🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Mad Libs: Starts and Sits For Week 14

Pop Quiz: What's the football version of a perfect game?

Most of you who read my column are heading to the playoffs (haha, I'm kidding), and you need a perfect game out of your team. And though it's likely your quarterback won't be the one to set the bar no other NFL QB has set, you can always hope.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!

 

A QB's Perfect Game

I found myself thinking of that when Derek Carr stared down the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, and couldn't miss in the fourth quarter. Mind you, Carr hasn't been perfect in the last quarter of every game in 2016, but his QBR is 120.8.

A bit of quick research showed me that unlike Major League Baseball, where a perfect game is.... quite literally perfect, the NFL doesn't have any perfect game holder. A "perfect game" for a quarterback requires a 158.3 rating, the highest QBR a quarterback can achieve. The record for completion percentage is held by Kurt Warner, going 24-for-26 (though there's also an interesting story about Alex Smith technically having some small claim to the title as well.)

It's actually one of the few amazing things left in the NFL. Despite 23 major league pitchers being held accountable for every single pitch they've thrown, no NFL quarterback has gone 20-for-20 (or more.) Not Tom Brady. Not Peyton Manning. Not Broadway Joe, or Joe Montana. For all the amazing quarterback performances we've seen through the years, and you can think of three or four off the top of your head that still give you a funny grin, there's never been that QB who has put all twenty balls in the bread basket.

It may be the last thing in the NFL Hall of Fame that doesn't have a picture or a name attributed to it. We'll see it in our lifetime, almost certainly, because in a game that increasingly favors the QB, it's only a matter of time. What a fantastic thing to be able to witness, and with any luck, it'll be the QB on your team. Or much more likely, your most hated rival's team.

 

Running Back

Carlos Hyde will either be on my bench or will ruin my week.

A quick count would probably show that Carlos Hyde ends up in the "Hell no!" column for guys I recommend not starting week after week. Carlos Hyde is technically a top-20 RB in PPR leagues, but he's had a funny way of earning that distinction; no touchdowns since week 5, and he's only topped 20 carries once since the bye week. The Jets, for all their struggles, have not exactly let RB run all over them this year, only surrendering one multi-touchdown game to offensive backfields in 2016. Hyde might be a tempting flex option if you're stacked and are rolling into the playoffs, but resist him if you can.

Dear Lamar Miller, do you like like me? I like like you this week.

If you spent a first-round pick on Miller, odds are.... well, you aren't in the playoffs, or at the very least just edged into the match-up. But if you've survived despite Miller, this could be a really interesting week to see if the RB can break out just one more time. Lamar's best game in 2016 was against the same Indianapolis Colts defense he's seeing this Sunday, and even though they'll be in Indianapolis instead of Houston, Miller should be fully healthy this week, commanding over twenty touches and a very attractive flex option (or.... if you're really bored... RB2.)

Am I going to really start Rex Burkhead in Week 14? (less than 10% of leagues)

I've been writing this column for enough weeks now that I've earned this moment. No. Don't start Burkhead.

There are no RBs in Week 14 with such a low ownership rate that also have potential upside, Burkhead arguably being the best choice among them. Despite a few impressive showings, Burkhead is just a change-of-pace guy who never gets a goal-to-go opportunity.

My first "No" to this question in 2016. I'm very impressed with myself.

 

Wide Receiver

Don't hand me my money back, I'm going double-or-nothing on Tyrell Williams

Tyrell Williams is one of those guys I would absolutely trade for in a keeper league; the talented WR is only 24, and this year is a top-20 PPR WR and yet there isn't a lot of buzz on him. Williams has four straight weeks of touchdowns, facing a team who gave up nearly that many last week alone to the Seahawks (technically on the ground, but still.) The Chargers are traveling for this game, but Williams is legitimately talented enough that he's got a shot at his first multi-touchdown game.

I will be discarding my Mike Wallace and replacing him with two cards from the deck

Remember when we had to start Mike Wallace in the beginning of the year? The receiver had a breakout start on his new team but now that Steve Smith is completely healthy he's gone quiet. No touchdowns since Week 9, and no more than six receptions since the bye. Wallace may see a fluke score in garbage time mode, but he's not reliable in a crucial week such as this.

I am out of options, and will be swiping right on Tyler Boyd (owned in less than 40% of leagues)

I've had a lot of people this week ask me my pick between two guys, and Boyd's name keeps popping up. What's there not to like about Tyler Boyd right now? He's targeted on 24 percent of his routes, though the number of receptions is a bit concerning. He's facing the Cleveland Browns, who have been Swiss cheese through the air, and I like his chances to get at least five targets, 50+ yards and a touchdown, which is a very reliable fantasy day for a flex play.

 

Tight End

Parachute? I don't need no parachute, I have Cameron Brate

Man I was wrong on Brate last week; I thought he was going to be ignored in the red zone vs a team traditionally good against TEs. Neither of these things happened, and Brate faces a much easier match-up defensively against the Saints. My apologies to Brate, and to fantasy owners who sat him on my recommendation.

Don't cry kids! We will bury Dennis Pitta in the yard

Fun fact: Dennis Pitta scored as many touchdowns in Week 13 as the New England Patriots have allowed all year. You could also say that Dennis Pitta hasn't had a touchdown in... as many years as he got touchdowns last week. It won't happen again.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Collin Morikawa

Isn't The Safe Play He Used to Be Ahead of Sony Open
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Available Tuesday Night
Kurt Kitayama

Needs His Putting to Turn Around For Success at Year's First Event
Max Christie

Could Miss Wednesday's Game Due to Illness
LeBron James

Cleared to Play Tuesday
P.J. Washington

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Egor Demin

Back in Action Wednesday
Cam Thomas

Available Wednesday
Jakob Poeltl

Unavailable Versus Pacers
RJ Barrett

to Miss Third Straight Game Wednesday
Trae Young

Won't Play Wednesday
Rui Hachimura

to Be Limited to 18 Minutes Tuesday
Ivica Zubac

Iffy for Wednesday
Kawhi Leonard

Questionable for Wednesday
Jerami Grant

Ruled Out Tuesday
VJ Edgecombe

Considered Probable for Wednesday
Paul George

Listed as Probable for Wednesday
Joel Embiid

Expected to Suit Up Wednesday
Anthony Davis

Won't Have Surgery, Out for Six Weeks
Ryan Weathers

Yankees Add Rotation Depth, Acquire Ryan Weathers in Four-Player Deal
Norman Powell

Good to Go on Tuesday
Robert Thomas

Out Tuesday
Luguentz Dort

Ruled Out For Tuesday's Matchup With Spurs
Jake Walman

Available Against Predators
Troy Terry

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Justin Sourdif

Won't Play Tuesday
Jaxson Hayes

Unavailable Against Hawks
Jakob Chychrun

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Morgan Geekie

Available Tuesday
Luke Kennard

Sidelined Tuesday
Bryan Rust

Returns to Action Tuesday
Erik Karlsson

Penguins Place Erik Karlsson on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Fire Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman
Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin Stepping Down as Steelers Head Coach
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Philip Broberg

Likely Out Tuesday
Jacob Trouba

on Track to Return Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Will Smith

Upgraded to Day-to-Day
Connor McDavid

Stretches Point Streak to 19 Games
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Teuvo Teravainen

Makes Early Exit Monday
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Nicholas Robertson

Hurt Versus Avalanche
Brayden Point

Injured in Monday's Win
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open
Nico Collins

Suffers Concussion Against Steelers
Nico Collins

Carted to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Conor Garland

Returns From Five-Game Absence
Kiefer Sherwood

Out Monday, Could Miss Several Weeks
Marco Rossi

to Miss 2-3 More Weeks
Louis Crevier

Back for Blackhawks Monday
Jordan Eberle

Available Against Rangers
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Monday
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP