Stars of Week 14
QB: Tom Brady, NE: 25-38, 406 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RB: Le’Veon Bell, PIT: 38 carries, 236 yards, 3 TDs
WR: TY Hilton, IND: 9 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD
TE: Tyler Eifert, CIN: 5 catches, 48 yards, 2 TDs
Most fantasy leagues kicked off their playoffs in Week 14, so we’ve got an equal mix of jubilation and agony among playoff participants. Unlike last week, we’ve got very familiar names atop our leader board this week, starting with Tom Brady. The Patriots QB has handsomely rewarded those who drafted him despite his four-game suspension to start the year. Now for the performance of the season, we’ve got Le’Veon Bell. The stud RB had 236 yards and 3 TDs in the snow against the Bills, ripping off ten-yard chunks at ease. Bell will be in the mix for top RB in next year’s drafts. No real standout performance at WR this week, so Colts pass catcher TY Hilton takes the honor with good but modest numbers. Rounding out the group is Tyler Eifert, who had his way against the lowly Browns, finding the end zone twice.
Week 14 Takeaways – A Closer Look
Each week we take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.
- Bilal Powell, RB - NYJ: 29 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs
Analysis: I wrote about Bilal Powell earlier in the year, and while I try to avoid writing about the same player multiple times, there are occasions where it’s necessary. In this case, Matt Forte suffering a knee injury has suddenly made Bilal Powell a hot playoff waiver wire commodity, and rightfully so. Powell rushed for 145 yards and 2 TDs against the insufferable 49ers, and he stands to be the man if Forte doesn’t play this week. Powell’s usual role has been as a third down back, so he will be the every down back if Forte’s out. Check the latest news on Forte leading up to the Week 15 game, but common sense would lead to the Jets sitting Forte with their season well on ice. Forte has the highest upside of the RB pickups this week, so he should be your priority.
- Kenneth Farrow, RB – SD: 16 carries, 55 yards, 0 TDs
Analysis: In fantasy football, often times a player most people never heard of becomes a fought over commodity by the following week. This usually happens with RBs and is a result of an injury to a bell cow starter. Unfortunately for Melvin Gordon and the Chargers, and secondarily his fantasy owners, Gordon suffered what looked to be a serious injury against the Panthers. Fortunately the tests showed that Gordon merely (compared to what was expected) has a hip strain and knee sprain, and may in fact return over the next week or two. In his absence, Kenneth Farrow appears to be the next man up, as evidenced from his 16 carries against the Panthers. The rookie from Houston only has 125 yards to date, but he should get his chance to shine this week against the Raiders. Whispers abound that recently signed Ronnie Hillman may be in the mix as well, but expect Farrow to be the primary ball carrier on running downs, with Hillman getting into the mix on passing downs. While Farrow won’t make you forget about Melvin Gordon, he should get 14-20 carries and can help you if you’re a Gordon owner or otherwise need a RB this week.
- Adam Thielen, WR – MIN: 4 catches, 101 yards 0 TDs
Analysis: In what has turned into a disastrous season offensively for the Minnesota Vikings, there have been a few pleasant storylines. First, Stefon Diggs has further asserted himself as a top shelf WR. Another has been the performance of fellow WR Adam Thielen. The third-year pass catcher has developed a nice connection with QB Sam Bradford. Through thirteen games, Thielen has 56 catches and more than 750 yards, to go along with three TDs. Furthermore, Thielen has caught four or more passes in four consecutive games, and has ingrained himself as part of the troika of top options for Sam Bradford (along with Diggs and Kyle Rudolph). Thielen’s a WR4 in standard leagues, so he’s a most appropriate for WR needy teams in deeper leagues. But depending on what’s available on your league’s wire, Thielen could be a reasonable fill-in at WR.
- Zach Ertz, TE – PHI: 10 catches, 112 yards, 0 TDs
Analysis: Zach Ertz has been on fantasy radars since he entered the league in 2013. The fourth year TE from Stanford has been an above average tight end during this time, but one who has been inconsistent – especially in terms of maintaining his place in fantasy football starting lineups. After a slow start to the season, Ertz has come alive over the last few weeks. Ertz was targeted thirteen times by Carson Wentz against the Redskins, hauling in ten passes and crossing the century mark in yardage. Over the last six games, Ertz has amassed 414 yards from 42 receptions, with two of those catches reaching the end zone. The key here is that Ertz has built this connection with the long term answer at QB for the Eagles, so the uptick in performance is built to last. Ertz profiles as a low end TE1 for your playoffs.
Rapid Fire Pickups
Each week we throw out potential free agent pickups from each position, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues.
QB: Colin Kaepernick, SF
RB: Matt Asiata, MIN
RB: Ty Montgomery, GB
WR: Malcolm Mitchell, NE (leaving him here again this week – told you!)
WR: Taylor Gabriel, ATL
TE: Charles Clay, BUF