On to the (Fantasy) Playoffs!

For the season-long league folks, you’ve either just locked in those fantasy football playoff berths or your tournament starts this week, so Week 14 needs to be a lockdown week to reel in a W and make sure you’re moving on! Those who are out have other options such as Online Sportsbook New Jersey.

But for those still alive, here’s a quick look at the Ravens fantasy outlook as they prepare to take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday:

STUD: Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram

Lamar is a no-brainer, but I’m looking at the run game for Ingram and Jackson. The Ravens are averaging 37 carries per game, and the Bills have given up 5+ ypc in 4 of their last 5 games (the Fins’ 13-carry, 23-yard, 2-TD game being the anomaly). Look for the Ravens to focus on running rampant on the Bills Sunday, with LJ and Ingram ruling the fantasy roost.

DUD: Miles Boykin

This is more of an attempted reverse-jinx. Every week I feel like I’m calling Miles a sleeper pick, and every week he forgets to wake up. Perhaps if I just list him as a dud, he’ll find the end zone a time or two this weekend?

SLEEPER: Hollywood Brown

After a 2-target game against the 49ers, it doesn’t get any easier for Hollywood this week against an equally impressive secondary in the Bills. I expect more than 2 targets but I also don’t expect another seven-target game like he had two weeks ago against the Rams. Still, Hollywood gets Red Zone love from LJ, and could find a TD to provide a 10+ FP sorta game on the cheap.

Now for the rest of the league…

Quarterback

STUD: Kirk Cousins vs Lions

The Lions secondary is atrocious – just ask Mitch Trubisky. Cousins has put up 20+ fantasy points in 4 straight games against 4 stout defenses (KC, Dallas, Denver, Seattle), and rallied for 37 fantasy points last time he took on Detroit this season.

DUD: Gardner Minshew vs Bolts

Fans in Jacksonville are excited to be back on Minshew Mania hype train, but he’s not going to fare much better than Nick Foles would’ve fared against a tough Chargers pass defense this week.

SLEEPER: Ryan Tannehill vs Raiders

Outside of fantasy, I feel for Titans fans. They rode Marcus Mariota too long, turned to Tannehill too late, and a tough schedule is likely keeping them from a Wild Card spot. But Tannehill has turned it up of late, and is 2 weeks removed from a 35-point performance against the Jags. Taking on a Raiders D that’s allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing QBs this week is a sleeper lock.

Running Back

STUD: James White vs Chiefs

Sony Michel will also benefit from a matchup against a Chiefs D that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, but White comes in with the hot hand after a 36-point shredding of the Texans last week. Expect more Sunday afternoon (but hopefully it comes with a loss).

DUD: Bo Scarborough vs Vikes

BoScarBro hasn’t exactly lit up the fantasy world since joining the Lions (11, 7 & 8 points through 3 games), but his yardage is there in the 80-100 range, he’s just shy on goal line love to really put him over the top… yea, this isn’t the week for that against a Vikes defense that gives up the 7th fewest points to opposing backs.

SLEEPER: Kareem Hunt vs Bengals

He’s still a backup to Nick Chubb, but Hunt has been effective since returning from being a POS, scoring 14, 11, 11, & 16 in limited looks. Given that everybody gives their reserves and backups more snaps against the Bengals after taking an easy commanding lead (except the Jets!), look for a 15-20 FP day from Hunt.

Wide Receiver

STUD: Robert Woods vs Seahawks

This is all about target share in a PPR world. 18 targets for Woods last week en route to a 30-point showing… without ever seeing the end zone. He has a tougher matchup this week in Seattle, but again – that target share will be the key to another big game. 

DUD: DJ Chark vs Bolts

We’ve already parked Gardner Minshew on the pine, so let’s stick Chark here with him. The Bolts are giving up the 3rd fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts, and with Chark coming off a 2/47 performance against the biggest cupcake of a fantasy matchup last week, I expect another dud this week. 

SLEEPER: James Washington vs Cards

Some folks will say this is dependent upon a return from JuJu Smith-Schuster, but not for me. Duck loves him some James Washington, and I think the rapport shows on Washington’s stat sheet, with 18 and 21 points in the past 2 weeks. 

Tight End

STUD: MANDREWS vs Bills

Yea, so I’m sticking a Ravens down here too, big deal. The Ravens will rely on the run game in a big way Sunday but much like last week, I expect the Tight Ends to play a key role in the passing game as the wideouts likely get locked down by a stout Bills secondary. Andrews is coming off a 14-point performance against the 49ers… I expect more this week.

DUD: Jared Cook vs 49ers

Remember how I just said Mark Andrews put up 14 points against the 49ers? Would you believe he’s an anomaly and San Fran has been much better against opposing Tight Ends this season? Cook is hit or miss, and I’m betting on miss…

SLEEPER: Ryan Griffin vs Fins

We had Griffin as a sleeper last week, and we’ll keep him here again (how many ‘sleeper’ weeks move a player to a stud?). The Jets offense was anemic last week but an easier matchup versus the Dolphins can only help his cause and return Griffin to his double digit fantasy performances of late (4 of the past 6 weeks).

Defense/Special Teams

STUD: Yinz vs Cards

I hate saying this but great defense versus bad offense tends to result in many fantasy points. 

DUD: Bills vs Ravens

Sorry, Buffalo. Not your week.

SLEEPER: Bengals vs Browns

Seriously you guys. Bengals are a sleeper here. The Browns offense blew up for 41 points against Miami, but otherwise hasn’t broken 21 points since before their bye seven weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Bengals have held their last 3 opponents to 17 points or less, including a hot Raiders and Jets (at the time) offense. UPSET SPECIAL!

Kicker

STUD: If you rely on a kicker…

DUD: To win in fantasy…

SLEEPER: You’re doing it wrong.