Fantasy Football 2014: Thoughts on Pierre Garcon, Giovani Bernard and Defenses

Now is not the time for you to have a fantasy football brain cramp.

This is probably the final week of your regular season or the first week of your playoffs, depending on how your league works. Making the right waiver-wire pickup and selecting the correct lineup could lead you to prize money, league titles and an offseason of making your friends and fellow fantasy owners feel smaller than your average kicker.

So here are some fantasy thoughts on Washington’s Pierre Garcon, Cincinnati’s running back situation and a couple of defenses that could help vault you into the playoffs and to a championship in your league.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III was not doing Garcon (or anyone) any favors while he was quarterbacking this year. Garcon had seven receptions for 55 yards over RG3’s last three starts. Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown can bang out those numbers in an average half.

So many fantasy owners probably thought that Garcon’s production would take a turn for the better with Colt McCoy back at the helm of the offense. But even though McCoy racked up 392 passing yards against the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday, Garcon only managed three catches for nine measly yards.

But do not throw in the towel on Garcon just yet, especially if you are in serious need for a receiver in the next week or two. Garcon was targeted nine times against Indianapolis, so it was not like McCoy ignored him.

And with DeSean Jackson limping around and his status for this week’s game up in the air, Garcon could be targeted even more. Washington faces the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants the next two weeks, and their pass defenses are ranked 21st and 19th, respectively.

Garcon is likely available in many fantasy leagues thanks to his recent vanishing act (64 yards over last four contests) and could be a decent last-ditch receiver if you are desperate.

Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Just when Hill was firmly entrenched as Cincinnati’s semi-starter at running back, splitting time and touches with Bernard over the past two games, Hill pulled a Terrell Owens and opened his mouth a little too wide.

Hill was critical of how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to slide an eighth defender into the box last week, and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson was none too happy about it. Jackson told Hill in so many words to be quiet and break tackles during his Monday press conference, according to ESPN's Coley Harvey.

Could Hill’s outspokenness cost him a couple carries this weekend? Could this mean Bernard takes some more touches and turns back into the fantasy wunderkind he was early in the season while Hill was still learning the offense?

Cincinnati plays the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, and Bernard scored three touchdowns in two games against them last season, although he was held in check yardage-wise (111 total yards). While it might be tough sledding for Bernard since it is a crucial cold-weather division game, Hill might have opened the door for Bernard to have some more playing time.

Last week Hill had six more touches than Bernard had. Something tells me that is not happening this week unless Hill runs over defenders like a striped tank in the first quarter and gets back into Jackson’s good graces.

Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs Defenses

Anyone in your league have the Minnesota defense on his or her roster? If not, scoop them up faster than the Philadelphia Eagles scoop up fumbles and return them for touchdowns.

While Minnesota has gotten more attention because of the Adrian Peterson soap opera, Teddy Bridgewater’s rookie campaign and Cordarrelle Patterson’s sophomore slump, the Vikings defense has been overshadowed and underappreciated.

Minnesota’s defense is ranked 10th in the NFL and is fourth in the league in sacks thanks to head coach Mike Zimmer and his staff, and last week Minnesota’s special teams blocked two punts and returned them for touchdowns against the careless Carolina Panthers.

Minnesota hosts the hapless New York Jets this weekend. Yes, the team that is so afraid of their quarterback turning the ball over that they called 49 running plays compared to only 15 passing plays in their last outing. And in each of the past two games their punter has had a punt blocked.

If you are into fantasy football arithmetic, here is an equation you will understand. The Minnesota defense/special teams plus chilly Minnesota temperatures plus turnover-prone Geno Smith plus a shaky punter equals fantasy gold for whomever has the Vikings defense in their lineup this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense is another unit to pick up if you need a D during these final weeks. Kansas City draws Drew Stanton, Marion Grice, a gimpy Larry Fitzgerald and an Arizona Cardinals offense that is running on fumes this Sunday.

Then next week KC has a home game against the Oakland Raiders where you can pencil in five sacks, multiple turnovers and 10 points or less allowed versus Derek Carr and Co. The Chiefs will be looking to avenge their embarrassing Week 12 loss to the Raiders with more vengeance than Charles Bronson after the bad guys had kidnapped his family.