Fantasy Football: Start / Sit Week 14

I don’t know what’s been up with me recently, but over the past three weeks I feel that I have been so 50/50 on all of my picks: last week is a perfect example of that. Starting Nick Foles was a terrible move, benching David Montgomery could’ve potentially hurt, and sitting Cortland Sutton would have also been horrible. Still, who could’ve predicted Foles imploding (resulting in a benching), or Sutton scoring TWICE in rookie quarterback Drew Lock’s first career start? I sure didn’t.

On the flip side, DeVante Parker and Miles Sanders were both awesome starts of the week, while my sit of the week at quarterback, Kirk Cousins, I consider a wash. The Vikings QB didn’t throw up all over himself like Foles, but he also failed to light the world on fire. I view his “sit performance” similar to that of David Montgomery: if you started either you were relatively happy, and if you sat either you were still able to sleep at night.

Still, you don’t read these posts for “relatively happy”. You read these because you want to know about the guys who could win you your week. Hopefully I have more success advising you in week 14, so here’s to hoping all my starts scorch the Earth like DeVante Parker did in week 13.

Quarterback:

Start- Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Since becoming the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, Ryan Tannehill has scored less than 22 fantasy points (6 point touchdown leagues) once: that happened last week against the Colts.

This week TanneTHRILL (shoutout Ian Hartitz) has a matchup with the 29 ranked Oakland Raider pass defense. A consistent quarterback with running ability against a bad defense? Sign me up.

Ryan TanneTHRILL pic.twitter.com/PcTPeVAQiM

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 4, 2019

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Sit- Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Yes, this week we are sending the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback to the bench. For as much as I love Minshew being back as starter, I can’t trust putting him in my lineup.

The Jags are at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, but LA’s secondary got a lot better last week  when both of their safeties, Derwin James and Adrian Phillips, came back from injury. Add that in with the fact that there is now plenty of tape of Minshew playing in the NFL- unlike the start of the season- and the Jags QB could be headed for a bad day.

Running Back:

Start- Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

This is a weird one, right? Well, Mattison should get plenty of work this week in my estimation. With a matchup at home against the Detroit Lions, I don’t expect the Vikings to have an issue winning this game. I just can’t see David Blough going into Minnesota and dominating a Mike Zimmer led defense; that’s where Mattison comes in.

If the Vikes get up big in this game, expect them to run the ball over and over. And with starting running back Dalvin Cook nursing a shoulder injury, Mattison should be in line to touch the ball 10+ times against a bad Lions run defense.

Sit- Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers

This one will be short and sweet: the 49ers backfield is a complete mess.

Last week against the Baltimore Ravens, Coleman, the supposed starter, played on 18% snaps while third-stringer Raheem Mostert was out there 74% of the time. Granted, Mostert did play great and deserved those touches, but his performance / the return of Matt Breida makes the 9ers RB situation too muddy and hard to trust.

Wide Receiver:

Start- Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams

Robert Woods has been a pretty big disappointment for fantasy owners and the Los Angeles Rams this season. But Woods is still a good player and the rams have tried to get the ball into his hands more targeting him nine, 11, and 19 times in their games since their bye. I expect those targets to keep coming as defenses shift their focus to Jared Goff’s favorite target Cooper Kupp, making Woods a good play this week

*Note: Woods has the highest amount of targets for any player who has yet to score a touchdown in 2019. Positive regression has to come at some point.*

Sit- Sterling Sheppard, New York Giants

“Yay Sterling Sheppard scored a touchdown last week! I guess I have to keep playing him!” Please don’t do that.

Sheppard isn’t a bad play this week, but with Evan Engram and Golden Tate set to return the opportunity may not be there for him. That is especially true if Eli Manning has to get under center to replace an injured Daniel Jones.

Daniel Jones in a boot + has moderate high ankle sprain, per Pat Shurmur. He couldn’t play if Giants had game today. Shurmur compared it to what Saquon Barkley had, slightly less severe. Barkley missed three games. So get ready for the return of Eli Manning on Monday vs Eagles.

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 4, 2019

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Use Promo code “couchguy” at Manscaped.com and grab some of the best tools in men’s below the belt grooming. Using the code will get you 20% off of your order AND free shipping. Help out the show and help out yourself by buying some products from Manscaped TODAY.

Follow this link and signup for Seated. The restaurant reservations app that will get you discounts and other gifts just for using the app to reserve your table at your favorite restaurants in Boston: seated.s2l3a2.net/c/2016892/705985/10715

-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)