Arizona receivers, Floyd figures to be the highest owned on both sites. He will be a cash game staple, but in tournaments you should consider taking a shot on Larry Fitzgerald or John Brown.
Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens
DK: $5,500, FD: $6,700
The Ravens have played poorly enough to supplant the Eagles as the worst team in football against receivers, and Maclin faces them at an opportune time. Over his past three games he is averaging eight receptions, 108 yards and a score. This matchup is the best he has had or will see this season. Alex Smith may not be lighting it up in terms of yardage, but he does have five touchdowns to one interception over his past three games. His solid play combined with Maclin’s high ceiling equate to a potentially huge day for Maclin.
Due to the matchup, Maclin is another receiver that figures to be highly owned in daily games this week. The matchup is too good for me to fade him, and I feel he is worth his price tag.
Tim Hightower – RB – New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions
DK: $3,900, FD: $6,300
If we want to consider last week a “prove it” week for Hightower then we saw all we needed to see. The Saints fed him with 29 total touches and he turned those touches into 20 fantasy points. I am not usually one to chase last week’s stat line, but this week I am certainly going after it. The Lions are just outside of the bottom-10 run defenses as the 21st-ranked team against the position and have allowed 14 rushing touchdowns, just one shy of the Falcon’s league-high of 15. Hightower is a lock to see high-volume usage and score again this week.
Hightower is still on sale over at DraftKings and his price has only jumped up $900. On FanDuel his priced has increased by double the amount at $1,800. He is more of a DraftKings play for me, but he figures to hit value on both sites.
Chris Ivory – RB – New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys
DK: $5,200, FD: $7,200
Bilal Powel has left Chris Ivory in the dust recently which is a big reason why I love him this week. The Dallas Cowboys are good at one thing and that is time of possession. They rank fourth in the league at 31 minutes per game. This, in my humble opinion, favors Ivory who is coming off of a 22-carry game. The Jets will be power running against a team that is allowing running backs an average of 100 yards per game. Powell will remain involved, but I think we will see less no-huddle, two-minute drill type plays and more downhill rushing plays.
Powell’s emergence has caused Ivory’s price to slip. He will be a solid play on both sites in cash games and tournaments.
Jacob Tamme – TE – Atlanta Falcons @ Jacksonville Jaguars
DK: $3,300, FD: $5,100
The Falcons failed to score a touchdown last week, but Tamme still managed to haul in four of his five targets. The yardage was not there, but the entire offense was stifled by the stout Panthers’ defense. This week the opponent is much softer as the Jaguars are a bottom-five defense against tight ends. There is not a reliable WR2 in Atlanta, and Tamme appears to be Matt Ryan’s second receiving option behind Julio Jones. If he turns his expected targets into 50+ yards and hits pay dirt he will be a serviceable tight end this week.
If you are not paying up for Rob Gronkowski in daily games and want to dig deeper and cheaper, look no further than Tamme in a favorable matchup.
Who’s Not – Sit
Ice Cold: Philip Rivers – QB – San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins
DK: $5,500, FD: $7,400
This is a crucial fantasy week and not one in which to rely on Rivers. Over his past four games, he has thrown four touchdowns but all four of them came in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His other three games netted him single-digit fantasy points. The Dolphins are actually a favorable matchup. I just do not trust Rivers in a critical game where you are trying to advance to the fantasy championship.
His low cost is tempting in daily fantasy but if you are trying to win money I recommend paying up for a quarterback. I am more comfortable rolling out A.J. McCarron than I am Rivers.
T.Y. Hilton – WR – Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
DK: $5,900, FD: $7,000
This has nothing to do with Hilton and everything to do with the quarterback situation in Indianapolis. Matt Hasselbeck is dealing with a multitude of injuries and is 40 years old. My fear is it may take one sack from J.J. Watt for us to see Charlie Whitehurst under center. This all has a negative impact on Hilton’s upside and he will be on my bench this week.
Hilton might be worth playing in daily games as a boom-or-bust receiver. He totaled 88 yards on five receptions in his first meeting with the Texans.
Dez Bryant – WR – Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets
DK: $6,000, FD: $6,900
Not only am I telling you to bench Dez Bryant this week but I am also telling you to drop him. It is not an easy thing to do, but I did it just last night and I can tell you I am fine with it. He is unusable at this point and the only use for him on your team is to think about what could have been. Cut ties with him now and grab a defense with a good matchup for your fantasy championship. I should also mention he will face the Jets’ secondary this week.
It is too risky to use Bryant in daily fantasy in both cash games and tournaments. Better luck next year.
Darren McFadden – RB – Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets
DK: $4,900, FD: $6,800
First I told you to drop Bryant and now I am telling you to bench McFadden. You may be questioning my fandom, but I am just being realistic. Although McFadden is the one positive aspect of this offense he will be trying to run on the third-ranked Jets’ run defense. They have allowed a single rushing touchdown this season. Dallas is ineffective in the red zone as it is.
Much like Bryant I cannot recommend McFadden or any Dallas Cowboy on DraftKings this week. I suppose you cannot go wrong if you choose to use Dan Bailey on FanDuel.
Frank Gore – RB – Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
DK: $4,000, FD: $6,100
I am hitting you with the teammate-benching advice this week, but it feels merited. Gore, who is surprisingly still healthy and playing, could be the top offensive option for the Colts this week with Hasselbeck’s health status. The Texans will have no problem stacking the box and rendering Gore useless. I am sorry you drafted him where you did but if you have gotten this far you likely have other options at running back.
If you are looking for a cheap running back with low ownership then Gore is your guy this week. It is hard to play him in daily games when Tim Hightower and Denard Robinson have big opportunities ahead of them this week.
Delanie Walker – TE – Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots
DK: $5,600, FD: $6,300
Walker has been a top tight end for you all season and you may find it difficult to bench him in the semi-finals. I should remind you that Bill Belichick is very good at taking away his opposing team’s top option. That happens to be Walker. He has been incredible over the past four weeks. This is a gutsy call to bench him, but I think you will see just his third single-digit game of the season.
While I will be off of Walker in my season-long leagues this week, I am still looking at him in daily contests. The ceiling may be lowered, but the high-floor and high-volume make him an option.
Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook
The season is starting to wind down to the point where next week is championship week. I wish you the best of luck and hope you are still alive for next week’s column to find you relevancy. If not, be sure to come back and consider my suggestions for daily fantasy.
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 16. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!
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.
