Week 14 Recap: Fantasy Football Studs and Duds

Week 14 is done, and the first round of the fantasy playoffs are over. Some fantasy owners are thrilled about moving on while others are left scratching their heads as to what happened. Some fantasy stars shined while other prominent stars crashed when they were needed the most. I will recap the fantasy football studs and duds of Week 14.

Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi

QUARTERBACKS

STUDS

Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

Russell Wilson let fantasy owners know they could count on him when it mattered most. Wilson had a solid game in Week 14 putting up 29 fantasy points. Wilson threw for 263 yards and 2 TD passes. He also rushed for 48 yards with rushing TD. This was Wilson’s 4^th straight game without throwing an INT. Over the last 4 weeks, Wilson has thrown for 888 yards with 6TDs and 0 INT. He has also rushed for 227 yards during those 4 games. There seems to be no slowing him down, so owners sit back and enjoy the ride.

Cam Newton (Panthers)

Cam Newton owners who started him in Week 14 should be laughing their way to the next round of the playoffs. Newton had his best fantasy game of the 2014 season, racking up 35 fantasy points. Newton only threw for 226 yards, but passed for 3 touchdowns. Newton also rushed for 83 yards and scored a rushing TD. Newton was smart with the ball, as he did not turn it over. Newton’s 83 rushing yards against the Saints were the most he has put up in 8 career games against the Saints.

DUDS

Peyton Manning (Broncos)

There is something about playoffs and Peyton Manning that doesn’t mix well. OK, that was a little harsh, but you have to feel for Manning. Who would of thought the best Manning brother to play in Week 14 would be Eli? Peyton owners were shocked by his horrendous Week 14 performance. For starters, Peyton’s 51 game TD passing streak ended. You have to go back to Week 10 of the 2010 season against the Bengals for the last time that happened. Manning’s 173 passing yards was the lowest this season and the lowest since he threw for 150 yards in a Week 12 loss to the Patriots last season. This was Manning’s 5^th multi INT game of this season. This was only the 3^nd time since the start of the 2012 season that Manning had a game where he threw more INTs than TDs. Manning’s 2.72 fantasy points was his season low. As a matter of fact, the last time Manning failed to reach double-digit fantasy points was on Monday Night Football in Week 2 of the 2012 season against the Falcons when he threw for 241 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. What I’m saying is that Manning stunk! It may be over this year for Peyton fantasy owners.

Drew Brees (Saints)

Drew Brees had his worst fantasy game of the season in Week 14. He put up 12 fantasy points. Many thought this matchup would be favorable for Brees mostly in part to the fact that Carolina had given up the 7^th most fantasy points to QBs this season. Brees was coming off a season-high 5 TD game against the Steelers in Week 13. Brees also had thrown 14 TDs in 6 prior home games this year. Brees threw for 235 yards, which was a season low for him. It was the 4^th game all season that Brees threw for only 1 TD pass. He also threw an INT. Better luck next year, Brees owners.

RUNNING BACK

STUDS

Le’Veon Bell (Steelers)

Le’Veon Bell has been on a complete tear the last 3 weeks. The 2^nd year back is having the best 3 game stretch of his young career. He destroyed the Bengals D in Week 14, putting up a ridiculous 41.50 points in standard scoring leagues. Bell scored 2 TDs on the ground and 1 TD in the air. He rushed for 185 yards and had 50 yards receiving on 6 receptions. Over the last 3 weeks, Bell has rushed for 484 yards and has another 227 yards receiving. He has found the end zone 5 times. PPR owners love that Bell has 16 receptions in those 3 games. Bell is turning it on at the right time and fantasy owners are taking full advantage of it.

C.J. Anderson (Broncos)

I bet Peyton Manning fantasy owners are blaming C.J. Anderson and the Broncos running game for taking points away from him. To the chagrin of Manning owners, Anderson has shined the last few weeks. Anderson made the best out of his opportunities in Week 14, putting up 23 fantasy points. Anderson had 21 carries for 58 yards and 3 TDs. Over the past 3 weeks, Anderson has rushed for 393 yards, had 45 yards receiving, and has scored 5 times. If you were lucky enough to snatch Anderson off the wire a few weeks back, you sure have cashed in on your investment. Keep on riding this Bronco.

DUDS

Alfred Morris (Redskins)

6 yards rushing! That’s what Alfred Morris ran for in Week 14. I’m not talking 6 yard on 1 play. I’m telling you he rushed 8 times for 6 yards. Alfred Morris owners must think they’re in a nightmare. Morris finished the day with 1.70 points thanks to an 11 yard reception he had. We knew Morris was going to have his hands full with the Rams defense, but 6 yards? C’MON MAN!!

LeSean McCoy (Eagles)

Shady McCoy managed only 3 fantasy points in Week 14. He rushed 17 times for 50 yards and had a costly fumble. McCoy owners have been on a rollercoaster ride all season. This was his 3^rd lowest fantasy game of the season. Earlier this year, McCoy had back-to-back games of 2.20 points and 1.70 points. McCoy let down his fantasy owners when they needed him the most.

Nov 30, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

WIDE RECEIVER

STUDS

A.J. Green (Bengals)

If it weren’t for the Monday Night Football performance by Julio Jones, A.J. Green’s 28.40 fantasy points would have had the best for a WR in Week 14. He had 11 receptions on 15 targets for 224 yards and 1 TD. It’s a safe bet to say Green is back to his old self. Over the past 4 weeks, A.J. Green has been targeted 47 times, yanking in 33 receptions for 529 yards and 3 TDs. Owners who have stuck with Green are glad that he is hitting his stride at the perfect time of the year.

Julio Jones (Falcons)

Fantasy owners couldn’t have imagined the game Julio Jones put up in Week 14. Jones had a career game on Monday night. He put up 31.90 points. Jones set a Falcons franchise record with 259 yards receiving. Jones also had a TD. PPR owners got even more points as Jones had 11 receptions. Jones previous career game came last week when he had 10 receptions for 189 yards and a TD against the Cardinals. If your squad was trailing heading into Monday night, Jones definitely bailed you out with his performance.

DUDS

Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)

What in the world happened to DT? The usually reliable Demaryius Thomas only had 11 yards on 2 receptions in Week 14. Thomas came into Sunday’s game averaging 15.63 fantasy points per game. His 11 yards and 0 TD was good enough for 1.10 points. A let down to owners is a major understatement. The last time DT had this poor of a game was Week 15 of the 2012 season when he had 13 yards receiving in a win at Baltimore. Besides C.J. Anderson, all the major playmakers for the Broncos put up poor fantasy numbers in Week 14.

Josh Gordon (Browns)

Josh Gordon fever came crashing down in Week 14. Gordon had his worst performance of his short 2014 campaign on Sunday. Many Josh Gordon owners either drafted him or claimed him off waiver wires early this season with the purpose of inserting him into their lineup at this very moment. Owners passed on other players and held a roster spot in Gordon’s name all season. Those owners are probably kicking themselves right now. Gordon was productive in his first 2 games back, pulling in 15 receptions for 195 yards, but fantasy football is game that has a “what have you done for me lately?” mentality. What Josh Gordon has done for owners lately is help them get the boot from the playoffs with his 2 catch, 15 yard, 1.50 point fantasy performance. Hopefully you took the warning of sitting Gordon because the Browns were playing the Colts, who had given up the 6^th fewest fantasy points to WR this season. If you did bench Gordon, you might live to fight another week. If not, there’s always next year.

Nov 23, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) stiff arms San Diego Chargers defensive back Darrell Stuckey (25) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

TIGHT END

STUDS

Jared Cook (Rams)

If you had and played Jared Cook in Week 14, you might have forced your way into the next round of the playoffs. Cook had his 2^nd career 2 TD game. The other came in Week 1 of the 2013 season. Cook had 61 yards on 4 receptions, and was targeted a team high 5 times. He finished his fantasy day scoring 18.10 points, which led all TE in standard scoring leagues. The TE position has been so average this year that owners have been picking players based off of favorable matchups. Cook fit right into the mold this week as the Redskins defense came into Week 14 giving up the 7^th most fantasy points to TE this season.

Mychal Rivera (Raiders)

Mychal Rivera finds himself on this list because of his Week 14 career performance. Rivera had his 1^st career 100 yard game, and in the process, scored a TD. Rivera was fantasy relevant in Weeks 8-10, but fell off the last 3 weeks. His 109 yard, 1 TD game put up 16.90 fantasy points. Rivera also added 7 receptions, so PPR squads got added points there. For those fantasy owners who picked up Rivera in Week 14 (cough, cough, the writer of this article did), then they should be thrilled that he is a reason that a team is on the move of the next round.

DUDS

Jimmy Graham (Saints)

I can’t believe that Jimmy Graham is on a list that involves being fantasy irrelevant. Graham put up his 2^nd straight stinker in Week 14. After putting up a goose egg in Week 13, Graham followed that up with a 2.50 fantasy point nightmare that had owners questioning their own sanity. Graham has put up less than 3 fantasy points in 3 of the last 4 weeks in standard scoring leagues. Graham owners are shocked to see this kind of performance out of him. Graham may bounce back next week at Chicago, but for many owners, this performance was the one that cost them a chance at winning their matchup.

Delanie Walker (Titans)

For the 2^nd straight week, Delanie Walker put up a dud of a performance. A week after coming off a 1 catch, 6 yard game, Walker had a 4 reception 27 yard game in Week 14. He did have a favorable matchup against the Giants and was targeted a team high 10 times, but Zach Mettenberger could not make the right throws. It might be too little, too late for Walker owners to recover from his 2.70 fantasy point performance.

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