This article's content may vary week-to-week, but generally, it will be answering questions fielded from either the @RotoBallerNFL twitter account or my personal one (@RotoSurgeon). This week, the focus is on start/sit questions, and there were plenty. Every week, many of us struggle with which quarterback to start, or who to flex, and I am here to help.
The questions selected will combat difficult decisions that might be specific to Week 14 starters. The fantasy playoffs are brutal and require more precision than usual to get through but with the help of our team at RotoBaller, we plan to make things as easy as possible.
If you need any questions answered in the coming weeks, feel free to follow and ask either account and we will make sure to respond promptly.
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Week 14 Mailbag
Verdict: A.J. Brown
The Titans are on fire. Although they do not throw it often, in a matchup against the weak Oakland Raiders Defense, there will be opportunities to score and gain chunk yardage, even in a limited number of opportunities. Adam Humphries is out for Sunday's contest and although Brown probably does not play more snaps, he could be in line for more targets (which is basically all he needs). The Titans have a tremendous pair of talented receivers in Brown and Corey Davis, it is just unfortunate for fantasy purposes that they do not need to be targeted often. The presence of Derrick Henry makes every other offensive piece superfluous. Nevertheless, Brown has a chance to smash again this weekend and that is more bankable than Christian Kirk who has had his struggles as well. Kirk is a talented receiver in a pretty good offense but can be taken out of the game by a talented secondary (as we saw last week against Jalen Ramsey). He is still startable, just not over A.J. Brown.
Verdict: Mike Gesicki
With Jamal Adams set to miss Sunday's contest against the Dolphins, Mike Gesicki finds himself in a solid spot to continue growing. He has touchdowns in the past two games and has not been targeted fewer than six times since Week 9. He is often lining up as a wide receiver for Miami and should find himself in good matchups against the Jets' poor, depleted cornerback group.
Higbee smashed last week with Gerald Everett out and is in position to do so again versus the second-worst defense against TEs for fantasy, but is just not a reliable enough option, even in a game that may shoot out. Hollister has established himself as a solid TE option for Seattle but plays in an offense that is much too run-heavy to bank on over someone like Gesicki.
Verdict: D.J. Chark
Gardner Minshew loves him some D.J. Chark. Although the likely matchup against Casey Hayward will not be easy, Chark has the speed and talent to find his way to a fine fantasy day as long as the targets are coming his way. Foles and Chark connected well in Foles' first game back from IR but were cold in the two games afterward. Minshew could be just the spark Chark needs to get back on track to his WR1 season.
Guice is a risky start due to his split usage with Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson. Despite being extremely talented and full of burst, he may not carry enough of a load in a game that could be blown out by halftime. Zack Pascal has the best matchup of the three against a terrible Buccaneers secondary but faces more competition at WR with Parris Campbell returning from injury.
Verdict: Calvin Ridley
Even with Julio Jones back in the picture, Ridley remains a solid WR2 with upside. He posted his best line of the year (8/143/1) against the Panthers last time out and looks to continue his recent hot streak. Ridley has become more of a 1B to Julio's 1A and that is hard to bench for a running back in a timeshare. Williams is a fine start this week in a plus matchup at home against Washington but is often shifted out at the goal-line, leaving him a bit weaker as a fantasy option. Williams' floor is high due to his passing-down work though and should be used to grind out yardage in the second half of Sunday's game.
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