Week 14 Streamers
Here we are in the last week of most fantasy football leagues. For some of you, you now have to win every match going forward. Some of you have procured a playoff berth, but are trying to get or hang onto a bye week. And some of you just have a grudge match against the team that knocked you out of the playoffs last year.
Here are my weekly lineup recommendations from the waiver wire based on players rostered in less than 50% of leagues and half-point PPR scoring.
Teams on bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
QUARTERBACKS
Taysom Hill, Saints @ Jets (Yahoo 34%, ESPN 35%, Sleeper 41%)
Hill is buoyed by his rushing floor after scampering for 101 yards v. the Cowboys. Passing wise, Hill can’t throw 4 INTs in a game again, right? I mean it’s the Jets -- they have 4 INTs all season long.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington v. Cowboys (Yahoo 39%, ESPN 26%, Sleeper 39%)
Heinicke has tossed TDs in 7 straight games and should need to throw more than the last few weeks to keep up with the rival Cowboys’ Offense. Hopefully Heinicke avoids interception machine Trevon Diggs.
RUNNING BACKS
Dontrell Hilliard, Titans v. Jaguars (Yahoo 40%, ESPN 36%, Sleeper 49%)
D'Onta Foreman, Titans v. Jaguars (Yahoo 40%, ESPN 35%, Sleeper 41%)
Hilliard and Foreman’s usage depends on Jeremy McNichols returning from the concussion which has kept him sideline for the last 11 weeks. If no McNichols then they are playable on an offense depleted of its starting playmakers. If McNichols returns then a 3 headed back field might be too much unless the Titans decided to run some wing-t triple option.
David Johnson, Texans v. @ Seahawks (Yahoo 43%, ESPN 40%, Sleeper 54%)
If he returns after missing week 13 with an illness
Matt Breida, Bills @ Buccaneers (Yahoo 41%, ESPN 20%, Sleeper 40%)
The Bucs run D has been the best in football over the last 2 seasons (63.75 yards allowed per game). But they do allow 7.25 receptions (2nd worst) and 48.58 receiving yards per game (7th worst) to RB.
J.D. McKissic, Washington v. Cowboys (Yahoo 50%, ESPN 50%, Sleeper 61%)
McKissic was Knocked out of the game against the Seahawks in Week 12 and missed Week 13. If he returns then, his route running prowess will be counted on by Heinicke against the Cowboys.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers v. Bears (Yahoo 18%, ESPN 9%, Sleeper 27%)
The Bears are allowing a little over a TD per game to WRs (5th worst) and 14.1 yards per catch (5th worst) a recipe which sets up nicely for Aaron Rogers’ deep ball target.
Russell Gage, Falcons @ Panthers (Yahoo 34%, ESPN 25%, Sleeper 53%)
Opportunity = potential and Gage enters Week 14 after seeing 8, 3, 8, 7, and 12 targets. Teams tend to run against the Panthers but they are allowing a TD a game to WRs this season.
K.J. Osborn, Vikings v. Steelers (Yahoo 3%, ESPN 4%, Sleeper 7%)
Adam Thielen exited Sunday's match up with an ankle injury and Osborn, who had been quiet since his mini break out during the first 2 weeks of the season, saw 7 targets and nabbed a TD. Osborn should expect to see similar volume in Week 14 against the Steelers.
Deonte Harris, Saints @ Jets (Yahoo 16%, ESPN 3%, Sleeper 9%)
The Jets are allowing 13.7 yard per catch (6th worst)
TIGHT ENDS
Tyler Conklin, Vikings v. Steelers (Yahoo 30%, ESPN 34%, Sleeper 31%)
Conklin saw 9 targets in Week 13 after Thielen’s exit. Fast forward to Week 14, we know Conklin will be on the field at least 80% of the time and we’d hope his red zone prospects rise if Thielen sits.
Cole Kmet, Bears @ Packers (Yahoo 26%, ESPN 32%, Sleeper 13%)
Kmet saw another 7 targets in Week 13 and in Week 6 against the Packers he caught 4 balls for 49 yards. The Packers are giving up 5.17 catches a game to TEs (11th worst).
Evan Engram, Giants @ Chargers (Yahoo 29%, ESPN 28%, Sleeper 35%)
Engram has seen 5, 6, and 5 targets over the last 3 games and the Chargers have given up TDs to TEs in 8 of 12 games this season.
DEFENSE
Broncos v. Lions team (Yahoo 45%, ESPN 43%, Sleeper 30%)
Packers v. Bears (Yahoo 29%, ESPN 27%, Sleeper 17%)
Titans v. Jaguars (Yahoo 21%, ESPN 26%, Sleeper 18%)
KICKERS
Brandon McManus, Broncos v. Lions (Yahoo 25%, ESPN 63%, Sleeper 15%)
Randy Bullock, Titans v. Jaguars (Yahoo 6%, ESPN 15%, Sleeper 5%)
Questions, comments, and other feedback is always welcome. Follow me on twitter @b_muell for my mildly depressing -- occasionally delusional -- Washington (RedWolves?), O’s, Caps and Terps takes.
