Quarterbacks

Taysom Hill (NO; FAAB Bid: 8-10%) Hill is going to be a popular streaming option at the quarterback position this week as the Saints visit the Jets. With that said he is dealing with mallet finger, so it may impact his ability to successfully throw the ball. But you aren’t playing this guy to throw the ball, you’re hoping he runs the ball and finds the end zone with his legs. Last week he rushed for over 100 yards and still put up over 20 fantasy points despite a series of late interceptions. Be conscious of a Week 15 matchup on the road against the Buccaneers. I’d look to have another option in mind at the quarterback position because with the playoffs starting that week, I wouldn’t be actively looking to utilize him in that matchup.

Taylor Heinicke (WFT; FAAB Bid: 6-7%) Heinicke will never light up the stat sheet with amazing plays. He’ll grind out a solid performance to 15-18 fantasy points and if you’re streaming the position you’ll take it. It’s not sexy, but he’s been better than some perceived “better” options at the position. And with a potential shootout against Dallas looming this week, Heinicke could be a borderline top 12 play especially with guys like Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Jalen Hurts, and Carson Wentz on Bye this week.

Teddy Bridgewater (DEN; FAAB Bid: 4-5%) Consider Bridgewater as low as I want to go if looking to stream a quarterback this week. Cam Newton is also an option if he’s available, but with no Christian McCaffrey I do have concerns about how well this team can function on offense. At least Bridgewater gets one of the easier matchups for a quarterback against the Lions. We were all expecting better production from Bridgewater especially in his last two games against division rivals. But the Lions come to town and present a “get right” game for Bridgewater and while “getting right” for Bridgewater isn’t the same as other quarterbacks, I do think there’s potential for a top 15 week from him at the position.

 

Running Backs

D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard (TEN; FAAB Bid: 12-14%) Neither are league winners in my book, but I expect the Titans to stay tried and true to what works for them, and that’s running the ball. Coming off their Bye week they’ll get to host the Jaguars, who are not very good against the run. Expect Foreman to lead the backfield in carries. However, Hilliard is probably the preferred PPR target since in the small sample size we’ve seen he’s been more effective in the passing game. The Titans are still beat up in the wide receiver department so relying on the run game seems to be the way to go this week.

Rashaad Penny (SEA; FAAB Bid: 10-12%) It feels like we’ve been waiting many years for Rashaad Penny to finally emerge as the lead back in Seattle. Could it finally be happening before our very eyes? Sure, but some optics don’t have me fully convinced. DeeJay Dallas and Alex Collins have failed to step up to the plate in Chris Carson’s absence. Additionally, the team did go out and sign Adrian Peterson who found the end zone. You have to be playing in a deep league to have any interest in AP. In my opinion, he’s not worth wasting a waiver priority on. Penny looked better overall running the ball (which isn’t saying much) and there was involvement in the passing game late. I’d love to see a larger sample size this week. Luckily the matchup is ripe as Seattle will visit Houston.

Sony Michel (LAR; FAAB Bid: 10%) So Michel shouldered the workload on Sunday against Jacksonville as Darrell Henderson was active, but only available in case of an emergency. The Jaguars aren’t currently an emergency, so Michel had over 25 touches and he found the end zone. It was a great day for him and he’s in line for a similar workload this week against the Cardinals. The downside is the Rams get a far tougher opponent this week and it’s on Monday night. If you have better options on the Sunday slate, you’re likely adding Michel off waivers and not using him. If you’re a Darrell Henderson owner, Michel should absolutely be on your radar. But with the extra day of rest it’s possible Henderson could be ready in time for next Monday’s game.

Kenneth Gainwell and Jordan Howard (PHI; FAAB Bid: 6-8%) This is a backfield that if you nail the right play, you can reap many rewards. The downside is that there are so many capable options, but rookie Kenneth Gainwell got some run on Sunday that should pique our interest. However, Gainwell is not a “must add” at this moment. The Eagles join three other teams for a late Week 14 Bye, so you can’t even get any use out of him until the fantasy football playoffs. And even then, the Eagles could be in better shape at the position with either Miles Sanders or Boston Scott healthy and available. And if Jordan Howard is eligible to return after the team’s week off you have to like his chances for goal line work. Earlier in the year when Sanders was hurt, it was Howard and Boston Scott handling the workload in his absence. 

JaMycal Hasty (SF; FAAB Bid: 5-7%) This one is going to be hard to read. As it stands right now Hasty is currently the lone healthy running back for the 49ers, but it’s early in the week. We have a whole week of practice reports to monitor. Elijah Mitchell, while he did re-enter Sunday’s game in Seattle, reported concussion symptoms Monday morning. Jeff Wilson is dealing with a knee problem, and Trenton Cannon will likely miss some time after a horrific concussion early in Sunday’s game. So by default, Hasty is an interesting play yet not one I’m overly excited about. Hasty has dealt with his own share of injuries this season as well and I’m still holding out hope that Mitchell is active for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. Hasty has just 13 carries on the year for 43 yards and one of those attempts went for 21 yards. He’s better suited in PPR formats, but still a streamer I’d like to avoid.

Carlos Hyde (JAC; FAAB Bid: 5-6%) Carlos Hyde could see more run as a forgettable season for Jacksonville comes to a close. James Robinson is pretty beat up as he’s been handling such a heavy workload all year and Hyde could see more run if the Jags ultimately decide to let Robinson rest down the stretch to not risk further injury. Hyde did find the end zone on Sunday, but is still averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on 15 carries over his last two games. We know what kind of a player Hyde is at this stage of his career. But running back production is predicated on workload and he’ll certainly see plenty of carries if the Jaguars opt to rest Robinson. But Hyde still isn’t a player you can get excited about starting for fantasy football.

 

Wide Receivers

DeVante Parker (MIA; FAAB Bid: 12-15%) If he’s out there on your waiver wire, Parker might be my favorite add this week. That said, he’s likely only available in ten-team leagues with a sprinkle of 12-teamers. We know what the upside is with Parker. We saw it last year and he was one of the best players at his position in 2019. He’s been a little beat up after missing all of November, but in his first five games this season he saw 43 targets. This week he only saw five, but a bigger role will likely be carved out for him. Even with Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki getting their respective workload, Parker will see more than the five targets he had in Week 13.

Russell Gage (ATL; FAAB Bid: 6-9%) If you play in a league that starts three wide receivers there’s a good chance you could get some use out of Gage. Over the last month he’s had over a 20% target share including catching 11 of 12 targets for 130 yards against the Buccaneers. Surprisingly, as bad as the Falcons appear to be at times, they are 5-7 and are just one game out of a playoff spot. With no clear indication of if/when Calvin Ridley could re-join the team, Gage is a top 30 play at the position each week. Some pass happy matchups are on the horizon in the coming weeks against the Panthers, 49ers, and Lions.

K.J. Osborn (MIN; FAAB Bid: 5-7%) Adam Thielen left the Vikings’ loss to the Lions after just one catch and on a short week with Minnesota playing on Thursday, it’s unlikely he’ll be available for the game against the Steelers. Now it’s only Tuesday morning and anything could happen. But Osborn, like Gage, could be a popular option in your three-wide receiver leagues. Osborn caught four of his seven targets and found the end zone as well. The more promising stat is the 96% route rate on Cousins’ drop backs after Thielen left. Pittsburgh’s defense is a little beat up and Cousins has been performing as a top ten quarterback over the last handful of games for Minnesota. Osborn will certainly have some appeal this week.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET; FAAB Bid: 5-6%) St. Brown caught the game winning touchdown for the Lions on Sunday and he was Jared Goff’s most reliable target. ARSB caught 10-of-12 targets for 86 yards and the previously mentioned score. The Lions have to visit the Broncos this weekend, but if he’s lined up opposite Kyle Fuller for this game, it could be a matchup worth exploiting. My lone concern is this turning into a potentially ugly game between both teams and Goff’s volume is limited or he fails to reach 220 passing yards.

Jalen Guyton (LAC; FAAB Bid: 3%) I’m only interested in Guyton if Keenan Allen misses this week’s game after being placed on the COVID/IR list. Guyton caught all four of his targets and found the end zone against the Bengals. But again, there’s only Flex appeal if Allen were to miss Week 14’s matchup against the Giants.

 

Tight Ends

Ricky Seals-Jones (WFT; FAAB Bid: 10-12%) The Football Team avoided a complete disaster as it doesn’t look as if Logan Thomas tore his ACL and MCL. He’ll be getting a second opinion, but that’s great news for a player that has dealt with injuries throughout his career. RSJ stands to benefit from any time Thomas may miss and we know that Washington loves to feature tight ends on offense. They’re constantly on the field and are good for some fantasy production as well. As mentioned at the top in Taylor Heinicke’s write-up, the potential for a shootout against Dallas will have many looking to stream RSJ this week.

Tyler Conklin (MIN; FAAB Bid: 6-7%) Conklin saw nine targets last week and it’s clear he benefitted from Adam Thielen leaving due to injury. Similarly to Osborn, there’s more appeal with Conklin on a short week with Thielen potentially out of the mix. It is worth mentioning (again) that this is a touchdown dependent position and Conklin has just three on the year, with two of those coming in one game against the Chargers where he had three total catches. Thielen’s absence will benefit almost everybody, but you hope there’s enough volume for Conklin in the event he doesn’t score.

Jared Cook (LAC; FAAB Bid: 2%) It’s so ugly on waivers this week that I’m only throwing Cook into this mix for the sake of having at least three tight ends written up. I don’t love the play here, but if Allen were to miss this week’s game there’s potential for six targets and a trip to the end zone for Cook. I don’t have a ton of confidence in him to really go that route, but he’s a fine streamer if Allen is out.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Tennessee Titans – They will likely be the most added D/ST this week coming off their Bye. They’re facing the Jaguars and then visit the Steelers for Ben Roethlisberger’s impromptu farewell December tour. Personally, I’d grab the Titans for just this week as they should easily return enough fantasy production as your team makes one last push to the fantasy playoffs. If you feel comfortable rostering two D/ST’s then give the Titans and this next team a look…

Miami Dolphins – As the Dolphins go into their Bye week it’s quite possible they’re dropped in most leagues. If you’re fighting for a playoff spot and need a win in Week 14, I don’t see how you hold a backup D/ST. But, the Dolphins can be stashed if you’re sittin’ pretty. In Weeks 15 and 16 they’ll face the Jets and Saints followed by Tennessee in Week 17 for most championship weeks.

Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks are long removed from the Legion of Boom days but to be honest, they’ve been okay in fantasy the last two weeks. Has the ceiling been great? No, but they returned seven and eight fantasy points each of the last two weeks and they visit the Texans this week who are the best matchup on paper for D/ST’s. The over/under is currently at 42 points and the Seahawks are favored by 7.5 points.

New Orleans Saints – The Saints have been a bad D/ST for fantasy purposes especially over the last month. But they do visit the Jets this week and the over/under is currently sitting at 43.5 points and the Saints are favored by 5.5 points. It could be an ugly game in the Meadowlands, but we love targeting D/ST’s playing the Jets and this week should be no different.