I am a co-founder and the editor of drinkfive.com. In order to stave off fantasy football insanity, Dave and I have branched out to cover a variety of interests. When I'm not knee deep in wikipedia pages, I like to hang out at breweries or a disc golf course (especially both in the same day). FSWA Member for 5+ years.
The fantasy playoffs are in full swing, and hopefully your team is still alive and kicking. If you didn’t make it this far, you can commiserate with Mike and figure out what to do next. For the rest of us, we have to replace our Daltons, Blounts and Yeldons and move on to week 15.
Philip Rivers stands out this week as a bounce back prospect in 2 QB leagues. If only for pride, the Chargers should be able to take care of business at home against Miami, a team that can’t get much right at all.
The flipside of that same coin, or game, if you will, is Ryan Tannehill. Up against one of the worst passing defenses in the league last week, he only managed 236 yds and 1 TD. Keep him on your bench if you have any hopes of playing in week 16.
Danny Woodhead is a sneaky flex start this week, based on the terrible Miami rushing defense. Woodhead should be able to gain at least 100 yards from scrimmage and will find the end zone against a bad Dolphins defense.
Shaun Draughn is a guy who keeps finding himself high up in the ECR (expert consensus rankings), but doesn’t produce much at all. In a great matchup last week in Cleveland, he had a measly 43 rush yards. Keep him on the bench this week against the Bengals.
My numbers say that you should start a guy like Travis Benjamin this week as a low-end WR3, but I’m just going to remind everyone that that game will have Manziel facing the Seahawks defense in Seattle. Don’t bother starting any Browns unless you have to. Stick to your guns and the guys who got you there!
Make sure that John Brown finds his way into your lineup. He’s fully healthy again and the Cardinals defense has been one of the most consistent in the league all year. It doesn’t hurt that they play the Eagles this week, the team that gives up the most points to opposing WR’s.
It's playoff time in fantasy football land. Hopefully you've made it this far, and the lucky ones out there are sitting pretty with a bye in the first round. For the rest of us, it's win or go home! Make sure you also check out our waiver pickups and our week 13 injury wrap-up.
If you're in a two QB league, Kirk Cousins is a streaming/bench option that might be worth checking out this week. He does travel to Chicago, but the Bears have been weak this year and DeSean Jackson is demanding the ball and should put up a big game.
Matt Stafford is just what the Rams defense needs to get back on the right track. Keep Stafford on your bench in two QB leagues, as he's struggled all year long and goes back on the road after he couldn't keep up the magic from Thanksgiving.
Ryan Mathews is expected back this week, and after seeing DeMarco Murray get only 8 carries last week, Mathews is a guy that could reach RB2 numbers this week. Keep an eye on the injury report later in the week and throw Mathews into your flex if you need a fill in.
Keep an eye on C.J. Anderson's injury status, but even if he goes, I'd recommend sitting him. Anderson has been inconsistent, and the Broncos are not afraid to just lean on one of the guys on any given week. This week, that guy is more likely to be Ronnie Hillman.
Tavon Austin is a decent flex play this week, as the Rams get a chance to get healthy against the Lions. Austin is a gadgety guy, and that's exactly what can spark the Rams offense. I predict that Austin will have two TD's this week.
Golden Tate is a guy who people may still be holding on to hope for, but this week he's our #48 WR. Keep him on your bench - the Lions are who we thought they were.
Week 13 injuries were mostly minor or to bench and depth players, so it looks like most teams should remain at their current strength going into the playoffs. Good luck this week and make sure to check out our waiver pickups going into the playoffs.
Matt Schaub stayed in the game week 13, but suffered a shoulder injury and stayed in the game in the fourth quarter. Tuesday, Coach Harbaugh reiterated the fact that Schaub is the starter. Expect Schaub to start this week against the Seahawks and have basically zero fantasy relevance.
Matt Hasselbeck described his injury as his head getting compressed into his neck. Ouch. He was iffy yesterday, but Coach Pagano said he expects Hasselbeck to be on the practice field Wednesday. If he doesn't go, look for Charlie Whitehurst to start. Either way, both guys will only have slightly more value than Matt Schaub.
LeSean McCoy left the game in week 13 and returned later on in the game. I fully expect him to keep rolling next week. McCoy has had at least 100 yards from scrimmage in the last six games, and this week he gets to face off against his old team with all systems go.
Travis Benjamin exited the game early this week with only two targets and no receptions. It sounds like he'll be back next week and though he is rather volatile, his high upside makes him worth a start against the 49ers.
C.J. Anderson exited the game in the second quarter and it's reported that his ankle was still very sore on Monday. Anderson has been in a troublesome timeshare with Ronnie Hillman this year, so if he's out, Hillman does get a decent bump in the rankings.
Dontrelle Inman left the game on a stretcher and is reported to be day-to-day. It's nice that most of the guys who have left the field in that fashion this year haven't had anything major happen to them. Inman's status for week 14 is pretty up in the air, and the matchup against the Chiefs isn't a good one anyways.
Crockett Gillmore left in the first quarter with a back injury. We won't know more about him until Wednesday, but Baltimore's TE group is comically thin right now, so they really need him if he can go.
Martellus Bennett was placed on the IR on Tuesday with some rib problems that clearly won't heal up this year. Zach Miller is going to fill the role and will be a streaming option through the rest of the season.
The final week of the regular season has arrived and it’s do or die time, unless, of course, you’ve already clinched your spot, in which case, congrats! For the rest of us, we still need to win to get into the playoffs. This late in the year, rookies will play a huge role, so make sure to check out our Weekly Rookie Report.
Derek Carr is a good start this week, facing the Chiefs in Oakland. Crabtree and Cooper have been very good this year and should continue to help Derek Carr to top 10 QB numbers.
Matt Stafford is a good sit tonight. He faces the Packers, and even when he beat them earlier in the year, he only put up a little over 16 points in a standard league.
Matt Jones has a good matchup this weekend when the Cowboys are in town. If you need a flex starter, look for Jones to do well as the Redskins seem to always play well at home, and Dallas is falling apart.
Shaun Draughn might seem like an ok start this week, but the numbers really aren’t there to support it yet. He might be start-worthy later in the season, but leave him on the bench for this week’s game in Chicago.
James Jones should return to the scoring column again this week, as there will be no focus on him by the Detroit defense. He’s still the second best WR on the team, and Rodgers knows he needs to rely on familiarity to break the Packers out of this slump.
Brandon LaFell can remain on your bench this week, with Amendola coming back. Even without Gronk in the lineup, I don’t see LaFell taking on a properly large role – it would have happened by now if it was going to.