🗝 KEY Players and Matchups for Week 14

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• The week’s best DraftKings matchups 🏈

• Low-owned pivot plays 💲 

• The latest NFL news and notes 📰 

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QB: Justin Fields (CHI)

The last time the Bears played the Lions this guy rushed for 104 yards and was fantasy QB8 on the week. That’s on brand for the Detroit defense; they’ve had some trouble containing rushing QBs this year. Fields also had one of his 3 QB-ratings over 100 in that matchup, despite only passing for 169 yards.

We know the Lions’ offense will push the pace, and the matchup makes this a really strong spot for Fields and the Bears.

WR: D.J. Moore (CHI)

Moore is the unquestioned WR1 for Chicago, so if Fields is going to have a good game, Moore is going with him. On the season, he’s got:

• 29.5% target percentage

• 206.7 PPR points (WR12)

• 45.2% of the team’s air yards

The Lions are 22nd in fantasy football vs. WRs, and should be able to force some throws from Justin Fields. He’ll be solid this week.

WR: Michael Pittman (IND)

Pittman has risen back into the ranks of a top-tier WR ever since Gardner Minshew took over at QB for the Colts. He’s been no worse than PPR WR17 since way back in Week 5, and he’s got 20.7 and 27.5 points in the last 2 games, respectively. Over the last 4 weeks, Pittman’s targets per route run have been over 30% in every single game.

There are slight pace concerns in this matchup, but I believe Jake Browning to be better than people think. He can push this game and possibly put the Colts in a hole, forcing them to throw the ball more.

If nothing else, Pittman represents a really strong pivot off of Zack Moss, who projects at super high ownership.

RB: James Cook (BUF)

Buffalo is playing the Chiefs, and I expect this game to produce some fireworks, recent Bills’s struggles notwithstanding. Cook has 731 total rush yards on the season (RB6), and 308 receiving yards (RB8), despite being just 20th in targets.

According to the advanced stats at Fantasy Life, Cook is actually 2nd in the league in yards after contact (318) and 7th in yards after contact per attempt. If this game pops off like I think it can, Cook will be a big part of the Bills’ attack.

RB: Alvin Kamara (NO)

Kamara is 3rd in the league in receiving yards by a RB despite sitting out the first 3 games of the season. Believe it or not, he actually leads the league in RB targets.

The Carolina Panthers’ defense is ranked 30th in fantasy football against the RB position. They allow nearly 20 rushing points per game. If the Saints get up on the flailing Panthers, Kamara will see some extra work as well.

WR: Courtland Sutton (DEN)

As the Broncos have gotten better, so has Sutton. His target percentage since Week 10 is way up, and his ADOT over the last 3 weeks has climbed. It was 16, 15.3, and a ridiculous 32.1 in Week 13.

Everyone knows the Chargers have had a bad pass defense this season. They’re 31st in the league in terms of passing yards allowed per game and 30th in fantasy against the WR position. With Russell Wilson looking Sutton’s way often, I like him to make some noise.

WR: Deebo Samuel (SF)

You can pick your poison with the 49ers because I really like Brandon Aiyuk as well. Both guys are really good against zone looks, and the Seahawks run zone at the 3rd highest rate in the league.

Brock Purdy is playing great ball since the 49ers straightened out a few weeks back, and I expect that to continue, boosting Deebo in fantasy and real life.

WR: Rashee Rice (KC)

Rice has earned himself around 30% of the Kansas City targets over the last 2 games, finishing as a fantasy WR1 and WR2. I believe Josh Allen and the Bills will score points in this one. Patrick Mahomes will continue to look Rice’s way, despite the Bills being a fairly strong fantasy defense against WRs.

If the game pops off though, you’ll want to get the right piece.

WR: Drake London (ATL)

London has not been impressive lately, as the volume that supported him back in 2022 has dried up a bit, but he does have 29% of the team’s air yards. The matchup is really what puts him here. Tampa Bay has allowed an insane catch rate to opposing WRs. At the very least, it puts London into the discussion this week.

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QB: Justin Fields (CHI) - $6,800

Fields hasn’t appeared much in my newsletters this year, but his ceiling is always similar to that of Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts: he always has the potential to go for 30+ points.

The Lions had allowed 20+ points in 3 straight games to QBs before getting a breather against Derek Carr. Fields was one of them. He had 104 rushing yards in Week 11, and he’s not the only QB to get loose against them. Jordan Love, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes have all had some degree of ground success this season when they’ve seen the Lions.

The potential for the bonus is a big reason why I’m in on Fields this week.

QB: Josh Dobbs (MIN) - $5,900

Why is Dobbs my pay down pick this week? It all starts with the return of Justin Jefferson, which will automatically raise the ceiling of the Vikings’ passing offense.

The other reason is that they’re facing the Raiders, who like the Lions, have had trouble containing mobile QBs. The community has been a little too quick to dismiss Dobbs after his one poor game. Let’s give the guy a chance to bounce back with his superstar WR.

Tournament Pivot: $6,800 projected ownership 10-12%

RB: Zack Moss (IND) - $5,900

Despite tanking a lot of people’s lineups last week, Moss actually had 21 touches against the Titans. For that volume? I’m going back in again.

On the year, when Jonathan Taylor isn’t in the lineup, Moss has 89.4% of the backfield touches for the Colts. It’s a massive touch share that is going against the Bengals, who haven’t been able to stop any RBs.

You could tell me basically any RB is in line for 20+ touches against Cincinnati, and I’d say go for it. Moss should produce this week.

RB: Joe Mixon (CIN) - $6,100

Jake Browning is not a bad QB, as some would like you to believe. He’s been THE most accurate passer in the league over the last 2 weeks. And sure, the Bengals don’t have as many big splash plays with him as with Joe Burrow, but that makes Mixon more appealing in my opinion.

Much like Moss on the other side of this one, I love Mixon for the volume. He had 19 carries and 7 targets in Week 13, and as a plus, the Indianapolis defense ranks 29th in fantasy football against RBs.

Tournament Pivot: $8,200 projected ownership 9-11%

WR: D.J. Moore (CHI) - $6,500

If Fields hits this week, you’re gonna want the stack with Moore. While Detroit isn’t bad against WRs overall, teams’ WR1s tend to do well against them. Moore himself had 9 grabs for 96 yards and a TD back in Week 11.

Fantasy Life’s Air Yards tool reveals what we already know: Moore is still 2nd in the league in percentage of his team’s air yards. In a higher-paced game, I like the chances for him to break out big.

WR: Brandon Aiyuk (SF) - $6,900

I’ve been huge on Aiyuk and his massive talent lately, and actually honorable mention goes to his teammate Deebo Samuel here. Both guys destroy zone coverage as evidenced by their yards per route run (2.93 vs. 2.83). Aiyuk tends to excel a lot more vs. man, but the Seahawks run the 3rd-lowest rate of man coverage in the league.

I just tend to like Aiyuk slightly more than Deebo this week.

WR: Elijah Moore (CLE) - $4,500

Moore has proven himself one of the better ways to save salary at the WR position lately, and a big part of that is the rom-com chemistry he has with old man Joe Flacco.

Flacco isn’t airing it out, he’s throwing short, over-the-middle shots, and that pairs perfectly with Moore’s style of play. Even if Amari Cooper ends up playing this week, I love the Elijah play at $4,500.

Tournament Pivot: $3,400 projected ownership 1-4%

TE: Isaiah Likely (BAL) - $3,500

It isn’t often we see Likely’s name pop up here, but this is an amazing matchup for him. The Rams are the 3rd-worst defense at defending the TE. All the good ones are scoring or racking up big yardage against them.

Play any TE against the Rams, and you should be alright.

Tournament Pivot: $3,100 projected ownership 10-12%

DST: Cleveland Browns - $3,000

It’s kind of an ugly week on the cheap side of defenses. Once you get down past some of the more expensive options like Houston, New Orleans, and San Francisco, there isn’t much appeal.

The Browns get to face Jacksonville’s backup in C.J. Beathard, but unlike Browning on the Bengals, he doesn’t have the accuracy. Despite that, he takes more shots downfield than Trevor Lawrence, so the turnover potential is there.

Tournament Pivot: $3,300 projected ownership 11-15%

 ✅ Thursday Night Football Final Results

🦬 McDermott Apologizes for Bizarre 9/11 Gaffe 

🐈‍⬛ Panthers’ TE Hurst’s Encouraging Update on Head

⚡️ Chargers’ WR Palmer Limited in Thursday’s Practice

🏈 10th-Highest EVER NFL Scorer Retires

🔥 Jefferson’s Revised Receiving Goal in Return to Action

✈️ Expectations for Jets’ RB Hall in Week 14

🤕 Olave Sidelined: Saints’ WR Misses Practice

🐬 Multiple Dolphins Missing on Thursday

🙌 Harrison Jr. Still Uncertain on Future in Football

That’s all for today. Join me on Sunday for the last-minute prep, and my pick for the DFS stack game of Week 14.

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