Published: 12/01/2008 2:08 am by Smitty in Fantasy Articles
Below are the Players On The Rise & On The Decline entering Week 14. Week 14 is the first week of most everyone’s fantasy playoffs, so we will focus some of our advice on lower-end players that you can possibly pick-up off of your waiver wire heading into Week 14.
Week 14
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Peyton Manning | QB IND
Peyton Manning threw for just 125 yards and had zero touchdowns in Week 13 against the Browns. Manning even threw two picks in the Sunday match-up, so clearly he has fantasy owners concerned heading into the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 14-16). In fact, Manning has fantasy owners so concerned, some are even considering benching the stud in Week 14 (vs. CIN) in favor of passers like Tyler Thigpen. Hey Thiggy, no offense if you’re reading this, but you’re no Peyton Manning… I don’t care how many bad games in a row Peyton has. Start your studs down the stretch! Manning’s playoff schedule is great, as he faces the Bengals, Lions and Jags in the final three weeks. All three are outside the top 10 against the pass and both the Bengals and Lions, Manning’s Week 14 and 15 opponents, are inside the bottom half of the league against the pass. Trust in Manning — You have to if you own him!
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Joseph Addai | RB IND
Joseph Addai, like Manning, is a guy you have to believe in down the stretch. He is one of my top two "Trade For" players right now in dynasty formats. Take full advantage of those who do not believe that Addai is a top 5-7RB of the future. Of course some dynasty leagues lock trading down during the fantasy playoffs, but if your league allows for trading year-round, attack! Go get yourself a top 5RB of the future at bargain value. As for Weeks 14-16, don’t even consider benching Addai, not unless you’re in a very small league and own four guys just like him. As I stated above with Manning, the Colts face the Bengals, Lions and Jaguars in Weeks 14-16. All three defenses rank in the bottom 10 or so in the league against the run. In fact, the Lions were dead last against the run entering Week 13. In Week 13, Detroit allowed the Titans to run for 292 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Addai is a top 5-7RB moving forward for Weeks 14-16, and again, if you’re in a dynasty format, consider him a top 5-7RB of the future.
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More Players On The Rise:
- DeAngelo Williams – It’s amazing… some fantasy owners are still leaving Williams on the bench. Look, his future is uncertain and that is something we will surely address in the off-season, but forget about that for right now if you’re lucky enough to own the runner. Williams is a stud — As we always say, start your studs!
- Thomas Jones – Everything written about Williams needs to be applied to T-Jones as well. Jones should not be benched in any league. If you’re loaded at RB, it doesn’t matter, Jones should be in your line-up. If you’re that stacked at the RB position and you’re putting guys like T-Jones on your bench on a weekly basis, you should have used your plethora of runners to upgrade your starting line-up at other positions. Jones, one of the league’s hottest fantasy runners, had 138 rushing yards and two scores in Week 13 against the Broncos. Jones faces SF, BUF and SEA in Weeks 14-16… all three teams are middle of the pack, or worse, against the run.
- Marques Colston – He is getting comfortable again in that high-powered Saints passing attack, so count on Colston down the stretch. We have seen a lot of fantasy owners bench Colston for well-playing receivers like Isaac Bruce and Steve Breaston. Don’t sit Colston heading into Weeks 14-16. We’re not saying not to still find room in your line-up for players like Bruce and Breaston, but Colston has to be active moving forward.
- John Carlson – The rookie TE is one of Hasselback’s favorite targets already, as the rook caught 6 passes for 105 yards in Week 13. If you need a TE and this kid is still available, consider picking him up and using him right away. There are always risks involved in starting rookie TEs, as they can be quite inconsistent, but Carlson is worth the risk if you’re in need.
- Mark Clayton – The Ravens WR is a solid grab if you need a WR in Weeks 14-16. Not only did he have 5 catches for 164 yards and 2TDs in Week 13, the guy has had at least 76 yards with one touchdown in three out of his last five contests… not bad for waiver wire material.
- Cadillac Williams – Most everyone knows that Caddy is now getting a lot of work in that Tampa Bay backfield, but for some reason he is available in a large percentage of larger leagues. He only carried the ball 4 times in Week 13, but he did have a score. If available, consider grabbing Caddy as you head into your fantasy playoffs.
- LenDale White – We are not big fans of LenDale White here at FFX, but he is capable of playing well on any given Sunday. That said, we don’t recommend that fantasy owners count on White heading into Weeks 14-16. If he is your best flex option, so be it, but don’t even consider sitting a struggling Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, or even a Tim Hightower, in favor of White. Again, use him if he is really your best option at RB2 or flex, but don’t count on White being consistent — He knows how to burn ya!
More Players On The Decline:
- Kevin Smith – Don’t use Kevin Smith in Week 14 against the Vikes. He could have value in Week 15 and Week 16 against the Colts and Saints, but if you think his 12 carries for 22 yards was bad this week, wait until his Week 14 match-up.
- Calvin Johnson – CJ has been frustrating as of late, but ride the stud into the playoffs. As stated above, the Lions face the Vikings in Week 14, but that is only bad news for that Lions rushing attack. Not only will Calvin get open in Week 14, his team could be playing from behind most of the game and that means there will be a ton of passing in this one. He should have great yardage in Weeks 15 and 16 as well. CJ is a great WR2 down the stretch. Use him!
- Donnie Avery – Avery was held without a catch in Week 13, but he still remains a solid WR3 option heading into Weeks 14-16. With only one solid game in five straight weeks, it isn’t crazy to think that this guy could get dropped right before Week 14. Scoop him up if that happens.
- Braylon Edwards – With Derek Anderson out for the year, it’s going to be tough counting on Edwards down the stretch. He is still line-up worthy, but expect WR3-type numbers and hope for the best.
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