Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More
Week 13 was good to fantasy football owners who leaned heavily on sleepers and matchups to win encounters near the end of the season, with the same likely true for Week 14.
In Week 13, a little-owned quarterback such as Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens (24.7 percent owned) erupted for 29 points. So did Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, one of the best matchup plays available.
Similar options exist in Week 14 for owners in need. It's fantasy crunch time and no teams have byes, so welcome to the late-season grind.
Here is a look at matchup value comparisons alongside matchups and sleepers to know.
Quarterback
| Carson Palmer (at MIA) vs. Andy Dalton (at CLE) | Andy Dalton |
| Joe Flacco (at NE) vs. Ben Roethlisberger (at BUF) | Ben Roethlisberger |
| Derek Carr (at KC) vs. Aaron Rodgers (vs. SEA) | Derek Carr |
| Russell Wilson (at GB) vs. Matt Ryan (at LA) | Matt Ryan |
| Tom Brady (vs. BAL) vs. Cam Newton (vs. SD) | Tom Brady |
Matchup to Know: Andy Dalton, CIN (at CLE)
Relying on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton at this point of the season probably seems like a scary proposition.
Fair enough, as Dalton has only four outings at 20 or more points this year. At the same time, though, it's important to keep in mind one of those outings happened in Week 13, as Dalton threw for 332 yards and two scores for 21 points.
Now Dalton gets to encounter the Cleveland Browns, which speaks for itself. Cleveland ranks among the worst teams against quarterbacks this year, which meshes well with the fact Dalton scored 20 points against the unit back in Week 7.
Call it a floor for Dalton in Week 14, provided the weather holds up. He posted 21 last week without A.J. Green, so another strong outing seems a given.
Notable Sleeper: Matt Barkley, CHI (at DET)
It isn't easy to find relative deep sleepers at quarterback because the position streams so well, but those who need to pull an unexpected name out of a hat should look at Matt Barkley of the Chicago Bears.
Barkley downright shines in great matchups, hence his 20 points against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12 via three touchdown passes. He'd boast a similar line in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers if it weren't for a crazy snowstorm.
Week 14 looks just as lucrative, as Barkley goes into an NFC North battle with the Detroit Lions. Those Lions entered Week 13 permitting the fifth-most points to quarterbacks on average.
Barkley, having erupted as a proven fantasy commodity, is a sleeper in a great situation.
Running Back
| David Johnson (at MIA) vs. Le'Veon Bell (at BUF) | David Johnson |
| Jordan Howard (at DET) vs. Devonta Freeman (at LA) | Jordan Howard |
| Thomas Rawls (at GB) vs. LeSean McCoy (vs. PIT) | Thomas Rawls |
| Melvin Gordon (at CAR) vs. Ezekiel Elliott (at NYG) | Ezekiel Elliott |
| Doug Martin (vs. NO) vs. Carlos Hyde (vs. NYJ) | Doug Martin |
Matchup to Know: Matt Forte, NYJ (vs. SF)
Veteran running back Matt Forte has continued to be a fantasy force with the New York Jets this year.
Detractors will point out his four-point performance in Week 12, but keep in mind his usage remains pristine—going into Week 13, he had received 13 or more carries in four of his last five games, with three of those at 20 or more.
Next for Forte is a game against the 49ers, the team that entered Week 13 allowing the most points to backs on average before coughing up 29 to Chicago's Jordan Howard.
Look for Forte to flirt with matching his former team's starter.
Notable Sleeper: Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs. CIN)
On the other side of the Bengals-Browns matchup, owners will want to pay close attention to Cleveland's Isaiah Crowell.
Browns players aren't the most attractive choices this time of year, which Crowell helps reinforce a bit thanks to four consecutive games with single-digit production.
In a gritty, run-first rivalry, though, Crowell usually shines. He rushed 12 times for 63 yards and a score, good for 13 points, against the Bengals in Week 7.
Those Bengals happened to enter Week 13 allowing the 12th-most points to backs on average, meaning Crowell is a sleeper thanks to a great matchup.
Wide Receiver
| Jordy Nelson (vs. SEA) vs. Amari Cooper (at KC) | Amari Cooper |
| Golden Tate (CHI) vs. Dez Bryant (at NYG) | Golden Tate |
| Antonio Brown (at BUF) vs. DeAndre Hopkins (at IND) | Antonio Brown |
| Julian Edelman (vs. BAL) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (at MIA) | Larry Fitzgerald |
| Brandin Cooks (at TB) vs. Doug Baldwin (at GB) | Brandin Cooks |
Matchup to Know: Amari Cooper, OAK (at KC)
Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper got back into owners' good graces in Week 13, scoring a touchdown and 11 points, making it twice he's scored and hit 11 points over his last three outings (the middle was a two-point affair).
Just in time, too, because Cooper gets to turn around and face the weak Kansas City Chiefs defense, at least from a fantasy perspective against wideouts—the Chiefs hit Week 13 surrendering the second-most points to the position on average.
Even better, Cooper has proof he can hit up the Chiefs for good production. Back in Week 6, he caught 10 passes for 129 yards and 12 points.
If Cooper can combine that with his recent touchdown-happy ways, he might post the best line of the week.
Notable Sleeper: Kenny Britt, LA (vs. ATL)
Like the Browns, picking a member of the Los Angeles Rams not named Todd Gurley this time of year is scary.
Owners, though, should show faith in the 60.1 percent owned Kenny Britt. The veteran has come alive with rookie Jared Goff under center, scoring 11 and 12 points over his past two outings with a touchdown in each.
Britt next gets to take on the struggling Atlanta Falcons secondary, which entered Week 13 ranked among the 12 worst units against fantasy wideouts on average.
These factors, paired with Britt playing at home, make him one of the week's top sleepers.
Tight End
| Travis Kelce (vs. OAK) vs. Jimmy Graham (at GB) | Travis Kelce |
| Dennis Pitta (at NE) vs. Cameron Brate (vs. NO) | Cameron Brate |
| Tyler Eifert (at CLE) vs. Kyle Rudolph (at JAC) | Tyler Eifert |
| Eric Ebron (vs. CHI) vs. Lance Kendricks (vs. ATL) | Eric Ebron |
| Coby Fleener (at TB) vs. Zach Ertz (vs. WAS) | Coby Fleener |
Matchup to Know: Antonio Gates, SD (at CAR)
For a future Hall of Famer, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has let owners down lately, having scored three total points over his last two outings.
The light at the end of the tunnel, though, is his Week 14 encounter with the Carolina Panthers.
One could describe how the Panthers are one of the defenses allowing the most points to tight ends this year, but just digest this—at a position of inconsistency, the Panthers have allowed touchdowns to tight ends in three consecutive weeks.
Owners can expect Gates to come up huge when it matters.
Notable Sleeper: Cameron Brate, TB (vs. NO)
Despite four touchdowns over his past six games, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate only has a 50.6 ownership percentage.
Regardless, Brate looks like one of the best sleepers of the week yet again. After catching six passes for 86 yards and a score last week, good for 14 points, Brate enters what should be a shootout with the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans struggles at all levels of defense, with the unit entering Week 13 allowing the 11th-most points to tight ends on average.
Brate will merely be the latest to take advantage.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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