Admin December 5, 2024
Bills secure AFC East, Ravens continue with self-inflicted wounds
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 13 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
“This is it. This is life, the one you get. So go and have a ball.”
While the theme song for the 1970s sitcom, “One Day at a Time,” isn’t an ode to what is typically the final week of the fantasy football season, the lyrics still ring true. Norman Lear was on a heater when it came to creating TV sitcoms in the 1970s, but we can pull plenty from that era to help us in the present day.
In what’s likely a make-or-break week for so many fantasy teams across the football world, it’s best to take it, well, one day at a time. This season’s been a long one, marred by countless injuries amongst other twists and turns. If you’re still standing, consider yourself lucky. It takes many great waiver claims, start/sit decisions, trades and so much more to build a champion.
Just like Rome, however, fantasy championships weren’t built in a day. So use this week to look back on the fun that we’ve had throughout the 2024 fantasy season, before shifting focus to the postseason run that awaits.
Whether you’re in contention or looking to play spoiler for that colleague or friend gets on your nerves, we’re here to give you the best shot at delivering on those dreams.
So, like the song, we are straight ahead and rest assured because we can’t be sure at all. Here are four D/ST units that we believe will get the job done in Week 14 and four that we think should be avoided, if you can.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 14 D/STs
Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Despite the Steelers defense surrendering 32 of the Bengals’ 38 points in Week 13, Pittsburgh managed to turn in a double digit point performance in Cincinnati. They did it thanks to an four sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception, a touchdown and a partridge in a pear tree.
Now they get the benefit of seeing the same team they saw two weeks ago on a snowy Thursday night in Cleveland. The first round went to Jameis Winston and the Browns, but don’t expect lightning to strike twice. Winston is coming off a classic performance in Week 13, one that saw him toss three interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns. These division games are typically low-scoring affairs. With a feisty Steelers defense hoping to avenge their Week 12 loss, the ceiling this week is, like Russell Wilson, unlimited.
Miami Dolphins (vs. New York Jets)
The Dolphins are back home in the friendly confines of the Sunshine State following an unhappy Thanksgiving beatdown on the frozen tundra in Green Bay. Now that they’re defrosted, the Phins can get back to trying to track down a playoff spot. The window is closing rapidly, but welcoming the Jets to town might be just what the doctor ordered. New York is doing their best snowbird impression in Week 14, exchanging the layers for some lighter clothes and a potential visit to the beach.
While the Jets still have a few more weeks before heading to the beach full-time, recent history suggests that expectations should be very low for the team. The Dolphins have dominated this matchup over the years, especially in Miami. The Jets haven’t won there since 2014, when the Rex Ryan-led team quarterbacked by Geno Smith won 37-24 in Week 17. In what’s proven to be a house of horrors, it would be difficult to believe in any positive outcome for this grounded plane. The Jets invested everything they had in jumping out to a first half lead against the Seahawks in Week 13 before collapsing in the second half. The fuel tank is empty, but the tank for the draft is filled all the way up.
Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals)
In the spirit of revisiting matchups we just saw two weeks ago, we’ll also turn to the Seahawks, who hit the road to visit the Cardinals in the desert. Coming off two dominant fantasy performances, the Seattle defense has scored a touchdown in back-to-back weeks. After holding Arizona to just six points in Week 12, there’s reason to believe they’ll have another solid day at the office.
The Seahawks sacked Kyler Murray five times in their recent meeting, a season-high for the Cardinals’ signal caller. In two outings since the bye week, Murray has been average at best in terms of fantasy production. While he ran for 48 yards against the Vikings, this Seahawks defense kept him to just two carries and nine rushing yards. They are winners of six straight in this series, a trend that appears likely to continue in Week 14. In what could be a statement game in the NFC West race, we’ll back the Seattle defense to do it again, giving themselves a nice cushion over a division rival.
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
The Week 14 slate features a Kirk Cousins revenge game, but it appears that it will be his former team that has the last laugh. He’s coming off a four interception performance and has gone three games without a touchdown. The calls for Michael Penix Jr. have only grown as a result. These Falcons are some wounded birds right now, losing three straight and their lead over the Buccaneers in the NFC South. It’s unlikely that a trip to Minnesota and a raucous U.S. Bank Stadium will suddenly fix that.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 14 D/STs
Green Bay Packers (at Detroit Lions)
This week’s Thursday night matchup doesn’t feature a pair of teams on short weeks, as both sides come in fresh after their Thanksgiving feasts. While the Lions are a wounded group, the injury bug looks to be limited to the defense for now. There is some level of concern that the dominant Detroit offense looked stuck in the mud as the Bears mounted a comeback, but we want no part of Green Bay’s defense on the road at Ford Field in that electric environment.
While the Packers are rated amongst the top D/ST units in fantasy, their results lately haven’t been the most encouraging. Their point totals have been propped up by a Dolphins team that was freezing, the 49ers led by Brandon Allen and a Bears group that was still coached by Matt Eberflus. In addition, the Packers managed just one sack against these Lions in Week 9 and were unable to force any turnovers despite playing at home. Back in the friendly confines of the Motor City for a big divisional showdown, best of luck if you want to fade the Lions.
Buffalo Bills (at Los Angeles Rams)
This one won’t be popular, but popularity doesn’t win anything except reality television shows. The Bills have forced at least one turnover in every game. They are a top five D/ST unit in fantasy. All signs point towards another solid showing from Buffalo, but expectations seems a bit out of control.
They are coming off a blowout win over the 49ers after snow blanketed the Buffalo area, but these aren’t the same 49ers anymore. Injuries have depleted that team and they even lost both running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, in the process. That’s not to take away anything from the Bills, but they are now traveling across the country after just clinching the AFC East to play the Rams. If there was ever a letdown spot for Buffalo, this is probably it. A potential Super Bowl preview looms with the Lions the following week, so we are here to deflate the Bills’ balloon, just a little bit.
San Francisco 49ers (vs. Chicago Bears)
The 49ers are back in the sit section once again, as we continue to beat the drum that you cannot trust this unit. Like the Bills, we aren’t putting much stock into their performance in the snow. We are, however, putting plenty of stock into how they’ve looked as the injuries have piled up. The Bears don’t have an explosive offense like the Bills or Packers, who posted 38 points against this unit in Week 12, but they do profile as a team that should put up a respectable performance.
It was clear that the team was done with having Matt Eberflus as their coach. Plenty has trickled out since the move was made official, but this is more of an endorsement of now-interim head coach, Thomas Brown. After a lifeless first half against the Lions, Caleb Williams and the Chicago offense turned it around, nearly pulling off an improbable comeback. There is a great chance that momentum carries in Week 14 against another battered defense, especially considering the history of coach firings providing a bump in play the following week.
Cincinnati Bengals (at Dallas Cowboys)
If you’re in the need for a fantasy defense, the Bengals are an attractive streaming option. However, they’ve given up at least 30 points in three straight games, most recently to the Steelers who essentially ended Cincinnati’s playoff hopes. Having something to play for is a big motivating factor this time of year and the Bengals have been demoralized at every turn. The Cowboys, on the other hand, just secured their first home win of the year with a holiday win over the Giants. On a team littered with backups hoping to secure jobs for next season, motivation is on the side of the Cowboys here. They may not win, but Dallas won’t go quietly into the night, meaning the Bengals should be kept on the waiver wire.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 14
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 14.
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 14.
→ Kickers are people, too. Here are the most clutch kickers to start, and some to sit, for Week 14.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 14 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 14.