Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Ricky Williams and Benchwarmers Worth Starting

For most of us, the fantasy football playoffs have arrived. 

I would say that it's time to get serious, but if you're in the playoffs I'm guessing you've taken things seriously all year. Either that or you just got really, really lucky.

Unfortunately, luck has a way of running out when you get to the fantasy playoffs. You just can't trust it. To steal a line from The Dark Knight, you have to make your own luck.

Making your own luck is pretty simple. All you have to do is avoid doing dumb things with your lineup. In the meantime, your luck will increase greatly if you do a few smart things with your lineup.

Here's a hint: You might want to consider starting one of the 10 players listed in this slideshow. They're typically found on the bench, but all of them are safe starts in Week 14.

Note: Please be aware that we're not talking about players who warm the bench in real life. We're talking about fantasy bench players. Huge difference.

10. Marcel Reece, RB, Oakland Raiders

According to Paul Gutierrez of Comcast SportsNet California, Darren McFadden missed practice again on Thursday. It sounds like he's going to be a no-go for Sunday's game at the Green Bay Packers, and the same could be true of fellow practice no-shows Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore.

If so, Marcel Reece stands to benefit. He'll get some carries playing behind Michael Bush, but his true value will be in Oakland's passing game.

If you're unfamiliar with Reece, just now that he is basically a pass-catching fullback. He has 17 receptions for 240 yards on the season, and both of his touchdowns have come via the air. His best game was a five-catch, 92-yard performance against the Chicago Bears.

The Raiders are going to need Reece's talents against the Packers. They force teams to throw the ball, and Reece's presence will allow the Raiders to catch the Packers off guard. The Packers give up enough yards through the air as it is, so I think Reece could be in for a big day.

9. Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

I've said on a number of occasions this season that Marcedes Lewis is this close to an elusive breakout game.

So far, no dice. Lewis' numbers have taken a tumble this season, and you can thank Blaine Gabbert for that. He's been awful.

However, I like Lewis' chances against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Bucs have gotten burned by tight ends in 2011, so the Jags would be wise to make it a point to get the ball to Lewis.

They've already been trying to, of course. Lewis is second on the team with 66 targets, and the bright side is that he has shown signs of life in the last three weeks. All he needs to do is get in the end zone for the first time.

Maybe Week 14 will be his lucky week.

8. Ricky Williams, RB, Baltimore Ravens

On balance, Ricky Williams has proven to be a good addition to the Ravens. His job is basically to come in and carry the rock when Ray Rice is feeling winded, and he's handled his duties very well.

I'm thinking Williams will be in for even more work against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Colts rush defense simply isn't good, so it's a good bet that the Ravens will take advantage of that.

Besides, Williams is coming into this game on a mini-roll. He's fresh off a game against the Cleveland Browns in which he carried the rock 16 times for 76 yards and found the end zone. The week before that, he had 29 yards on seven carries against a tough San Francisco 49ers defense.

If you play Williams, you stand a good chance of being rewarded with a nice yardage total, and perhaps a touchdown as well.

7. Montario Hardesty, RB, Cleveland Browns

You better get a move on with this one. The Browns are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, and kickoff is just a few short hours away.

Per Stacey Dales of NFL.com, Peyton Hillis is expected to play despite being questionable with a hip injury. If he stays healthy, he'll get the bulk of the carries.

But when have we seen Hills stay healthy this season? The Madden Curse has done a number on him, and methinks he's in for a long night against a bruising Steelers defense.

If Hillis is limited, Montario Hardesty will be the next man up. He's also had injury issues this season, but he has shown flashes here and there as well. The Browns are going to need somebody to rack up yards against the Steelers, and Hardesty may have to be the guy.

To give you an idea what we might be looking at tonight, Hardesty got 33 carries against the Seattle Seahawks a couple weeks ago. He only gained 95 yards, but the carries kept coming. 

Maybe, just maybe, he'll be in for more of the same against the Steelers.

6. Chaz Schilens, WR, Oakland Raiders

I mentioned back on the Marcel Reece slide that he could take on a greater role in Oakland's passing game if Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore are sidelined with injuries.

The same is true of Chaz Schilens. The difference is that he's an even better option because he could start opposite Darrius Heyward-Bey, which bodes well for his outlook seeing as how the Packers have given up a ton of points to wide receivers this season.

To boot, Schilens has been pretty solid in the last two weeks, pulling in 10 receptions for 147 yards. A couple weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings, he caught a touchdown pass.

Schilens won't be worth much once Oakland's speedy receivers return. But for now, he's a safe play.

5. Marion Barber, RB, Chicago Bears

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, there is no timetable for Matt Forte's return from an MCL tear in his right knee.

That's bad news for the Bears, but good news for Marion Barber owners. With Forte out and Caleb Hanie under center, Barber promises to get the ball a lot in the coming weeks. 

Barber's matchup against the Denver Broncos this Sunday isn't necessarily favorable, as the Broncos have really improved their rush defense throughout the course of the season. That said, the carries should be there, and Barber should manage to be productive.

We know this partially because Barber has been productive with his carries in the last three weeks. He's carried the ball 31 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. As long as Forte is out, Barber stands to improve on his recent production.

4. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

This week, a lot of owners are asking the same thing:

Is Demaryius Thomas for real?

It's the only question worth asking, really. After being largely invisible in Denver's offense for much of the season, Thomas pulled in four receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He didn't break out; he exploded.

Personally, I liked what I saw. Tim Tebow had to escape from the pocket on several occasions, and Thomas proved to be Johnny-on-the-spot. If you ask me, this is the best way Tebow is going to be successful, and Thomas' ceiling is going to be high if he emerges as Tebow's go-to guy when he's on the run.

Tebow will get all the credit, but Thomas' fantasy owners won't complain.

3. Daniel Thomas, RB, Miami Dolphins

Daniel Thomas has been hit-or-miss in his rookie season. The carries have been there, but he's failed to do a lot with them.

I'm thinking that could change against the Philadelphia Eagles. Reggie Bush will get the bulk of Miami's carries, but the speed of the Eagles defense should prove useful in corralling him. Bigger, stronger, more imposing backs have hurt the Eagles much more in 2011.

Thomas has about 25 pounds on Bush. This is his opportunity to show that Miami has not one, but two dangerous running backs. If he's lucky (i.e. if he breaks enough weak tackles), he might also score the first rushing touchdown of his career.

Against the Eagles, I rule nothing out. They're horrible against the run.

2. Rex Grossman, QB, Washington Redskins

We're going to wrap this list up with two quarterbacks, the first of which is Rex Grossman. 

I'm not going to argue the fact that Grossman is an inferior quarterback, but he's been halfway decent in his last three starts. In fact, his TD-INT ratio is even, which is tremendous for him.

On Sunday, Grossman and the Redskins get to play the New England Patriots, whose secondary includes several kids from the local neighborhoods. They have been extraordinarily generous to opposing passers this season, and were last seen giving up over 350 yards passing to Dan Orlovsky.

I say again: Dan Orlovsky.

If a guy like Orlovsky can be successful against the Pats, so can Grossman. Look for him to have his best game of the season.

1. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Tennessee Titans

Early in the season, Matt Hasselbeck was a fantasy gold mine.

That hasn't been the case in the last three weeks. Hasselback has thrown one touchdown and three interceptions, and has passed for just 424 yards.

That's not good. Not good at all.

I'm looking for Hasselbeck to turn it around against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Titans are headed for a loss, but they'll try to avoid one by having Hasselbeck keep up with Drew Brees. New Orleans' opponents pretty much have to do that, and it's a strategy that has led to some juicy fantasy totals.

To give you an idea, the last three quarterbacks the Saints have faced have each thrown for more than 350 yards. 

Hasselbeck's next in line.