Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice: Week 14

Published: 12/05/2007 12:25 am by Smitty in Start Bench Advice

Below is our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em Advice for week 14 of the 2007 season. Also, make sure you check out our Weekly Projections for Week 14, and if that isn’t enough, swing by our Start / Bench Forum, where Tavaner, Craphonso and Smitty attack all of your questions daily.

Smitty’s Week 14 Start Of The Week
Smitty

Ryan Grant

RB
(vs. OAK)
140/20 yards, 1TD
Ryan Grant reminds me a lot of Rudi Johnson back in 2003. If you remember, Rudi started just 5 games, but finished with 957 rushing yards and 9TDs. Maybe Grant’s production/value won’t stick heading into next year (that is for another debate), but the rusher is set-up to explode in Weeks 14-16. Oakland gives up a 3rd worst 148 yards rushing per game and a league worst 1.66 touchdowns per game. Grant is quite possibly a top 5-7RB in Week 14 (if not higher). After this week, Grant owners are looking at two more solid back-to-back match-ups, as the Packers travel to St. Louis (19th against the run) and then to Chicago (27th against the run). Enjoy Grant’s final three match-ups of the 2007 fantasy season and then get ready for the off-season debate regarding Ryan Grant’s future value in the world of fantasy football.

ASK THE EXPERTS: FEATURED QUESTION

Pick Two: Reggie Bush (@ATL), Frank Gore (vs. MIN) and Marion Barber (@DET) ?

Smitty
UPDATE: Reggie Bush might miss the rest of the 2007 season with a torn PCL. Tough break for all who own him. Start Frank Gore and Marion Barber without question. Tough one. Bush faces the 24th ranked rushing defense, so I’d lock him into one of those spots. I know Bush has been disappointing at times this year, but his big-play ability makes him a must-start against such a match-up as Atlanta. Detroit is just an average rushing defense, so I also like Marion Barber in Week 14. Gore is still a top 5 talent if you ask me, but this would be the week to sit him given his match-up against Minnesota. The Vikes rushing defense is the best in the league, and given how well Minny runs the football, and given how bad the 49ers are at stopping the run (26th), the Vikes could be up early in this contest and this could force the 49ers to abandon the run late in the game. Start Reggie Bush and Marion Barber, but it’s awfully hard to sit Frank Gore.
UPDATE: With Bush possibly out for the year, this now because a simple decision. Put Barber in and you won’t skip a beat really. I know Gore is going up against MIN, but Ryan Grant proved it is possible to run against this group. Bush is ready to have that HUGE game. Start Reggie Bush and Frank Gore.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Carson Palmer (vs. STL) or Ben Roethlisberger (@NE) ?

Smitty
The Patriots defense is tough (6th against the pass) and this game is in New England. I love Roethy and this is a great problem to have down the stretch, but in this situation you have to play the match-up. Start Carson Palmer.
Easy call. This has to be a tough one on a weekly basis, but you have Palmer facing the 20th ranked passing D and Big Ben facing a top 6 passing D. Like I said, easy call for this week. Start Carson Palmer.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
I actually have this choice to make in a game this week. I’ve been playing Big Ben lately, but for week 14 I am going with Palmer against the STL D. The Pats D is just too tough of a match-up to use Big Ben when you have an excellent alternative like Palmer.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Marion Barber (@DET) or Joseph Addai (@BAL) ?

Smitty
The Lions are 15th against the run, while the Ravens are 3rd. Addai is a top 5-7RB, and it feels just wrong to ever bench him, but in this situation I roll with Barber. Start Marion Barber, but just for this week.
Addai faces the Ravens and Barber is going up against mediocre rushing D at best. Start Marion Barber.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
Barber. The Lions run D has been lit up by both Ryan Grant and AD Peterson the last two weeks and I expect Barber to continue that trend. Addai is running against a defense that has given up the second fewest points to RBs in most leagues.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Ryan Grant (vs. OAK) or Ernest Graham (@HOU) ?

Smitty
I think Graham is a beast and I really like him this week against the Texans’ 25th ranked rushing defense, but Grant is on fire and faces the Oakland Raiders (30th against the run). Both are great starts, but Grant is quite possibly one of the best running back starts this week. Start Ryan Grant with little hesitation.
Both have great match-ups, but Grant is on a roll. Start Ryan Grant.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
Grant. Ryan Grant against the Oakland D is a must start. Last week I said Grant was a top 10-15 start and this week he is a top 5 RB play.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Derek Anderson (@NYJ) or Peyton Manning (@BAL) ?

Smitty
Believe it or not, the Jets are actually 11th against the pass and Baltimore is 15th! It’s amazing, but true… so based on match-ups, you have to go with Peyton. Now I love Anderson and I think the Browns found some gold with this kid, but you can’t sit Peyton. Start Peyton Manning.
Baltimore is better than the stats suggest when it comes to their passing D. I think I would start Derek Anderson if you need that home run in Week 14. I see Manning having one of those 250 and 2TD games and Anderson having one of those 4TD games. Start Derek Anderson.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
I am going to stick with the stud in Peyton on this one. The Jets pass D is a better match-up, but the Ravens D, although they looked good Monday night, are not what they used to be. Anderson is a very good start, but I’d stick with Manning.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Roddy White (vs. NO) or Lee Evans (vs. MIA) ?

Smitty
White goes up against the Saints, a passing defense that is ranked 28th in the league. Evans and the Bills go up against the Dolphins, a passing defense that is ranked top 3 against the pass. I know this could come back to haunt me, but I’m going to roll with my boy Evans. He has been extremely inconsistent this year, but the Bills need this win and Evans is going to have to stretch the field for the Bills to have success in this one. White is a great start this week and he should only be benched if you’re stacked at the position, but in this situation… Start Lee Evans.
This one is hard, because White has a much better match-up. The Saints are one of the worst defenses against the pass, but I still like Evans. The Bills are 6-6, they need this one. Start both if you can. If you can’t, start Lee Evans.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
Lee Evans is not the same WR with Edwards at QB. White has been fairly consistent all year with all the QB issues in ATL. Roddy White.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Adrian Peterson CHI (@WAS) or Fred Jackson (vs MIA) ?

Smitty
Easy call. Start Fred Jackson. If Lynch comes back this week, obviously switch the two out, as the match-up is gold against MIA (worst in the league against the run). If you don’t have Lynch and he ends up coming back this week, obviously start Peterson, but I’m guessing Lynch won’t be back this week. If that is the case, no question… Start Fred Jackson.
Miami has the worst rushing D in the league, so go Fred Jackson (or Lynch) on this one. If you only have Jackson and Lynch goes, be sure to switch it out. Start Fred Jackson.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
Lynch may be back after running late last week. Jackson showed he can play last week. I think Lynch will play. I would start Lynch or Jackson over the other AP. The Redskins rush D is very good and they do not allow many TDs.
ASK THE EXPERTS

Frank Gore (vs. MIN) or Travis Henry (vs. KC) ?

Smitty
Both runners are top 10 backs, but Henry has a MUCH easier match-up. Gore faces the league’s toughest rushing defense, while Travis Henry (fresh off winning his appeal) is going up against the Chiefs (only ranked 21st against the run). Gore is a great RB to own in Weeks 15-16, but in this situation, go with the match-up since the two are fairly close in Week 14-16 upside. Start Travis Henry.
Henry wins his appeal, but his PCL injury still concerns me. Shanahan still concerns me. I know the match-up is awful, but I stick with Gore. Start Frank Gore.
craphonso-ffx-staff-contributor
I play Henry now that he is not suspended, or Hall if he gets the nod even with his gimpy ankle. Selvin is still in the mix, but seems to be more nicked up than Hall at this point. Can I just say I’ll take Broncos’ Team RB? Yeah…..I’ll go with that Broncos’ Team RB.

Need Advice before kickoff? Swing by our FFX Start / Bench Forum and post your “tough calls” there!


Week 14 Fantasy Football Player Projections

Vikings @ 49ers

Sunday at 4:05PM EST
Player
Match-Up
Week 14 Projections
QB Trent Dilfer
vs. MIN
205 yards, 1TD, 2 INTs
RB Frank Gore
125/30 yards, 1TD
RB Maurice Hicks
0/0
WR Darrell Jackson
4 rec, 45 yards
WR Arnaz Battle
4 rec, 50 yards
WR Ashley Lelie
3 rec, 25 yards
TE Vernon Davis
4 rec, 45 yards, 1TD

Player
Match-Up
Week 14 Projections
QB Tarvaris Jackson
@SF
195 yards, 0TDs, 1 INT
RB Adrian Peterson
135/20 yards, 2TDs
RB Chester Taylor
60/10 yards
WR Troy Williamson
0/0
WR Bobby Wade
3 rec, 55 yards
WR Sidney Rice
3 rec, 40 yards
TE Visanthe Shiancoe
2 rec, 14 yards

View All Fantasy Projections For Week 14

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