by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)
The time is now for many as the fantasy playoffs kick off. It’s an interesting week as well, with a few of the top quarterbacks drawing difficult matchups (though that doesn’t mean we could imagine sitting them down). That’s not to say that all of the matchups are concerning, as there are some quarterbacks who appear to be heating up and walking into favorable matchups. Throw in the “names”, who are never easy to value, and there are many landmines to maneuver through. Let’s take a look at who we should be trusting:
- Tom Brady – New England Patriots – at Miami
- Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks – at Jacksonville
- Carson Wentz – Philadelphia Eagles – at Los Angeles Rams
- Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Oakland
- Josh McCown – New York Jets – at Denver
- Philip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers – vs. Washington
- Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – vs. New Orleans
- Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams – vs. Philadelphia
- Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Detroit
- Kirk Cousins – Washington Redskins – at Los Angeles Chargers
- Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – at Atlanta
- Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Baltimore
- Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers – vs. Minnesota
- Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions – at Tampa Bay
- Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders – at Kansas City
- Eli Manning – New York Giants – vs. Dallas
- Case Keenum – Minnesota Vikings – at Carolina
- Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Chicago
- Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants
- Blaine Gabbert – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Tennessee
- Brett Hundley – Green Bay Packers – at Cleveland
- Marcus Mariota – Tennessee Titans – at Arizona
- Tom Savage – Houston Texans – vs. San Francisco
- Jimmy Garappolo – San Francisco 49ers – at Houston
- Jay Cutler – Miami Dolphins – vs. New England
Thoughts:
- After we were all ready to give up on Alex Smith, he popped off a monster day at the right time. Going up against the New York Jets in Week 13 as he threw for 366 yards and 4 TD. Taking on the Oakland Raiders, who he torched for 342 yards and 3 TD in Week 7, it’s easy to slot him back in the Top 5.
- After a few weeks on the sidelines Jameis Winston returned in Week 13 and it looked like he didn’t miss a beat as he threw for 270 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT. Over the past few weeks the Detroit Lions haven’t been playing well against opposing QB, including Joe Flacco (269 yards, 2 TD) and Case Keenum (282 yards, 2 TD) over the past two weeks. That would seem to make this a perfect matchup and return Winston into as a potential QB1.
- Russell Wilson has been tremendous recently (seven consecutive games with 2+ TD), though he hasn’t put up big yardage (under 260 yards in four straight) and draws one of the toughest defenses. It’s impossible to sit him down, but slotting him right at the top of the rankings is difficult as well. As of late he’s been a TD dependent option, and there’s a chance that he comes up empty in that regard in Week 14. (Note: We can make almost the same statement for Carson Wentz, who had a solid but unspectacular day against the Seahawks due to just 1 TD in Week 13 and now draws the Los Angeles Rams)
- While Drew Brees has a positive matchup, he’s thrown for 1 TD in each of the past two weeks as the Saints continue to get back to their focus on their running back duo. That is going to drag him down, though he’s a borderline QB1 due to the potential upside.
- Jimmy Garoppolo put up some strong numbers in his first start, throwing for 293 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT, and he also has a strong matchup. However considering his receiving corps is it really possible to trust him? The downside risk far outweighs the potential reward, making him more of a QB2 than a player to trust.
- The situation for the New York Giants has been poorly handled, but it makes for an intriguing situation in Week 14. After being benched last week all signs point towards Eli Manning making the start, in what may be a “send off” type outing at home against a struggling division rival (Dallas has allowed the fifth most points to opposing quarterbacks over the past four weeks). It’s easy to envision a big day, isn’t it?
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Make sure to check out all of our Week 14 rankings:
| Quarterbacks |
| Running Backs |
| Wide Receivers |
| Tight Ends |
| Kickers |
| Defenses |
How’s it going professor,
I’m 10-3 and locked in for the playoffs.
Is there really any point in keeping Brees on my roster for the final stretch?
Been starting Ben the past couple of weeks, and plan on doing so going forward. QBs like McCown, Bortles, Dalton, Keenum etc. are on the wire in case Ben gets hurt.
I might have to make a move if Ertz misses this week, and I would like to get one of Davis or Barber to reinforce my RBs. My other options to drop are Doug Martin and Chris Hogan.
What would you do?
Appreciate your advice!
I’m not a big Brews supporter so if you aren’t going to use him move on
Thanks!
Russell or McCown?
I have Jax dst too
Russlell, but not crazy to go other way
So….You would play McCown over Keenum this week…. Or is it close..
DENVER AT HOME…WORRYS NE.
I’d set go McCown
Threshold league would you be more worried about R Wilson getting stumped on the road against the Jags? My only option is Mariota but I need points to catch leader (total points wins championship through week 17) He has Brady. Obviously not much love in the rankings. . . Which I get, But . . . help
I don’t love Wilson, but I couldn’t trust Matilda over him
Another question..
Would you drop Hogan for Tion Green? Lacking strong plays at RB, and still no news on Hogan. My other WRs are AJ Green, Baldwin and Goodwin.
Tion looked good versus the Ravens, and I guess he could be the new starter after that?
Thanks a lot!
I wouldn’t bank on him starting but if you aren’t a going to use Hogan than why not
IS there any conceivable way I sit Russell this week for Jameis or McCown (vomit emoji)???
I wouldn’t, but it’s not completely crazy. It’s just so hard to do, but could argue for McCown
For this week at QB – would you go with Big Ben vs. the Ravens…or Cam Newton vs. Vikings? Both defenses have been solid against QB’s this year.
Really a coinflip, but I’d lean Rothlisberger
Seattle D looked good last week so did Tennessee D..Which one would you start week 14.
Seattle
Thanks Prof…..Was I
Going back and forth on that one.. Tenn. Has been good.
QB: Drew Brees
WR: Adam Thielen, Golden Tate
RB: Alvin Kamara, Chirstian McCaffrey
TE: Zach Ertz
Flex: Doug Baldwin
BN: Kirk Cousin, Davante Adam, Robert Woods
K: Wil Lutz
Def: Pitts
Should I pick up
Def: Greennay @Cleveland
or Def: Buffalo Vs Indy
Go with Brees or Kurt Cousin or drop Cousin or Brees for Josh McCown ?
Steelers for me.
As for QB, for this week I’d fronTiers for McCown
who should I drop Cousin or Brees for Playoff week 14,15,16
I have a tougher time trusting Brees, given the makeup of the offense and liklihood they go run heavy
I have Keenum, Stafford, and Roethlisberger (Gabbert is best waiver option), need to start 2. I’m torn, advice?
I’m sitting Keenum, barring Stafford health update
kickoff approaching still flipping coin on Ryan or McCown
Lattimore is starting – last minute thoughts?
thanks Professor!
went with Ryan – but fortunately Thomas picked up his slack so still in good shape for sunday 🙂
whew!
Hey Prof – I posted this earlier in a “not about QB’s” arena. I’m leaning toward starting J. McCown over J. Goff and J. Winston over R. Wilson. 10 team PPR leagues. I know if I lean too much – I’ll fall over. Any advise? Thanks!
McKinnon or lee at flex 1 point ppr
My quarterback Wentz is done (obviously) I need to win week 15 to get into our playoff that start week 16 PPR league. I was kinda leaning towards picking up Foles vs Giants. But there still is Dalton vs Minn, Flacco vs Clev. And Winston on McCown (don’t trust being healthy).
What’s your input on my QB situation?
Thanks so much!
I’d go Winston, though it’s real close with Flacco (thanks to the matchup). Foles is intriguing, but he’s hardly a can’t miss option in his first start