Week 14 Byes: Broncos, Colts, Patriots, Commanders, Ravens, and Texans
Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. These players include potential bye-week fill-ins, players who are returning from injury, and defenses to look at in advance.
As the fantasy playoffs are around the corner, be aware that while some of these players are stashes for later playoff weeks, some are players you could pick up and start immediately. Fewer weeks remaining in the fantasy season equals fewer weeks to plan ahead for.
Good luck out there!
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
RB Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (78% rostered on Sleeper)
The house of cards is on the verge of collapse, with CMC and Jordan Mason heading to IR. Head coach Kyle Shanahan will want to see what he has with the rookie Guerendo, and he looks to be the main guy. The matchup against Detroit in Week 17 would be a no-go, but you could play him in the two weeks previous. Grab him immediately if you are lucky enough to be in a league where he is still out there.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (37% rostered on Sleeper)
We had the true Jameis Winston experience on Monday night. He threw for almost 500 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. After all that, he will finish as the QB1 this week. You cannot ignore Winston, and although the team doesn't have the best matchups in the fantasy playoffs, they do square off against the Bengals in Week 16. Also, do the matchups even matter when it comes to Winston? He has only attempted less than 40 passes once in his five starts this season. Sometimes, you have to play the odds, and with Jameis, the odds always scream, “Pass the ball.”
Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders (10% rostered on Sleeper)
The last play was rough, but until then, O'Connell had control over the Vegas offense and was on the verge of leading them down the field to kick a game-winning field goal to beat the Chiefs. Officiating aside, he managed 340 yards and two touchdowns (almost 20 fantasy points). You could use O'Connell this week in bye-pocalypse part deux, then continue with him through Atlanta, Jacksonville, and New Orleans if you had to.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (13% rostered on Sleeper)
Don't look now, but Young may be ok at football. At least decent enough to be rostered. This week against the Eagles could be brutal, but Carolina does face Dallas and Tampa Bay in the fantasy playoffs. Both teams have given up at least 2.5 fantasy points over expectation to the quarterback position. Young has something to prove, and my gut says he will go out with a bang.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Russell Wilson (58%), Justin Herbert (83%), Caleb Williams (64%).
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Israel Abanikanda, San Francisco 49ers (4% rostered on Sleeper)
With the promotion of Isaac Guerendo to the team's RB1, the Niners claimed Abanikanda. We saw him last playing for the Jets in 2023, and although the numbers don't show tons of production, we know he will see work in the Shanahan system. And with the luck of that team, you never know what could happen.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets (39% rostered on Sleeper)
Breece Hall did play this week, despite rumors he might not play due to a knee injury. He might still not be 100%, so if Allen is out there, he needs to be rostered. Rumors abound of Aaron Rodgers dipping out before the season ends, and if that happens, the Jets will commit even more to the run. The Jets have the second-best schedule for running backs in the fantasy playoffs, playing the Jags, Rams, and Bills.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (12% rostered on Sleeper)
Austin Ekeler was placed on IR, so the backfield in Washington belongs to Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr.. Rodriguez managed 94 yards on 13 attempts, and you might be able to grab him off the wire as the Commanders go on bye in Week 14. When they return, it's a decent matchup against New Orleans, then a tough one against the Eagles. However, they close out the fantasy playoffs against Atlanta.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (9% rostered on Sleeper)
Remember Kendre Miller and Dennis Allen's alleged hate for him? Allen is gone, and interim coach Darren Rizzi has made it clear he has no discontent towards Miller. Allegedly, it was reported that Miller did not need to be placed on IR, so when he does return, he should be fresh and ready to go. It was reported on Monday that he is eligible to return, and in an offense that has lost Taysom Hill, Miller could see some carries, especially near the goal line.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Blake Corum (22%), Jaylen Warren (74%).
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (19% rostered on Sleeper)
Cooks returned to the field this week after missing seven games due to injury. Alot has happened in Dallas during his absence, but he slid right back in with a 19% target share in an offense run by Cooper Rush. CeeDee Lamb has been battling a shoulder injury, and Cooks could easily garner more targets with Lamb on the sideline. The Cowboys are not going down without a fight, winning their last two games, and Cooper Rush has been more than serviceable. You could do worse than starting Cooks in Week 14 against the Bengals or Week 16 against the Bucs.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (53% rostered on Sleeper)
Tillman missed the shootout last night due to the concussion he got in the Week 12 matchup with Pittsburgh. There is a strong chance he will clear protocol in time for Cleveland's game against the Steelers.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (66% rostered on Sleeper)
Thielen is still a thing. Fresh off what should have been two touchdowns last week, Thielen and the Panthers head to Philadelphia, so you probably aren't starting him this week, but the fantasy playoff schedule looks solid for him. Championship week is against Tampa Bay, which averages 3.5 fantasy points over expectation to the wide receiver position.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (45%), Jerry Jeudy (82%).
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (16% rostered on Sleeper)
Taysom Hill is out for the season, and you could look to Juwan Johnson as a replacement. Johnson is a different type of player, but he has been successful down the stretch before, finishing as the TE2 in championship week last year. Once New Orleans gets past the tough tight end matchup with the Giants this week, Johnson can look forward to Washington, Green Bay, and Las Vegas. The Raiders are the second worst against defending the tight end.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Jonnu Smith (86%), Dalton Kincaid (76%).
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals (31% rostered on Sleeper)
I will continue to mention the Cards here because of their low roster percentage. They have had eleven or more fantasy points in three of their last four matchups, and they play a Seattle team this week that gives up the fifth-highest fantasy points to opposing defenses.
New Orleans Saints (67% rostered on Sleeper)
They play the Giants this week, and whether that means Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, it is a good opportunity to score some defensive points. Last week, Lock was sacked six times and had one interception against Dallas. DeVito wasn't much better the week before when he was sacked four times and managed only 189 passing yards.
Buffalo Bills (62% rostered on Sleeper)
This is a long shot, but there is a chance that Buffalo might be dropped with the Rams and Lions on the horizon. However, they end the fantasy season with the Patriots and Jets, both great matchups for a team fighting hard to get that top spot in the AFC.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Denver Broncos (67%), Cincinnati Bengals (18%).
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