NFL Fantasy Football, Week 14 Preview: Playoff Atmosphere

Week 14 is either the last week of the regular season or the first week of the playoffs. You either have a lot riding on it or really nothing at all. I've got one league where I'm essentially in a "play-in" game for a playoff spot. So, we're going to switch things up here a bit and change our format. No more looks at guys we're interested in for the rest of the year - we're in win now mode and will sacrifice our 1^st born round pick for the chance at an extra point or two. There are two things to remember in playoff fantasy football. The first is that the skill in FFB is getting to the playoffs and that you need luck to win it once you get there. The second thing is Flags Fly Forever - so go out and make the moves you need to secure that banner, traveling trophy, or virtual feather in the cap.

We'll go through QBs, RBs, and WRs and put many of the top options in one of 4 categories and then choose our longshot pick for the week. Tight ends are a crapshoot this year so good luck there. Hopefully this will help you compare your options. As always, feel free to list your questions in the comments and the community will help with their opinions. Good luck to you - may your running backs avoid TD vultures and your receivers get both feet down (and complete the process of a catch when going to the ground to avoid a lengthy review and ultimately have points taken off the board).

QUARTERBACKS

QBs I love: Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Tyrod Taylor. Keep rolling with players that are hot and have good matchups. SuperCam doesn't have a good matchup but he's so good right now you can't sit him. Wilson and Taylor have great matchups.

QBs I like: Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, Drew Brees, Ryan Tannehill, Ben Roethlisberger. You're not sitting Brady but it's worth noting a degree of difficulty matchup with injured weapons on the sidelines. Big Ben has a tough matchup but he's been so good you have to keep rolling.

QBs if no better options: Brian Hoyer, Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Rodgers. I'd play Hoyer and hope the game goes into shootout mode against the Patriots. Hasselbeck is an interesting floor start as he's been steady for the Colts up until last week but gets an easier draw against the Jaguars.

QBs I'm avoiding: Matt Ryan, Derek Carr, Johnny Manziel. Don't get cute here and start Manziel. Sit Ryan and Carr if you can - they get Carolina and Denver respectively.

QB Shotgun Longshot - Jameis Winston - Winston is only 45% owned in Yahoo! leagues right now and he gets the Saints defense at home. Winston has played well at home and managed 5 TD passes against the Eagles defense. This could be Winston's first 300 yard game.

RUNNING BACKS

RBs I love: LeSean McCoy, Doug Martin, Jonathan Stewart, Lamar Miller, Charcandrick West. Revenge game for McCoy, Martin gets the Saints, Stewart and Miller are hot. West should benefit from an early lead and taking the air out of the ball against the Chargers.

RBs I like: Devonta Freeman, Thomas Rawls, Matt Forte, Todd Gurley, Shaun Draughn, T.J. Yeldon, Frank Gore. Freeman will likely struggle against the Panthers but his play this year has been so good you have to play him. Gurley needs to show something this week against Detroit. Yeldon and Gore square off against each other's bad run defenses.

RBs if no better options: CJ Anderson, Chris Ivory, Jeremy Hill & Giovani Bernard, Darren McFadden, Latavius Murray. C.J. Anderson is battling injury, Ivory has a tough draw as do the Bengals backs. I'd find it hard to trust that Dallas offense right now.

RBs I'm avoiding: Javorius Allen, Eddie Lacy, DeMarco Murray, Danny Woodhead, C.J. Spiller. I don't think Baltimore's offense will be able to move the ball against Seattle. Questions loom for me about Lacy, Murray, and Spiller and I don't trust that Chargers offense right now.

RB Toss Sweep Sleeper: Tim Hightower - It's a shame we lost yet another starting RB for the year with Mark Ingram hitting the IR shelf earlier this week. Ingram was quietly having a great year as a steady floor guy. We've seen Hightower take the lead role before and he's got fresh legs playing for a team that can move the ball and score some points. Tampa Bay's defense isn't exactly a stellar matchup, but I like him to be the primary ball carrier here and his schedule the next two weeks is good - Detroit and Jacksonville.

WIDE RECEIVERS

WRs I love: Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Robinson, A.J. Green, Alshon Jeffery, Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans.  The obvious guys will continue to play for you and yes, Allen Robinson has moved into "obvious guy" territory. Landry, Watkins, and Evans all draw dream matchups.

WRs I like: Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Doug Baldwin, Martavis Bryant, Calvin Johnson, Emmanuel Sanders, Allen Hurns, DeVante Parker. You almost certainly have to play some of these guy like Julio and Calvin who may not have the best matchups. I like Hurns to be useful this weekend and I'm doubling down on Parker (more below).

WRs if no better options: Danny Amendola, Jeremy Maclin, Golden Tate, Brandin Cooks, Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson, Marvin Jones, Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin, Jordan Matthews. I'm looking to get out of starting all of these guys if I have someone above to fill their spot but I'm not pulling my hair if I have to play these guys. Marvin Jones has been useful at times this year and is a good play against the Steelers if you need it.

WRs I'm avoiding: Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, Brandon LaFell, Kamar Aikens. I don't trust the Raiders against the Broncos or the Ravens against the Seahawks. LaFell has failed to show me anything interesting this year and you can't trust a guy like that in this spot.

WR Fly Route Flier: DeVante Parker - Yes, I'm doubling down on my Parker recommendation from last week but he's got a great matchup against the Giants this week and he's only 40% owned right now. If you're looking a WR problem in the eye right now, go get Parker.

Let's hear about what's on the line for you this weekend. Anyone starting their playoffs?