All Systems Go For The Fantasy Playoffs
That’s right, folks, the time has arrived. What you’ve been preparing for all season gets underway in week 14. I’m talking about the fantasy football playoffs. I don’t think I need to emphasize the magnitude these next few weeks hold. For those that made their leagues playoffs, you are three weeks away from holding up your league’s trophy/winning the cashpot from the 2019 season.
That being said I want to address a little controversy that occurred on Twitter the other day. ProFootball Focus’ Jeff Ratcliff put out a tweet that stated that people who made the consolation rounds of their fantasy leagues shouldn’t use the waiver wire during the playoffs. Below is the tweet he sent out:
While I won’t speak for others here at Fantasy In Frames, I will say I 100% disagree with this stance.
Many big names in the fantasy football industry, like Jason Moore, for example, of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast, agreed.
The fact of the matter is that GOOD fantasy football leagues should always have something for EVERYONE to play for regardless if they make the playoffs or not. Whether it’s avoiding a last-place punishment or getting better draft seeding the following season having something to play for in the consolation rounds (which many websites like ESPN and Yahoo offer to patrons as a part of their league’s settings) keeps the spirit of competition alive in your fantasy leagues, and if that means being able to claim players off the waiver wire then so be it. NOW, those who disagree would argue that claiming players off waivers effects the playoff-bound participant’s chances of winning a championship if, for example, an injury occurs to one of their starters. Again, I strongly disagree.
WHY DO YOU THINK WE EMPHASIZE HANDCUFFING PLAYERS the closer we get to the fantasy playoffs?! So situations like that won’t happen. If you didn’t make wise roster decisions throughout the season don’t expect to get a free pass just because you made the playoffs. Your poor roster choices leading up to the playoffs will affect how your team will stack up during the playoffs, not a couple of moves on the waiver-wire.
NOW, if you disagree with my take THAT’S COOL TOO. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should play in leagues that suit their needs and wants. The biggest thing I have an issue with when it came to Ratcliff’s comments is calling people “dicks” for how they play fantasy football in the spirit of competition. I get you’re trying to make a point of where you stand, but last time I checked calling your followers names for playing a GAME a certain way isn’t the best way to get your point across. Let people play how they want to play rather than judging the hell of them. To me, THAT was the sign of a “dick”, not the person making a waiver wire claim.
RANT. OVER.
It’s playoff time and you need names to help you win, so let’s get down to business.
**DISCLAIMER**
As always when discussing fantasy point production we’re referring to 0.5 PPR scoring. IDP fantasy point scoring is solely based on our very own IDP scoring rubric which will be presented to you when we discuss IDPs later on in the article.
Here are my 4-EYED PREVIEWS for Week 14
Quarterback: Fitzmagic is here to help guide you to the 2nd round of your fantasy playoffs
Over the past 3 games played by quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick has played pretty down well against subpar competition:
- 8th in fantasy points per game average (20.9)
- 2nd in yards per game average (300.7)
- 6th in pass attempts (41)
Speaking of subpar competition, this week the Dolphins take on the Jets who rank 26th in pass rushing, 16th in coverage, and are allowing on average 17.5 fantasy points per game on the season. Add that to the Jets secondary being down safety Jamal Adams and all of a sudden that points per game average is at risk for increasing for the Bears which is great for Fitzpatrick managers. If you need a streaming option at QB in week 14 you cannot do better than Fitzpatrick.
Running Backs: Kareem Hunt and Adrian Peterson will give you help on the ground and through the air in week 14
Over the past 4 games played Kareem Hunt is RB21 in fantasy points per game (11.6), RB11 in receiving yards per game (29.5), RB4 in targets to a running back per game (6.4), and has become an integral part of this Browns passing offense since coming off of suspension. This week the Browns take on the Bengals who are 25th in run defense, 22nd in tackling effectiveness, and 27th in coverage. All systems are a go when it pertains to starting this talented running back out of the backfield this week.
While all the hype has surrounded Derrius Guice after this past week’s performance in Carolina, let’s not overlook Adrian Peterson. Last week he was 1st on the team in rushing attempts (13), 2nd in rushing yards on the Redskins (99), and scored 15.9 fantasy points per game. In week 14 he’ll face the Green Bay Packers run defense which ranks 27th in the league and allows 22.1 fantasy points per game to running backs. Fire up the future all Hall of Famer one more time in the fantasy playoffs this week.
Wide Receivers: Sterling Shepard will look to help Eli Manning turn back the clock on Monday Night Football
The Eagles, on the season, rank 23rd in pass coverage and have allowed 27.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Sterling Shepard will line up against Avonte Maddox on Monday night which ranks as the 7th best WR/CB matchups in week 14, and given the return of Eli Manning to the quarterback fold in New York you HAVE to expect there to be ONE MORE Manning-to-Shepard big play or two left in the tank making Shepard a must play this Monday.
Tight End: Jack. Doyle. FOR. THE. WIN
With reports having T.Y. Hilton likely being done for the season, the ONLY target on the Colt that Jacoby Brissett trusts without a doubt is pass-catching tight end, Jack Doyle. Tampa Bay, on the season, is allowing the second-most fantasy points to the tight end (10.2) and combined with his favorable matchup against Tampa’s Jordan Whitehead make Doyle the tight end to start this week.
Defensive Back: Bradley McDougald has been on a hot streak lately which bodes well in week 14
Bradley McDougald the past four weeks has been the 4th best defensive back in the NFL in solo tackles (21). In fact, his 21 solo to 3 assisted tackle ratio is one the best among defensive backs during the period. While being fairly inconsistent early on in the season he’s maintained an average of 6 total tackles per game the past four weeks and has averaged 11 fantasy points per game during that stretch. Next up this week are the Rams, who the last time they played, McDougald put up 6 total tackles and 9 fantasy points. Something tells given his recent body of work and his past performance against the Rams you should probably expect the same level of consistency this week!
Defensive Lineman: Mad Maxx will look to continue his streak of terrorizing quarterbacks this week
During the past four weeks, Maxx Crosby leads all defensive lineman in sacks (5.5), 1st in sack yards (48), 1st in tackles for a loss (10), 8th in solo tackles (12), and has averaged 13.9 fantasy points per game which is insane for a defensive lineman in IDP. This week the Raiders take on the Titans. Ride the hot streak with Mad Maxx in the fantasy playoffs!
Linebacker: James Burgess is the man in the Jets linebacking corp and will have work to do on Sunday
With C.J. Mosley FINALLY being placed on IR this week, the ILB position is firmly James Burgess’s. On the season Burgess is second on the Jets in solo tackles (28), has averaged 7.3 total tackles per game, AND has been a machine in the fantasy point production by averaging on the season 11.9 fantasy points per game. As with all good things in life, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. If you’ve been playing Burgess during this stretch please continue to. If you are looking for someone to start at linebacker with a relatively high floor you won’t do better than Burgess.
Those are my 4-EYED PREVIEWS for WEEK 14!
Good luck this week, folks!
May the fantasy football gods bless all of you with victory!
Thanks for visiting Fantasy In Frames!
*Stats provided by FantasyData.com, FantasyPros.com, and ProFootballFocus.com