Players to start this week:

QB Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Rookie quarterback Jameis Winston has stepped up his game over the past few weeks, and I don’t expect that to change in week 14. The Buccaneers face the Saints- one of the worst defenses in the NFL- which should create a great matchup for the Bucs’ passing game. This is a Buccaneers team that is slowly inching up to the playoff picture.

RB Thomas Rawls (Seattle Seahawks)

Rookie running back Thomas Rawls has had a great start to his early NFL career this season, filling in for the injured Marshawn Lynch. I don’t expect him to slow up this week, as the Seahawks face the Ravens, who don’t have a strong defense. Rawls will have a good enough game this week to put him in the conversation for Rookie of the Year.

RB Shaun Draughn (San Francisco 49ers)

While the 49ers are not known for having one of the most explosive offenses in the league, running back Shaun Draughn will have a solid game in week 14. Draughn was traded from the Browns to San Francisco in early November, to fill in for the injured Carlos Hyde. The 49ers play against his former team, the Browns, whose defense has played horribly lately. Draughn is also safe to play because he is a good target in PPR leagues, and against this pass defense, he will likely get more receptions than usual.

WR Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Mike Evans has played just as well or better than he did last year, and I don’t expect that to change this week. Evans and the Buccaneers face the Saints, who as I mentioned earlier, have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Saints’ defensive backs will be ultimately outmatched in week 14 trying to cover Evans, who is one of the most dynamic receivers in today’s NFL.

Chiefs’ Defense

While they started off the season 1-5, the Chiefs have started to play some good football, as they are on six game winning-streak. The Chiefs’ defense has played exceptionally well over the win-streak. The most points one of their opponents has scored in a game is 22 points, which is below average for an NFL offense. To add to the reasons to play the Kansas City defense, they face the Chargers, who have possibly the worst offense in the NFL.

Players to sit this week:

QB Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders)

While Derek Carr has proved that he is a QB that is here to stay, this will not be a good week to start him. Carr and the Raiders face the stout defense of the Denver Broncos. The Raiders are on a slump, having lost three of their last four games, and the Broncos’ defense should not help end the slump. Their secondary is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best, so expect a slow week for the Raiders’ passing game.

RB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)

While running back Adrian Peterson has had a great turnaround season this year, this will not be a strong week for him. The Vikings face the Cardinals this week, who have one of the stronger defenses in the NFL. The Cardinals’ run defense will step up in this big game, stopping Peterson from having a good fantasy game.

RB DeAngelo Williams (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Running back DeAngelo Williams has done well filling in for the injured Le’Veon Bell, but this will not be a strong week for him. The Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been one of the best overall teams in the NFL this season, and their defense has been particularly solid. The Bengals will realize that Williams has been dominant in prior games and find a way to stop him.

WR DeAndre Hopkins (Houston Texans)

While wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been a bright spot for this rough Texans season, he will not have a good game in week 14. The Texans face the Patriots, who have a surprisingly good defense. The Pats’ defense will find a way to double-team Hopkins, which should limit his numbers.

Texans’ defense

While the Texans’ defense has improved since the beginning of the season, they will struggle to score many fantasy points this week. The Texans play against the Patriots, who are on a two-game losing streak. With the losing streak, the Patriots will be more angry than ever, as they will not want to potentially give up a first-round bye in the playoffs. There are not many defenses you can go wrong with this week, but the Texans are one of them.

 

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