Fantasy Football Week 14 Studs and Duds
FOX Sports’ Ryan Fowler is here to help you make your picks.
The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings had us all on the edge of our seats until we flipped the channel to witness Antonio Brown sprint down the sidelines only to come up 13 yards short, while in New England, Tom Brady led another improbable fourth-quarter rally to rip the hearts out of Browns‘ fans for the 1,000th time since 1999. Oh, and that’s NOT to mention the wintry conditions up and down the East Coast. The early kickoffs were full of drama and fantasy football points. Here are the best and worst performances from Week 14.
Fantasy Football Week 14 Injury Report
Rob Gronkowski – torn ACL/MCL – out for season
According to a source, FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo reported Sunday night it’s believed Patriots‘ tight end Rob Gronkowski tore his ACL after a nasty hit on his leg during the Browns game. Check out the GIF courtesy Larry Brown Sports:
I wouldn’t expect Gronk back this season and as much as you hate to see anybody injured, fantasy owners should be able to find a suitable replacement on the waiver wire this week. Granted, nobody can replace Gronk, but fantasy football tight end production has been through the roof in 2013. Guys like Heath Miller, Dennis Pitta (fresh off IR) and Tim Wright should be strong waiver wire candidates. For what it’s worth, I lost Gronkowski in three leagues where I’m in the playoffs. So, a round of fantasy football empathy for the house.
Adrian Peterson – foot injury – doubtful for Week 15
With a tasty matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles (17.5 FPAPG TO RB) on tap next week, owners of Adrian Peterson were licking their chops. Now, they may be licking their wounds. AP left the Vikings’ Week 14 contest against the Ravens with a right foot injury. Right after he hit the turf, Peterson looked to be in extreme pain. From the Associated Press:
“I just felt it pop a couple times and the pain was excruciating,” Peterson said. “I came in and tried to tape it up again after getting the X-ray done. I just couldn’t do it with the push off.”
The good news is X-Rays came back negative, a MRI is scheduled for Monday and Peterson believes it’s only a mid-foot sprain. Toby Gerhart stepped up in place of AP. He finished with 89 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens. If Peterson does not return this season with the Vikings playing for pride only, Gerhart is a solid FLEX option with RB2 ceiling the rest of the way. Look at some of his 2011 game logs:
– Week 17: 70 total yards
– Week 16: 109 total yards
– Week 15: 58 total yards (2 rec. TDs)
– Week 14: 109 total yards (TD)
– Week 13: 133 total yards
– Week 12: 52 total yards (TD)
The dude can play and should be added in all formats this week.
Fantasy Football Week 14 Studs
Andy Dalton – 36.1 fantasy points vs. Colts
Two months ago, Dalton rattled off a three-game stretch of uber-fantasy production where he averaged 35.2 fantasy points per game. In the four games that followed, leading up to Week 14, Dalton averaged 14.02 fantasy points per game. The Colts, Cincinnati’s Week 14 opponent, had allowed just over 19 fantasy points per game to oppsing quarterbacks this season. Well, Dalton bucked a few trends on Sunday by connecting with seven different receivers for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He also called his own number on an eight-yard touchdown run. If you’re feeling frisky, Dalton faces the rival Steelers next week. He passed for 280 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 2.
LeSean McCoy – 34.1 fantasy points vs. Lions
LeSean McCoy rushed for 217 yards (in a blizzard) to break Steve Van Buren’s franchise record that stood since 1949.
Jason Campbell – 36.3 fantasy points vs. Patriots
He’s averaged 263 passing yards per game with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in five starts this season. All three picks came in soggy conditions at Cincinnati. Much has been made about the play of Brian Hoyer prior to his season-ending knee injury, but Campbell, at 31 years old, may be the short-term solution the Browns need heading into the 2014 draft. I may be wrong, but, hell, the Browns haven’t exactly been right the last 14 years.
Bobby Rainey – 18.1 fantasy points vs. Bills
He was my FLEX start of the week with RB2 upside. On his first rush, in the game’s first minute, Rainey busted off an 80-yard touchdown run against the Bills’ swiss-cheese rush defense. Tampa Bay‘s third-option at running back this season finished with 21 carries for 77 yards the rest of the game (3.6 YPR). The Bills face Maurice Jones-Drew (hamstring) in Week 15.
Daniel Thomas – 16.9 fantasy points vs. Steelers
It was only two weeks ago reports surfaced that Thomas was done for the year with an ankle injury. All of a sudden he practiced on Friday and was activated for Week 14. Well, Lamar Miller was forced to leave the game with a concussion. So, the door swung back open for one of the top running back vultures of 2013. Thomas carried the ball 16 times for 105 yards (6.6 YPR) with a touchdown.
Da’Rick Rogers – 22.7 fantasy points vs. Bengals
It was about a month ago that Da’Rick Rogers was promoted from the Colts’ practice squad to the active roster. Not bad for an undrafted 22-year-old rookie with a checkered past. Before leaving Tennessee Tech after his junior season, Rogers was suspended indefinitely by his first team, the Tennessee Volunteers (H/T @Jeff_Mans). Rogers later admitted he failed three drugs tests while at Tennessee. Who is all for second, third, fourth chances? Rogers caught six balls for 106 yards with two touchdowns against the Bengals in garbage time a.k.a. most of the second half.
Charles Clay – 21.7 fantasy points vs. Steelers
A round of applause for Charles Clay this season. He’s now over 600 receiving yards with five touchdowns on the season. He’s racked up 75-or-more yards in three out of his past four games.
Fantasy Football Week 14 Duds
Matthew Stafford – 5.8 fantasy points vs. Eagles
The weather didn’t seem to impact Nick Foles as much in the second half, but bothered Stafford all game long. His 40 percent completion percentage and 148 passing yards were the worst of his career in a game that he finished.
Alfred Morris – 3.1 fantasy points vs. Chiefs
Alfred Morris’ season-low for rushing yards during his rookie season was 47. Now, in back-to-back games, he’s failed to rush for 35 yards and hasn’t carried the ball 15-or-more times in a month.
Torrey Smith – 3.1 fantasy points vs. Vikings
Against a defense allowing 27 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, Smith was lucky to catch that two-point conversion. Granted, the elements made big numbers a challenge, but 3.1 FP (1.1 FP) isn’t exactly what owners had in mind during Week 14.
T.Y. Hilton – 0.7 fantasy points vs. Bengals
Hilton has averaged 3.3 fantasy points per game over the last four games.
Fantasy Football Are You RBBC’erious?!
Marcel Reece – 21.8 fantasy points vs. Jets
Darren McFadden ruled out last week. Rashad Jennings ruled out Sunday morning. Throw something against a wall and see if it sticks against the top rushing defense in the league (12.3 FPAPG) = Marcel Reece. Now, to be fair, Reece is known around fantasy football as a reliable receiver out of the backfield, but to think he could rack up 161 total yards against the Jets, was a bold move. Hat tip to Jay Clemons of FOX Sports South vs. me.
Chris Ivory – 13.6 fantasy points vs. Raiders
Here are Ivory’s four double-digit performances this season (note the teams):
– vs. Patriots: 34 carries / 104 yards for 10.2 FP
– vs. Saints: 18 carries / 139 yards (TD) for 19.9 FP
– vs. Bills: 15 carries / 98 yards (TD) for 15.8 FP
– vs. Raiders: 18 carries / 76 yards (TD) for 13.6 FP
This Week in Fantasy Football Kickers
Matt Prater – NFL record 64-yard field goal vs. Titans (17 FP)
Mr. Prater knocked Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam (former Broncos‘ kicker), Sebastian Janikowski and David Akers out of the top spot in NFL record books.
Fantasy Football Week 14 Studs and Duds
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