NFL Fantasy Forecast Week 14: Busts, Breakouts, Sleepers, and More
We’ve made it to the all-important final week of the fantasy football regular season. Whether you’re fighting for your league’s final playoff spot, needing to jump up the standings for a higher seed in the bracket, or simply looking for a win to build some momentum heading into the postseason, we know a ton of you need to win your matchup this week.
Before you set those lineups, though, check out Sportscasting’s fantasy football predictions for NFL Week 14.
Sportscasting’s Week 14 NFL Fantasy Football Forecast
Quarterback Bust of the Week: Tom Brady
Luke Norris: Minus the final few minutes of his miracle Monday night comeback, Tom Brady struggled to move the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense against a New Orleans Saints defense that ranks in the bottom fourth of the NFL against the pass.
So I can’t say I’m all that confident he’ll be able to do much against a San Francisco 49ers defense that just made life miserable for Tua Tagovailoa.
Player Prop of the Week: Mark Andrews over 13.1 PPR points
Jack Dougherty: Mark Andrews fantasy owners are starting to feel a bit worried with playoffs right around the corner. The Baltimore Ravens tight end hasn’t topped 12.3 PPR points since Week 6, and now Lamar Jackson is likely to miss at least one game with a PCL sprain in his left knee.
But Tyler Huntley might be exactly what Andrews needs to get back on track.
In five games last season with Huntley under center, Andrews racked up 43 catches, 498 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He scored more than 13.1 PPR points in all five games. Huntley loves to target his tight end when he’s forced into action, and he should feed Andrews early and often against a suspect Pittsburgh Steelers secondary this week.
Breakout Rookie of the Week: Brock Purdy
Tim Crean: This week’s breakout rookie is the last rookie taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. Brock Purdy went from being “Mr. Irrelevant” to the 49ers’ last hope at salvaging the season and the most relevant player on the roster heading into Week 14.
Last week, Purdy was excellent in relief of Jimmy Garoppolo, going 25-of-37 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Starting is a different beast, but if your fantasy team is as desperate as the 49ers heading into the last week of the fantasy regular season, Purdy is probably a better option than anyone else on the waiver wire.
Defensive Disaster of the Week: New York Jets
Mike Thomas: The New York Jets weren’t expected to be a playoff-contending team, but at 7-5, they are in the thick of the AFC postseason hunt.
The reason they are in contention is because of their tenacious, ball-hawking defense. The Buffalo Bills, who already suffered a loss at the hands of the Jets, will take that defense down a notch this weekend.
Josh Allen’s elbow appears to be a non-issue now. The Bills are back in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage, and they’re playing in front of their raucous home crowd. Look for Allen and the Bills to exact their revenge in convincing fashion against that Jets defense.
Kicker Sleeper of the Week: New York Jets
Adam Fromal: Only rostered in 5.2% of ESPN leagues? Coming off a 19-point week? Playing for a Detroit Lions offense that’s clicking after getting healthy and putting up a barrage of points against the Jacksonville Jaguars? Kicking against the Minnesota Vikings, who have given up the second-most fantasy points to kickers this season?
Forget about this being a “sleeper.”
Michael Badgley should be ranked above even some of the biggest lineup staples at the position. Pick him up, place him in a starting slot, and then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labors.
This one is easy.
