It’s time for weekly bold predictions. The point here is that if you follow the consensus, you’re probably going to have a good team. But in order to go from good to great, you have to take some chances. You have to do your homework and figure out where you can zig when the rest of your league (or at least your opponent this week) zags. In short, you need to know how and when to be bold.
We asked our analysts to provide a bold prediction for Week 14. Their answers and justifications are below.
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Q: What is one bold fantasy prediction (player-related) for the upcoming week, and why could it happen?
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) | A.J. Brown (WR – PHI)
“CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown will combine for over 300 receiving yards and 45 half-point PPR fantasy points. They have been two of the top wide receivers over the past several weeks. Lamb has scored 22 or more fantasy points in 66.7% of the games since the team’s bye. Furthermore, he has found the end zone in four consecutive contests. Meanwhile, Brown had 114 receiving yards last week after a few down performances. Yet, he had at least 110 receiving yards in 70% of his past 10 games. The two superstars had 257 passing yards and 38.7 fantasy points in the Week 9 matchup. My condolences to fantasy players facing both wide receivers this week.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“This week CeeDee Lamb keeps his strong production going as he puts up more than 40 fantasy points as THE WR1 for this week. The Philadelphia Eagles are good at stopping opposing running games but get shredded by opposing passing offenses. The last time Lamb went against the Eagles, he caught 11 of his 16 targets for 191 yards. He was able to put up 31.10 PPR points without even scoring a TD. This time, he is playing at home, in a dome, which should be an even better offensive environment. Lamb is primed to have a monster performance once again this week.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)
Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN)
“Alexander Mattison finishes as a Top-12 running back this week. For anyone who has watched Mattison at any point this season, you know it hasn’t been pretty. Despite this, the team continues to feed him the ball, even with Ty Chandler seeing an increased role. Mattison has 16 or more attempts in three of his last five games and over 4.5 per carry in each of his last two games. The Vikings are floundering at the QB position, and this Raiders team struggles to stop the run. I expect the Vikings will want to ride their run game in this winnable matchup, leading to Mattison finding fantasy success and scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season. ”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
Gabe Davis (WR – BUF)
“WR Gabe Davis finishes as a top 10 WR with six receptions, 130 yards, and 1 TD. Davis has given the Chiefs fits in the past; maybe he can rekindle some of that magic once again? This figures to be a high-scoring game, and the Bills have added some weapons since Kansas City saw them last. If Kansas City defends him with man coverage, Davis and Allen are talented enough to burn them with some big plays. Just like I (Mark Ringo) am talented enough to burn my readers with awful jokes haha! ”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Big Game Gabe Shows Up Ah, the charismatic enigma known as Gabe Davis. It is a tale as old as time: big-time hype that, more times than not, just lets you down hard. This time around, though, Gabe will come through. This game against the Chiefs, in theory, calls for lots of points. This is all despite the fact how turnover-prone Buffalo has become this year and just how, honestly, meh the Chiefs offense has performed as of late. This is your Gabe Davis game. Fire him up. Davis goes for over 100 with a score and finishes as a top 10 play in Week 14.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC) | Alvin Kamara (RB – NO) | Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
“A trio of superstar running backs will each record a touchdown hat-trick. Austin Ekeler, Alvin Kamara, and Christian McCaffrey get the 1st, 3rd, and 5th easiest matchup for running backs in Week 14, and all three will record not one, not two, but three total touchdowns. This may come as little surprise for the all-worldly McCaffrey, who seems to do this on a semi-weekly basis, but for Austin Ekeler, who currently ranks as RB28 and only has a total of five touchdowns on the season, it will come as a breath of fresh air for his fantasy managers when they need it most. All three members of this trio will finish in the top 5 this week as they dismantle the Broncos, Panthers, and Seahawks, respectively.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)
“Dontayvion Wicks has 100 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Packers. Green Bay is likely to be without WR Christian Watson, who tweaked his hamstring late in the Packers’ Sunday night win over the Chiefs. It’s actually Wicks, not Watson, Romeo Doubs, or fellow rookie Jayden Reed, who has earned the highest PFF grade among Green Bay’s receivers this season. A fifth-round pick from Virginia, Wicks has 23 catches for 374 yards and a touchdown. He’s averaging a robust 16.3 yards per catch, 10.4 yards per target, and 1.98 yards per route run. If (when) Watson is ruled out, Wicks will be in line for a full complement of snaps against a Giants defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, and we’ll see a breakout performance from Wicks on Monday night.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
D’Andre Swift (RB – PHI)
“D’Andre Swift is likely to disappoint fantasy managers in Week 14, falling outside the top 24 at his position due to concerns surrounding his premature Week 13 exit and lackluster fantasy performances in the last two weeks. The upcoming matchup against Dallas adds to the uncertainty, as the Cowboys boast the third-best defense against fantasy RBs this season. Their well-rounded defensive approach, effective against both rushing and receiving, along with their resistance to rushing TDs, presents a formidable challenge for Swift. Ambiguity regarding Swift’s role in the passing game further raises doubts about his fantasy production, given recent inefficiencies. Due to these factors, exercising caution and exploring alternative options for Week 14 may be advisable, with expectations for Swift to return to fringe-RB1 status for the fantasy playoffs after facing Dallas.”
– Schuyler Malak (JWB Fantasy Football)
Joshua Dobbs (QB – MIN) | Gardner Minshew (QB – IND)
“This week, two of the top five fantasy quarterbacks will be backups! This is a week with matchups of backup quarterbacks, including Joshua Dobbs (MIN) vs Aidan O’Connell (LV), Gardner Minshew (IND) Jake Browning (CIN), Joe Flacco (CLE) vs C.J. Beathard (JAC), and Bailey Zappe (NE) vs Mitch Trubisky (PIT). As they are motivated to make their marks on the league and face defenses that are struggling, there are points to be scored, and fantasy owners will rejoice as they sneak into the playoffs on the back of these backup signal callers. Fantasy owners can only guess which two quarterbacks it will be but it could possibly be Joshua Dobbs with the return of Justin Jefferson and Gardner Minshew, who is starting to create an amazing connection with Michael Pittman! If you pick the correct two, your week 14 will be astounding!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
IDP: Marquis Haynes Sr. (DE – CAR)
“From a fantasy standpoint, the Panthers haven’t had much consistency at any defensive position this year. Injuries and a season, including coaching changes, have affected the player rotations. I think Carolina’s defensive end, Marquis Haynes Sr., will continue where he left off last week and finish as a top-15 defensive lineman. Haynes Sr. has logged only 85 snaps in three games this season (WK’s 10/12/13) but has several pressures and has shown he has a knack for bringing down the ball carrier, which is excellent because Brian Burns being on the other side of the Panthers defensive line could mean the offensive gameplan is headed his way. ”
– Mason “Mase” Riney (Fantasy Six Pack)
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