Week 14 is here and that means all FantasyDraft users have a chance to enter and win the T.Y. Hilton Experience. For just $3, you can can take home this great prize, but in order to do so you gotta have the best lineup.
Of course, no lineup is complete without a couple of punt plays, because saving salary allows you to squeeze in an extra stud or two. Here are the top punt plays for Week 14 in NFL DFS.
Quarterback
Tyrod Taylor, Bills ($10,600)
The AFC Playoff race is extremely tight, and the 6-6 Buffalo Bills are right in the thick of things. With just four weeks left in the regular season, every game matters.
Quarterback (QB) Tyrod Taylor has picked a great time to heat up, ranking as the 12th-best QB over the last three weeks. He has 21.63 fantasy points per game in that span, so it’s no coincidence the Bills offense as a whole ranks ninth overall in total yards during that stretch. Taylor has also found a connection with Sammy Watkins, connecting with him 12 times for 306 yards and three touchdowns in those three contests. The yardage is fourth among all wide receivers (WR) since Week 11.
Week 14 gives DFS players an opportunity to capitalize on Buffalo’s hot streak when they travel to Philadelphia to take on an Eagles team that has allowed the second-most points to opposing QBs over the last seven weeks.
Running Back
James Starks, Packers ($8,400)
To say the Green Bay backfield has been a mess would be an understatement. Coach Mike McCarthy has yet to stick with one lead back, as he’s shifted back and forth from Eddie Lacy to James Starks all season long. Even John Crockett (who?) was given carries last week with Lacy on the sidelines. It was later learned that Lacy missed curfew Wednesday, which led to his benching.
I expect Lacy to again be the favored running back (RB) this week, but Starks has always mixed in regardless of Lacy’s volume. Starks’ involvement in the passing game keeps him relevant and he hasn’t had less than seven carries in a game since Week 8.
The Cowboys have been decent against RBs this season, but I see Starks’ floor at 10-11 touches this week. He also leads the team in red zone carries (12, to Lacy’s and John Kuhn‘s 11), so a TD is not out of the question either.
Wide Receiver
Torrey Smith, 49ers ($6,900)
I know, I know — you’re all gonna call me crazy for this one. But before you have me committed, let’s take a look at the numbers:
- Smith is third in the NFL with 28.6 yards per catch in the four games since Blaine Gabbert took over as QB for the 49ers.
- SF’s opponent this week, the Cleveland Browns, allow the MOST yards per catch in the NFL at 12.9 per reception. Over the last three weeks, that number gets even higher at 14.2 yards per grab.
- The Browns have allowed the sixth-most points to opposing WRs in 2015.
Torrey Smith won’t be a popular pick here, but he’s developed a rapport with Gabbert and the matchup is a good one. You could do a lot worse at $900 over the minimum.
Tight End
Will Tye, Giants ($5,500)
Tight end (TE) is always a great place to punt and this week is no different with Giants TE Will Tye.
Larry Donnell is out for the season with a neck injury, which has left the rookie out of Stony Brook as Eli Manning‘s top option at the position.
Fantasy wise, Tye hasn’t disappointed, catching 14 passes for 200 yards over his last three games. He hasn’t found pay dirt yet, but that first TD could come this Monday night when the G-Men take on the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have been stingy against TEs this season, but Giants’ WR Rueben Randle has been cited for laziness of late, and that should give Tye a bigger opportunity to secure targets from Manning.
With an 11.33-fantasy point average over his last three games, the Giants’ unquestioned top TE option is worth rostering as a punt play in Week 14.
Defense/Special Teams
Detroit Lions ($5,300)
They’re no juggernaut, but the Lions have a great matchup this week versus the incredibly bad St. Louis Rams.
The Rams are averaging a microscopic 7.7 points over their last three games and simply cannot get anything going on offense. Teams have stacked the box against Todd Gurley, daring their QBs to pass the ball, which they’ve yet to do successfully pretty much all season long.
The Lions D/ST is ranked 21st on the season, but they have started pressuring QBs more in recent games. Their 10 sacks over the last three weeks ranks second in the league and they’ve forced five fumbles during that span as well.
There are better defenses you can play in Week 14, but if you wanna save some cash, rostering the Lions is a good way to do so while still giving yourself an opportunity for upside.
