🖥 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 is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! 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

Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Josh Hart

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Out Sunday
Michael Porter Jr.

Resting on Sunday
RJ Barrett

Unavailable Sunday
Brandon Ingram

Could Remain Out Sunday
Scottie Barnes

Uncertain for Sunday
Joel Embiid

Questionable to Play Sunday
Tidjane Salaün

Tidjane Salaun Available Versus Jazz
Grant Williams

Ready for Season Debut
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

off the Injury Report for Sunday
Kevin Huerter

Active on Saturday Night
Jalen Smith

Back for Bulls Saturday
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Corey Perry

Available Saturday
William Nylander

Returns From Six-Game Absence
Mark Scheifele

Scores Twice as Jets End Skid
John Carlson

Records Two Assists Friday
Karel Vejmelka

Picks Up Win No. 20
Clayton Keller

Dishes Out Three Assists Friday
Jamie Benn

to Remain Out Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Expected to Play Saturday
Alexander Kerfoot

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Friday
John Klingberg

Could Return Sunday
Noah Laba

Could Return Saturday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kevin Stenlund

Available Friday
Anze Kopitar

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Aliaksei Protas

Back in Action Friday
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
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility

RANKINGS

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