Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon Among 5 Essential Fantasy Football Must-Plays in Week 14
The fantasy football playoffs are finally here, which has significantly ramped up the intensity around each roster decision. It has most importantly made the final choices for your starting lineup that much more crucial. With the first round of the fantasy postseason underway in most leagues this week, here are some options that you should consider putting n your lineup for Week 14 action.
5. Melvin Gordon
ESPN PROJECTIONS: 14.3 PTS
Since making his return to the field, Gordon has seen his production progressively improve with each passing week. He has become a highly dependable factor out of the backfield, despite Austin Ekeler’s presence. Gordon has tallied double-digit fantasy outings in each of the last five games played.
He should be on track to keep that going this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, which is 27th against opposing running backs allowing 24.1 points per contest. That includes more than 30 points in two out of the last three games with six total touchdowns allowed. Expect Gordon to get a steady workload on Sunday afternoon.
4. Steelers D/ST
ESPN PROJECTIONS: 7.4 PTS
Throughout the season, the Steelers have worked their way into being one of the top defenses in the league. That was taken up a notch after acquiring star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick earlier in the year, which has had a tremendous impact.
Pittsburgh should stay on course for another big outing in the matchup facing a struggling Cardinals team that put up just seven points against the Rams despite being at home. That will once again be the same scenario for Arizona this week going up against a Steelers defense that has double-digit performances in eight out of their last nine games played.
3. Todd Gurley
ESPN PROJECTIONS: 15.1 PTS
One of the biggest storylines around the Rams this season has been the health of star running back Todd Gurley. He has seen his reduced significantly, but that hasn’t been the case of late with his workload heading back into familiar territory over the last couple of weeks.
The blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens aside, the Rams have made a concerted effort to get him work in the running game with at least 19 carries for 95 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team’s last two wins. With head coach Sean McVay voicing his regret for not involving Gurley more in the offense combined with it being a divisional game against the Seattle Seahawks with playoff implications, expect the Rams to lean heavily on the Pro Bowler.
2. James White
ESPN PROJECTIONS: 12.2 PTS
The Patriots have had some notable struggles offensively over the past few weeks, which has opened the door for White to grab a more prominent role in the offseason. That saw him explode for a season-best performance against the Houston Texans with 79 rushing yards on 14 carries along with eight catches for 98 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
With the Patriots finding success in the second half leaning on White, it should see him continue to assume a significant role in the offensive game plan. It also certainly helps that he will be playing against the Kansas City Chiefs’ atrocious defense that is ranked 31st against running games giving up 27.4 points per game.
1. Alshon Jeffery
ESPN PROJECTIONS: 11.6 PTS
If there was ever a welcome-back performance for the Eagles this season, it was from Alshon Jeffery last Sunday as he racked up nine catches on 16 targets for 137 receiving yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia has been in desperate need of Jeffery’s presence in the passing game this season behind their injury-riddled wide receiver core that has been equally inconsistent. That was also something we pointed out last week when we put him in the same exact spot on this list.
The Syracuse product should be in line for another big outing on Monday night against the New York Giants, who are 31st against opposing wide receivers giving up 35.0 points per contest. The Giants are coming off, allowing 47.7 points to the Green Bay Packers behind three touchdown passes. All of that should see Carson Wentz feeding Jeffery an ample amount of targets everywhere on the field.
