Fantasy Football Week Fourteen: Start em' or Sit em'

SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 01: Wide receiver Doug Baldwin /

Fantasy Football – WEEK FOURTEEN MEANS ONE THING: PLAYOFF TIME

As we head in to week fourteen of the season the majority of people are either prepping for the most critical decisions they’ll make all year or still trying to validate excuses as to why they missed the cut (after all, “they did lose David Johnson“). For those of you who have nothing left to play for in your fantasy football leagues but pride, let me offer you one piece of advice in leu of Jimmy V Week: don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Considering these are the moments that separate the champs from the chumps, keeping a close eye on how teams utilize their talent is of the utmost importance. Knowing certain teams and coaching staffs who roll out their starters regardless of playoff contention and which teams like to rest their studs can carry a lot of weight. This time of the year we see an abundance of young talent get their opportunity to shine which often presents an opportunity for you to find dynasty league stashes or potential sleepers you can grab at a bargain in next years draft.

With that being said, let’s turn our attention towards those of you who are still fighting for glory and outline some of the players that belong on your bench in week 14 along with a few you should feel confident to rely on to get you into the semi-finals.

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Fantasy Football – SIT EM’

Doug Baldwin – WR, Seattle Seahawks

Any Seahawk not named Russell Wilson has been fairly quiet on the fantasy front for the second half of the season. It’s not necessarily a lack of talent that plagues Baldwin this week, but a decrease in volume and a date with a Jaguars Secondary that’s been homicidal when it comes to opposing pass-catcher’s fantasy production. If you have other another option with a friendlier matchup, this might be one of the few situations where you sit your stud.

Jordan Howard– RB, Chicago Bears

Howard sits right behind Kareem Hunt on the short list of backs who have let us down the most in the last month of the season. Although he remains the lead back, at this point in the year his role as a total workhorse has evaporated. He has seen his carries dip below 15/game in the last three weeks and the Bears defense doesn’t exactly do him any favors on the other side of the ball. An offense without an identity and a porous secondary mean that game script will become a major factor for someone who doesn’t handle a majority of the passing game. The presence of Tarik Cohen and a rookie QB behind center make up the ingredients for another lackluster performance from Howard in week 14.

Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers

This one may come as a surprise to many people who have been relying on Williams to keep them afloat during a season riddled with injuries. Aaron Jones returns to the lineup on Sunday which means a backfield that’s been unpredictable at best gets a little bit more confusing. McCarthy showed faith in Jones earlier in the season as someone who can carry a full workload so it would be somewhat shocking to see him stay off the field altogether. The Browns quietly have a top five defense in terms of yards given up to opposing backs and the Cleveland offense has some new toys to try out in the passing game. This matchup could end up being an unexpected shootout and we’ve seen Jones have success the passing game in the past. Stay away unless you’re desperate for a flex option.

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Fantasy Football – START EM’

Derrick Henry – RB, Tennessee Titans

Titans head coach Mike Mularkey has remained committed to Demarco Murray in a way that gives me hope for my future marriage, as we’ve seen Murray be relevant week in and week out even though he’s backed up by a younger and more productive Henry who continues to impress. In the last few weeks there’s been an upward trend that has resulted in a nearly even split between the two which is a great sign for anyone who’s held onto one of the league’s top lottery tickets. We’ve seen the Titans rely on Henry to close out games, and he delivered in a big way against the Texans last week. The Tennessee defense will be able to keep the Cardinals in check which will give way to a heavy dose of their 1-2 punch between the tackles.

Josh Gordon – WR, Cleveland Browns

Gordon was out of the league for what felt like an eternity, but his return to the field was as promising as it was surprising. He immediately stepped in and produced on eleven targets in his first game back, and that was against an elite Jacksonville secondary. He’ll square off against a Green Bay defense that gives up the third most fantasy points to opposing pass catchers. Although his QB isn’t going to light the world on fire anytime soon, he has shown he’s fearless when it comes to taking chances. Look for Kizer to rip a page out of the Tom Savage/Deandre Hopkins playbook and pepper Gordon with targets and hope for the best. No one is benching Hopkins, and the argument could be made that Flash Gordon has a similar level of talent. Start him as a low-end WR2 and thank us later.

Sterling Shepard – WR, New York Giants

The Ben Mcadoo experience is over which means the Geno Smith era in New York has come to an end. Shepard was a force when he was healthy and he’s shown there’s a strong connection with Manning when he was behind center. The Giants take on a Dallas team that hands out fantasy points to receivers like candy and Shepard is by far the most talented receiver on the field. When fantasy playoffs roll around its time to focus on matchup, talent, and opportunity. Shepard will have all three on Sunday.

Next: Week 14 NFL GPP Top Plays on DraftKings

Best of luck in your Fantasy Football playoffs and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all your fantasy news and analysis!

Fantasy Football – Week Fourteen Start em’ or Sit em’

By Rob Wilson | Dec 7, 2017