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Craig Rondinone's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 14 lineups. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
Week 14 is the last week where NFL teams are on bye. Hip, hip, hooray!
Fantasy football managers will not be picking up any Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots or Philadelphia Eagles off the waiver wire in their leagues unless they are in dynasty leagues and preparing for 2022. The pickings will be slimmer on waiver wires, and fantasy teams will be missing starters heading into this crucial week where playoff berths will be decided in most fantasy leagues. To add to the fun, there are plenty of players who may or may not play this weekend, so the need for a Plan B is more important than ever for fantasy managers.
Without further ado, here are my sneaky starts, pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 14 — and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace at the last minute in your fantasy lineup:
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Sneaky Wide Receiver Pickups and Starts for Week 14
If Los Angeles’ Keenan Allen (COVID) is forced to stay on the sideline Sunday, you could pick up and play…
Jalen Guyton, Los Angeles Chargers vs. NYG
Guyton has been in this spot before. Whenever Allen or the soon-to-be-mentioned Mike Williams miss games due to injury, Guyton’s role expands and he goes from rarely-used deep threat who sees two-to-four targets per game to a No. 2 WR who shines when given the opportunity. Do not spend too much time focused on his lack of numbers. When you are in an offense that has Allen, Williams, and Austin Ekeler, it is hard to find enough plays to put up decent stats when you are the No. 3 WR.
Guyton is not a receiver known for seven-yard catches in the flat. He has averaged 17.4 yards per catch during his brief career. In 2020 he had two 70-yard TD receptions and can fly down the field like an Olympic sprinter. The New York Giants defense plays a lot worse on the road than it does at home. If Allen, Williams, or both miss this Sunday’s game, Guyton will get plenty of chances against a Giants secondary that saves its best games for MetLife Stadium. Pick up Guyton on the cheap and plug him in for a one-week guest spot in your fantasy lineup. He may reward you with 80 yards and a long TD.
If Los Angeles’ Mike Williams (COVID list) is not given the green light by Sunday, you could pick up and play…
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (WR) vs. JAX
Remember when the thought was Tennessee’s offense would be impossible to stop due to Derrick Henry running the ball and Julio Jones and A.J. Brown giving cornerbacks fits on the outside? Football can be a cruel, crazy game thanks to all the injuries, but injuries open opportunities for others to step in and star. That might be Westbrook-Ikhine’s role this weekend.
Westbrook-Ikhine has been targeted 14 times over the past two Tennessee games and has complied nine catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. The Titans have no tight ends to throw to on a consistent basis. The other receivers on the roster cannot be counted upon. Jones may or may not be back this week, but Brown won’t, so either way Westbrook-Ikhine will either lead the team in targets or be a close second. And any receiver who could get eight targets and is playing at home against Jacksonville has to be considered for a decent day. Westbrook-Ikhine is coming into his own and should prosper this Sunday thanks to his target total and the defense he faces.
Sneaky Running Back Pickups and Starts for Week 13
If Detroit’s D’Andre Swift (shoulder) is ruled out again before Sunday’s kickoff, you could pick up and play…
Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans (RB) vs SEA
Houston’s offense is offensive to watch. Tyrod Taylor slings passes at the feet of his receivers while the offensive line uses its turnstile-like blocking techniques that have Taylor and the Texans running backs scrambling for their lives. No. 1 WR Brandin Cooks just prays someone can heave passes anywhere near his zip code so he can attempt to make a play or two. It is difficult to watch.
While no decision has been made on who Houston’s starting signal caller will be on Sunday (Taylor or Davis Mills), Burkhead will likely be the top tailback again since David Johnson is battling a thigh injury. Normally it is hard to tout a RB who is averaging 2.8 yards per carry as a decent fantasy play, but Burkhead will be running against Seattle’s 24th-ranked run defense, and the Seahawks will be without star safety Jamal Adams due to season-ending shoulder surgery. Burkhead will get 10-15 carries and a couple catches, so he could rack up a sneaky 60-75 yards and possibly score a TD since Seattle’s defense is just as bad as Houston’s offense, especially with Adams not on the field.
Sneaky Tight End Pickups and Starts for Week 13
If Las Vegas’s Darren Waller (knee) misses his matchup on Sunday, you could pick up and play…
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks (TE) at HOU
Everett is another interesting case. It is not every day I tell people to pick up and play a tight end who in his previous game fumbled inside the five-yard-line and dropped a pass that led to an interception in the end zone. Those are the types of mistakes that get players dropped from their fantasy teams, not picked up. However, the fact is that Russell Wilson has been aiming at Everett more and more down by the end zone, and that cannot be discounted. I would rather have a TE who blows red-zone scoring opportunities than one who does not get any chances to score because his offense prefers to call red-zone plays for other pass catchers.
Everett should have no problem finding opens down the seams, in the flat or inside the end zone versus Houston’s defense. While Houston’s defense is last in the league against the run, the Texans are mediocre against the pass as well and not exactly stocked with Pro Bowl cover corners and hard-hitting safeties. Despite his horrendous mistakes last week, Everett is becoming a featured cog in Seattle’s passing attack. Over the last four games, Everett has been targeted 27 times. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf have been targeted 26 and 28 times, respectively. Look for Everett to atone for last weekend’s mishaps and have a solid game against the lowly Texans.
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