Fantasy Football Week 14 Sit Em, Start Em: Will Sidney Rice Topple Some Giants?
WR Start: Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings
It didn't take long for Rice to get back in the swing of things.
In just his third game back from a serious hip injury, he caught five balls (six targets) for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Even without Harvin by his side, he appeared close to his old "freak of nature" self, beating double-teams with relative ease and overmatching defenders with the ball in the air.
Rice saw 14 targets in his first two games with Brett Favre at quarterback, so regardless of who's behind center he'll receive plenty of traffic.
The Giants secondary has not looked sharp in recent weeks, frequently looking confused and blowing downfield assignments. The Redskins were unable to make them pay for their transgressions, but the Vikings will.
With the rust shaken off, and apparently fully healthy, Rice is set to make a major splash in the final four weeks.
WR Sit: Wes Welker, New England Patriots
There's no questioning Welker's high level of performance over the past four weeks: 28 receptions for 317 yards and four scores. Nevertheless, don't except a full-blown return to Moss era form.
In the three weeks prior he was held under five receptions and below 40 yards in each contest, and he was held out of the end zone between week three and week ten.
The Pats don’t possess a feared field stretcher (Brandon Tate) to open up the inside for Welker. It hasn’t stopped him lately, but makes his job exponentially more difficult.
Expect the Chicago pass defense (13th) to get aggressive with him at the line and limit his ability in space, especially in the red zone. The Bears held another excellent slot receiver, Davone Bess, to one reception for nine yards in week 11.
Welker is still Tom Brady's number one option (97 targets) but there's a lot of footballs to go around between tight ends and backs in that offense.
It didn't take long for Rice to get back in the swing of things.
In just his third game back from a serious hip injury, he caught five balls (six targets) for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Even without Harvin by his side, he appeared close to his old "freak of nature" self, beating double-teams with relative ease and overmatching defenders with the ball in the air.
Rice saw 14 targets in his first two games with Brett Favre at quarterback, so regardless of who's behind center he'll receive plenty of traffic.
The Giants secondary has not looked sharp in recent weeks, frequently looking confused and blowing downfield assignments. The Redskins were unable to make them pay for their transgressions, but the Vikings will.
With the rust shaken off, and apparently fully healthy, Rice is set to make a major splash in the final four weeks.
WR Sit: Wes Welker, New England Patriots
There's no questioning Welker's high level of performance over the past four weeks: 28 receptions for 317 yards and four scores. Nevertheless, don't except a full-blown return to Moss era form.
In the three weeks prior he was held under five receptions and below 40 yards in each contest, and he was held out of the end zone between week three and week ten.
The Pats don’t possess a feared field stretcher (Brandon Tate) to open up the inside for Welker. It hasn’t stopped him lately, but makes his job exponentially more difficult.
Expect the Chicago pass defense (13th) to get aggressive with him at the line and limit his ability in space, especially in the red zone. The Bears held another excellent slot receiver, Davone Bess, to one reception for nine yards in week 11.
Welker is still Tom Brady's number one option (97 targets) but there's a lot of footballs to go around between tight ends and backs in that offense.
QB Start: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
The "gunslinger" has performed brilliantly the last two weeks posting QB ratings of 146.2 and 117.0. While Cutler's pass attempts are on the decline, his decision-making has improved without hindering his calling card playmaking ability.
Since the Bears week eight bye he's tossed ten touchdowns against just three interceptions (5:0 last two weeks). Entering week 14 of last season he had already gifted 20 interceptions, double his current total of ten.
Wide receiver Earl Bennett has emerged as Cutler’s security blanket, a dependable possession receiver to balance out Chicago’s deep threats. The efficiency of their running attack has also opened up opportunities in the play action passing game and taken pressure off Cutler.
New England's 31st ranked pass defense is tailor made for the Bears style – they don't pressure the quarterback (21 sacks) and allow 67 percent completions.
QB Sit: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
His random four-touchdown performances haven't made a believer out of me. Yes, Fitzpatrick has a thrown at least one TD pass in every start this season, but overall production has regressed sharply.
Fitzpatrick's thrown an interception in six of his last seven games, including three games of two picks (fumbled three times last week, lost two). His big plays are often the result of scrambling and buying time and not within the Bills' offense. Obviously consistency will never be a strength in this freelance structure.
On the season Fitzpatrick averages just 6.7 yards per pass attempt, and his completion percentage of 58.3 ranks 26th in the league.
The Browns rank 20th against the pass, but are second in the NFL with 18 interceptions. They bottled up Chad Henne last week forcing a 37.8 QB rating and ballhawking for three picks. There will be no air explosion for "Mr. Harvard" this week.
The "gunslinger" has performed brilliantly the last two weeks posting QB ratings of 146.2 and 117.0. While Cutler's pass attempts are on the decline, his decision-making has improved without hindering his calling card playmaking ability.
Since the Bears week eight bye he's tossed ten touchdowns against just three interceptions (5:0 last two weeks). Entering week 14 of last season he had already gifted 20 interceptions, double his current total of ten.
Wide receiver Earl Bennett has emerged as Cutler’s security blanket, a dependable possession receiver to balance out Chicago’s deep threats. The efficiency of their running attack has also opened up opportunities in the play action passing game and taken pressure off Cutler.
New England's 31st ranked pass defense is tailor made for the Bears style – they don't pressure the quarterback (21 sacks) and allow 67 percent completions.
QB Sit: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
His random four-touchdown performances haven't made a believer out of me. Yes, Fitzpatrick has a thrown at least one TD pass in every start this season, but overall production has regressed sharply.
Fitzpatrick's thrown an interception in six of his last seven games, including three games of two picks (fumbled three times last week, lost two). His big plays are often the result of scrambling and buying time and not within the Bills' offense. Obviously consistency will never be a strength in this freelance structure.
On the season Fitzpatrick averages just 6.7 yards per pass attempt, and his completion percentage of 58.3 ranks 26th in the league.
The Browns rank 20th against the pass, but are second in the NFL with 18 interceptions. They bottled up Chad Henne last week forcing a 37.8 QB rating and ballhawking for three picks. There will be no air explosion for "Mr. Harvard" this week.
RB Start: LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Concerns over his recent struggles in short yardage and goal line situations have surfaced, but he remains a MUST start in week 14.
Since taking over the primary ball carrying duties in week seven, Blount has rushed for 100 yards+ twice, 80 yards+ four times and hit paydirt four times.
He’s coming off a 20-carry 103 yard outing against Atlanta’s eighth ranked defense, and looked like a man amongst boys for much of the game.
This week's opponents, the Redskins, were thoroughly gashed by the Giants to the tune of 197 yards and four rushing scores last week. Brandon Jacobs broke runs of 39, 28 and compiled 13 yards per carry. Blount brings a similar power style to the table, only with a lower center of gravity and more speed.
If the 'Skins bring the same poor tackling effort on Sunday, they will get run through and run over.
RB Sit: Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Lynch scored three touchdowns against Carolina's 27th ranked run defense last week, but don't get too excited. Gashing the Panthers on the ground has become commonplace. Two of his scores came on 1-yard runs, and four of his five touchdowns on the year have now come from a yard out.
Between weeks eight and twelve he ran for 147 yards (29 per game) on 40 carries (8 per game) with a single TD. In eight games since joining Seattle he's received under ten carries on three occasions, and been held under 50 yards six times. Explosive runs have been few and far between, with a measly three runs above 20 yards in 146 attempts.
Season best effort aside, scat back Justin Forsett will still eat away at his workload going forward. The San Francisco run defense has limited opponents to 3.6 yards per rush and only seven ground scores.
Don't hold your breath for a double dose of Marshawn magic.
Concerns over his recent struggles in short yardage and goal line situations have surfaced, but he remains a MUST start in week 14.
Since taking over the primary ball carrying duties in week seven, Blount has rushed for 100 yards+ twice, 80 yards+ four times and hit paydirt four times.
He’s coming off a 20-carry 103 yard outing against Atlanta’s eighth ranked defense, and looked like a man amongst boys for much of the game.
This week's opponents, the Redskins, were thoroughly gashed by the Giants to the tune of 197 yards and four rushing scores last week. Brandon Jacobs broke runs of 39, 28 and compiled 13 yards per carry. Blount brings a similar power style to the table, only with a lower center of gravity and more speed.
If the 'Skins bring the same poor tackling effort on Sunday, they will get run through and run over.
RB Sit: Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Lynch scored three touchdowns against Carolina's 27th ranked run defense last week, but don't get too excited. Gashing the Panthers on the ground has become commonplace. Two of his scores came on 1-yard runs, and four of his five touchdowns on the year have now come from a yard out.
Between weeks eight and twelve he ran for 147 yards (29 per game) on 40 carries (8 per game) with a single TD. In eight games since joining Seattle he's received under ten carries on three occasions, and been held under 50 yards six times. Explosive runs have been few and far between, with a measly three runs above 20 yards in 146 attempts.
Season best effort aside, scat back Justin Forsett will still eat away at his workload going forward. The San Francisco run defense has limited opponents to 3.6 yards per rush and only seven ground scores.
Don't hold your breath for a double dose of Marshawn magic.
TE Start: Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders
Miller has been utterly invisible since his week eight injury. Unbelievably, he hasn't recorded double-digit yardage in four games since, totaling five receptions for 28 yards.
The Raiders all but abandoned the passing game last week as he saw only one target. If they utilize the same tact against Jacksonville this week, they'll be making a massive judgment error. The Jags rank 27th against the pass and have allowed over 3,000 yards through the air (22 touchdowns).
Despite his abysmal efforts of late, it's difficult to sit a tight end with Miller's big play potential. He caught a pass of 20+ yards in six of the first seven weeks, and you simply won't find many TE's capable of that. He has a great opportunity to revisit those glory days this week, if his coordinator allows it.
TE Sit: Joel Dreessen, Houston Texans
It was originally believed that Dreessen could miss week 14, but his rib cage injury is just a bruise. He saw a significant eight targets and caught five balls for 63 yards at Philadelphia Thursday night, and hit paydirt in each of the prior two weeks (including a 100-yard game). However, his usage for Sunday is very much in question.
Owen Daniels is set to return, and while he's been entirely ineffective, he will surely take snaps away from Dreessen (and possibly start).
The Ravens have eliminated the tight end since their week eight bye: Anthony Fasano 3/26, Tony Gonzalez 4/38, Kellen Winslow 4/44 TD and Heath Miller 1/9.
He’s given his owners a nice fantasy run, but avoid this likely time-split situation.
Miller has been utterly invisible since his week eight injury. Unbelievably, he hasn't recorded double-digit yardage in four games since, totaling five receptions for 28 yards.
The Raiders all but abandoned the passing game last week as he saw only one target. If they utilize the same tact against Jacksonville this week, they'll be making a massive judgment error. The Jags rank 27th against the pass and have allowed over 3,000 yards through the air (22 touchdowns).
Despite his abysmal efforts of late, it's difficult to sit a tight end with Miller's big play potential. He caught a pass of 20+ yards in six of the first seven weeks, and you simply won't find many TE's capable of that. He has a great opportunity to revisit those glory days this week, if his coordinator allows it.
TE Sit: Joel Dreessen, Houston Texans
It was originally believed that Dreessen could miss week 14, but his rib cage injury is just a bruise. He saw a significant eight targets and caught five balls for 63 yards at Philadelphia Thursday night, and hit paydirt in each of the prior two weeks (including a 100-yard game). However, his usage for Sunday is very much in question.
Owen Daniels is set to return, and while he's been entirely ineffective, he will surely take snaps away from Dreessen (and possibly start).
The Ravens have eliminated the tight end since their week eight bye: Anthony Fasano 3/26, Tony Gonzalez 4/38, Kellen Winslow 4/44 TD and Heath Miller 1/9.
He’s given his owners a nice fantasy run, but avoid this likely time-split situation.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em
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Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Adam Ganeles, Sit Em, Start Em, Week 14, QB Start, QB Sit, RB Start, RB Sit, WR Start, WR Sit, TE Start, TE Sit, Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills, LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks, Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings, Wes Welker, New England Patriots, Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders, Joel Dreessen, Houston Texans
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