Well, Eli Manning and Sterling Shepard did not pop off in Week 13. At least they connected late for a TD to salvage the day. Manning really dumped on my dreams by throwing that early interception in the end zone on a stupid throw to Larry Donnell, of all the guys to target. Josh Hill got hurt. Vance McDonald didn’t do anything because the 49ers didn’t do anything.

It was a rough week, no bones about it. At least being bearish on Tyrell Williams against the consensus was solid. What does Week 14 hold for me?

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Week 14 Quarterbacks - Rankings Analysis

Philip Rivers (#6 vs. #11 consensus) vaults well into my top 10 here, as he’ll travel to Carolina to take on a Panthers team that embodies the word “deflated”. They were just torched in a rematch with the Seahawks to the tune of 40 points, and can’t even get much going on offense. Perhaps Rivers won’t need to do as much here, and many hate on the west coast team playing in the early slate on the east coast, but I think Rivers will be a strong candidate for 300+ yards and 2-3 scores.

It may seem like chasing points here, but I’ve also got Joe Flacco at #16 against a current consensus of #21. I feel like that should change as more experts input their rankings, but I may end up pushing him as well. Baltimore simply doesn’t have the offensive line strength to establish a running game, especially against a Patriots defense that is currently ranked as the fourth best in the NFL per Football Outsiders’ Defense-adjusted Value Over Average. The kicker here is that the Pats are a lowly 25^th against the pass in the same metric. Flacco has some confidence right now, and even with the Ravens boasting an elite defense, New England will likely still drum up enough offense to force Flacco into QB2 territory.

Week 14 Running Backs - Rankings Analysis

We know that Spencer Ware (#4 vs. #10 consensus) gets a lot of usage in the run-heavy, conservative Chiefs offense, but the touchdowns hadn’t been following. The regression was real in Week 13, as he scored twice. Even if he hadn’t though, I’d be touting him as an elite play this week against Oakland. The Raiders can put up points, we know this. They also have a vulnerable defense, which has resulted in their needing to put up said points to pull out some shootout victories. Look for KC to try to control the clock with their rushing attack against an Oakland defense that ranks a paltry 28^th in rushing DVOA.

Robert Kelley (#16 vs. #23 consensus) gets another go here, even though he couldn’t convert at the goal line in Week 13. Washington gets to take on a Philadelphia defense (in Philly, unfortunately) that has looked like a shell of its former self lately. Jeremy Hill had an atrocious 1.4 YPC against them in Week 13, but that’s more an indictment of Hill and his running style (plus Cincinnati’s line) rather than propping up the Eagles. Seattle’s RBs put up 133 yards on only 18 carries against them in Week 11, so don’t be too fearful. Kelley still gets to run behind one of the better lines in the league, and they could dominate the clock through him in a tough divisional war.

Week 14 Wide Receivers - Rankings Analysis

Larry Fitzgerald (#7 vs. #12 consensus) takes a stroll into my top 10, as he’ll spearhead Arizona’s passing attack against a Miami defense that was just embarrassed by Baltimore’s passing game in Week 13. While it would be unwise to blindly project the same success going forward, it isn’t as though Fitzgerald is some scrub. Fitz caught 10 balls for 78 yards last week, and this sets up as the kind of game where a couple of those crossing routes could result in six points.

I’m also apparently set on sabotaging my ranks by floating DeAndre Hopkins (#17 vs. #23 consensus) back into the thick of WR2 territory for his matchup against the Colts. Indianapolis may have held their own against Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 13, but that impresses nobody. They are still a lowly 30^th in overall DVOA, and Hopkins saw an insane 15 targets the first time these teams met in Week 6. Now we’re not banking on a season-high 15 targets being replicated, but his nine catches were also a season-high mark. That points to how the Colts really cannot handle someone of Hopkins’ talent. The game is indoors as well, which helps Brock out considering he just embarrassed himself in snow Lambeau Field last week.

Capping off the trio of big WR movers is Mike Wallace (#28 vs. #35 consensus), who I think has a good chance at ripping off one of his patented big plays against a Patriots secondary that is just no good outside of Malcolm Butler. With Butler likely in charge of locking down Steve Smith Sr., I expect Wallace to use his speed to get around Eric Rowe and Logan Ryan and have a solid game. As we've said, the Ravens are going to need to generate some offense one way or another, and while Dennis Pitta is the current belle of the ball, Wallace should not be overlooked. He has also surpassed 50 yards in each of his last eight games, making for a decent floor in the first week of the fantasy playoffs.

Week 14 Tight Ends - Rankings Analysis

We’ve talked an awful lot about players that I like more, so we’re overdue for someone sliding down. Cue Kyle Rudolph (#16 vs. #10 consensus), who has to face a solid Jaguars defense in what could be low-scoring, defensive battle between two middling offenses. The Jags have only allowed one tight end to score more than 10 standard points against them, and that was simply because Eric Ebron had that wonky one-yard rush. Don’t plan on Rudolph being much of a TE1 this week.

The tight end creeping up to take his place is Jason Witten (#11 vs. #16 consensus), who will likely be a big part of Dallas’ gameplan against the only team to have defeated them this season, the Giants. That was way back in Week 1, when Witten tallied a 9-66-0 line on 14 targets. Dallas clearly recognizes the weakness of the Giants’ defense is covering the tight end. NYG’s passing defense rates out inside the top 10 against #1, #2 and slot receivers as well as running backs. They’re 27^th against the tight end. Witten should have a good chance at turning in a 7-60-1 game here.

I’d rather talk more about the skill positions than include kicker or defense, as they are far less interesting to me. Feel free to send me a vitriolic message should you want them back, I’ll listen I swear.