Fantasy Football Player Notes

Week 14 Rankings
Patrick Mahomes photo 1. Patrick Mahomes KC (vs . BAL)
Mahomes has a tough matchup this weekend versus the Ravens, but he has been tremendous each and every start all season so you've got to start him regardless. With that said, he may not quite be a top-tier option this week.
2 days ago
Drew Brees photo 2. Drew Brees NO (at TB)
Brees has fallen short of 175 yards in consecutive weeks. The Buccaneers, who previously had one interception all season, picked off Nick Mullens and Cam Newton six times over the past two games. And yet this is still a quarterback who has thrown 30 touchdowns and three picks with a 75.5 completion percentage facing a defense permitting a 72.4 completion percentage and 8.6 yards per pass attempt. He incinerated them for 439 yards and three touchdowns to open 2018, but don't expect another 45 pass attempts with Mark Ingram and an improving New Orleans defense in tow. The matchup still makes him an elite QB1 who should procure another multi-touchdown effort.
5 days ago
Ben Roethlisberger photo 3. Ben Roethlisberger PIT (at OAK)
Road Roethlisberger is never as sure a bet as Heinz Field Roethlisberger, but then again he's playing the Raiders. With James Conner out, Pittsburgh should lean even more heavily on Big Ben in this one, and Oakland should provide little resistance. He's an above average QB1 in 12-team leagues.
3 days ago
Philip Rivers photo 4. Philip Rivers LAC (vs . CIN)
"Mr. Consistency" Philip Rivers has multiple TD passes in every game this season, and he's trending towards bigger stat lines as we hit crunch time in fantasy leagues. With Melvin Gordon likely to sit out again this week and the Chargers facing the Bengals' non-existent pass defense, Rivers should again deliver QB1 numbers.
3 days ago
Cam Newton photo 5. Cam Newton CAR (at CLE)
In an ideal spot to strive, Newton threw four interceptions against a Tampa Bay defense that entered Week 13 with three picks all season. He also, however, produced at least two passing touchdowns for the 11th straight game. The Browns have ceded the fifth-most passing yards per game, but they have also had the misfortune of facing Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston, and Ben Roethlisberger (twice). Newton trails Brees by just 0.1 point as the QB3, so he should bounce back to become the seventh straight passer to procure at least 16 fantasy points against Cleveland.
5 days ago
Aaron Rodgers photo 6. Aaron Rodgers GB (vs . ATL)
A lot of fantasy managers are asking a previously unthinkable question: Is it time to bench Rodgers? He has thrown four touchdowns over a three-game losing streak and just posted a putrid 4.7 yards per pass attempt-his lowest average ever at home-against Arizona. He has fallen to QB9 after another lethargic outing, so it's not the craziest thought. Yet it'd be misguided to pull the trigger against the Falcons, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (22.2) to quarterbacks this season. There's also a slither of hope for Green Bay discovering some offensive ingenuity after firing Mike McCarthy, so Rodgers remains on the lower side of Week 14's top-10 passers.
5 days ago
Jameis Winston photo 7. Jameis Winston TB (vs . NO)
Winston has earned some job stability by tossing two touchdowns with no picks and a quarterback rating above 114.0 in each of his last two starts. Even if it's not as explosive as Week 1's 48-40 win with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, he has the chance to pile up points in a home shootout against the Saints. Yet despite surrendering the third-most passing yards this season, they have yielded 979 over the past four contests. The Saints are no longer a defense to target at all costs, but Tampa Bay's pass-first offense is a strong fit to at least attain fantasy success. Immense volume upside makes Winston a locked-in QB1 with top-five potential.
5 days ago
Deshaun Watson photo 8. Deshaun Watson HOU (vs . IND)
Watson isn't always a safe start, but this week is an exception. You may think the Colts' secondary is improved over the last two months, but the truth is that they haven't played anyone in that time so Watson should tear them apart this weekend.
2 days ago
Andrew Luck photo 9. Andrew Luck IND (at HOU)
Luck didn't do much in the Colts' shutout loss to the Jaguars' last week, but he has been otherwise exceptional for most of the season now. You can play him without hesitation this week versus the Texans.
2 days ago
Jared Goff photo 10. Jared Goff LAR (at CHI)
Goff struggled in the cold earlier this year and the conditions in this game should be frigid. While he does have upside, the Bears' secondary and elite pass rush leave just enough concerns to knock him out of the top 12 this week among QBs.
2 days ago
Lamar Jackson photo 11. Lamar Jackson BAL (at KC)
Jackson may get in trouble with interceptions if the Ravens are playing from behind, but he will also rack up the yards in a negative game script, both through the air and on the ground. As a result, we've got him as a top 12 option this week at QB.
2 days ago
Matt Ryan photo 12. Matt Ryan ATL (at GB)
The weather in this game is expected to be frigid so Ryan may be a little off compared to usual. but with a potential shootout versus the Packers and their less than mediocre secondary, Ryan ought to be started even with the cold.
2 days ago
Mitch Trubisky photo 13. Mitch Trubisky CHI (vs . LAR)
With Mitch back, he should be started most weeks. You may be hesitant to play him coming off the injury, but he has had ample time to recover and goes up against a Rams' defense that has been torched by opposing QBs this week so consider him a top 12 play at the position this week.
2 days ago
Tom Brady photo 14. Tom Brady NE (at MIA)
Brady has only been a QB1 four times this season, so while you may love the matchup versus a Dolphins team that will be missing Xavien Howard this week, it probably isn't wise to start him over players like Trubisky, Lamar Jackson and even Dak Prescott.
2 days ago
Russell Wilson photo 15. Russell Wilson SEA (vs . MIN)
Wilson is having one of the most efficient seasons in recent memory, but that act of 4 touchdowns in limited pass attempts won't show up versus a stout Vikings defense this weekend that has halted nearly every other opponent this season.
2 days ago
Dak Prescott photo 16. Dak Prescott DAL (vs . PHI)
Prescott has posted a 74.0 completion percentage and seven touchdowns (four passing, three rushing) over Dallas' four-game winning streak. He's playing great football, but is also probably the only relevant fantasy quarterback besides Lamar Jackson yet to submit a 300-yard passing performance all season. As witnessed last Thursday, there's a boring ceiling when he doesn't run into the end zone. He was the QB6 when last playing the Eagles, whose secondary is still hurting entering the monumental NFC East showdown, so consider him a higher-end QB2 with a decent floor.
5 days ago
Baker Mayfield photo 17. Baker Mayfield CLE (vs . CAR)
Mayfield's recent hot streak came to an abrupt halt against the Texans' swarming defense last week, but he still ended up throwing for nearly 400 yards. Things should get much easier for Mayfield this week at home against the Panthers, who have surrendered multiple touchdown passes in 10 of their 12 games. Mayfield is a legit streaming option this week.
3 days ago
Kirk Cousins photo 18. Kirk Cousins MIN (at SEA)
Cousins throws a ton of passes so you would usually consider starting him even against a better than average defense like Seattle, but with the way the Seahawks control the ball and clock, it isn't an ideal situation for Cousins this week.
2 days ago
Josh Allen photo 19. Josh Allen BUF (vs . NYJ)
Following in the footsteps of Blake Bortles, Mitch Trubisky, and Lamar Jackson, Allen has been a surprisingly strong fantasy QB over the last couple weeks thanks to huge rushing numbers. After rushing for fewer than 40 yards in each of his first six NFL games, Allen has ran for at least 99 yards in each of the last two. And this week he'll square off with a Jets defense that allowed Marcus Mariota to rush for 43 yards last week. There is plenty of risk involved with starting Allen in two QB leagues, but his demonstrated upside more than makes up for it.
3 days ago
Carson Wentz photo 20. Carson Wentz PHI (at DAL)
After a couple of no-so-great games, Wentz popped back onto the QB1 radar last week with a 306-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Redskins. It'll be a bit tougher matchup this weekend against the Cowboys, though he's already shown he can beat them through the air because he threw for a season-high 360 yards and two touchdowns against them back in Week 10. It seems to be an outlier in performances against them, though, as they've allowed just 208.8 passing yards per game in their last six non-Eagles games, including a 127-yard, one-touchdown game to Drew Brees last week. They've still yet to allow an opponent more than two passing touchdowns, which is why the best fantasy finish against them was QB7 which was to Marcus Mariota when he rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown. In a divisional game that has an over/under of just 43 points, it's tough to say Wentz is anything more than a high-end QB2 in this matchup on the road where the Cowboys have allowed just 17.5 points per game.
4 days ago
Marcus Mariota photo 21. Marcus Mariota TEN (vs . JAC)
Mariota has quietly thrown multiple touchdown passes in four of his last five games, and has over 280 passing yards in two straight. The matchup with Jacksonville obviously isn't great, but the Jaguars D had given up big performances to QBs in four straight games prior to shutting down Andrew Luck last week. The Jags have been particularly vulnerable to running QBs, surrendering over 80 rushing yards to Dak Prescott and Josh Allen, and 51 rushing yards to Mariota the last time they met. That rushing floor, plus the fact this game is at home, makes Mariota an underrated QB2 option this week.
3 days ago
Ryan Tannehill photo 22. Ryan Tannehill MIA (vs . NE)
Tannehill has thrown for over 230 yards just once all season, but he does have multiple touchdown passes in five of the seven games he's played in. He may need to drop back to pass fairly often to keep up with New England, and the Patriots have been a favorable matchup for QBs this season, so you could do worse than Tannehill as a low-end QB2.
3 days ago
Matthew Stafford photo 23. Matthew Stafford DET (at ARI)
After throwing for multiple touchdowns in six straight games from Week 2 through Week 8, Stafford has thrown one or less touchdowns in four of the last five games. The loss of Golden Tate has hurt quite a bit, as has the loss of Marvin Jones. Unfortunately, going to play in Arizona isn't likely to correct these issues, as the Cardinals have yet to allow a quarterback finish better than the QB10 against them, and they've played Patrick Mahomes, Philip Rivers, Jared Goff, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers. Knowing that, it's a miracle they've allowed just 16 passing scores through 12 games. They bring the pressure, as their sack-rate is 8.64 percent, third-highest in the NFL, while Stafford has been sacked 23 times in the last five games. With Patrick Peterson covering his top receiver, it's likely going to be a long day for Stafford, making him a non-option in Week 14.
4 days ago
Case Keenum photo 24. Case Keenum DEN (at SF)
Keenum has thrown for 205 or fewer yards in all three of the Broncos' games since their Week 10 bye, and now he'll also need to compete without his top receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, who is out for the year with a torn Achilles. The 49ers are a favorable matchup, but Keenum simply can't be trusted as a QB2 given his recent performance and inexperienced receiving corps.
3 days ago
Derek Carr photo 25. Derek Carr OAK (vs . PIT)
Carr had one of his best games of the season last week, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns against the Chiefs. He may need to throw a lot again this week to keep up with the Steelers, but Pittsburgh has become a challenging team to pass on over the second half of the season. Carr is just a fringe QB2 this week.
3 days ago
Eli Manning photo 26. Eli Manning NYG (at WAS)
Odell Beckham Jr. threw the best pass from a New York Giant all season in Week 13's overtime upset over the Bears. That's not at all a joke. Manning, who went 19-of-35 for 170 yards, might have gotten benched if Beckham's pass and a spectacular Saquon Barkley run didn't spark a rally. He last broke 300 yards when facing Washington in Week 8, but he needed 47 throws-two of which were intercepted-to tally 316 yards. SNY's Ralph Vacchiano said the Giants "intend to play" Kyle Lauletta this season, so don't be shocked if the rookie gets a look as soon as Sunday. Manning is no more than a desperation QB2 with Beckham (quad) out against Washington.
1 day ago
Nick Mullens photo 27. Nick Mullens SF (vs . DEN)
The clock appeared to strike midnight on Mullens, who threw two picks each in consecutive losses to the Giants and Buccaneers. Then he went into Seattle and stockpiled 414 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos have surrendered big games to far better passing offenses (Chiefs, Chargers, and Steelers) in recent weeks, but the undrafted rookie has not showed enough stability to trust against a capable defense.
5 days ago
Josh Rosen photo 28. Josh Rosen ARI (vs . DET)
Rosen, averaging 181.6 passing yards per start, has collected 32 combined completions in the past three games. He just lost Christian Kirk to a broken foot, meaning defenses can focus almost entirely on David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Although they have yielded 8.4 yards per pass attempt, the Lions just held their own against Jared Goff's Rams. Going from the NFL's second-best defense to the worst should be a smooth transition. Rosen again finds himself near the bottom of the quarterback rankings.
5 days ago
Jeff Driskel photo 29. Jeff Driskel CIN (at LAC)
Driskel threw for just 236 yards and one touchdown last week against Denver, and that may be on the high-end of his range of possible outcomes in a tough road matchup with the Chargers. He doesn't belong in fantasy lineups outside of the deepest of two quarterback leagues.
3 days ago
Cody Kessler photo 30. Cody Kessler JAC (at TEN)
Kessler game-managed the Jaguars to a 6-0 victory over the Colts last week, but his 150 scoreless passing yards were just about useless from a fantasy perspective. On the road against an opportunistic Titans defense on a short week, Kessler is about as unappealing a QB2 option as it gets.
3 days ago
Mark Sanchez photo 31. Mark Sanchez WAS (vs . NYG)
Colt McCoy, who was replacing the injured Alex Smith, fractured his fibula on Monday night. That leaves Washington with Sanchez, who went 13-of-21 for 100 yards and an interception after relieving McCoy, who accrued 50 yards against the Eagles in one quarter. The Giants have limited the last five starting quarterbacks to fewer than 14 fantasy points, so don't even use the third-stringer as a QB2 in his first start since 2015.
5 days ago
Sam Darnold photo 32. Sam Darnold NYJ (at BUF)
Darnold returns from a three-game absence this week to face the Bills, who present arguably the toughest matchup for opposing QBs in the entire league, especially when playing at home. Darnold has done nothing this season to suggest he will have success in this contest. He's a bottom-of-the-barrel fantasy option this week.
3 days ago
Taysom Hill photo 33. Taysom Hill NO (at TB)
Josh McCown photo 34. Josh McCown NYJ (at BUF)
Ryan Fitzpatrick photo 35. Ryan Fitzpatrick TB (vs . NO)
Blake Bortles photo 36. Blake Bortles JAC (at TEN)
C.J. Beathard photo 37. C.J. Beathard SF (vs . DEN)
Chase Daniel photo 38. Chase Daniel CHI (vs . LAR)
Robert Griffin photo 39. Robert Griffin BAL (at KC)
Tyrod Taylor photo 40. Tyrod Taylor CLE (vs . CAR)
Kyle Lauletta photo 41. Kyle Lauletta NYG (at WAS)
Nick Foles photo 42. Nick Foles PHI (at DAL)
Matt Cassel photo 43. Matt Cassel DET (at ARI)
Matt Barkley photo 44. Matt Barkley BUF (vs . NYJ)
Jacoby Brissett photo 45. Jacoby Brissett IND (at HOU)
Teddy Bridgewater photo 46. Teddy Bridgewater NO (at TB)
Geno Smith photo 47. Geno Smith LAC (vs . CIN)
AJ McCarron photo 48. AJ McCarron OAK (vs . PIT)
Matt Schaub photo 49. Matt Schaub ATL (at GB)
Brock Osweiler photo 50. Brock Osweiler MIA (vs . NE)
Blaine Gabbert photo 51. Blaine Gabbert TEN (vs . JAC)
Mike Glennon photo 52. Mike Glennon ARI (vs . DET)
Tom Savage photo 53. Tom Savage CIN (at LAC)
Brett Hundley photo 54. Brett Hundley SEA (vs . MIN)
Sean Mannion photo 55. Sean Mannion LAR (at CHI)
Taylor Heinicke photo 56. Taylor Heinicke CAR (at CLE)
Trevor Siemian photo 57. Trevor Siemian MIN (at SEA)
Jake Rudock photo 58. Jake Rudock DET (at ARI)
DeShone Kizer photo 59. DeShone Kizer GB (vs . ATL)
Joshua Dobbs photo 60. Joshua Dobbs PIT (at OAK)
Cooper Rush photo 61. Cooper Rush DAL (vs . PHI)