Time flies when you’re having fun. Time also flies when you’re stressing about fantasy football. Somehow it’s already Week 14. I don’t know how we got here so fast but if you are reading this, that means the playoffs are still in sight. Well this is it. Time to start winning or pack it up for the year. Let’s see if I can help you out with these starts and sits for the week.
Starts
QB- Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (@LAR)
Derek Carr is a true middle of the pack fantasy QB. Doesn’t help in the run game, doesn’t go for crazy yards. What he does is play consistent football. In 9 of 12 games this year he’s thrown for over 240 yards and 2 TDs. Now if that’s not consistentcy then I don't know what is. If you are having trouble at QB, Carr's consistent play is who should be in your lineup. He’s matched up against the Rams this week who let Geno Smith throw for 367 yards and 3 TDs. Start Carr with confidence, he won’t disappoint.
RB- Zonovan Knight, New York Jets (@Buf)
The Jets offense has been all over the place this year. They score 30 one week then put up a dud the next. Kind of like how TEs have been all season. A guy that’s bringing some consistency to the run game is Knight. Since being in a larger role, Knight has run the ball 29 times for 159 yards over the last two games. He also caught 8 passes for 62 yards over that stretch. Some might be hesitant to play Knight against the Bills defense, but they haven’t been exactly a run lock down defense. The Bills have given up over 1,200 yards and 4.2 yards per carry to running backs this season. Knight is a solid RB2 play this week with his volume in the offense. If you are needy at RB he’s still available in 60% of leagues. Go get him!
WR- Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (MIA)
With the return of Keenan Allen, there was some worry of Palmer's volume going forward. There is no need to worry. He has found his place in the Chargers offense. Over the last five games, Palmer has gotten 46 targets, that’s only 2 fewer than Travis Kelce during that stretch. Now that stat alone should make him a lineup lock. To sweeten the pot, they are playing the Dolphins this week and the Chargers will have no choice but to keep up with that offense. Expect a lot of air yards this game and a lot of targets heading Palmer's way. He should be in your lineup.
TE- Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (@CAR)
Part of me wishes I could play two defenses instead of playing a TE. That’s how done I am with this position. Absolutely zero consistency other than a few outliers. Fant makes the start list because he’s involved in the offense and Geno Smith has been playing some great football. Fant has had at least 3 catches and 30 yards in four straight games. That might not sound great, but it’s better than most TEs right now. He’s consistently involved in the offense and has scored a couple TDs this year. Plug him in against the Panthers this week.
Defense- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@SF)
Tampa has played solid defense all year. Only allowing one team to score over 30 points all season. They also have five games this year with 4 or more sacks. They are playing a solid 49ers team but with Jimmy Garoppolo out, they can focus on stopping the run. They haven’t been amazing against the run but they have allowed the 3rd fewest rushing TDs this year, only seven. Expect the Bucs to get after the QB and focus on stopping the run. They should be in your lineup this week.
Sits
QB- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (@Ten)
Lawrence made the start list last week against a poor Lions defense. He threw for a whopping 179 yards against a team that was allowing the most points to fantasy QBs this season. He has now thrown for less than 200 yards 4 times this year. He’s now going to Tennessee to play another poor secondary. Fool me once I say. Lawrence is to up and down to trust for a playoff push. Lots of safer options at QB this week. Don’t start Lawrence and regret it.
RB- Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (@ Dal)
Dameon Pierce is the only person to trust on Houston’s offense this year. He shouldn't be in your lineup this week because you can’t run the ball when you're down. The Texans are matched up with the Cowboys this week who just scored over 50 points last week. I know that Pierce has been good this season and Dallas isn’t that good against the run. Take a look back to Weeks 11 and 12 where the Texans got blown out. Pierce had a combined 15 carries for 16 yards in both those games combined. The Texans won’t keep the game close long enough to get Pierce his touches. Don’t play him this week.
WR- Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills (NYJ)
Gabe Davis has been up and down all season. He is a true boom or bust WR. Now over the last two games, he’s had 6 catches for 53 yards combined. Those are not good numbers for a guy playing WR2 in your lineup. He's now going to be playing a stout Jets secondary who held Justin Jefferson to just 45 yards last week. Gabe Davis is a guy you play in a good matchup. This week is not that. Keep him on the bench this week.
TE- Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (LV)
Early in the year, Tyler Higbee was one of the few tight ends consistently putting up numbers. Now, he’s acting like the rest of the TEs. In the last three games he’s combined for 6 catches for 54 yards. He now has five games this year where he’s failed to surpass 20 yards receiving. These numbers are all concerning and I haven't even mentioned the dismal QB situation in LA. Too many things are working against Higbee right now and he shouldn’t be in any lineups.
Defense- Minnesota Vikings (@DET)
The Vikings had some solid games this year but that wasn’t the case last week when they accumulated zero fantasy points against the New York Jets. If you can’t get a single point playing at home against the Jets with a backup QB do you belong in any lineup? I think not. They play the Lions this week who just put up over 40 points against the Jags. Better options at defense await you this week so don’t play the Vikings.
