This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
Before jumping headfirst into the whirlwind of fun that is Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football, be sure to differentiate between the variety of games offered. Since Head-to-Heads, 50/50s and Double Ups pay nearly half of entrants, your best bet for cashing is to target players with higher floors. Think heavily targeted No. 1 WRs, RBs who get the bulk of a team's carries, and upper echelon QBs in matchups with a tight Vegas point spread and a high total.
Tournaments / Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs) require a bit more of your inner contrarian. Target offensive players with higher ceilings in advantageous matchups. Huge point totals can come from the most unpredictable of places, and the most obvious plays are not always the right ones. Though previous week's performances should be noted, each new week of action should be considered its own season. Don't chase last week's stats.
Overview
Upon first glance, the Week 14 slate appears more challenging than Week 13's, where a handful of opportune matchups popped off the schedule. The Saints-Buccaneers is the game season-long playoff folks have been waiting for, and it happens to be the only one on the slate with an implied total greater than 50 points. This week, we'll have to make a tough decision between the three-headed RB monster, as David Johnson, Le'Veon Bell and Ezekiel Elliott are all priced at $40. It's worth noting that last week's $10,000 winner in the 100k Baller stacked minimum-priced receivers around Johnson/Bell, and Jordan Howard in the flex. This week will require a new recipe for success, and part of that will be keeping an eye on weather around the country. At this point in the season, tracking weather conditions in non-domed stadiums is more crucial to our roster construction than ever. Outside of the expected NO-TB shootout, I'll be focused on offenses playing in friendlier conditions like those in San Francisco, Miami and Carolina. In addition to just one game expected to top 50 points, we have six divisional battles. We're in the stretch run, so it's time to sharpen our focus and finish the year strong.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
Colin Kaepernick (SF, $33)
Last week's despicable 2.16 FP performance makes Kaepernick a tough pill to swallow, but a matchup with the 32nd-ranked pass defense by DVOA makes rostering him in Week 14 easier to digest. He managed to complete just one of five passes for four yards in Week 13 before taking a seat on the bench, an absolute slap in the face to those who needed at least an average effort from him to clinch a playoff spot in season-long leagues. It was a particularly gruesome follow-up to his 34.14 fantasy point day in Week 12. He will start this Sunday and should take advantage of this bounce-back spot against a Jets pass defense that allowed four easy touchdowns to Andrew Luck on MNF. Kaepernick will have low ownership this week, especially with options like Luck, Philip Rivers, Matthew Stafford and Jameis Winston available in his price range.
Julio Jones (ATL, $37)
You'll hardly ever see Jones listed as a GPP play. He's one of the league's elite wideouts, yet seems to be falling onto the Andre Johnson career path, managing to hit double-digit touchdowns just once in his career and that all the way back in 2012. Mike Evans ($40), Antonio Brown ($37) and Odell Beckham Jr. ($36) will surely garner heavier ownership this week, especially since Jones has that "Q" tag next to him as he deals with a case of the dreaded turf toe. He has played through worse, and will likely get the chance to line up against the Rams' E.J. Gaines, who is one of the worst cornerbacks in all of football. Of course, we shouldn't expect the Rams to make it that easy for the Falcons' offense, but I have no problem betting against Jeff Fisher any day of the week. Jones has accumulated over 150 more receiving yards than T.Y. Hilton, who ranks second in the league in that department. Jones deserves consideration for our lineups each and every week, and Week 14 is no exception.
Robby Anderson (NYJ, $10)
It could be a dicey bet for cash games, but Anderson appears to be a solid salary-saver and will likely pop up on DFS radars across the industry come the weekend. Anderson was targeted 12 times against the Colts on Monday Night Football, catching a touchdown and adding 61 yards, with much of the action coming from backup rookie quarterback Bryce Petty. It's the same connection we saw in the preseason. As Scott Barrett of Pro Football Focus pointed out on Twitter, Anderson was Petty's favorite preseason target, leading all Jets receivers with nine of them while Petty was on the field. There really is something to the idea of rapport between backup players, since they have the time to work together in practice throughout the season. In a sea of questionable options among the lowest-priced receivers, Anderson is worth a look against a Niners pass defense that has consistently been thrashed over the course of the season.
Other Against-the-Grainers
QB: Philip Rivers (SD, $34), Andrew Luck (IND, $31)
RB: Frank Gore (IND, $20), Rashad Jennings (NYG, $14)
WR: Sammy Watkins ($19), DeSean Jackson (PHI, $17), Adam Thielen (MIN, $14), Cameron Meredith (CHI, $11)
TE: Antonio Gates (SD, $20), Vance McDonald (SF, $14)
DST: Philadelphia Eagles ($15)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
Quarterback
Jameis Winston (TB, $31)
In a perfect world, we all just set Drew Brees in our lineups this week and forget it. But what fun would this game be without a salary cap? Winston provides a nice discount from Brees while still allowing us to get a piece of the passing action in Week 14's highest implied point total (51). The game opened as a pick'em, but the line has since moved to 2.5 in favor of the hometown Bucs. Despite some awful decision-making that has resulted in ugly interceptions, Winston has maintained a solid cash game floor, not dipping below 16 fantasy points since Week 7. He will rely heavily on his two big targets (Mike Evans and Cameron Brate) once again this week. He managed just two touchdown passes against the Saints in his two games against them as a rookie, but should step up to the plate in Week 14.
Running Backs
Matt Forte (NYJ, $28)
Forte gets the primo rushing matchup of the week, facing a Niners defense that has been getting shredded on a weekly basis, most recently surrendering a 29.7 FP (119 yards, 3 TDs) performance by Bears' rookie Jordan Howard. Forte caught three balls for 54 yards but only received nine carries (25 yards) because of negative game script on Monday night. His price was bumped substantially for this matchup, but it doesn't get any easier than the league's worst-ranked rush defense by DVOA. Forte's ownership shares may be in competition with Bengals' back Jeremy Hill, since he will be facing a heavy underdog in the Browns, but Hill is a dicier option and has simply been inefficient this season, especially since Giovani Bernard hit IR. In fact, were it not for a 74-yard touchdown he broke off against the Browns in Week 8, Hill would be averaging 3.56 yards per carry. Forte has a higher floor and gets the nod over Hill because of Forte's typical workhorse usage, pass-catching ability and a date with fantasy heaven.
Theo Riddick (DET, $19)
Riddick has several factors in his favor heading into Week 14. First of all, his price continues to hover around the $20 mark, mostly due to the fact that he has not topped 60 YFS over the last two weeks. The Lions are at home in their dome, where adverse weather won't be a factor, and are eight-point favorites against the Bears. Most importantly, he is a steady cog in the Lions' machine as Matthew Stafford relies on him for a myriad of short passes, allowing Riddick to rack up half a point per reception. In fact, he ranks third behind David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell in running back receptions with 53. Riddick did miss Wednesday's practice with a wrist injury, but he's been missing practice often over the last few weeks and should be good to go Sunday. He has crossed the goal line just once in his last four games, but is due for a big one. Expect him to surpass 100 yards from scrimmage and get back into the end zone this week.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans (TB, $40)
What can I mention about Evans that you don't already know? He's fully developed into a top five wideout in the NFL, ranks third in receptions (76) and is tied for second in touchdowns (10) with Jordy Nelson behind the one and only Antonio Brown (11). One of the reasons I drafted Evans as my first round pick in four of six season-long national contests is for his Week 14 and Week 16 matchups against the Saints, so here's hoping he doesn't let me down when it really matters. The big downside is his salary bump, as he's Week 14's highest-priced receiver. That's an especially tough fit if we're looking to build around the league's best running backs. Nevertheless, Winston and Evans is the combo I want for my cash games this week, and I'll simply find the best way to construct my roster around them.
Tyrell Williams (SD, $24)
Tyrell the Gazelle has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners this season. He has asserted himself as the Chargers' top offensive weapon in the passing game, allowing the city of San Diego to more easily accept the early-season loss of Keenan Allen's services. Williams ranks 14th among all wideouts with 837 yards and has caught touchdown passes in four straight games. The Panthers have gotten better against opposition passing attacks, led by improved efforts from cornerbacks Daryl Worley and James Bradberry, but they have been exposed by slot receivers and tight ends lately. Williams does his damage all over the field and should have some opportunities to run away from slot corner Leonard Johnson. The Chargers-Panthers tilt also boasts the second-highest total of Week 14 (48.5) with a one-point spread.
Stefon Diggs (MIN, $23)
One thing is for certain: as long as Diggs is on the field, he's going to get the ball. He averaged nearly 11 receptions on 15 targets between Weeks 9 through 11. Over the last two weeks, the volume has decreased significantly, though he still saw 15 targets over that span. The lone knock on Diggs is that he has just two TDs on the season, with tight end Kyle Rudolph being Sam Bradford's preferred red zone target while Diggs does most of his work down the field. He could be a sneaky cash game play with a high floor, given the low projected total (39.5) and the fact that the Jaguars' secondary ranks 10th in pass defense by DVOA. Adam Thielen at a mere $14 is an intriguing GPP option too, as he's averaged 10 targets over his last two games.
Tight Ends
Tyler Eifert (CIN, $23)
It's a gorgeous matchup for Andy Dalton's primary target this week. Eifert was only targeted twice in Week 13, catching both for 25 yards and getting into the end zone for the second straight weekend in the absence of star receiver A.J. Green. The Browns pose a much more fruitful matchup for Eifert than the stout Eagles' defense did last week, and it's one in which he should flourish. With Jordan Reed and Rob Gronkowski injured, Travis Kelce playing Thursday and Greg Olsen invisible over the last month, Eifert is arguably the top tight end play of the week.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals ($16)
We've got quite a few DST's to consider this week, but as frequently seems to be the case, the Vikings and Broncos are priced at the top level, making them difficult to fit into our lineups. The Bengals hit the road for a quick cross-state trip to Cleveland against a Browns team coming off their bye. Earlier this season, the Bengals DST scored just seven fantasy points against them, but did manage two interceptions. The unit has been on fire in that department recently, intercepting three Carson Wentz passes last week and nabbing at least one interception in each of their last six games. Also consider the Lions as eight-point home favorites against rookie QB Matt Barkley and the Bears.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Drew Brees (NO, $40), Matthew Stafford (DET, $31)
RB: Le'Veon Bell (PIT, $40), Jeremy Hill (CIN, $27), Devonta Freeman (ATL, $27)
WR: Antonio Brown (PIT, $39), Michael Thomas (NO, $27), Julian Edelman (NE, $22)
TE: Cameron Brate (TB, $18), Lance Kendricks (LA, $13)
DST: Minnesota Vikings ($21), Detroit Lions ($16)
