Week 14 Fantasy Football Picks

Added on Dec 07, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

Depending on the type of league you’re in, this is either the first week of playoffs or the final week of the fantasy regular season. Needless to say, lineup blunders will be costly. The smartest strategy to employ is play your studs and hope they come through. However, injuries and recent struggles may require some dice rolling in order to secure a victory. Here are some suggestions for those in need of assistance.

Josh Freeman (vs PHI) – Freeman has tailed off the last two weeks after a lengthy hot streak. The remedy for his ills should be a dazed and confused Eagles defense, which has yielded 28 or more points in their last six losses. Blown coverages and major miscommunication is par for the course in Philly. Freeman has tossed eight touchdowns in his last four home games. Start him with confidence.

Pierre Thomas (vs NO) – Guessing how many carries Thomas will get is futile. He’s clearly the number one back in New Orleans, but it’s still a pass heavy offense. His 14 carries last week were a season high. The Giants vulnerable run defense was beat up by Alfred Morris and RG III last week. If you need a flex, Thomas is worth a look.

Steven Jackson (@ BUF) – Jackson has been a dud for most of 2012 due in large part to a sputtering offense that struggles to move the ball. That said, he’s totaled 86, 139 and 117 yards in his last three games. The Bills rush defense ranks 30th. Don’t expect AP numbers, but he makes a serviceable number two back.

Antonio Brown (vs SD) – Brown was mediocre in his return from injury in Week 13. With Big Ben back he should see more targets coming his way. The Chargers pass defense has allowed five touchdowns in their last two road games. Even if Roethlisberger is rusty, the Steelers should be able to exploit a suspect secondary.

Jeremy Maclin (@ TB) – Both the Eagles and Bucs boast terrible secondaries. Philly will likely be playing catchup, which means rookie Nick Foles will be putting the ball in the air frequently. Maclin is the definition of fantasy frustration. He’s long overdue for a big game.

Greg Olsen (vs ATL) – Olsen has totaled at least four fantasy points and netted three of his four touchdowns in his last five starts. His other score came versus the Falcons in Week 4 when he snagged six balls for 89 yards. The tight end position has been a headache in 2012, but Olsen is one of the safer options.