Fantasy Football Week 14 Sleepers
The fantasy playoffs are finally here! Scouting out the remaining options on the waiver wire can help push your team to the next level. Whether that means filling a gap in your roster or blocking an opponent from picking up a player, staying on top of the waiver is essential in finishing the season strong. Trust the process that got you to this point. Don’t lose focus now, remain on track, and push on until the very end.
Let’s get to it!
My Week 14 Sleepers
Running Backs
Ty Johnson (New York Jets): After Frank Gore left last week’s contest with a concussion, Johnson stepped up as the featured running back and delivered a career performance, notching 104 yards on the ground from 22 carriers and a touchdown. He also caught two receptions, further adding to his fantasy total. There might be little appeal starting an offensive player on the Jets, but if Johnson is the lone, healthy running back on Sunday, his workload alone offers serious fantasy benefits. If Gore is set to miss additional games, Johnson contains upside that cannot be ignored and could carry throughout the fantasy playoffs. Johnson is set to face a Seattle Seahawks defense that just got torched on the ground a week ago, making Johnson a viable flex option in Week 14.
Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys): Tony Pollard is a name to keep an eye on as the fantasy playoffs progress. Pollard’s touches have been sparse all season as the backup for Ezekiel Elliott on an extremely inefficient Cowboys offense. As the season has unfolded, Elliott has appeared more and more on the injury report. As the Cowboys’ playoff contentions begin to fade, Pollard could be in line for additional touches to end the season. Pollard is a nice insurance policy to stash at the end of your bench if you have space for him.
Wide Receivers
Allen Lazard (Green Bay Packers): Lazard was off to a hot start to begin 2020 before a core injury landed him on IR. Since returning, it appears Lazard is still reacclimating to the Packers offense. Despite his slow return, Lazard could soon be on the upswing, in part due to his remaining schedule to finish off the fantasy season. Lazard will face-off against divisional foes the Detroit Lions that should be a high scoring affair, even if the score is lopsided in favor of Green Bay. Following his plus matchup in Week 14, Lazard will square off against the Carolina Panthers and the Tennessee Titans to end the season. If Lazard can reestablish himself with Aaron Rodgers, Lazard should be heavily rostered on championship-winning teams. If a manager dropped Lazard while he was injured, take advantage of that blunder.
Gabriel Davis (Buffalo Bills): Gabriel Davis has shown flashes of his capabilities as a productive NFL receiver over the course of his rookie season. Now that John Brown is on IR, Davis’ opportunities are on the rise. Despite limited targets and receptions, Davis’ big-play efficiency, highlighted by his league-leading Target Separation, third-most Fantasy Points Per Target and ranking fifth and seventh in Yards Per Reception and Yards Per Target while also compiling the ninth-best Average Target Distance, has elevated him into flex consideration for the rest of the season. Davis has established a tangible connection with Josh Allen, which will work in Davis’ favor as he continues to churn out a role for himself in this offense. Davis has a tough Week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but because of his chemistry with Allen, and the absence of John Brown, Davis needs to be rostered before it is too late.
Tight Ends
Logan Thomas (Washington Football Team): Logan Thomas’ 2020 season has been a pleasant surprise to say the least. The former quarterback-turned-tight-end has proven to be a reliable target for whoever is helming the offense behind center in Washington. Much of his inconsistencies to begin the season is attributed to the quarterback carousel that was afoot in Washington at the start of 2020. However, with Alex Smith in control, he has found himself a safety blanket in Thomas. Currently, Thomas is the TE8 in PPR formats, ranking eighth in tight end targets, ninth in receptions, and is tied for sixth in touchdowns among tight ends. Thomas has virtually no competition in Washington, leading tight ends with a 95.3% Snap Share. Thomas has proven to be reliably effective, tied for third in Contested Targets and ranking inside the top-10 in each Air Yards category. Thomas is coming off back-to-back double-digit performances, finishing as the TE3 last week. Thomas has a serious challenge in Week 14 against a 49ers defense poised to stop tight ends, but with how awful the tight end options have been all season, as of right now, Thomas is by far the best waiver wire tight end streamer for fantasy football playoffs.
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles): Carson Wentz was benched midway through last weeks contest, eventually leading head coach Doug Pederson to name 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback heading into Week 14. Hurts is a dynamic, multi-faceted quarterback that can sling the ball downfield or tuck-and-run for a big game. Although Hurts is faced with a serious hurdle against a stout New Orleans Saints defense in his first career start, there is not a single waiver-wire add available that offers more upside than Jalen Hurts, largely due to his unique rushing upside, giving himself an advantage over most other streaming options this week. Curb your expectations a bit for Hurts’ first career start, but he might be the spark this offense needs to turn its season around. Hurts is widely available in most 1QB leagues. If you’re lucky enough to survive the first round of playoffs with Hurts, and Hurts continues to start for Philadelphia, his playoff scheduling is favorable, facing off against Arizona and Dallas to end the fantasy football season. Stay ahead of the curve and don’t allow your opponent to pick up Hurts.
