By Winsto (12/03/2024)
There are a few names here to consider for Week 14 and beyond. This week has SIX teams (Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, and Washington) on a Bye. So here are some options for you:
(The following players are rostered by less than 50% according to Yahoo Fantasy.)
QUARTERBACK
Jameis Winston (QB-Cleveland)–If I were to open a roller coaster ride, I would name it the Jameis Winsto Experience. There will be ups and downs here. You have to factor in 2+ turnovers a game, but the upside is still there, as we saw on Monday Night (497 passing yards and 4 passing TDs. Of course, there were also 3 INTs—two were returned for touchdowns, BUT Cleveland winning or losing is not relevant to your fantasy team. Points are, and Winston can almost single-handedly win you a week. The flip side, however, is he could also almost single-handedly lose you a week. Ah, the risk versus reward dilemma. If you feel like you are in need of a boost this week and are willing to roll the dice, it sounds like the Jameis Winston Experience is for you.
Russel Wilson (QB-Pittsburgh)–This is the 4th week in a row I am including him in this column. If Winston is too frightful for you, Wilson is a safer option. For a Bye week replacement and beyond, Wilson has value here. Did you know that on a per game basis, only Joe Burrow (QB-Cincinatti) is averaging more passing yards? That is correct, my good reader. Wilson is averaging 271 passing yards per game. Did you know that he is averaging the same TD (1.7) per game (1.7) as Buffalo’s Josh Allen (1.7)? Since taking over as the starting QB, he is averaging 242.4 yards passing, 1.4 passing TDs, 0.2 rushing TD, and 0.8 turnovers. His faces Cleveland this week, and his remaining schedule, aside from Philadelphia, is quite generous to QB fantasy points. Moon shots to George Pickens (WR), Calvin Austin (WR), and maybe even Mike Williams (WR) will happen.
Will Levis??? (QB-Tennessee)–Look, I do not feel strongly about this, but the stats do not lie. In his last 3 games, Levis has topped 200 yards passing, 1.7 passing TDs, 23 yards rushing, and 1 turnover per game. That is interesting. What makes him even more interesting is his remaining schedule: Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and Houston. I mean, those are some very generous secondaries to the QB.
RUNNING BACK
Isaac Guerendo (San Francisco) –Get your wallet out. Open your piggy bank. Use it all! This is the type of player and situation that you sit on all that FAAB money to use later in the season. It is now later in the season. With news breaking that Christian McCaffrey AND Jordan Mason are both heading to the I.R. (sigh), rookie Isaac Guerendo is the last man standing. His yards per carry on the season (5.9) suggests he has ability, and he has demonstrated his 4.33 forty speed multiple times this season. The offense is still going to run the ball, and he should serve as the bell-cow. The only concern is he has 3 fumbles (1 lost) on 42 carries. Otherwise, we are looking at a borderline RB1 for the remainder of the season.
Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville)–Interestingly, Bigsby’s ownership has fallen below 50%. He had seen 7 or more carries in every full game he has played since Week 4. He has a 5.4 YPC (compared to Travis Etienne’s 3.9 YPC) on the season. In addition, Jacksonville has faced a rough stretch of solid defenses versus the run in recent weeks. Bigsy saw 8 touches to Etienne’s 16 his first game back from injury, and he was on the field for 46% of the plays (compared to Etienne’s 53%). I suspect Bigsby will see more opportunities in the coming weeks. He is a decent Flex play until then. In addition, he remaining defenses are not overly scary (Tennessee, New York Jets, Las Vegas, Tennessee, and Indianapolis.)
Roschon Johnson (Chicago)–Johnson’s usage is pretty unpredictable based on the last few weeks, but he does seem to see opportunities in the Red Zone, with a rushing TD in each of his last 2 full games—he left Week 13 with a concussion. He may not be available for Week 14, but he could prove to be a decent TD dependent Flex afterwards.
Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers)–At some point, the coaching staff has to realize that Vidal is the answer until J.K. Dobbins returns, right? Gus Edwards is a solid player, but he really has little ceiling. He is averaging 3.4 YPC on the season and only has 1 TD. Vidal is a grab that could provide some help to RB needy teams down the stretch.
Handcuffs—These are players, rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, who I would grab if I had the space. They have little to no standalone value, but each could be a legitimate RB1 or RB2 if the opportunity presented itself. This is the order I would rank them as of now.
Blake Corum (LAR)
Jonathon Brooks (Car)–His rostership has fallen below 50%. Carolina’s offense has started to look competent.
Trey Benson (Ari)
Zach Charbonnet (Sea)
Kenny Gainwell (Phi)–Bucky Irving would probably be involved as well, so I would not expect a workload like Barkley receives.
Ray Davis (Buf)–Ty Johnson would probably be involved as well if something were to happen to Cook.
Braelon Allen (NYJ)–Isaiah Davis apparently would also be involved as Week 13 suggested.
WIDE RECEIVER
Adam Thielen (Carolina)–Remember that he had a 1,000-yard receiving year in 2023 with Bryce Young (QB)? Diontae Johnson (WR-Bal) is now gone. He has been activated off the IR. Someone has to catch the ball in Carolina, right? He had 57 yards receiving against Kansas City in Week 12 despite only playing 61% of the snaps. In Week 13, he led the team in targets (10), receptions (8), receiving yards (99), and receiving TDs (1—really, it should have been 2 if you watched the game). While Carolina will still try to develop their younger receivers (Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker), I still think Thielen has the most to offer among this receiver group. He is someone who will see targets down the stretch, especially with Tampa Bay and Atlanta (Week 17 and Week 18) on the remaining schedule.
Parker Washington (Jacksonville)–Washington is intriguing. He is a 2nd year player who saw over 80% of the snaps for only the 2nd time of his career in Week 13. (Incidentally, his 1st game with over 80% of the snaps was against Philadelphia, where he caught 3 for 41 yards). He responded with 6 receptions (on a team leading 12 targets) for 103 yards and 1 TD. With Gabe Davis joining Christian Kirk on the IR, is this a case of talent meets opportunity? Given that Jacksonville will often need to throw to stay in games, Washington has the look of a sneaky add.
Keon Coleman (Buffalo)–He was showing signs of life (14 targets, 195 receiving yards, and 1 TD) in the two games prior to the Miami game in Week 09 and has missed the last two weeks. Coming out of the Bye, I would expect him to function as decent WR3 down the stretch.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Tennessee)–We are now looking at EIGHT receiving TDs in his last eight games—he has only 1 game of the last 8 where he did not reach the endzone. The downside is he topped more than 2 receptions in only 3 of those 8 games. That is difficult to both ignore and trust at the same time. He has also been on the field over 80% of the snaps since Week 08, so there is that. The remaining schedule is favorable. Basically, he is a risky Flex option, but he is an option.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (New Orleans)–In his three games with the Saints, he has 7 total receptions for (checks notes) 232 yards and 4 TDs. This has all the looks of unsustainability, but Derek Carr has to throw to someone, right, especially now that Taysom Hill is out for the remainder of the season? The remaining schedule is nothing to shy away from.
TIGHT END
Will Dissly (Los Angelas Chargers)–Yes, I know did not have a catch in Week 13, but his Week 14 opponent is Kansas City, who apparently likes giving up fantasy points to TEs. Ladd McConkey (WR—LAC) is dealing with some minor injuries, so Dissly could see heavy involvement. He is a solid plug-and-play option for Week 14, and for that matter, the rest of the season given the schedule.
Hunter Henry (New England)–Is he scoring a plethora of TDs? No, no he is not—he has 1 TD on the season. Is he 6th amongst all TEs in receiving yards? Yes! Drake Maye has shown a solid connection with Henry, as Henry has seen no fewer than 4 targets since Week 04. He has a Bye this week, and his remaining schedule afterwards is not too kind to the TE. Still, his floor is about as safe as can be. Just understand that he does not offer much of a ceiling.
Noah Gray (Kansas City)–The 2 TD a game streak had to come to an end. Still, he is seeing targets in this offense. In his last 6 games (since KC’s Bye), his playing time is about 65%, which is decent. Adding Gray and playing him is rolling the dice. But, Week 13’s opponent, Las Vegas, gives up the 3rd most fantasy points to the TE.
IDP
(Last week, I mentioned Nazeeh Johnson (DB-Kansas City)in this section, and it was looking like good advice, until he was benched in the early part of the game.)
So, let’s try this again…
Tyler Nubin (DB-NYG)–Over his last three games, Nubin has accumulated 36 total tackles (18 solo/18 assists). The rookie looks like he could be a solid play down the stretch.