Daily Fantasy Football Week 14: Predicting DraftKings DFS Studs and Duds

As we emerge into the final weeks of the 2015 NFL season, Week 14 of daily fantasy football is arguably the most important week to make the right picks. For the third week in a row, there aren’t any teams on bye, which means there are plenty of hot commodities to choose from in daily fantasy.

The old saying “age before beauty” is incredibly relevant this week. For Week 14, it’s best to choose the more experienced veterans rather than upstart prospects.

Here are a few of the top picks at every position for Week 14 of daily fantasy football.

Defense/Special Teams

Chris Keane/Associated Press

The Green Bay Packers defense has been inconsistent for a majority of the 2015 season but will face a Dallas Cowboys offense that has struggled in the absence of quarterback Tony Romo. Matt Cassel will start in place of Romo on Sunday but has had a difficult time against opposing defenses through six appearances.

Cassel has recorded a combined 316 passing yards with just one passing touchdown over his past two games. The 33-year-old will face a Packers defense that ranks seventh in the NFL with 33 sacks so far in 2015. Although Cassel has one of the best offensive lines in football at his disposal, he will more than likely face constant pressure from linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.

The weather could also play a major role in Cassel’s performance on Sunday. The current forecast in Green Bay includes precipitation throughout the game, which could lead the Cowboys to run the ball more than they usually do.

While the Packers defense is a strong play this week, be sure to avoid the Atlanta Falcons defensive unit. The Falcons will play MVP candidate Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers this week, and the team has looked inconsistent recently. It’s best to select the more experienced unit rather than Falcons head coach Dan Quinn’s youthful defense.

Tight End

Chris Keane/Associated Press

Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has been the main target for Newton all season long and faces another ideal matchup on Sunday against the Falcons. The Falcons rank 25th against opposing tight ends this season, which plays directly into Olsen’s favor.

The 30-year-old veteran tight end has been at the top of his game all season long with 917 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2015. He is also on a bit of a hot streak, as he has recorded 333 receiving yards over his last four games played.

Olsen has also been a major vertical threat for Newton over the past few weeks. He recorded an average of 14.9 yards per catch over the past three weeks and has been by far the most utilized receiving option at Carolina’s disposal.

Olsen is a great pick for this week once again, but stay away from Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed on Sunday. Reed will face a Chicago Bears defense that ranks fourth against opposing tight ends this season. It’s best to take the more expensive option in Olsen at $6,900 in Week 14.

Wide Receiver

Frank Victores/Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is back to his normal self after an injury-riddled 2014 season. He has recorded 1,037 receiving yards this season with seven touchdowns. Due to his ability to stay healthy this season, he is back to being quarterback Andy Dalton’s No. 1 receiving target.

Green and the Bengals will face a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that ranks 30th in the NFL against opposing wide receivers. In his previous matchup against the Steelers this season, Green gashed the secondary for 11 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.

The Steelers have struggled against opposing passing attacks in 2015. The team has the fourth-worst pass defense in the NFL, which sets up Green for a favorable matchup.

Don’t take Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper into account when setting your lineups this week. Cooper will face a Denver Broncos defense that has arguably the best secondary in the NFL. Green is the best overall wide receiver pick this week due to his past success against the Steelers.

Running Back

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has cemented himself as the main rushing option for the team. He has recorded 914 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in 2015, his best numbers since the 2009 season.

What has made Stewart especially effective has been his consistency week after week. He has averaged nearly four yards per carry this season and has managed to stay healthy. Though the 28-year-old hasn’t played a full season since 2011, his current promise makes him a strong fantasy option.

Stewart and the Panthers will face a Falcons defense that has struggled mightily against the run this season. Atlanta ranks 29th against opposing running backs in 2015 and has allowed 15 rushing touchdowns in 2015, second-worst in the NFL.

When attempting to figure out who to select as your running back, take the experienced Stewart over rookie back Javorius Allen. Allen and the Ravens will face a Seattle Seahawks defense that ranks first in the league against opposing running backs. Avoid an inexperienced 24-year-old back like Allen in Week 14.

Quarterback

Fred Vuich/Associated Press

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been sensational for the team since taking over for injured starter Andrew Luck. The 40-year-old pocket passer has recorded eight touchdowns and an 89.5 passer rating through just five starts this season.

While Hasselbeck has only averaged 6.8 yards per pass this season, his ability to take care of the football has made him a hot commodity in daily fantasy football.

Hasselbeck and the Colts will face the Jacksonville Jaguars second-to-last-ranked quarterback defense on Sunday. In his previous matchup against the Jaguars this season, Hasselbeck threw for 282 yards and recorded an impressive 87.4 passer rating.

On the contrary, a veteran quarterback to avoid this week is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben and the Steelers will face the fourth-best defense against QBs this season, and Roethlisberger isn’t worth the high risk. It’s best to stick with the more efficient quarterback at the moment in Hasselbeck.

All fantasy values are courtesy of DraftKings. All statistics are from ESPN.com and NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

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Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis