A long journey ends this week.
Week 14 brings with it the culmination of the fantasy football regular season. In fact, many leagues kick off their postseason tournaments this week. A few others are already underway.
If you’re bothering to read this article, then odds are you’ve either already qualified for the postseason or you’re playing for a seat at the table this week. It’s either that, you take the role of spoiler very seriously or you just really like reading my work.
If it’s the first thing, then congratulations on a well-played season. If it’s the second, I can respect that. Misery loves company. Take as many with you as you can. Rambo Rambo Lombardi Patton something.
And if it’s the third thing, Hi Mom! What do you want for Christmas?
Kidding aside, at this time of year the margin for error in IDP leagues is non-existent. Every matchup from here out is a knockdown-drag out with good squads. There won’t be any easier W’s in 2016. Not if you want to lift up your league’s trophy at season’s end and Lord it over your league mates for the next six months.
Let’s face it – we all want that. Prize money is good too.
Victory at this point requires vigilance. Knowledge of which players are smoking hot or ice cold. Awareness of who’s banged up heading into Week 14. Understanding of which Individual Defensive Players have the best (and worst) matchups upcoming.
And luck. Lots of luck.
That last one I can’t help you with. But the rest just so happens to be what IDP Nation is here for.
So let’s get after it.
WEEK 13 IDP BEASTS
Danielle Hunter – DE, Minnesota Vikings: There hasn’t been a more productive IDP on the defensive line on a per-snap basis this year than Hunter, who bucked a bad matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13 to the tune of six total tackles and two sacks.
Vontaze Burfict – OLB, Cincinnati Bengals: Burfict’s rampage across IDP leagues continued into December against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Burfict once again posted huge tackle numbers (15 total, 10 solo) and chipped in a pair of interceptions.
Eric Berry – S, Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL): Berry single-handedly exposed a loophole in many IDP scoring systems when he returned a two-point conversion attempt the distance for a pair of points the other way. FWIW, I think that should count the same as a defensive TD – but that’s just me.
WEEK 13 IDP LEASTS
Ndamukong Suh – DT, Miami Dolphins: Suh has quietly had one of the best seasons of his career for the Dolphins in 2016. Unfortunately for IDP owners, all Suh was against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13 was quiet. Just two assists in the blowout loss.
C.J. Mosley – ILB, Baltimore Ravens: If Suh’s IDP owners were disappointed in Week 13 than Mosley’s were apoplectic. It’s one thing to get that stat line from a defensive tackle – getting one solo and two assists from a starter at linebacker will get you beat with the speed and quickness.
Johnathan Cyprien – S, Jacksonville Jaguars: For most of the season, Cyprien has been among the league leaders among defensive backs in total tackles. Against the Denver Broncos in Week 13, that wasn’t the case – a season-killing two solo stops was all he put up.
WEEK 14 IDP INJURY REPORT
Kiko Alonso – ILB, Miami Dolphins (Thumb): Alonso’s promising 2016 hit a snag Sunday when he broke his thumb against the Baltimore Ravens. Alonso has already undergone surgery to repair the injury, and his Week 14 status has yet to be determined.
Jatavis Brown – ILB, San Diego Chargers (Knee): When Brown went down, the rookie was supposed to miss a week or two. That was over a month ago, and Brown has yet to even practice. The Toomer train rolls on for the time being.
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans (Foot): Casey had the bye week to get his injured foot right. But the veteran end missed practice Monday, casting doubt over Casey’s status for this week’s tilt with the Denver Broncos.
Jadeveon Clowney – DE, Houston Texans (Elbow): After his missed the loss to Green Bay head coach Bill O’Brien would commit to Clowney playing against the Colts in Week 13. However, the reeling Texans are beyond desperate to stop their skid, so I’m guessing they’ll push him to get back out there.
Kurt Coleman – S, Carolina Panthers (Concussion): Coleman missed last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol. At this point IDP owners can’t count on him being cleared for Week 14.
Clayton Geathers – S, Indianapolis Colts (Neck): It looked like Geathers would return to action last week – right up until it was revealed that in addition to a concussion Geathers also has a neck injury. His Week 14 status is unclear.
William Gholston – DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Ankle): Gholston was spotted on crutches and in a walking boot after last Sunday’s win over the San Diego Chargers. He hasn’t been ruled out for Week 14, but it isn’t looking especially good.
D’Qwell Jackson – ILB, Indianapolis Colts (SUSPENSION): Jackson got hit with a double-whammy. In addition to sustaining a concussion in Monday night’s win, Jackson learned on Tuesday he’s suspended four weeks for violating the NFL’s PED policy.
Karl Joseph – S, Oakland Raiders (Foot): With Joseph in a walking boot on Monday and the Raiders playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, the rookie’s chances of playing in Week 14 aren’t looking especially good.
Luke Kuechly – ILB, Carolina Panthers (Concussion): Kuechly will be evaluated again Wednesday after missing his second straight game with a concussion. The Panthers have offered no indication he’ll be shut down for the year, but the rumbles are growing in that regard.
Brandon Marshall – ILB, Denver Broncos (Hamstring): Marshall has been battling a hamstring issue for some time, and after aggravating the injury in last week’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Marshall will probably miss this week’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
Clay Matthews – OLB, Green Bay Packers (Shoulder): Indications from Titletown are that Matthews Week 13 will be the blueprint moving forward – Matthews will try to play through his nagging shoulder injury, but his snaps are going to be limited.
Yannick Ngakoue – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (Ankle): The rookie pass-rusher left Sunday’s loss to the Broncos early and did not return. Unless he practices in full by Friday Ngakoue will be awfully hard to trust in a must-win game.
Jason Pierre-Paul – DE, New York Giants (Groin): Pierre-Paul met with a specialist regarding his groin Tuesday. It’s not yet known how long Pierre-Paul will be sidelined, but fantasy owners need a Plan B for this week at the very least.
Robert Quinn – DE, Los Angeles Rams (Concussion): Quinn’s disastrous 2016 season continued last week against the Patriots, with Quinn watching from the sidelines with a concussion. He remains in the NFL’s protocol as of this writing.
Harrison Smith – S, Minnesota Vikings (Ankle): Smith gutted out last Thursday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but he was spotted on crutches after the game and has yet to practice this week. Add that up and the result ain’t good.
Earl Thomas – S, Seattle Seahawks (Leg – IR): Thomas is reportedly contemplating retirement after breaking his leg against the Carolina Panthers. His future beyond this year is cloudy, but 2016 is clear – he’s through for this season.
Tahir Whitehead – ILB, Detroit Lions (Knee): Whitehead missed Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints, and while Josh Bynes played very well in his stead the Detroit coaching staff insisted that Whitehead’s role as the starter when healthy is not in jeopardy.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Nick Kwiatkoski – ILB, Chicago Bears
Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times hailed Kwiatkoski’s performance in last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. “His instincts and tackling were evident in the red zone,” he wrote. “Kwiatkoski, who played all 58 defensive snaps, was the only inside linebacker in a successful package that featured a five-man front and five defensive backs. As far as his best attribute, Kwiatkoski has the pop that Shea McClellin lacked, whether it’s rushing the passer, taking on blockers or tackling.”
Kwiatkoski isn’t a world-beating talent. And the Lions aren’t an especially good fantasy matchup for linebackers (27th in fantasy points allowed). But the simple fact is someone is going to have to make stops for the Bears Sunday – a game where their defense is going to be out there more than 58 snaps.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 14
Geno Atkins – DT, Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE): Atkins’ numbers have been down a bit, but a porous Browns’ O-line and center/matador Cameron Erving should fix all that ails them. No team has allowed more fantasy points per game to DL this season than the Clowns.
Stephon Tuitt – DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (at BUF): Tuitt hasn’t logged a sack since Week 11. In fact, he hasn’t logged a solo tackle since Week 11. This week’s juicy fantasy matchup with the Bills presents an excellent chance for ending that slump.
Cameron Wake – DE, Miami Dolphins (vs. AZ): Wake’s hot streak came to an end last week against the Ravens, but the veteran end should start another one against a Redbirds team giving up the most fantasy points per game to defensive linemen in the NFC.
Dont’a Hightower – ILB, New England Patriots (vs. BAL): Hightower hasn’t been a prolific a tackler since the Pats traded Jamie Collins as some had hoped, but only the Colts have given up more fantasy points to linebackers in 2016.
Edwin Jackson – DE, Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU): With D’Qwell Jackson in league-mandated time out the door is wide open for the other Jackson in Indy to become a viable IDP starter – starting in this week’s battle for first place in the AFC South.
Bernardrick McKinney – ILB, Houston Texans (at IND): McKinney’s IDP owners who survived last week’s down numbers last week in a bad matchup will reap the rewards this week of the league’s best fantasy matchup for linebackers.
Isa Abdul-Quddus – S, Miami Dolphins (vs. AZ): As if a matchup with a Cardinals team allowing the most fantasy points in the secondary wasn’t good enough, Abdul-Quddus gets an IDP bonus of sorts this week in the form of injuries in front of him at linebacker.
Bradley McDougald – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NO): McDougald owners get an early Christmas present in Week 14 – the first of two matchups in three weeks against the DB-friendly and pass-happy New Orleans Saints.
Andrew Sendejo – S, Minnesota Vikings (at JAX): The Vikings’ backs are against the wall, the Jaguars are third in fantasy points allowed in the secondary, and Harrison Smith looks likely to sit this one out. That adds up to a big game for Sendejo.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 14
Danielle Hunter – DE, Minnesota Vikings (at JAX): Hunter made me look ridiculous for slotting him in this space a week ago. And maybe he’ll buck another bad matchup and post another fat score. But that doesn’t make the matchup any less lousy.
DeMarcus Lawrence – DE, Dallas Cowboys (at NYG): I’ve just about given up on trying to convince myself that Lawrence is going to get hot down the stretch this year. The chips are certainly stacked against his doing it Sunday night.
Olivier Vernon – DE, New York Giants (vs. DAL): No player in the NFL has more sacks over the past five games than Vernon’s seven. But the Cowboys line is as good as any in the NFL, and with JPP on the shelf the Cowboys can key on his batterymate.
Kiko Alonso – ILB, Miami Dolphins (vs. AZ): Alonso’s been solid this year, but even if he gives it a go this week with a club of some sort or what have you it’s apt to affect his ability to tackle in a bad fantasy matchup with the Cardinals.
Preston Brown – ILB, Buffalo Bills (vs. PIT): You probably aren’t sitting either Bills ILB in Week 14 – not with them playing at home. But no team in the AFC has allowed fewer fantasy points to linebackers through 13 weeks than the Steelers.
Bobby Wagner – ILB, Seattle Seahawks (at GB): Sitting a player who leads the NFL in tackles by a double-digit margin may sound nuts. But at the very least temper expectations – the Packers have not been kind to linebackers this season.
Harold Jones-Quartey – S, Chicago Bears (at DET): Jones-Quartey had a big game last week for the injury-ravaged Bears. Asking him to do that two straight weeks feels like begging for trouble – especially in an NFC-worst IDP matchup with the Lions.
Eric Weddle – S, Baltimore Ravens (at NE): Weddle’s a great player with an even better beard, but the Patriots are the worst matchup in the NFL for defensive backs in 2016. The Golden Boy just doesn’t make mistakes with the football.
Shawn Williams – S, Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE): I’m about to tell you something shocking. You may want to sit down. Are you sitting down yet? OK, good – here goes. The Cleveland passing game is a fantasy value-sapping dumpster fire bucket of suck. I know – you’re stunned.
THE SCRAP-HEAP STREAMING CORNERBACK PLAY OF THE WEEK
In recent years the number of dependable weekly fantasy starters at the cornerback position has dwindled to just about zero. So as a service to those hearty souls who play in IDP leagues that require them, each week I’ll point out a player at that position available in many leagues who should serve as a fine streaming option.
Tony Lippett, Miami Dolphins (vs. AZ): Lippett in Week 14 is a fine microcosm for everything you want in a streaming CB play. A player who can tackle who is just competent enough in coverage to keep his job heading into a favorable fantasy matchup. Batterymate Byron Maxwell may actually be a safer IDP play, in that he plays every snap and if the ‘Fins attempt to shadow Larry Fitz the league’s most overpaid cornerback would probably be the guy. But my gut says the upside is with the Incredible Mr. Lippett – double extra bonus points if that pop culture reference made any sense to you.
