If you didn't get burned by Derrick Henry's historically exceptional fantasy performance Thursday night (best in five years), you're hopefully in good shape heading into Sunday. If you did get burned, well, it's not too late to Derrick-Henry your opponent right back.
So if you're waffling between a WR4 and an RB3 -- if you can't decide whether to start a high-ceiling, low-end QB1 or go for broke with an boom-bust QB1/2, here are some bargains (as well as a few busts) for Week 14:
A QB, Josh Allen's back-to-back elite performances cannot be ignored. He's the expert-consensus 20th ranked fantasy QB at home against a middling Jets pass defense. Allen's poor ranking is a complete oversight. So is Ryan Tannehill's (#22), who's at home against a Patriots offense that should keep Tannehill throwing -- dumping off to Kenyan Drake -- for much of the game. I'm also baffled that Russell Wilson is ranked 15th. You all have heard me push him on this site for months, and increasingly in the past few weeks. Sure, Minnesota's D is tied for #1 in the league in passing TDs (only 15 in 12 contests). But that stat goes out the window with Wilson and the rest of Seattle's offense clicking at the right time. And Mitch Trubisky (14th) will be a QB1 against the Rams. On the flip side, ranking Drew Brees #1 this week is beyond bullish. Several key Tampa Bay defenders, including CBs Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart, are expected to return. The Bucs' D is a bit better than it's looked on the stat sheet.
At RB, Steven Ridley (#50) is entirely worth a Hail Mary throw if you don't have an RB3, simply because he could line up for some goal-line runs. While the veteran doesn't catch many balls, he's a good bet for 40-50 yards. It all comes down to TDs, and Pittsburgh should net several. Desperate for more? How about the uber-risky Chase Edmonds (#58), who scored twice last week and is facing a porous Detroit run D. While David Johnson remains the starter, Edmonds -- like Ridley -- is the guy you throw in there with an above-average shot at a cheap TD. Meanwhile, Peyton Barber (#40) has averaged 18+ touches per game the past three weeks; as long as New Orleans doesn't put this one away early (see above), Barber will comfortably exceed expectations. And Jeff Wilson is a near-must-start RB2 despite his #30 ranking. I also like the undervalued Kenyan Drake (#27). On the flip side, Sony Michel (#13) will live and die this week by the touchdown, making him risky as an expert-consensus must-start option. The same goes for Jaylen Samuels (19th), who could get anywhere from eight to 20 looks -- quite risky for a guy people think will be an RB2.
At WR, Marquise Goodwin (#69) always seems to be under-the-radar coming off missed time. In this case the missed time was personal, and he's expected to returning to the starting lineup against Denver. Goodwin will be a WR4+. Teammate Dante Pettis (#41) is also an overlooked bargain. John Ross (#60) and Bruce Ellington (#56) are worth deep-league flyers given their starting roles. And never count out a healthy Kenny Stills (#48). And experts continue to question Zay Jones's staying power. Ranked 38th this week, he'll crack the top 30, if for no other reason than Buffalo's next best option is 24-year-old rookie Robert Foster. On the flip side, Adam Thielen (#7) will struggle in large part because Kirk Cousins will continue to struggle in Seattle. And I can't buy into Robert Woods' #12 ranking against the Bears.
At TE, Matt LaCosse (#28) did nothing last week, but he's capable enough to be a dart throw if you don't have a TE1 handy. The same goes for Ricky Seals-Jones (#23). Jimmy Graham is also undervalued at his #15 ranking. On the flip side, Rob Gronkowski (#5) is officially risky given his consistently spotty usage (only three catches in each of his last four contests). And Cameron Brate (#9) is ranked too aggressively given his limited volume; he's entirely a TD-dependent TE, which isn't what you want out of a consensus top-10 option.
So if you're waffling between a WR4 and an RB3 -- if you can't decide whether to start a high-ceiling, low-end QB1 or go for broke with an boom-bust QB1/2, here are some bargains (as well as a few busts) for Week 14:
A QB, Josh Allen's back-to-back elite performances cannot be ignored. He's the expert-consensus 20th ranked fantasy QB at home against a middling Jets pass defense. Allen's poor ranking is a complete oversight. So is Ryan Tannehill's (#22), who's at home against a Patriots offense that should keep Tannehill throwing -- dumping off to Kenyan Drake -- for much of the game. I'm also baffled that Russell Wilson is ranked 15th. You all have heard me push him on this site for months, and increasingly in the past few weeks. Sure, Minnesota's D is tied for #1 in the league in passing TDs (only 15 in 12 contests). But that stat goes out the window with Wilson and the rest of Seattle's offense clicking at the right time. And Mitch Trubisky (14th) will be a QB1 against the Rams. On the flip side, ranking Drew Brees #1 this week is beyond bullish. Several key Tampa Bay defenders, including CBs Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart, are expected to return. The Bucs' D is a bit better than it's looked on the stat sheet.
At RB, Steven Ridley (#50) is entirely worth a Hail Mary throw if you don't have an RB3, simply because he could line up for some goal-line runs. While the veteran doesn't catch many balls, he's a good bet for 40-50 yards. It all comes down to TDs, and Pittsburgh should net several. Desperate for more? How about the uber-risky Chase Edmonds (#58), who scored twice last week and is facing a porous Detroit run D. While David Johnson remains the starter, Edmonds -- like Ridley -- is the guy you throw in there with an above-average shot at a cheap TD. Meanwhile, Peyton Barber (#40) has averaged 18+ touches per game the past three weeks; as long as New Orleans doesn't put this one away early (see above), Barber will comfortably exceed expectations. And Jeff Wilson is a near-must-start RB2 despite his #30 ranking. I also like the undervalued Kenyan Drake (#27). On the flip side, Sony Michel (#13) will live and die this week by the touchdown, making him risky as an expert-consensus must-start option. The same goes for Jaylen Samuels (19th), who could get anywhere from eight to 20 looks -- quite risky for a guy people think will be an RB2.
At WR, Marquise Goodwin (#69) always seems to be under-the-radar coming off missed time. In this case the missed time was personal, and he's expected to returning to the starting lineup against Denver. Goodwin will be a WR4+. Teammate Dante Pettis (#41) is also an overlooked bargain. John Ross (#60) and Bruce Ellington (#56) are worth deep-league flyers given their starting roles. And never count out a healthy Kenny Stills (#48). And experts continue to question Zay Jones's staying power. Ranked 38th this week, he'll crack the top 30, if for no other reason than Buffalo's next best option is 24-year-old rookie Robert Foster. On the flip side, Adam Thielen (#7) will struggle in large part because Kirk Cousins will continue to struggle in Seattle. And I can't buy into Robert Woods' #12 ranking against the Bears.
At TE, Matt LaCosse (#28) did nothing last week, but he's capable enough to be a dart throw if you don't have a TE1 handy. The same goes for Ricky Seals-Jones (#23). Jimmy Graham is also undervalued at his #15 ranking. On the flip side, Rob Gronkowski (#5) is officially risky given his consistently spotty usage (only three catches in each of his last four contests). And Cameron Brate (#9) is ranked too aggressively given his limited volume; he's entirely a TD-dependent TE, which isn't what you want out of a consensus top-10 option.