Week 14 Fantasy Football Previews & Predictions: Vick Back In Time To Fight Some Dolphins
Michael Vick (credits below)
Welcome to Week 14 of fantasy football, hopefully you are still alive and in the playoffs.
The playoffs began in many leagues last week and others begin the postseason this week. So you could be way ahead, way behind, or stuck in a tight battle in a league with two-week playoff rounds or just getting your postseason started.
Either way, line-up decisions are getting more important to make, and more difficult as well. Injuries, particularly trying to figure out which players need to play through injury and which can afford a week or two of rest depending on their team's position, are ramped up this week and we are also seeing teams giving some younger guys a chance to play at the expense of a veteran that you may be counting on.
Either way, we’ll try to get you advancing on to Week 15.
Kansas City at New York Jets: Kansas City is another team you want no part of except for the opponents' defense, so play the Jets D if you can. You don't love many of your Jets either, although the match-up with the Chiefs is tempting to play Shonn Greene and Dustin Keller in standard leagues and Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes in deeper leagues.
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville: I see a defensive struggle here with both defenses a safe pick-up if you are in need. Maurice Jones-Drew is the only offensive player I want in my lineup for the playoffs.
New England at Washington: Tom Brady will air it out and Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski are obvious picks, but there could be enough touchdowns to make Aaron Hernandez a reliable tight end as well. I love the Patriots defense as the Redskins are another team with nobody I want in my playoff lineup.
Atlanta at Carolina: This will be a shootout and you can count on another big day from Cam Newton and Steve Smith. Matt Ryan should get near 20 fantasy points too and those who have been disappointed by taking Roddy White early in the draft should get their reward in time for the playoffs.
Indianapolis at Baltimore: The Baltimore defense is your top unit this week while Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and Anquan Boldin should be among the best at their position.
Philadelphia at Miami: Mike Vick back just in time for the fantasy playoffs, but I have a hard time trusting him in his return. If I've got another QB playing well in recent week or with a favorable matchup, I might think about keeping Vick on the bench and going with my other alternative. I've given up (finally!!) on DeSean Jackson, so Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy are the only Eagles I like. Matt Moore is a nice deeper league play while Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall are flex calls in standard leagues.
Minnesota at Detroit: Love the Lions to bounce back here with a big offensive day from Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Maurice Morris and their defense is a safe play as well. You hope to get Adrian Peterson back for the playoffs, but if not, Toby Gerhart should be a capable fill-in and I also like Percy Harvin to make more big plays.
New Orleans at Tennessee: I see a slight setback for the Saints passing game, so while Brees will still be good, Marques Colston and Jimmie Graham are the only receivers I feel real good about. Mark Ingram could continue to see a bigger workload and get into double digits for fantasy points. Chris Johnson is the only Titan you want.
Houston at Cincinnati: Andy Dalton is one of those lower-rated quarterbacks I might consider over Michael Vick this week because I think he will get 18-20 points and Jermaine Gresham and AJ Green are solid starts along with Cedric Benson. The Bengals defense is also a good play against an injury-plagued Texans team. I want no part of Houston's passing game, but Arian Foster is obvious and Ben Tate should be fine in deeper leagues.
Chicago at Denver: The Bears are a mess on offense and suddenly have no must-starts. I am buying Marion Barber as an RB2 who can get you yards and touchdowns, but I trust nobody in Chicago's passing game. Tim Tebow gets you his usual 18 points and Willis McGahee is good here is healthy. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas are too risky for me.
San Francisco at Arizona: Frank Gore has disappointed lately, but should bounce back here and get over 100 yards and a score. Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree in deeper leagues only. Love the Niners defense here. Tough match-up for Beanie Wells, so I wouldn't trust him, making Larry Fitzgerald the only must-start Cardinal.
Buffalo at San Diego: I think this is high-scoring so Ryan Fitzpatrick could be back to his Week 12 level and Stevie Johnson should be good. C.J. Spiller is a decent flex too. Love the Chargers here with Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, and Ryan Matthews all worth the risk in standard leagues.
Oakland at Green Bay: The Raiders are beaten up, so check the inactives list, but it is hard to think anyone other than Michael Bush is a good play for them. Meanwhile, play all the Packers you usually play.
New York Giants at Dallas: Another shootout, so get your studs in the game. Eli Manning will throw the ball a lot so Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are both must starts and I think Jake Ballard will be a reliable tight end. Dallas is another team to keep an eye on inactives, so play Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant, and if healthy, Miles Austin and Laurent Robinson.
St. Louis at Seattle: Love the Seahawks defense here and Marshawn Lynch, but that is about it for Seattle. Not much to like on the Rams other than Steven Jackson and Brandon Lloyd.
The playoffs began in many leagues last week and others begin the postseason this week. So you could be way ahead, way behind, or stuck in a tight battle in a league with two-week playoff rounds or just getting your postseason started.
Either way, line-up decisions are getting more important to make, and more difficult as well. Injuries, particularly trying to figure out which players need to play through injury and which can afford a week or two of rest depending on their team's position, are ramped up this week and we are also seeing teams giving some younger guys a chance to play at the expense of a veteran that you may be counting on.
Either way, we’ll try to get you advancing on to Week 15.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh: When Cleveland is on offense, the Pittsburgh defense is the only one you want on your roster. Ben Roethlisberger should put on a prime-time performance with Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace proving last week there is enough balls to go around to keep both of them fantasy starters. Rashard Mendenhall is a good play too.
Kansas City at New York Jets: Kansas City is another team you want no part of except for the opponents' defense, so play the Jets D if you can. You don't love many of your Jets either, although the match-up with the Chiefs is tempting to play Shonn Greene and Dustin Keller in standard leagues and Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes in deeper leagues.
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville: I see a defensive struggle here with both defenses a safe pick-up if you are in need. Maurice Jones-Drew is the only offensive player I want in my lineup for the playoffs.
New England at Washington: Tom Brady will air it out and Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski are obvious picks, but there could be enough touchdowns to make Aaron Hernandez a reliable tight end as well. I love the Patriots defense as the Redskins are another team with nobody I want in my playoff lineup.
Atlanta at Carolina: This will be a shootout and you can count on another big day from Cam Newton and Steve Smith. Matt Ryan should get near 20 fantasy points too and those who have been disappointed by taking Roddy White early in the draft should get their reward in time for the playoffs.
Indianapolis at Baltimore: The Baltimore defense is your top unit this week while Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and Anquan Boldin should be among the best at their position.
Philadelphia at Miami: Mike Vick back just in time for the fantasy playoffs, but I have a hard time trusting him in his return. If I've got another QB playing well in recent week or with a favorable matchup, I might think about keeping Vick on the bench and going with my other alternative. I've given up (finally!!) on DeSean Jackson, so Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy are the only Eagles I like. Matt Moore is a nice deeper league play while Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall are flex calls in standard leagues.
Minnesota at Detroit: Love the Lions to bounce back here with a big offensive day from Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Maurice Morris and their defense is a safe play as well. You hope to get Adrian Peterson back for the playoffs, but if not, Toby Gerhart should be a capable fill-in and I also like Percy Harvin to make more big plays.
New Orleans at Tennessee: I see a slight setback for the Saints passing game, so while Brees will still be good, Marques Colston and Jimmie Graham are the only receivers I feel real good about. Mark Ingram could continue to see a bigger workload and get into double digits for fantasy points. Chris Johnson is the only Titan you want.
Houston at Cincinnati: Andy Dalton is one of those lower-rated quarterbacks I might consider over Michael Vick this week because I think he will get 18-20 points and Jermaine Gresham and AJ Green are solid starts along with Cedric Benson. The Bengals defense is also a good play against an injury-plagued Texans team. I want no part of Houston's passing game, but Arian Foster is obvious and Ben Tate should be fine in deeper leagues.
Chicago at Denver: The Bears are a mess on offense and suddenly have no must-starts. I am buying Marion Barber as an RB2 who can get you yards and touchdowns, but I trust nobody in Chicago's passing game. Tim Tebow gets you his usual 18 points and Willis McGahee is good here is healthy. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas are too risky for me.
San Francisco at Arizona: Frank Gore has disappointed lately, but should bounce back here and get over 100 yards and a score. Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree in deeper leagues only. Love the Niners defense here. Tough match-up for Beanie Wells, so I wouldn't trust him, making Larry Fitzgerald the only must-start Cardinal.
Buffalo at San Diego: I think this is high-scoring so Ryan Fitzpatrick could be back to his Week 12 level and Stevie Johnson should be good. C.J. Spiller is a decent flex too. Love the Chargers here with Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, and Ryan Matthews all worth the risk in standard leagues.
Oakland at Green Bay: The Raiders are beaten up, so check the inactives list, but it is hard to think anyone other than Michael Bush is a good play for them. Meanwhile, play all the Packers you usually play.
New York Giants at Dallas: Another shootout, so get your studs in the game. Eli Manning will throw the ball a lot so Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are both must starts and I think Jake Ballard will be a reliable tight end. Dallas is another team to keep an eye on inactives, so play Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant, and if healthy, Miles Austin and Laurent Robinson.
St. Louis at Seattle: Love the Seahawks defense here and Marshawn Lynch, but that is about it for Seattle. Not much to like on the Rams other than Steven Jackson and Brandon Lloyd.
Written by Steve Mims exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @nwsportscards
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(October 29, 2011 – Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images North America)
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