9 Spot Starters to Keep Your Fantasy Hopes Alive
Because the playoffs are here and you’re still starting Michael Vick.
Missed out on Bryce Brown? Dropped the ball on Brandon Myers? Fear not, fantasy grasshopper, all is not lost (unless you’re already out of the playoffs – then it’s lost). Here are nine possible starts for Week 14 who are widely available in a ton of leagues.
(Photo: Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports | Licensed to Alpha Media Group 2012)
QB: Brandon Weeden, Browns
Coming off a game in which he completed 70 percent of his passes and lit up Oakland’s secondary for 364 yards, Weeden gets a home game against a Kansas City team that has allowed an NFL-worst 25 passing touchdowns.
RB: Alex Green, Packers
Green had his chances earlier in the season and did little with them, but there’s reason for optimism. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 12 totes last week, and with James Starks possibly done for the year, he should get the Lion’s share (Get it, you guys? Guys?) of the carries on Sunday versus Detroit.
RB: Bilal Powell, Jaguars
Powell has a weekly touchdown for the last three weeks and gets a nice matchup against a Jets team that has allowed the most rushing yards in the league and has nothing to play for. That said, neither do the Jets, so giving Powell more touches could be part of the plan.
WR: Chris Givens, Rams
Givens is a PPR beast going off for 92 yards on 11 catches last week with Danny Amendola on the sidelines. If he stays out, Givens will get his catches, and also has a good shot to score against a vulnerable Buffalo defense that’s surrendered 21 aerial scores.
WR: Donnie Avery, Colts
14. That’s the number of times Indy QB Andrew Luck tried to get the ball to Avery last Sunday. Granted, only five of those passes connected, but two of them went for scores, including the game-winner. Home in the dome versus Tennessee’s 27th-ranked pass defense, Avery is worth a look.
TE: Dennis Pitta, Ravens
Pitta was Joe Flacco’s early season security blanket, but recently has been more miss than hit. However, his Week 14 matchup against a burnable Washington secondary that let the Giants’ Martellus Bennett go for 82 yards and a touchdown on Monday night is one to exploit.
TE: Dallas Clark, Buccaneers
Remember this guy? Peyton Manning’s former go-to has begun to catch Josh Freeman’s eye in recent weeks and has scored in three of the last four games. Only four teams have given up more passing TDs than Philly, and with Tampa Bay desperate for a win, Sunday’s game has all the makings of a touchdown-palooza.
K: Conor Barth, Buccaneers
Barth has nailed six field goals of 50 yards or more this season, including two last week. The only guy in the league with more from that distance is nicknamed Leg-A-Tron and probably isn’t available. Barth has put up double-digit fantasy points in four straight weeks and in nine of 13 games overall.
D/ST: Jacksonville
Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Firemen Ed: it doesn’t matter who starts at quarterback for the New York Jets, odds are they going to turn it over – a lot. Jacksonville’s defense is right in the middle of the pack for INTs on the season, and against a hapless Jets pass attack, that number is bound to increase.
5 Things We Learned From NFL Week 13.
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