Lineup calls: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST
This is it.
For most fantasy leagues, the games of Week 14 represent the porthole to another world. If you win and get into the playoff grid, then the harps start playing and somebody hands you a frosty beverage. If you lose and are left out of the playoff bracket, the heavy metal riff begins and the temperature cranks up 100 notches.
What will happen when you turn the knob?
Well, I’m here to start the deluge of information to get you ready for Week 14. I’ll begin with the quarterback position, where owners hope for much better, consistent days than we witnessed across the board in Week 13. That Sam Bradford sleeper pick didn’t quite work out as planned last week and, well, we’ve suspended work on Matt Cassel’s Hall of Fame bust.
Top Quarterbacks
(Other than Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Kyle Orton and Michael Vick)
Joe Flacco at Houston
Flacco has taken heat because of a few missed throws and terrible short-armed passes in the tough loss to Pittsburgh. He’d thrown multiple touchdown passes in five of his previous six contests.
I expect to see Flacco get back on track this weekend against the bottom-ranked, sieve-like Houston pass defense. In film review this week, I suspect that the Ravens recognize missed opportunities with Anquan Boldin and get to the air early and often. The Texans have surrendered 27 passing touchdowns this season.
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati
Roethlisberger gutted his way through a tremendous win over Baltimore in Week 13. He was battered, beaten and broken, yet found a way to make a play time after time. Roethlisberger finished the game with 253 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
He’d been shut out by a game Buffalo squad in Week 12 following back-to-back three-touchdown performance. I’m anticipating a big effort in this divisional battle against a Cincinnati squad that appears primed for a letdown following an exhausting, soul-stealing loss in New Orleans. Forget about his 163-yard performance in the first meeting. The playoff push is on.
Josh Freeman at Washington
Freeman hasn’t been world-beating, but he’s been efficient. He’s passed for fewer than 200 yards in four of the past five games. However, Freeman hasn’t been shut out since Week 3. The second-year quarterback doesn’t turn the ball over (seven turnovers this season) and has averaged 24.3 rushing yards per game. This is a prime spot as the Buccaneers fight for their playoff lives against the 29th-ranked, banged-up Washington secondary (260.3 passing yards and 1.5 passing touchdowns allowed per game).
Matt Ryan at Carolina
Following a Week 1 shutout at hands of the Steelers (the Falcons lost 15-9), Ryan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight games while averaging 242.5 yards per game (seven multi-touchdown efforts).
With New Orleans surging, there’s no opportunity to take the proverbial foot off of the pedal this week against the woeful Panthers. My only reservation here is the possibility of Michael Turner breaking off long runs for touchdowns. The Panthers allow only 206 passing yards and 1.3 passing touchdowns per game because of the huge running lanes exploited by opposing backs.
Jon Kitna vs. Philadelphia
Kitna finds himself in a huge primetime matchup against divisional rival Philadelphia this Sunday. He’s performed well for the surging Cowboys and has a tremendous opportunity against the struggling Eagles secondary. The Eagles rank 17th in pass defense (223.1 yards allowed) and have yielded two touchdowns per game.
The loss of Dez Bryant is concerning, to be sure, but Roy Williams is ready to step up alongside Austin and Witten, and the running game received a spark with Tashard Choice’s big Week 13 effort. That balance serves as a springboard for a big game for Kitna under the lights.
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Cleveland
It’s been quite some time since Fitzpatrick logged a dominant fantasy performance. However, Fitzpatrick has not been shut out in his 10 appearances for the Bills this season (238.4 passing yards per game). He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in just one of his past six games. This is a spot for a rebound for this Buffalo passing attack, provided that the re-tooled offensive line can afford him time. The Browns rank 20th in pass defense (231.3 passing yards and 1.8 passing touchdowns allowed per game).
Jay Cutler vs. New England
The New England back-seven dominated the Monday night game against the Jets, without question. I know that they’ve been playing better of late, but the overall performance of this squad to date cannot be ignored altogether.
The Patriots still rank 31st in pass defense at 276.8 passing yards and 1.75 passing touchdowns surrendered per game. Cutler has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his past five games since Chicago’s Week 8 bye, and the balance achieved on offense has afforded him opportunities downfield. I anticipate a much better effort out of Chicago than we saw versus Rex Ryan’s Jets. I mean, Lovie Smith doesn’t create bulletin board material for his own team, let alone a visiting opponent.
Eli Manning at Minnesota
Manning’s seven-game streak of multi-touchdown games came to an end last week against the Redskins. Instead of attacking the beleaguered secondary, the Giants obliterated the Redskins, playing without Albert Haynesworth, on the ground. Look for Manning to get back on track this weekend against the Minnesota secondary (210.2 yards and 1.6 touchdowns per game). The Vikings are playing hard for Leslie Frazier, but I suspect that they’re overmatched here.
Donovan McNabb vs. Tampa Bay
McNabb faces a Tampa Bay squad reeling from the loss to Atlanta and the loss of top cornerback Aqib Talib. With no solution to their running woes, I expect to see McNabb launching downfield with regularity in this matchup. Santana Moss finally has a running mate in deep threat Anthony Armstrong and Chris Cooley, though not dominant, has been more involved of late as well.
Could this be the big statistical week for McNabb?
David Garrard vs. Oakland
Like McNabb, you’re not anticipating a huge weekly contribution to the fantasy bottom line. However, he’s consistent and doesn’t make many mistakes. Garrard has been shut out only twice this season and generated three multi-touchdown performances in his past five starts. He can tuck the ball and offer aid on the ground (rushing touchdowns in back-to-back weeks). With the AFC South in their grasp, I anticipate that the Jaguars put up a big effort this week, as Garrard piggybacks on the ground game.
Sleepers
Alex Smith vs. Seattle
Smith returns under center for Mike Singletary in this all-important home tilt versus the Seahawks. I’m curious to see how the offense is run in this contest. Will the 49ers spread things out and start firing away at this lower-tier secondary (268.1 yards and 1.7 touchdowns allowed per game)? If so, will Smith be able to deliver the ball to Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan? He passed for 225 yards and two interceptions in what appeared to be a surprise in the season opener at Seattle. Will he have a triumphant return in front of the home fans?
Jason Campbell at Jacksonville
I positioned Campbell in this slot last week and he did me proud against the Chargers. He now resets for the .500 Raiders (6-6) with a deep threat in Jacoby Ford and a strong receiving tailback in Darren McFadden. The Jaguars rank 27th in pass defense at 252.9 passing yards and 1.8 passing touchdowns allowed per game.
Tarvaris Jackson vs. New York Giants
Jackson entered the Week 13 game against the Bills and immediately paid dividends by launching deep balls to Sidney Rice. Brett Favre’s shoulder is obviously a question mark here, and I presume that he’ll start. Still, Jackson’s ability to make plays with his legs is a terrifying proposition for Giants fans if Favre gets shut down or re-injures his shoulder.
Flops
Matt Schaub vs. Baltimore
When we begin compiling our lists for “Fantasy Dud” of the season, I’m sure that Schaub will receive his fair share of votes in the Twitter-verse. He’s thrown only 17 touchdown passes while watching Arian Foster emerge as a dominant goal-line threat. Additionally, no secondary option, other than Foster, has emerged to complement Andre Johnson.
Schaub has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his past four games, but I’m not optimistic that he and the Texans rally against Baltimore in Week 14. The Ravens rank 11th in pass defense at 208 yards and 1.2 passing touchdowns allowed per game. I expect this defense to be swarming following Sunday’s tough loss to Pittsburgh.
Matt Cassel at San Diego
Cassel’s march to Fantasy MVP consideration hit a snag in Week 13 against the Broncos. He passed for 196 yards with one touchdown and failed to connect with Dwayne Bowe on a single pass.
I’m fearful of another big dud this week against San Diego. Cassel was limited to 68 passing yards with one touchdown in the season-opening home win. He faces the top-ranked San Diego pass defense that surrenders 186.3 passing yards and one touchdown per game. The Chargers have also generated 34 sacks. Cassel will be tested on the road, assuming that San Diego bounces back from their crushing defeat in Week 13 to Oakland.
Carson Palmer at Pittsburgh
In a lost season for the Bengals (they’ve already been eliminated from the playoffs), Palmer has at least proven somewhat valuable to fantasy owners. He’s thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 of 12 games this season, including eight multi-touchdown efforts.
Palmer posted a good fantasy day in the first meeting between these teams in Week 9, although most of his damage was achieved in garbage time (the score was 27-7 when he threw his second touchdown). I believe that you can reasonably expect Palmer to pass for 225-250 yards, but the turnovers will offset his single touchdown strike.
