Buy Low Opportunities Heading into Week 14 (Fantasy Football)

We are at a bit of a crossroads with fantasy football this week. On one hand, we have the must-win matchups that so many fantasy managers are faced with to make their league playoffs. On the other hand, we have bye weeks. The running back position in particular is heinous this week, as lots of big-name guys are going to be sitting out of crucial fantasy matchups. Even the best teams in your league will utilize the waiver wire heavily this week, so it’s important to find the right pieces that can actually be used. We’re not just buying low anymore, we are buying and opening at the store. 

Add or Start Zonovan “Bam” Knight 

Knight is featured here for the second time in two weeks, and for good reason. He saw a very significant workload in a run-first offense and seems to be the leader of this backfield for the foreseeable future. He was given 15 touches (75% of the carries) and also saw another five targets in the passing game. This usage can’t be ignored during a week with so many running backs on bye, and Knight will be a plug-and-play RB2 even in a matchup against the Bills. The Mike White lead Jets will continue to pound the rock at all costs to keep things close for as long as they can and keep that Buffalo offense on the sidelines. He’s an excellent flex option and a potentially impactful piece for the fantasy playoffs. 

Add or Start James Cook

James Cook went from an intriguing late-round pick to an irrelevant piece of a pass-first offense for most of the season. All of a sudden the Bills seem interested in utilizing him, as they mimic 2021 with an increased emphasis on the rushing attack down the stretch. Cook handled 14 carries and saw another six targets, which is genuinely elite usage in an offense of this caliber. Not every game is going to be a Thursday night matchup with the lowly Patriots offense, but the trust that the coaching staff is showing in Cook is very important for his fantasy outlook. With a few weeks left in the season and a thin running back waiver wire, Cook is a priority add in just about every league for every owner still in the playoff hunt. 

Buy Kirk Cousins as a QB1 in Week 14 

I should just leave a spot blank for “whichever quarterback faces the Lions” in this article because it’s proven to be an easy choice for streaming. Kirk Cousins is once again being disrespected for his consistent, high-floor performances in fantasy, and his ceiling is much higher this week. The Lions give up the most points to opposing quarterbacks by a wide margin, and they also hold that crown over the past month. The trend is the trend, and it’s been consistent. Cousins has the weapons he needs to have a big-time game, and the Lions’ turf will feel right at home for him. This is going to be a shootout, and Captain Kirk is a rock-solid QB1. 

Start Both Lions Running Backs in Week 14 

Jamaal Williams is defying all logic and regression models with his touchdown production, so his fantasy owners are likely starting him every single week because of it. The truly perplexing development in Detroit has been D’Andre Swift’s usage and his clear role as a backup to Williams. That dynamic may be changing here as Swift saw 14 targets over the past two weeks and has been a big-time producer for his fantasy managers who may be out of playoff contention because of him. Swift might just be back to being Swift, and it may be just in time to save some teams that have been benching him for a lot of the year. Fire up both Lions’ ball carriers for this lowkey game of the week and trust that he will carry you to playoff glory. 

Buy Zay Jones as a Flex Play and DFS Option in Week 14 

The Tennessee Titans have been a factory for opposing wide receivers this year, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are next in line to take a tour. They’ve been by far the worst in the league against opposing wide receivers over the past month, and Zay Jones has quietly been a big part of the offense. He’s seen 21 targets total in the last two games, and this week he is destined to produce opposite Christian Kirk who will draw the primary coverage from the Titans. Even the primary coverage is leaky, so Jones is going to have every route available at all levels of the field. As long as Trevor Lawrence is good to go, Jones is going to have a sneaky good game. He’s a great flex option for deeper leagues or teams that have a lot of bye weeks on their bench. I’m also building around Lawrence and Jones in DFS cash games depending on their price tags.