NFL 2020 Week 14 Start n Sits Playoff Edition

So if you are reading this you are most likely in your fantasy league’s playoffs. Congratulations!! And since we are now in a win or go home position, this sit n start will be a little different. It seems redundant to do “sleepers” because well…you are going to play your studs. But there are games/positions that are “iffy” right? For instance I am in a league where my quarterbacks are Derek Carr and Deshaun Watson, neither great options this week.

So this week I will give you the top 11 or 5 (if you are a tight end) rankings according to their match-up.  If you have specific start/sit questions hit me up on Twitter @neverenoughglt and of course come ask Sunday on the War Room @GoingFor2Live.com on Facebook, Periscope, Twitter and YouTube. 

QUARTERBACK RANKINGS WEEK 14

11. BEN ROETHLISBERGER @ BUFFALO BILLS: 

The Bills are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to the quarterback position.  But the Monday Night games may put into question the efficacy of starting Roethlisberger.  While the Bills did give up 316 passing yards to San Francisco Niners Nick Mullens, he also had two interceptions on three touchdowns. 

Roethlisberger in defeat to the Washington Football Team, had 305 passing yards on 53 attempts, two touchdowns and one interception.  While Roethlisberger is only averaging 6.4 yards per attempt, he is surrounded by elite receiving options when they hang on to the ball.  I have a feeling the drops will dramatically decrease.  

10. PHILIP RIVERS @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS:

Rivers reportedly has a foot injury that will require surgery.  For the season he has 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.  Last week against a porous Houston Texans defense he attempted 35 passes, completed 27 for 285 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.  He has seemingly found some chemistry with TY Hilton, who was targeted a team high 11 times for eight receptions, one touchdown and 110 yards. 

The Colts average 36.2 pass attempts per game (16th in the league) while passing on 56.91% of their offensive plays. 

9. MATTHEW STAFFORD @ GREEN BAY PACKERS:

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I am a fan of the Patricia-less Stafford.  Last week against a good Chicago Bears defense, Stafford passed for 402 yards on 42 attempts, for three touchdowns, one interception and two sacks.  The Packers are only giving up 17.7 average fantasy points to the quarterback position, but last week Jalen Hurts came in and passed for a touchdown, an interception and 109 yards in limited playing time. 

This game has the highest over/under at 55 with the Packers an eight point favorite.  Stafford will have to go to his slinging ways.

8. RYAN TANNEHILL @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS:

Admittedly Tannehill should be higher as the Jaguars are giving up the fourth most fantasy points to the quarterback position and Tannehill has thrown 26 touchdowns and five interceptions while averaging 7.9 yards per attempt.  The fear as always is that Derrick Henry and the run game will take over in a must win game for the Titans who are favored by 7.5. 

7. JUSTIN HERBERT @ ATLANTA FALCONS

Herbert looked like a rookie last week but that was against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.  The Falcons defense has improved but is still giving up the most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position. Heck, Taysom Hill even threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns on them last week.  Look for Herbert to rebound. 

6. MATT RYAN v LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Ryan is a different animal with Julio Jones on the field.  The Chargers last week surrendered one passing touchdown to Cam Newton and one passing touchdown to Jarrett Stidham.  Jones is back.  The Chargers are giving up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, so Ryan should thrive.

5. TOM BRADY v MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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Jacksonville Jaguars’ Mike Glennon just put up 280 yards and a touchdown on the Vikings.  Brady has had a week off (bye week) and has so many weapons.  While Brady has had four interceptions in the last two games: one this game isn’t in prime time and  two he has so many weapons.  

4. JOSH ALLEN v PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Yes, the Steelers are giving up the least amount of fantasy points to the quarterback position.  Yes, the Steelers are first in the NFL in sacks.  But we just witnessed mobility challenged Alex Smith drop 296 yards and a touchdown on the Steelers.  

Against a good Niners defense Allen passed for 375 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.  He also carried the ball six times for 11 yards.  Look for Allen to get more rushing yards this game to keep his fantasy stats buoyant.  

3. RUSSELL WILSON v NEW YORK JETS

Someone broke Wilson.  Luckily he gets the Jets next and they are usually more than ready to fix opposing teams ills.  

2. AARON RODGERS @ DETROIT LIONS

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The Rodgers FU Tour will continue in Detroit.  Rodgers is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.  He has thrown 36 touchdowns and four interceptions.  And he is doing this with basically only one reliable wide receiver, Davante Adams.

1. PATRICK MAHOMES @ MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Dolphins defense is 11th in passing completions allowed (21.4) and 15th in opponents passing yards per game (232.8).  They have eight sacks in their last two games.  Noted the last two games were against the New York Jets and the Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley led Cincinnati Bengals.  This—Is—Mahomes!

TIGHT END RANKINGS WEEK 14

5. COLE KMET v HOUSTON TEXANS

Kmet has been on the field for at least 70% of the offensive snaps in the last three games.  Last week that resulted in a career high seven targets, five receptions, for 37 yards and a touchdown.  

4. DALTON SCHULTZ @ CINCINNATI BENGALS

With Dez Bryant likely out either way and this being a “revenge game narrative” for Andy Dalton, and the Cowboys being all kinds of dumpster fire-ish, Schultz is in play.  In the Tuesday night massacre against the Baltimore Ravens, Schultz had four targets, four receptions and 44 yards.  

The Bengals are giving up an average of 8.7 targets and 9.8 fantasy points per game to the tight end position.  That is the fifth-most fantasy points in the league. 

3. ANTHONY FIRKSER @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

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In the lost to the Cleveland Browns, Firkser was tied for second on the team in targets (7).  He turned that into five receptions for 51 yards.  AJ Brown appears to be a go but Jonnu Smith is still uncertain.  It probably won’t matter even if Smith is a go as the Jaguars are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position and while Firkser was third in the tight end room for snaps (42%) he was the most productive tight end of the bunch. 

2.HUNTER HENRY v ATLANTA FALCONS

We can just take out last week’s thrashing as a pivot point as the offense was completely inept.  The Falcons are giving up 10.2 fantasy points per game to the tight end position.  Before last week, Henry was averaging 7.5 targets a game over a four week span while also adding two touchdowns.  

1.TRAVIS KELCE/ DARREN WALLER/ ROBERT TONYAN/TJ HOCKENSON AND ROB GRONKOWSKI

If you have any of the above mentioned tight ends start them without thinking. 

WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS WEEK 14

10. ALLEN ROBINSON v HOUSTON TEXANS

The Bears are reeling and the only good thing (well besides their defense) is Robinson.  Robinson has been targeted 115 times this season.  Last week he and Cole Kmet tied the team with seven targets.  Robinson finished with six receptions and 75 yards.  The Texans for their part just surrendered 110 receiving yards and a touchdown to TY Hilton, while also allowing running back Jonathan Taylor to score on a passing play. 

9. TERRY MCLAURIN @ SAN FRANCISCO

McLaurin had a subpar game in the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He was third on the team in targets (6) and only managed two receptions for 14 yards.  He is still third in the NFL in yards after catch (436), second in air yards share (42.3%) and seventh in targets (108).  

The Niners secondary still has Jason Verrett and Richard Sherman but Bills’ Cole Beasley just torched them for 130 yards and a touchdowns, while Stefon Diggs added 92 yards on 10 receptions.  

8. COREY DAVIS @ JACKSONVILLE

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Last week made nine out of 10 games that Davis has scored double digit PPR points.  Last week he did it to the tune of 12 targets, 11 receptions, 182 yards and a touchdown.  That was against the Cleveland Browns minus Denzel Ward.  Now the Titans will go against the Jacksonville Jaguars who are without the services of three of the top four cornerbacks. 

7. ADAM THIELEN/JUSTIN JEFFERSON @ TAMPA BAY

The Buccaneers still possess the top run defense, but their pass defense is porous.  In their last game, Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill had 269 receiving yards and three touchdowns.  And while that may be a slight aberration, because it is… well Mahomes and the Chiefs, remember the week prior to that Cooper Kupp had 145 receiving yards and Robert Woods had 130 receiving yards and one touchdown against them, and that was Jared Goff. 

5. MIKE EVANS/CHRIS GODWIN v MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The problem here is a wealth of riches in an offense that also includes Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski as viable alternatives.  The betting money is on Evans thriving in this game as he leads the team with 20 red zone targets and nine touchdowns.  

3. D.K. METCALF @ NEW YORK JETS

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Well we can rest assured there will be no all-out blitz…maybe.  The Jets are surrendering 25.69 fantasy points to the wide receiver position.  Metcalf for his part has 98 targets and is averaging 17.76 yards per reception, with nine touchdowns.  Last week Metcalf went up against James Bradberry, who for the most part kept him in check.  The Jets do not have a Bradberry in their secondary.  

2. DAVANTE ADAMS v DETROIT LIONS

The Lions may be experiencing the euphoric bounce with the new-interim coach smell but Rodgers to Adams connection will knock that right off.  Last week Adams saw 12 targets for 10 receptions, 121 yards and two touchdowns.  The Lions are giving up an average of 25.75 fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position while surrendering 267.1 passing yards per game (27th). 

1. KEENAN ALLEN @ ATLANTA FALCONS

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Allen has been targeted 40 times in the last three games.  He is the most targeted player in the league with 133 targets so far.  He has a 28.2% target share and is fourth in yards after catch with 420 yards.  The Falcons secondary, though improved just gave up 105 receiving yards to Michael Thomas.

RUNNING BACKS RANKINGS WEEK 14

11. TY JOHNSON @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Jets may or may not be tanking, but we know that the use of their running backs is not game script dependent.  Frank Gore left the game in the first quarter with a concussion.  It remains to be seen if he will be back on the field this season.  Johnson stepped in and stepped up with 104 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.  

10. ADRIAN PETERSON v GREEN BAY PACKERS

Peterson’s value will depend upon the status of D ‘Andre Swift.  But just remember last week against a good Chicago Bears defense, Peterson had 57 yards and two touchdowns, which makes the second game in a row that he has scored twice. 

9. J.D. MCKISSIC @ SAN FRANCISCO NINERS

The Washington Football Team is in the playoff hunt.  Antonio Gibson went out of the game in Week 13 with a toe injury.  The extent of the injury is currently unspecified.  McKissic is going to be more valuable in PPR leagues as he was on the receiving end of 10 targets for 10 receptions and 70 yards.  His opportunities should remain high, especially if Gibson misses time. 

8. KAREEM HUNT v BALTIMORE RAVENS

Any time there is a divisional match-up it is tricky.  The Ravens defense is good but they are allowing 111.6 average rushing yards a game and just gave up 77 rushing yards to Ezekiel Elliott who is having a not so great year.  Besides anytime you can roster a player whose team is second in rushing attempts (32.3) and first in rushing yards per game (157.8) you really want to do that. 

7. DAVID MONTGOMERY v HOUSTON TEXANS

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The Houston Texans are ranked 31st in fantasy points per game allowed to the running back position (26.21).  Montgomery is having a resurgence of sorts with Mitchell Trubisky under center.  Last week Montgomery rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.  The week prior it was 103 yards on 11 carries. Trust that this good fortune continues against a porous Texans defense. 

6. NICK CHUBB v BALTIMORE RAVENS

SEE #8

5. AARON JONES @ DETROIT LIONS

Do you know who is giving up the most fantasy football points to the running back position?  That would be the Detroit Lions with 28.2 average fantasy points per game.  It is not like Jones needs any help. Even with Jamaal Williams bumping in and out of the lineup, Jones is averaging 5.2 yards per attempt and has seven touchdowns, including the 46-yard scamper last week.  

4. DERRICK HENRY @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Titans need this win to stay playoff relevant.  The Cleveland Browns managed to contain Henry for most of the game as he ended up with 60 yards on 15 carries and did not see the end zone.  The Jaguars defense is not anywhere close to the Browns.  In addition the Jaguars are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to the running back position.  Now is not the time to doubt your stud. 

3. ALVIN KAMARA @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

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It appears that Taysom Hill remembered he had a stud running back on the field with him.  After two frustrating (fantasy football wise) weeks, Kamara rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. His targets are still frustratingly low (3) but perhaps with Hill it is just baby steps.  The Eagles defense is not what sucks on the team, but they did just give up 148 all purpose yards to Aaron Jones. 

2. JONATHAN TAYLOR @ LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

The Raiders were just schooled by the New York Jets third-string running back Ty Johnson for 104 yards.  Taylor has reestablished his dominance in the Colts backfield by averaging 21 carries over the last two games.  He is also showing up in the passing game.  Last week he had three targets to go with his 13 carries for 91 yards. 

1. AUSTIN EKELER v ATLANTA FALCONS

The Falcons defense is better against the run, giving up only 109.2 average rushing yards per game.  However, Ekeler makes our fantasy dreams a realization with his passing prowess and the Falcons are abysmal against the pass (rank 30th allowing 285.2 passing yards a game).  Even in the travesty that was last week’s game, Ekeler was targeted nine times.  The week before he was on the receiving end of 16 targets. This should be a bounce back opportunity for Ekeler and the Chargers offense. 

Good Luck and congratulations on making the playoffs!!

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