Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice: Week 14

Published: 12/03/2008 12:24 am by Smitty in Start Bench Advice

Below is our Start and Bench Advice for Week 14 of the 2008 Fantasy Football season. Our "Who To Start & Who To Bench" advice is loaded with fantasy football player projections, fantasy analysis and straight up bold predictions.

Also, be sure to check out all of our updated Week 14 Player Projections, which are updated right up until kickoff. For previous Start Bench Advice, click here.

Who Do I Start & Who Do I Sit?

xyz is a Fantasy Football Xtreme contributor

Maurice Jones-Drew @CHI or LenDale White vs. CLE

After watching their last game this past Monday night, I’m convinced the Jaguars are a lost team and have begun to mail it in. And once again, Maurice Jones-Drew only got 15 touches in this game – why coach Jack Del Rio continues to limit him is anyone’s guess. This week Maurice and company face a very good run defense on the road in Chicago – so unless Mojo gets 20+ carries (unlikely) you are looking at around 50 yards on the ground and 20 to 30 more through the air. On the other hand, LenDale White has a very favorable matchup this week at home vs. the Browns, a team giving up 140 yards per game on the ground. The Titans backfield should chew them up and spit them out this week, so LenDale is the easy choice here.

Patrick Hillis vs. KC or Larry Johnson @DEN

There’s one every season. This year it’s Patrick Hillis of the Broncos coming out of nowhere to take the fantasy world by storm – and it couldn’t have come at a better time for his owners. This week he faces a pitiful Chiefs team that can’t stop anyone on the ground – they are 31st in the league giving up over 160 yards per game. Then again, the Broncos aren’t much better – they give up over 144 yards per game on the ground, so Larry Johnson is looking at a stat-padding day himself. If you own both these guys, it would be in your best interest to get them both in your lineup – if you can’t then go with Larry Johnson. In an essentially even matchup, I go with the more talented running back.

Domenik Hixon vs. PHI or Lee Evans vs. MIA

If you frequent our forms here at FFX, you know that Lee Evans draws a lot of venom from the fantasy crowd, and with good reason. One week he catches a single pass, the next (like last week) he hauls in 7-for-80; why he can’t be more consistent is a true mystery. Still, his matchup against the Dolphins this week dictates that he gets the nod in my eyes, regardless of who is playing QB for the Bills this weekend. Domenik Hixon in a tough divisional matchup with the Eagles (in potentially bad weather) is not my idea of an ideal matchup or start.

Darren McFadden @SD or Reggie Bush vs. ATL

I think the New Orleans/Atlanta game is going to be an absolute shootout this week and I would do everything in my power to get as many of those players in my lineup as possible. And, after getting a full game under his belt against the hard hitting Bucs, I think Reggie Bush is ready to pick up where he left off before getting hurt. I’m projecting 120 total yards and a score this week. Even if you aren’t quite as optimistic as I am, Darren McFadden is not nearly as good an option because he does not get enough touches and the Raiders don’t generate enough offense – it’s as simple as that.

Peyton Manning vs. CIN or Matt Cassel @SEA

Yes, it’s true Matt Cassel has drawn a great matchup this week against the inept Seahawks, but I still give Peyton Manning the nod here. He has a pretty good matchup himself at home versus the Bengals, but more than that he’s a stud among studs – you play him regardless of matchup. So, unless you have Drew Brees or Tony Romo as an option, Manning should be in your lineup every week.

2008 Week 14 Player Projections

Raiders at Chargers

Game Time: 12-04 8:15 pm ET

Player	Match-Up	Week 14 Projections
QB JaMarcus Russell	vs. Chargers	145 pass yds, 0 pass TDs, 1 Ints, 10 rush yds, 0 rush TDs
RB Darren McFadden		50 rush yds, 1 rush TDs, 33 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
RB Justin Fargas		65 rush yds, 0 rush TDs, 11 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
WR Ashley Lelie		4 recs, 45 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
WR Johnnie Lee Higgins		3 recs, 41 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
WR Ronald Curry		3 recs, 29 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
TE Zach Miller		1 recs, 6 rec yds, 0 rec TDs

Player	Match-Up	Week 14 Projections
QB Philip Rivers	vs. Raiders	255 pass yds, 2 pass TDs, 0 Ints, 0 rush yds, 0 rush TDs
RB LaDainian Tomlinson		75 rush yds, 1 rush TDs, 30 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
RB Darren Sproles		14 rush yds, 0 rush TDs, 0 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
WR Chris Chambers		3 recs, 35 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
WR Vincent Jackson		4 recs, 45 rec yds, 1 rec TDs
WR Malcom Floyd		2 recs, 18 rec yds, 0 rec TDs
TE Antonio Gates		4 recs, 40 rec yds, 1 rec TDs

View All Week 14 Projections

Early 2009 Fantasy Football Mock Draft (Redraft)

This doesn’t quite fall under the category of Start and Bench Advice, but below you will find our Early 2009 Fantasy Football Mock Draft. It’s a 10-team staff/contributor Fantasy Mock and it’s based on a standard scoring format (non-PPR) and has assumed line-up requirements of 1QB, 2RBs, 3WRs, 1TE, 1K, 1DST. They are assumed because we only drafted through five rounds, so we just had to draft as if the draft would have extended through later rounds — We provide commentary with every selection.

Round One

1.01 – Tavaner – Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN. There is no other RB I’d rather have.

1.02 – X – Clinton Portis, RB, WAS. No flashy player here, just consistent production week in and week out for your fantasy team. He’s exactly what you want out of your first round pick.

1.03 – Ballgame – Frank Gore, RB, SF. Westy may have even more injury problems next year.

1.04 – Zach – Brian Westbrook, RB, PHI. Injuries concern me a little, but he is a top 2-3 overall player per start for at least two more years.

1.05 – Matt – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, SD. My first thought is Turner, but I just can’t pass up LT2 at No. 5. San Diego is having a down year, and because I still think he has a shot at being the No. 1 overall player next year, I can’t pass him up at No. 5.

1.06 – Smitty – Michael Turner, RB, ATL. Believe it or not, I have a tough time passing up on Joseph Addai and Steven Jackson right here, but everyone knows that Turner is my boy. I expect nothing less than a 1,200+ season and 10-14TDs in 2009.

1.07 – Yarco – Joseph Addai, RB, IND. Wow. Really? Next year will clearly be the year you want a later first-round pick, because you can land a top 3 talent like Addai!

1.08 – Craphonso – Marion Barber, RB, DAL. He continues to be doubted. I’ll gladly take the Barbarian here.

1.09 – John A. – Brandon Jacobs, RB NYG. I was hoping Barber would fall here….SJax is tempting…but the first round to me is about minimizing risk, so will go with the man beast here, he absolutely destroyed a ridiculously tough run D schedule this year, will probably have an easier go next season, is the clear #1 and young by football standards after only one full season and a half as the #1 back…

1.10 – Jimmy – Steven Jackson, RB, STL. I sure hope S-Jax falls this far come 2009, but I doubt it. Jackson will probably be back to a 5-8 type pick next year and even that will be good value.

View All Five Rounds With Commentary