Fantasy Football Breakdown: Week 14
Host Logan Bourandas and analysts Jordan Hession, Alex Rocco and Matt Rudisill look ahead to Week 14 of the football season and discuss players you should start and sit as well as waiver wire pickups.
Players to Start This Week:
Mitch Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears
Despite the Bears blowing a 10 point fourth quarter lead, Trubisky played pretty well in his start against the Lions throwing for 267 yards and a touchdown.
This week, Trubisky and the Bears face off against one of the worst teams in the NFL this season in the Houston Texans. The Texans have one of the worst defenses in the NFL as they allow the third most yards to opposing offenses and with Deshaun Watson bound to put points on the board for Houston, expect Trubisky to do the same.
Jamison Crowder, WR, New York Jets
It’s been hard to rely on Crowder so far this season due to injury, but when he’s been on the field he’s produced. Crowder has three 20 point games this season but also two games with seven or less points.
Fortunately, Crowder is coming off of a 21.7 point day in a heartbreaking loss to the Raiders as the Jets will face one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks.
Players to Sit This Week:
Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
Singletary has been hard to rely on all season as he hasn’t had a 20 point game yet but also has had three games with six or less fantasy points this season. Last week, Singletary saw the ball often as he tied his season high in carries with 18, but only turned that into 61 rushing yards and just over 11 fantasy points.
The Bills face off against the best team in the AFC this week in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only are the Steelers great defensively, but the Bills are a below average defensive team meaning this may not be a good week for the Bills running back.
Cam Newton, QB, New England Patriots
Newton is coming off one of his best games of the season last week as found the endzone three times and put up over 23 fantasy points. That however was against a Chargers team that allows the sixth most points in the NFL this season.
This week will be much more of a challenge for the Patriots as they play the other Los Angeles based team in the Rams. This L.A. team, unlike the last one, boasts the second best defense in the NFL in terms of yards allowed and have one of the best defensive lineman in football. Aaron Donald and the Rams will make it tough for Newton to run straight up the middle which is where a majority of his rushes come from.
Waiver Wire Pickup:
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Football Team
Thomas is coming off his best performance of the season as he caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown against one of the league's best defenses in the Steelers.
The former college quarterback has evolved into the eighth best tight end in fantasy this season and has become Alex Smith’s favorite target in the Washington offense. Somehow, Thomas is still available in a bit less than 65% of fantasy leagues so he may be a worthy pickup as we head into the playoffs.
Logan Bourandas is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.