Fantasy Football: Last Minute Pickups For Week 14

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Value Can Be Found In Free Agency

Value
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It's Saturday night, less than 24 hours away from when most NFL games kick off for Week 14. If you're still competing in your fantasy football league, it's likely because you made the playoffs. Congratulations; surviving the regular season is no easy task. If you’re league isn’t at the playoffs yet, then this must be the last week of the regular season, which means there are probably plenty of important matchups to be won as well.

If you're season is on the line in Week 14, hopefully you have a lineup set that you're confident in, but if for any reason you need to hit the free agent pool -- let's say you're nervous about starting a struggling Andrew Luck -- in the hours leading up to your matchup, there are plenty of guys out there who can still help your fantasy team.

In the following slideshow I identify two quarterbacks, a running back, tight end and defense that are available in at least 50 percent of fantasy football leagues who can save a desperate owner in Week 14. If your team is decimated with injuries or just filled with struggling players facing tough matchups, these are the guys you should turn to for relief.

Good luck in Week 14!

Billy Moy is a Fantasy Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @william_moy6, "Like" him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

2 of 7

Josh McCown

Josh
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McCown, QB Chicago Bears

Josh McCown has thrown for at least 350 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games and has scored at least 12 fantasy points in five of his six starts this season. This week he faces a Dallas Cowboys defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I wrote more about McCown and his Week 14 prospects right here. McCown is still available in 83 percent of ESPN leagues and in 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

3 of 7

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Tennessee Titans

Fitzpatrick has scored at least 14 fantasy points in each of his last four starts and faces a Denver Broncos defense that allows the fourth most passing yards per game. I wrote about Fitzpatrick and his Week 14 prospects in more detail right here. Fitzpatrick is available in 95 percent of ESPN leagues and in 86 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

4 of 7

Donald Brown

Donald
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Donald Brown, RB Indianapolis Colts

Brown has a tough matchup this week against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Brown has officially taken over for Trent Richardson as the Colts' starting running back and he responded last week with 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Brown is available in 51 percent of ESPN leagues and in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

5 of 7

Nate Burleson

Nate
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Burleson, WR Detroit Lions

Nate Burleson wasn't targeted a single time last week, but I believe that was an anomaly. The Lions blew out the Green Bay Packers, Matthew Stafford had eight fewer pass attempts than his season average and he spread the ball around to 10 different receivers. In the game prior, Burleson had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown and this week he's up against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Burleson is available in 85 percent of ESPN leagues and in 62 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

6 of 7

Heath Miller

Heath
Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Heath Miller, TE Pittsburgh Steelers

The Miami Dolphins have been stout against wide receivers this season, but tight ends have been able to make up for their lack of production. The Dolphins have allowed eight touchdowns and the fifth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Miller has finally become involved in the passing game, catching 21 passes in his last three games, including eight passes in Week 13 and has a good shot at getting into the end zone against Miami.

7 of 7

Oakland Raiders

Oakland
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders D/ST

This has more to do with the opposition than anything. The Raiders get to face Geno Smith and the New York Jets this week who are without a doubt the worst offense in the NFL. Opposing defenses have scored at least 13 fantasy points in each of the last three games and at least 11 fantasy points in six of the last seven.

Related Articles

Top 10 MVP Candidates Heading Into Week 14

Fantasy Football: Crazy To Sit Antonio Brown In Week 14?

Fantasy Football: Shane Vereen A Playoff Superstar

1 of 7

Value Can Be Found In Free Agency

Value
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It's Saturday night, less than 24 hours away from when most NFL games kick off for Week 14. If you're still competing in your fantasy football league, it's likely because you made the playoffs. Congratulations; surviving the regular season is no easy task. If you’re league isn’t at the playoffs yet, then this must be the last week of the regular season, which means there are probably plenty of important matchups to be won as well.

If you're season is on the line in Week 14, hopefully you have a lineup set that you're confident in, but if for any reason you need to hit the free agent pool -- let's say you're nervous about starting a struggling Andrew Luck -- in the hours leading up to your matchup, there are plenty of guys out there who can still help your fantasy team.

In the following slideshow I identify two quarterbacks, a running back, tight end and defense that are available in at least 50 percent of fantasy football leagues who can save a desperate owner in Week 14. If your team is decimated with injuries or just filled with struggling players facing tough matchups, these are the guys you should turn to for relief.

Good luck in Week 14!

Billy Moy is a Fantasy Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @william_moy6, "Like" him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

2 of 7

Josh McCown

Josh
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McCown, QB Chicago Bears

Josh McCown has thrown for at least 350 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games and has scored at least 12 fantasy points in five of his six starts this season. This week he faces a Dallas Cowboys defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I wrote more about McCown and his Week 14 prospects right here. McCown is still available in 83 percent of ESPN leagues and in 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

3 of 7

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Tennessee Titans

Fitzpatrick has scored at least 14 fantasy points in each of his last four starts and faces a Denver Broncos defense that allows the fourth most passing yards per game. I wrote about Fitzpatrick and his Week 14 prospects in more detail right here. Fitzpatrick is available in 95 percent of ESPN leagues and in 86 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

4 of 7

Donald Brown

Donald
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Donald Brown, RB Indianapolis Colts

Brown has a tough matchup this week against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Brown has officially taken over for Trent Richardson as the Colts' starting running back and he responded last week with 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Brown is available in 51 percent of ESPN leagues and in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

5 of 7

Nate Burleson

Nate
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Burleson, WR Detroit Lions

Nate Burleson wasn't targeted a single time last week, but I believe that was an anomaly. The Lions blew out the Green Bay Packers, Matthew Stafford had eight fewer pass attempts than his season average and he spread the ball around to 10 different receivers. In the game prior, Burleson had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown and this week he's up against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Burleson is available in 85 percent of ESPN leagues and in 62 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

6 of 7

Heath Miller

Heath
Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Heath Miller, TE Pittsburgh Steelers

The Miami Dolphins have been stout against wide receivers this season, but tight ends have been able to make up for their lack of production. The Dolphins have allowed eight touchdowns and the fifth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Miller has finally become involved in the passing game, catching 21 passes in his last three games, including eight passes in Week 13 and has a good shot at getting into the end zone against Miami.

7 of 7

Oakland Raiders

Oakland
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders D/ST

This has more to do with the opposition than anything. The Raiders get to face Geno Smith and the New York Jets this week who are without a doubt the worst offense in the NFL. Opposing defenses have scored at least 13 fantasy points in each of the last three games and at least 11 fantasy points in six of the last seven.

Related Articles

Top 10 MVP Candidates Heading Into Week 14

Fantasy Football: Crazy To Sit Antonio Brown In Week 14?

Fantasy Football: Shane Vereen A Playoff Superstar


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