If you’re reading this, congrats! You’re still playing meaningful games! Either you’re winning that consolation bracket to have your league’s #1 pick next year (who will it be? Todd Gurley? Saquon Barkley? New York Jet Le’Veon Bell?!) Or, since you’re a Razzball reader, you’re on the march towards ANOTHER championship title over your chump friends. Take a long look at your bench — are there any guys on there who have 0 starts for you, but you’re just remembering years past when they were productive? Stop trying to make fetch happen — cut ties and grab one of these guys below who are more likely than the name value players you’ve been holding on to and hoping they’ll perform.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen, 3.7%, vs NYJ: Man! Bills fans must REALLY be slamming each other through tables after Josh Allen’s last two games. He put up 25 fantasy points in week 12 against the Jaguars and 28 against the Dolphins last week. He actually surprisingly rushed for 234 combined in those two games. Week 1 of the fantasy playoffs he’ll be facing the Jets who allowed at least 17 fantasy points to opposing QBs in 7 of their last 8 games. That one game they didn’t score at least 17 fantasy points was an embarrassing 5 fantasy point game from Dolphins backup Brock Osweiler so it doesn’t really count. I think Allen is in for at least a 15 fantasy point game.
Running Backs
Justin Jackson, 12.1%, vs CIN: I mentioned Justin Jackson as a waiver add last week because Melvin Gordon tore up his knees and Austin Ekeler was gone in over 50% of leagues. Ekeler received more rushing attempts, but it was Jackson who rushed for more yards and the only rushing TD for the Chargers. The Bengals are the worst against fantasy rushers in 2018 — expect JJ to thrive-thrive.
Rex Burkhead, 11.9%, @ MIA: I rarely like recommending Patriots running backs because Belichick doesn’t care about the concept of a “lead back” in the slightest. Week 13 their leading rusher was Sony Michel. Week 14 — it’ll honestly probably be Michel again. However, that doesn’t mean Burkhead is without value. There will still be room for him to get some yards against a Dolphins team that has allowed the 4th most rushing yards.
Jeff Wilson Jr., 0.0%, vs DEN: Jerick McKinnon, Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida — it has not been a good year to be a 49er running back. Even Kyle Juszczyk has that last name! Enter Wilson Jr a 2018 undrafted rookie from North Texas. He played only one season with North Texas rushing for 1,215 yards and 16 TDs in 11 games. Probably not enough tape on him for any NFL team to take a chance to draft him. But boy, could the 49ers look like geniuses here if Wilson can pan out. With Breida knocked out of the game in week 13, Wilson broke out for 15 rushing attempts for 61 yards and 8 catches for 73 yards. Wilson is completely available so grab him if you’re desperate for a first round win. Breida is out already for week 14 so expect Wilson to shine again against the Broncos who have allowed the 10th most rushing yards on the season.
Wide Receivers
Adam Humphries, 41.2%, vs NO: Humphries lead the Bucs in receptions and targets in week 13. Over his last 6 games, Humphries is averaging almost 17 fantasy points per game and has TD catches in 4 of his last 5 games. Now that’s all fresh in your brain let me remind you that the Saints have allowed the most fantasy points to WRs. Strong buy.
Curtis Samuel, 12.5%, @ CLE: Samuel has emerged as a valuable weapon for Cam Newton over the last 5 weeks; 19, 3, 16, 11, 14 — his fantasy point totals since week 9. The Browns have allowed the 5th most receiving yards this year — Samuel could feast.
Bruce Ellington, 8.8%, @ ARI: I told you to add Ellington two weeks ago after his 6 catch, 11 fantasy point game. Since then, he’s scored 18 fantasy points in 2 games and Marvin Jones Jr. is now done for the season. Ellington is having a solid late-season PPR rebirth.
Dante Pettis, 2.2%, vs DEN: Keenan Allen, Antonio Brown, Dante Pettis. Yawn! These three guys stay atop the wide receiver fantasy scoring charts. With Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin both out Pettis feasted against the Seahawks secondary. If Garcon and Goodwin do return in week 14 you can expect Pettis’s targets to fall a bit — but he’s still worth a grab if you’ve got some trash sitting on your bench.
Zay Jones, 1.7%, vs NYJ: I’ve had my eye on Zay Jones since he was drafted #37 overall in 2017. He followed the typical path of a first-year WR by embarrassingly struggling in 2017. He’s still not doing great in 2018, but he’s had over 23 fantasy points in two of his last three games. Yes, third game was an embarrassing 0 fantasy point game — but the other two weren’t bad, right? Jets to their discredit have allowed the second-most receiving yards to WRs.
Tight Ends
Ian Thomas, 0.2%, @ CLE: Well I guess we’ll call that a career now, eh Greg Olsen? You never want to see the word “rupture” when discussing an injury, but that’s where we are with Olsen now. With Olsen out of the game in week 13 Thomas caught all 5 of his targets for 46 yards. He’s one of the few low-ownership TEs who are worth taking a shot on if you lost Olsen. His week 14 opponent, the Browns, have allowed the most receptions to TEs this season.
Defense/Special Teams
Tennessee Titans, 54.2%, vs JAX: The Jaguars just won a game 6-0. Blake Bortles was benched in favor of Cody Kessler and he only notched 150 passing yards. Well the Titans played this Jaguars team way back in week 3 and held them to only 6 points in that game for 11 fantasy points. The Jaguars have only gotten worse since then and now the Titans are at home. This is the best streaming defense available this week.
Kicker
Chris Boswell, 34.4%, @ OAK: The Raiders are allowing 30.6 points per game including 22 field goals allowed (5th worst in the league) and 37 extra points allowed (3rd worst in the league.) On Boswell’s side of the ball, the Steelers are scoring 28.8 points per game — good for 4th in the league. Here’s your streaming kicker option this week.
