Week 14 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Jameis Winston, Braelon Allen, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and More
In a week with a ton of injuries and byes, these are the guys who you can look to if you're in need of a spot start.
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Winston is right back here where he has been on a consistent basis. We don't care that he threw two pick-sixes last week and has the worst possible matchup in the league against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to the position. We will continue to ride the Winston roller coaster.
Along with all those mistakes and mishaps comes an incredible upside that he somehow still displays in the same games with all the disastrous turnovers. Reference Monday Night Football for the perfect example.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Now that we've given you the fun and dangerous option in Winston, here is the safe and boring option in Carr. This is a guy who probably won't win you a week, but he's not going to lose it either. The Saints go up against a subpar Giants' defense and he should have a fine day.
Not great, not bad, just good enough. With a lot of bye-weeks in Week 14, this is the perfect choice if you are confident you can win this week and just want a guy to plug in who won't kill you.
Running Backs
Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Fantasy owners are dealing with a bunch of running back injuries all of a sudden, so we have a handful of potential replacements for you. Breece Hall is listed as doubtful for Week 14, but he might as well be ruled out. Allen is going to get the start this week and see the vast majority of the work.
The rookie has been impressive in his role behind Hall and we expect that to continue this week. He's the safest option for any potential injury replacement this week as far as volume goes for a guy that we've never seen in this role. Lock him in for the lion's share of work for the Jets.
Travis Homer, Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson has already been ruled out due to a concussion and D'Andre Swift is not a lock to suit up on Sunday or be 100% if he does. It has already been reported that Homer will see an expanded role this week, but it could get much larger if Swift is in fact ruled out.
He would have a great matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. While everyone is looking to Isaac Guerendo on the opposite sideline to be their savior, perhaps it's Homer who steals the show.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker sounds like he could very well miss this week after failing to practice on both Thursday and Friday. If he does, Charbonnet becomes a solid option with a decent matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
He is probably the safest option listed because we've seen him do it before. We know for a fact that he is capable of having success as the RB1 in the Seahawks' offense. That's comforting when you have to stream an injury replacement running back.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tucker has displayed upside at times this year despite generally serving as the RB3 in Tampa. If Bucky Irving is unable to play this week, Tucker will get a huge boost in value and could take over on the ground for Rachaad White, who has been unimpressive as a runner this season. However, of all the potentially injured backs that we've talked about so far, Irving is the most likely to suit up.
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Gus Edwards isn't injured, but he is ineffective. It feels like just a matter of time until Vidal takes over as the RB1 for the Chargers. There is a real chance that that transition will happen this week. This is only a desperation move but in some deeper leagues, he could be worth a look this week if you lost some backs and were slow to make it to the waiver wire.
Wide Receiver
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
This guy can't stop catching touchdown passes. We don't know what else to say. His TD efficiency has been incredible and it can no longer be ignored. Over the past eight games, he has caught eight TD passes despite only receiving 20 total passes for 365 yards.
In only one of the past eight games has he failed to find the end zone. This anomaly has become a consistency that hesitantly say that you can rely on.
Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens popped up on the injury report after straining his hamstring in practice Friday. There is a real chance that he is a surprise inactive for a lot of fantasy owners who are relying on him.
If that does turn out to be the case, the Steelers will need to find a guy who can win those contested catches that Russell Wilson loves to throw up. Williams is the obvious choice to take over that role and could suddenly become very fantasy-relevant.
