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Hey there RotoBallers! Hopefully you are looking at a first-round bye in your season-long league playoffs and using your extra time to put together some DFS lineups. In this article, I will be taking a look at some of my favorite Yahoo DFS lineups picks for the Week 14 slate.
These DFS picks are based on a multitude of factors including matchup, talent, recent performance, Vegas odds, and pricing on Yahoo.
Normally, I try to outline a higher-priced top option and a value option at each position. This week I changed the format slightly due to all the value that has opened up on this slate. I mostly skipped over the no-brainer players this week to focus on some fantastic values. This will allow you to pick and choose which high-priced players you want to plug in around the value options below. Let's get to it!
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Quarterback Picks for Yahoo DFS
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. DET, $26
Last week, Winston performed much better than expected after a three-week layoff due to an injury to his throwing shoulder. While his lost fumble resulted in a touchdown for Green Bay's defense and made it a poor game for him in real life, Winston's fantasy line was plenty useful as he finished with 270 passing yards and two touchdowns. He draws a solid Week 14 matchup against a Lions pass defense that has been falling apart as the year has gone on. Once a unit to avoid, Detroit's pass defense has dropped to 16th in the league in DVOA. Outside of Mitchell Trubisky in Week 11, every quarterback they have faced since Week 8 has notched at least 232 passing yards and a score. Winston certainly has a 300-yard, three-touchdown game in his range of outcomes and is significantly cheaper than most of the other QB1s on the slate.
DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns vs. GB, $20
Kizer sets up as the top value option at the quarterback position on this slate. The rookie has not been great in real life but his weekly rushing output keeps him on the radar as a decent fantasy option, especially in Week 14 against the Packers. Green Bay's secondary has been worth targeting with opposing signal callers this season, ranking just 21st in pass defense DVOA. The return of Josh Gordon also boosts Kizer's Week 14 outlook as the two just missed on a few deep passes in Week 13, one of which would have been a 44-yard score had Kizer not overthrown Gordon. Using Kizer at the minimum price for quarterbacks on Yahoo opens up a lot of salary to plug in studs at other positions in your lineups.
Running Back Picks for Yahoo DFS
Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots vs. MIA, $23
Burkhead has emerged as the Patriots' preferred goal-line back, having scored four touchdowns in the past two games while also topping at least 15 touches in each contest over that span. While he continues to split work with Dion Lewis, Burkhead holds the more valuable role between the two as he should continue to see the team's goal line opportunities. The Week 14 matchup against the Dolphins sets up well for him as there's a good chance the Patriots get up early against Miami and end up in clock-killing mode for a large portion of the game. At just $23 dollars, Burkhead is a fantastic value this week.
Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals vs. CHI, $11
Provided Joe Mixon isn't able to clear concussion protocol in time for Sunday, which is looking unlikely, this will be Bernard's backfield in Week 14. He picked up plenty of extra work in Week 13 after Mixon went down, finishing with 96 total yards on 15 touches against the Steelers. The Bears represent a middling matchup for opposing running backs, ranking 12th in run defense DVOA and allowing the 14th-fewest fantasy points to running backs on Yahoo. Either way, you are getting a running back who is a seven-point home favorite and who could push for 20 touches at just $1 over the minimum price. Lock him into those lineups and surround him with high-priced stars.
Wide Receiver Picks for Yahoo DFS
Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders @ KC, $23
With Amari Cooper looking unlikely to play this week, Crabtree finds himself in a dream scenario in Week 14. The Chiefs have been getting absolutely roasted by opposing receivers this season and will be without top cornerback, Marcus Peters, who the team has suspended for Week 14. Crabtree, who is returning from a one-game suspension of his own, should lead the Raiders in targets against a Kansas City defense that is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to wideouts on Yahoo.
Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. BAL, $11
Bryant has been a huge disappointment this season, having fallen to third on the team's receiver depth chart after getting outplayed by rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. Of course, the team will be without Smith-Schuster this week, who was suspended for a game by the NFL for his illegal block against Vontaze Burfict this past Monday night. Look for Bryant to slide in as the Steelers' No. 2 option in the passing game for an important divisional showdown with the Ravens. Baltimore appears to be a tough matchup for passing offenses at first glance, but the team will be without stud cornerback Jimmy Smith this week, which leaves a huge hole in their secondary. At just $11, Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger just need to connect on one deep ball for him to pay off. You have to like the chances of that happening against Baltimore this weekend. This is a GPP-only play.
Tight End Picks for Yahoo DFS
Stephen Anderson, Houston Texans vs. SF, $13
Anderson burst onto the scene in Week 13, drawing 12 targets from Tom Savage. He managed to catch five of those targets for 79 yards and a touchdown in a breakout performance. Look for more of the same in Week 14 as the Texans will take on the 49ers at home. Houston could be very thin in the pass catcher department as they will be without both Bruce Ellington and C.J. Fiedorowicz, who were both placed on injured reserve this week. Furthermore, Will Fuller is questionable with a rib injury, which has kept him out of the past three games. If Fuller is out, Anderson should be the team's No. 2 option after DeAndre Hopkins this week.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. DET, $13
No one was happier than Brate to see Jameis Winston back under center in Week 13. After disappearing in the Buccaneers' offense while Winston was sidelined, Brate exploded back into relevancy with two catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns. While production like that is unsustainable, it is clear that Winston loves looking to Brate in the end zone. The Lions present a good matchup for Brate as their pass defense ranks just 31st in DVOA against the position this season. All things being equal, I'm probably leaning Stephen Anderson here but Brate makes for an interesting stack partner if you choose to roll with Winston in lineups this week.
Defense/Special Teams Pick for Yahoo DFS
Cincinnati Bengals vs. CHI, $17
The Cincinnati defense sets up in an excellent spot as they are 6.5-point home favorites in a game with an extremely low 38-point over/under. The Bengals will take their shots at rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has topped 180 passing yards just once this season and is still looking for his first multi-touchdown game. The Bengals play solid pass defense, having allowed just 210 passing yards per game this season.
More Week 14 DFS Analysis
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