Fantasy Football Weekly Words: Week 14

Playoff pictures are developing in the NFL, and the same can be said for fantasy football purposes, too.

As we begin to put week 14 behind us and look ahead to week 15, leagues are either wrapping up their regular season or moving onto the second round of their playoffs. Either way the road to the championship is taking shape.

However, before the Bruno Boys bring you that astounding advice that's positioned you for fantasy glory, we hit you with our insight on week 14 with our Week 14 Weekly Words. 

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Lesser Names Pay Big Dividends

It seems more often than not when we reach this part of the fantasy football season, guys not even drafted are the ones making the difference. Week 14 definitely saw that to be the case.

While Brian Westbrook topped all scorers with 32 points, other big names, due to match-ups (Tony Romo and Terrell Owens) or just sub-par outings (Adrian Peterson and Randy Moss) didn’t quite deliver; that opened the door for some lesser talents to shine and move their fantasy teams along in the playoffs.

Leading the overachievers was Seneca Wallace, who played a vital part during this crucial time in fantasy by amassing 22 fantasy points and helping two Seattle pass catchers, Deion Branch (20) and John Carlson (12), reach double digits. But Wallace wasn’t alone.

Pierre Thomas was able again to avoid a crash back to Earth even with Reggie Bush in the line-up, totaling 102 rushing yards and two total TDs against the Atlanta Falcons.

Shaun Hill continued his impressive run for the 49ers with a 17-point fantasy effort, while San Diego Chargers' running back Darren Sproles, thanks to 2 receiving TDs, torched the Raiders for a better fantasy total than stud teammate, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Finally, thanks to the absence of Marion Barber, Cowboys’ back up, Tashard Choice, played an integral part in the Cowboys game plan and fantasy teams’ championship runs by running for 88 yards and catching 5 passes for 78 more yards.

It just goes to show you that while your studs got you to the playoffs and will hopefully keep you competitive during your playoff run, the guy that gets you over the top and that championship hardware may very well be that last-minute plug in to your flex position, so be diligent and keep doing your fantasy homework.

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The Goose Egg is Alive

Heading into week 14, sitting at 0 and 12, the Detroit Lions’ opportunity for the dubious distinction of a 0 and 16 season remained intact. Though, with Gus Frerotte exiting the Minnesota Vikings-Detroit Lions game due to a back injury, it appeared the football gods were smiling upon the Lions.

With Frerotte out, the game fell on back up Tarvaris Jackson’s shoulders. As fantasy owners and football fans alike will tell you, Jackson just isn’t that good. However, this week he was good enough, completing 8 of 10 passes for 105 yards and a score with no interceptions to lead the Vikings to a 20-16 victory and dropping the Lions to 0 and 13.

The pill that’s going to be difficult to swallow for the Lions is the fact that they left six points on the field by going for it on fourth down on two different situations in the second quarter while in field goal range.

Match-ups with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers may add even more importance to those two missed opportunities as the Lions will be the underdogs in all three match-ups, meaning, if everything plays out as it should, a 0-16 end to their 2008 season.

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A Haunting Quarter

Miss the playoffs and there are always those moments you look back on and think, “if only!” Sunday’s fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of those moments for the Dallas Cowboys, who now find themselves on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture with just three games left to play.

Dallas, who had done a solid job for three quarters of play in what promised to be a difficult game on the road against one of the best defenses in the league, let it all slip away by giving up 17 points while failing to score any of their own in the fourth quarter.

The winning touchdown, a 25 yard interception return by DeShea Townsend, capped a disappointing day for Tony Romo, not only for the Cowboys, but also his fantasy owners as it was one of three interceptions for the Cowboys’ QB.

With games left against the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles, this is one the Cowboys are deeply going to regret not finishing.

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Exciting End for AFC East

If your relying on the likes of Thomas Jones, Matt Cassel, Ronnie Brown, or anyone else from the New York Jets, New England Patriots, or Miami Dolphins, don’t be worried about them missing time in the final weeks of the season to rest up for the playoffs.

With all three teams tied at 8-5 for the division lead, thanks to a stunning comeback by the Patriots against the Seahawks in week 14 and a disappointing loss out west for the Jets against the 49ers, you can bet all three will be going full strength for their remaining three games.  Rest will come only when the season is over.

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