In the first week of playoffs in many fantasy leagues across the country, few players failed to show up on Sunday, especially the elite running backs. The top scorers at the position: Jamaal Charles, DeMarco Murray, Le’Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy, Marshawn Lynch, Arian Foster, and Justin Forsett, all crossed the goal line in Week 14 and each put up over 15 fantasy points, with Bell scoring a week-high 41.50 points. If you’ve got one, or hopefully two of these players on your team, you should be in good shape to make a championship run. Check out who else you should help or hurt your playoff run in the Fantasy Football Week 14 Recap.
However, if you drafted LeSean McCoy and somehow made the playoffs in your league, it’s unlikely you survived the week. After back-to-back weeks of over 19 fantasy points, the perennial number one pick of 2014 scored just 3.0 points on Sunday, becoming the sixth game he has finished with single-digit fantasy points. By comparison, Le’Veon Bell (ADP: 25 on Yahoo! Sports leagues) has just one single-digit fantasy game on the season. While the one pick was heavily coveted in most drafts, it seems the hype may have been misguided.
Heading into the playoffs Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Andrew Luck had separated themselves as the elite quarterbacks of 2014. A 4.45 point game from Manning and with Luck’s continuing struggles turning the ball over (seven turnovers in his past three games), Rodgers has clearly put himself atop the list.
Despite rumors of a possible mutiny in Chicago, Jay Cutler continues to prove that though he doesn’t deserve to be a top paid quarterback, he deserves to be considered a top quarterback in fantasy. A game next week against New Orleans (fourth most fantasy points to quarter backs) could be enough to get your team to the championship game, though it surely won’t be enough to get the Bears to the playoffs.
With six single-digit fantasy games on the season, Julio Jones has been one of the most inconsistent players of 2014. But three-straight games with a touchdown, and an explosive Monday Night performance against the Packers, may make Julio Jones the top receiver for the Fantasy Football Playoffs.
Other Players Getting Hot at the Right Time:
Ben Roethlisberger: After scoring just 29.7 fantasy points in Weeks 10 and 11 combined, a bye-week seems to be exactly what Roethlisberger needed as he’s scoring over 60 points in the two weeks since. Though his consistency has been a problem all season, Roethlisberger may be getting hot at the right time as the Steelers battle for a playoff spot.
Jamaal Charles: Last season Charles put up 51 fantasy points, scored five touchdowns, and propelled most teams to the championship game in a Week 15 matchup against the Raiders. Now with, eight straight games of double-digit fantasy points (an average of 19 points during that span) and a familiar matchup against Oakland at home next week, Charles is not the player you want to play against in your semifinal game.
Le’Veon Bell: Bell is averaging 33.7 fantasy points over the past three weeks. After scoring one rushing touchdown through the first ten weeks of the season, he has scored four in the past three weeks alone.
Justin Forsett: With 80.3 fantasy points over the past four weeks the top waiver pickup of 2014 continues to produce.
Eddie Lacy: After a disastrous start to the season and much to the dismay to those who gave up on him, Eddie Lacy has really come on strong of late. Seven straight double-digit games and three 20+ point fantasy games in his past four make Lacy a top option for next week.
Alshon Jeffery: With Brandon Marshall out, Jeffery instantly becomes a top receiver. Five touchdowns in his past four games show he’s ready to carry the load for the Bears and your fantasy team.
Calvin Johnson: Though injuries have derailed most his season, Johnson is healthy and playing his best football at the right time. He’s got 304 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the past two weeks and remains as dangerous an option as there is in fantasy for the playoffs.
A.J. Green: Like Calvin Johnson, Green has been injured most of the season, but has gotten himself healthy when he’s needed most.
Players Struggling at the Wrong Time:
Peyton Manning: Manning’s success with the Broncos has been nothing short of spectacular as the 38 year old quarterback has defied age and reason with his career renaissance. But, after producing just one single digit fantasy game in his past 28 games, Manning now has three single digit fantasy games over the past four weeks. Though I still like the Broncos chances to win the Super Bowl, Father Time may finally be bearing down on the 38-year old.
Randall Cobb: Though Jordy Nelson cannot be stopped as of late (six touchdowns in the past five weeks) the same cannot be said of his teammate Randall Cobb. Since scoring ten touchdown though the first nine weeks of the season, Cobb hasn’t reached the end zone since. He’s still been a pivotal player for Green Bay, making key third down grabs week-after-week, but his fantasy value has continued to fade.