NFL Fantasy Leaders for Week 14 & Sleepers for the Playoffs
Week 14 of the NFL regular season is officially in the books. NFL fantasy owners searching for an edge in the second round of the playoffs can find all of their answers here.
NFL Fantasy Leaders — Week 14
1. Le’Veon Bell & 2. Ben Roethlisberger
It comes to no surprise that the Pittsburgh Steelers host two players on top of the scoring rankings this week after their comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens last night.
Running back Le’Veon Bell outscored everyone in fantasy with a 30.50 performance. 48 rushing yards, 77 yards receiving, and 3 total touchdowns explains it all. Bell couldn’t be stopped by the Ravens defense. The rushing superstar carried the ball 13 times and caught 9 of 10 targets throughout the night. Bell remains a top fantasy running back with his consistent onslaught of fantasy points each week.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrote history last night after becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to record three games with over 500 yards passing. His fantasy points reflect his performance. Roethlisberger totaled 28.74 points after completing 44 of 66 passes for 506 yards and completing two touchdown passes. A tough matchup against the New England Patriots next week could spark some concerns for his numbers in a second-round fantasy playoff battle.
3. Jonathan Stewart
Running back Jonathan Stewart for the Carolina Panthers had an impressive fantasy performance this week. Stewart rushed 16 times for a total of 103 yards. That, in addition to 3 touchdowns resulted in 28.30 fantasy points. After struggling for most of the season, Stewart could appear as a valuable flex option for fantasy owners looking to take a risk in their fantasy lineups. The Panthers face the Green Bay Packers next week, who are currently ranked 19th in rushing defense.
4. Rod Smith
The Dallas Cowboys found some more talent in their backfield with running back Rod Smith. The third year rusher found some open space yesterday and secured the 4th spot in the fantasy leaderboards. Smith carried the ball six times and ran for 47 yards, including a rushing touchdown. He also caught all five targets for a total of 113 yards with a receiving touchdown. Totaling 28.00 fantasy points, Smith proves to be a valuable flex option next week. The Cowboys starting running back Ezekiel Elliott faces one more game in his suspension. This leaves the door open for Smith to see more carries next week.
5. Jordan Howard
Coming in at 5th place on the fantasy leaderboards, Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard collected 27.50 fantasy points versus the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday. Howard scored two touchdowns and rushed the ball 23 times for a total of 147 yards. The rusher has 7 touchdowns this season and five 100-yard rushing performances. Howard could be a threat as a flex option next week versus the Detroit Lions. The Lions are ranked 21st in rushing defense this season.
6. Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz ranked 6th this week. His performance this year has led to his name coming up in MVP conversations. The quarterback completed 23 of 41 passing attempts for a total of 291 yards. He also completed 4 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Wentz fell victim to a torn ACL this week during a game versus the Los Angeles Rams. He’s now out for the remainder of the season. Fantasy owners that have keeper leagues should keep him on their lineup though and begin to think about replacements if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Sleepers — Week 15
It’s the second round of the playoffs at this point in the fantasy season. During this time of year, fantasy owners look to the waiver wire for immediate benefits for their playoff matchups. Here’s a look at some possible sleeper candidates you should consider snatching up if available.
Marquise Goodwin, Dede Westbrook, Mike Wallace — Wide Receiver
Marquise Goodwin had another successful week 14 campaign. The wide receiver caught 6 of 12 passes for a total of 106 yards. Since his teammate Pierre Garcon was placed on the Injured Reserve list, Goodwin has elevated to WR1 for the 49ers. As the number 1 option for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Goodwin offers flex potential for week 15. The 49ers matchup with the Tennessee Titans next week, a team that is ranked in the middle of the pack when it comes to pass defense.
Dede Westbrook continues to improve his performance each week. Westbrook proves to be asset to the Jacksonville Jaguars success. Yesterday, the wide receiver caught a touchdown in addition to 81 yards total receiving. Westbrook is especially appealing for fantasy owners next week because of his opponent: the Houston Texans. The Texans are ranked 28th in the NFL for passing defense. Look for Westbrook if you’re in need of receiving help.
Mike Wallace caught three passes yesterday for 72 yards to help the Baltimore Ravens efforts versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wallace comes more of a desperate option at wide receiver. The Ravens face the Cleveland Browns next week. The Browns are ranked 22nd in passing defense. Wallace should be considered for the flex option and WR2 at minimum if needed.
Blake Bortles, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers — Quarterback
For those suffering from the loss of Carson Wentz this week, there are quarterback options available.
As mentioned before, Jacksonville Jaguars face the Houston Texans next week. Their defense against the pass is poor. This opens the door for Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles. With Dede Westbrook at his disposal, Bortles offers potential at the quarterback spot for fantasy owners in a tough position.
After being traded to the 49ers from the Patriots, Jimmy Garoppolo has seen success. He currently is 2–0 as the starter for the 49ers. In two games, Garoppolo has thrown for 627 yards and is averaging 8.96 yards per attempt. With a nice matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Garoppolo proves as another option for Wentz owners.
It goes without being said, Aaron Rodgers is a MVP caliber quarterback. After breaking his collarbone, Rodgers has potential to return to action in Week 15. If he isn’t already on someone’s team, grab him. Rodgers could join a Green Bay Packers offense hungry to win games as their playoff contention grows thin. A red hot Rodgers in December looking to run the table and make a playoff appearance could be the difference between winning and losing a fantasy championship.
Buffalo Bills Defense — Defense
The saying goes, “Defense wins championships.” Nothing could be truer when it comes to fantasy play. A solid defense could rack up some fantasy points and be the difference during the second round of playoffs. The Buffalo Bills have a favorable matchup against a struggle Miami Dolphins offense. The Dolphins lack weapons on offense and can’t find the endzone as a result. Their quarterback Jay Cutler is a turnover machine. The Bills look to be a valuable defensive option for fantasy owners looking for a slight edge on their opponents.
Week 15 is a critical time for active fantasy owners. With these sleepers, you may just have enough to make your appearance in the championship round of NFL fantasy football. Best of luck!
