Fantasy Football Week 14: Start’em / Sit’em
Sit’em
QB:
Tom Brady CLE (83%,22): I know he’s been hot lately, but the Browns pass defense is solid (5th overall) and my gut tells me Brady is due for a let down. I’m not saying to bench him for Carson Palmer or anything, but I would start McCown, Foles, or even Keenum (@Jax) over Brady this week.
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Carson Palmer STL (16%, 16): His fantasy stats looked good (302 yards, 3 TDs) last week but he threw 2 INTs and lost a fumble. It could have been worse as Philly dropped a couple catchable picks and Palmer’s WRs helped him with some tough catches. He didn’t pass the eye test for me last week and I still don’t trust that he’s not the Bad Carson Palmer we’ve seen the last few years.
RG3 KC (48%, 18): He had a season high 88 rushing yards last week, which is a good sign, but he also got shut down in the second half once the Giants adjusted to the read option. Despite their recent struggles, the Chiefs defense is a step up from the Giants and I think RG3 will struggle to run or throw effectively this week.
RB:
Eddie Lacy ATL (83%, 17): As a Lacy owner, I really miss Aaron Rodgers. Since he got hurt there haven’t been any running lanes for Lacy and he is routinely facing 8 men in the box. I think he will do better than the 1.8 YPC last week, but 17 fantasy points just seems way too high.
Zac Stacy@ARI (55%, 15): The Cardinals have the 4th toughest run defense in the NFL and I think they will force the Rams to beat them through the air this week (good luck, Clemens). Stacy is a decent start, but I expect his fantasy totals to be closer to 10 points than the projected 15.
Rashad Jennings NYJ (48%,15): The Jets are only giving up 77 YPG on the ground (1st in NFL) and Jennings is banged up. If you have somebody else decent at RB, I would use them this week.
Lamar Miller @PIT (35%,12): Last week he had his best game since week 9 (22-72) and still didn’t crack 10 fantasy points. The Steelers defense is nothing special, but either is Lamar Miller.
Fred Jackson @TB (44%,11): The Bucs run defense is decent (12th) and with CJ Spiller finally healthy I think Jackson’s carries are going to decline. He’s always a threat for a short yardage TD, but I don’t like to depend on TDs.
WR:
Julian Edelman CLE (40%, 13): If you think you can predict which Pats WR is going to be Brady’s favorite this week, then go for it. I am sick of Brady & Belichick kicking my fantasy team in the proverbial nuts.
Marquis Colston CAR (50%, 11): He only has 1 game all year with more than 100 receiving yards and he’s been held under 50 yards for two weeks in a row. I’m hoping for some reverse-jinx action here.
Golden Tate @SF (29%,9): He’s had less than 50 yards receiving in three of his last 4 games. He has a good game now and then, but is too inconsistent (and not that good) for my lineup especially in a tough match-up like @SF.
Rod Streater NYJ (10%,10): I was all over Streater last week and he let me down with a 3 catch, 57 yard day. Yeah, I’m bitter.
Stevie Johnson @TB (20%,10): Is Revis Island still a thing? He struggled so much last week that he even gave up a TD to Ted Ginn (ouch). I’m sure Revis is embarrassed about letting Ginn score and I think he bounces back this week and takes it out on Stevie Johnson.
TE:
Antonio Gates NYG (61%, 10): He hasn’t cracked 70 receiving yards in the last 7 games. He looks slow and the Chargers are doing everything they can to get his back-up (Ladarius Green) on the field. It loks like the end of a great run for Gates.
Jordan Cameron NE (51%, 9): Man, I miss Brian Hoyer. I never thought I would type that, but it’s true. Cameron’s number have been below average since Jason Campbell took over. He has had less than 50 yards receiving the last four weeks and hasn’t scored a TD since week 8. He’s barely rosterable in 12 team leagues.
Garrett Graham @JAX (21%,11): Another guy who has been negatively affected by a QB change. Graham has under 50 yards receiving in 5 of Case Keenum’s six games.
¹ Slay is ranked 99th out 111 NFL CBs by PFF
Twitter: @MikeFlannery_