It all comes down to this. Week 14.
John Laghezza
December 11, 2022 at 12:59 PM EST
20 New Updates
Summary
It all comes down to this. Week 14. Win and get in, win for the byes, win to avoid that "finish last" punishment. Whatever your stakes, they're high. John Laghezza is here to help lead you to victory and make the right choices as we set lineups and even make last-minute adds.
Let's get to it! Drop your questions here and John will pick the best to answer in this live blog.
(Photo: Matt Krohn / USA Today)
Jared Goff or Tyler Huntley?
Q: QB: Jared Goff or Tyler Huntley // RB: Pick 3, Sit 1: D'Onta Foreman, Miles Sanders, Dameon Pierce, Travis Etienne
Goff by a mile over Huntley. He’s at home with a healthy O-line against a very weak Viking D.
As far as the RBs, I’m always prioritizing volume as a leading indicator of a fantasy floor. Foreman and Etienne are a must this week for you. I know everyone has the Texans already losing 72-3, but I would start Pierce over Sanders; he’s the dominating force in the Texans backfield and is seeing route participation hit weekly highs.
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DeMarcus Robinson, DeVante Parker or Nick Westbrook-Ikhine?
Q: I have Demarcus Robinson and DeVante Parker as options but could also pick up one of Houston’s WRs, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or Marvin Jones. -Sam M.
As much as I’ve been cheerleading for Westbrook-Ikhine this morning I think Robinson is the right choice here because he probably has the higher floor, leading the Ravens in targets, receptions and red zone targets with Huntley under center last week.
(Photo: Jessica Rapfogel / USA Today)
Avoid Gabe Davis vs. the Jets
Q: PPR - Pick two: Gabe Davis, D.J. Chark, Travis Homer. -Branden B.
I’m avoiding the Jets at almost any cost right now. Davis has finished outside the top 45 WRs in more than half of the Bills’ games this year and I think it continues at least one more week.
Ezekiel Elliott: Not a good PPR play
Q: Pick three, full PPR: Travis Etienne, James Conner, Ezekiel Elliott and D'Onta Foreman. -Ed S.
Zeke goes to the back of the line in PPR formats. Regardless of the matchup, if he doesn’t run pure on touchdowns it becomes nearly impossible to get a ceiling game from him.
J.K. Dobbins or Jerry Jeudy?
Q: J.K. Dobbins or Jerry Jeudy for a flex role? -William M.
If it’s PPR, go with Jeudy as the top pass-catching option on his team. Dobbins has gotten high-value touches in the red zone when healthy so start him instead in standard leagues.
Start Zonovan Knight with confidence
Q: Start Zonovan Knight, Michael Carter, or Rachaad White? Do I pivot to White if Leonard Fournette is ruled out before Sunday, even against that 49ers defense?
It’s Knight for sure if Fournette does end up playing as reported. The Jets staff was pretty clear about his role as a dual-threat RB and they’ll need him today. The coaches have shown a ton of trust in him already I’m starting Knight at this point with confidence.
(Photo: Matt Krohn / USA Today)
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D.J. Chark, Ryan Tannehill as options today
Q: D.J. Chark vs. Adam Thielen and between Ryan Tannehill, Mike White, or Daniel Jones.
I covered Chark at the start of today’s blog as a great deeper option so I have to stay consistent and roll with him. For QB, give me Tannehill for the matchup which I covered in some detail going over Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
D'Onta Foreman or Samaje Perine?
Q: PPR league: Do I start D'Onta Foreman or Samaje Perine at the flex spot? -Peter M.
Easily Foreman with Joe Mixon back. Anytime the Panthers have a low game total or spread under six points, start him with confidence.
Pick a Seahawks RB: Travis Homer or Tony Jones?
Q: Start Travis Homer, not Tony Jones?
I’m starting Homer if given the choice; he’s more familiar with the offense and has the trust of the coaching staff. Aside from being effective in catching the ball, Homer’s been good in limited opportunities on the ground as well (4.8 yards per carry, 3.3 yards after contact per rush). I don’t think we see 30 touches by any means but you could be doing worse than rolling out a lead back on a favorite at home.
(Photo: Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Corey Davis or Diontae Johnson?
Q: Start Corey Davis or Diontae Johnson? – Noah S.
How has it come to this with Diontae Johnson? Whatever the answer is, I’m starting him over Corey Davis against Buffalo. Our best chance for a Johnson breakout game rests on a squeaky wheel narrative but at least he’s consistently a focal point of the offense.
(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)
Flex option: James Connor or Isiah Pacheco?
Q: James Connor or Pacheco for my flex. Half-point PPR. Thanks. – Greg R.
Connor is coming off a bye and presumably healthy, ready to take on one of fantasy football’s premiere usage profiles. For perspective, since Week 10, Connor literally has 10x the total touches of the next RB on ARI and he’s the only back to see a snap in goal-to-go situations.
(Photo: Joe Rondone / USA Today)
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Is David Njoku still worth starting?
Q: Njoku... Reliable start coming back from injury and given his QB situation? – R P.
Considering the current landscape of the Tight End position, absolutely.
(Photo: Ken Blaze / USA Today)
Desperation at RB
Q: Need one of Chuba Hubbard, Gus Edwards, or Samaje Perine for this week. Non-PPR. -Mike B.
My goodness, why?
If those are the only choices it’s Edwards and Perine for exposure to the best offenses but I’d work the wire. I’d rather have Travis Homer in there.
Super Flex option: Justin Fields or Kirk Cousins?
Q: Super flex. Have Burrows and Cousins. Not allowed to have three QBs. Fields have just been cut. Playoffs are weeks 16 and 17. Schedule favors Cousins in weeks 15 and 16 and Fields in week 17. Do I pick up Fields? – Brian H.
You have to roster Fields over Cousins in the case you have a stud like Burrows, even if it’s to block your opponents from Fields’ week-winning potential.
(Photo: Matt Marton / USA Today)
J.K. Dobbins or Jerick McKinnon?
Q: I have been stashing Dobbins who came off IR Saturday. I have one RB on bye… - do I start Jerick McKinnon or Dobbins? – Michael S.
Providing it’s a PPR league I’d go with McKinnon. Pacheco is yet to establish himself as a true threat in the passing game and I expect the Chiefs to roll with their vet for the majority of snaps in a tough test today vs SF.
(Photo: Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)
Pick one: Travis Etienne, Isiah Pacheco or Najee Harris?
Q: Standard scoring: pick one of Etienne, Pacheco or Najee? —Michael W.
Simmons being out for TEN is a huge boost for Etienne, and I think that game has a good chance to shoot out. He has the best balance of ceiling, floor and TD equity since the Chiefs play SF, and J.Warren is back for PIT.
(Photo: Lon Horwedel / USA Today)
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Pick Two: Gabe Davis, Tyler Boyd, Travis Homer or Corey Davis?
Q: Pick 2--PPR: Gabe Davis, Boyd, Homer, Corey Davis? – Mike C.
Even though I’ve been avoiding the Jets D like the plague, my gut said Gabe Davis and Travis Homer. However the projections disagreed, having T.Boyd (10.0) over Davis (8.4). It’s a matchup-based decision for sure; CLE has allowed 8 Rec/Gm to the Slot Last six games so that’s my guess as to what projections are seeing.
Final answer: If I’m already behind or a huge underdog I’d go with Gabe Davis over Boyd + Homer since Chase is back for CIN.
(Photo: David Reginek / USA Today)
Saquon Barkley is a go today
Sounds like the Giants running back will play against the Eagles after entering Sunday with a questionable designation:
Kyler Murray or Geno Smith?
Q: Kyler or Geno? – Mike C.
Geno’s good don’t get me wrong but I’m not in love with the matchup today. The Panther D has been good enough to keep them in games, which says a lot given the talent on offense.
Kyler is off the bye and finally has his full complement of weapons. As good as the Patriot D has been at times, they have really struggled with running QBs. NE plays a lot of man D, which sometimes forces defenders to turn their back to the Quarterback, opening running lanes.
(Photo: Michael Chow / USA Today)
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