Week 14 features the final round of byes on the eve of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. Last week saw two teams that gave us outstanding performances, as the Falcons and Buccaneers delivered great results. What I failed to see on the horizon when I picked the Jaguars last week was the second-coming of Joe Montana and the West Coast Offense in the form of Cincinnati Bengals QB Jake Browning. Only two teams are enjoying a bye this week, so we have more options available to us this week than we did in Week 13. Let’s dive in and look for squads playing against New York teams that are rostered in around 50 percent of leagues or fewer.
Please note: there’s a decent chance that better teams above this 50 percent threshold are out there in your league, but we can’t assume they’re out there for everyone. We have to draw the proverbial line somewhere, so stay active and monitor the league home page; someone might drop a desirable defense after waivers clear.
Houston Texans
Opponent: @ New York Jets
ESPN % Rostered: 15%
Yahoo % Rostered: 16%
Hot off a victory in which they allowed QB Russell Wilson to cook up three sacks and three interceptions, the Houston Texans travel to New York, where they will face off against the last quarterback on the Jets’ depth chart to yell “Not it!” When your team’s head coach is spending the media day putting out rumor fires that his quarterback is gun-shy about retaking the position you kicked him out of in the first place, well…that sounds like a great game in which to take the opposing team’s D/ST. The Texans are a Top 10 defense in QB hurry rate, which could lead to pressured mistakes by the New York Jets offense. The Texans are also on a four-game interception streak and have combined for a total of seven over those last four games. Meanwhile, the Jets are the second-worst team in total offensive yards per game. Sometimes, it’s just this easy.
Green Bay Packers
Opponent: vs. @ New York Giants
ESPN % Rostered: 25%
Yahoo % Rostered: 21%
This brings me to the worst team in offensive yards per game, the New York Giants. We’re staying in MetLife Stadium for our next pick as the Green Bay Packers have found their mojo over these past few weeks. Things are starting to click for them as they have rallied for three wins in a row against talented offenses such as the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs. Now they get to take on the New York Giants?
Yes, please.
The Packers are on a bit of a turnover run lately with seven takeaways in their last five games. Their Top 10 rank in QB knockdown rate is starting to pay dividends as they now have eight sacks over their last three games. Before their bye last week, the Giants had surrendered double-digit fantasy points to their last FIVE opponents in a row. Stream the Packers with confidence this week.
Indianapolis Colts
Opponent: @ Cincinnati Bengals
ESPN % Rostered: 26%
Yahoo % Rostered: 32%
This is one of FOUR games this weekend in which a backup quarterback faces off against another backup quarterback. While the Cincinnati Bengals were able to use a short passing game to abundant success last week, the Indianapolis Colts have faced that style of offense before this season. The Colts continue their campaign of sneaking under the radar into Top 10 fantasy defense finishes, and they have an eye on the Top 5, at this rate. They have scored double-digit points in their last four games, averaging over 16 points per game during that span. The renewed effort to get to the quarterback has resulted in 21 sacks; the Colts have averaged five per game over that four-game stretch. They have also voraciously attacked the football, as evidenced by nine turnovers against their last four opponents.
Watching the Wire (for the playoffs)
If you find yourself with rock-solid odds to make the postseason, perhaps consider dropping your least valuable depth player for a team with a potentially good matchup in the future.
New Orleans Saints (E:58% Y!:44%) – Week 15: vs. New York Giants; Week 16: @ Los Angeles Rams; Week 17 @ Tampa Bay
Atlanta Falcons (E:78% Y!:50%) – Week 15: @ Carolina Panthers; Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts; Week 17: @ Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Rams (E: 31% Y!:34%) – Week 15: vs. Washington Commanders; Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints; Week 17: @ New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles (E: 54% Y!:72%) – Week 15: @ Seattle Seahawks; Week 16: vs. New York Giants; Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Chicago Bears (E: 4% Y!:4%) – Week 15: @ Cleveland Browns; Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals; Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
If you see something I don’t, leave a comment or hit me up with feedback @MikeoftheFF on Twitter!
Photos by Zach Bolinger & Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire | Design by Michael Packard (@designsbypack on Twitter @ IG)