By Brooksie on December 7, 2022
Before we get into Week 14’s Starters, let’s see what I got right and what I got wrong with the starters from Week 13.
QB: Pickett was not bad, but he was statistically worse than he played. So, mediocre stats make me wrong to start him. White had the passing yards, but only the 1 rushing TD and 2 INTs, so another wrong on my end. Then there is Goff who made me right with his 340 yards and 2 TDS.
RB: Etienne had 54 yards rushing and 12 receiving with no TDs and a fumble lost. In case you are rusty on your math skills, that means I was wrong to start him. Brian Robinson had 96 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards with no TDs. This is barely over what is expected from him, so that makes me a little bit right to start him. Meanwhile, Pierce had 73 rushing yards and 22 receiving with no TDs. Unlike Robinson, this puts him on the other side of average making me wrong to start him.
WR: With 102 yards and a TD, I was right when I told you to start Devonta Smith. I was also right when I told you to start Keenan Allen who had 88 yards and a TD. Unfortunately, I was wrong when I told you to start Zay Jones. Maybe Trevo doesn’t like him as much as Kirk as I thought.
TE: Conklin had 9 yards with no TDs. Well, that is not even close to being right. However, Engram had 30 yards, but he had a TD so that makes me right about him. Back to being wrong. How does Dallas score 50 points and Schultz not get a piece of the pie. No TDs and not even enough yards that add up. Ugh.
D: The Steelers D got the W, held Atlanta to 16 points and a shade over 300 total yards with a pick and a sack. That equals me being right. Washington held the Giants to 20 points and a tie. They also gave up a shade over 300 total yards, but they had 4 sacks and a fumble recovery. These numbers add up to me being right about starting them. Finally, Seattle got the W, gave up 23 points and also gave up a little over 300 total yards with 4 sacks and 2 INTs. Like its neighbors, these numbers add up to me being right. Clean Sweep. Whoosh.
It is mega bye week, so let us see who is left and available to possibly put in your starting lineup for this week.
QB:
Jared Goff: He threw for over 300 yards against the Jags last week. No reason he shouldn’t do the same against Minnesota who has given up the most passing yards so far this season.
Trevor Lawrence: Hurts threw for 380 yards and 3 TDs against the Titans last week. The Titans are at the bottom of the league in pass D. He may not have as good of stats as Hurts had, but they still should be good.
Ryan Tannehill: Goff threw for 340 yards and 2 TDs against the Jags last week. He should be able to duplicate this.
RB:
Jeff Wilson, Jr.: The Chargers are the worst team in yards per carry so far this year. He should have some big runs, and these big runs will add up.
Elliot/Pollard: Feel free to play either against the Texans this week. Man, even if you have both on your team, you should feel free to play both of them this week against the Texans.
Foreman/Hilliard: Not as confident as in the Cowboys rushing combo, but if you have one of these guys, feel confident in their match up against a Seattle D that is at the bottom against the rush. I wouldn’t play both, but one, I would.
WR:
Devin Duvernay: The Steelers usually let at least one WR on a team shine each game. If Huntley throws the ball and doesn’t tuck and run, he could be your man. Plus, he is a return guy so there is that possibility too.
Jerry Jeudy: KC is mid bottom in yards allowed and tied for most passing TDs allowed. If Denver wants to stay in this game, they are going to have to score, and he is the best bet to do so.
George Pickens: Pickett looked a little better each of the last several weeks. Pickens is pissed at not getting enough looks, and he verbalized it. The Ravens secondary is worse than their rush D. All this equals to an increase in targets, catches, and yards.
TE:
Everett had 80 yards last week and is going up against the Dolphins this week, a team who gives up numbers against tight ends. I say he rolls on.
The Raiders also give up numbers to tight ends, so play Higbee this week. He didn’t do much last week, but he should do well against Vegas.
Gesicki: That is right. I put him in the start article. It is the holiday season.
D:
The Ravens have not been the Ravens we are used to. For those of you who have them, and they are not a must start for you each week, then this week should be a good play against the Steelers, who have not lit things up offensively with the rookie.
I think this might be the first time I actually feel confident in saying it is okay to start the Raiders if you need a D sub. They are going up against a Rams team that is quite discombobulated.
For most people, the Chiefs are also probably not a must start each week, but if they are on your squad, or you need a sub, feel free to play them against a weak offense in Denver.