Start/sit advice for Week 14 in IDP leagues

No pressure on these picks this week eh? Just any old week of fantasy action… It’s worth casting an eye over my Tuesday article, the weekly IDP waiver wire as several of those recommendations could easily fall into this piece too. On to my picks for starts and sits for Week 14 in IDP leagues.

Defensive linemen

Start: Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans

The former No.1 overall pick has been a volatile scorer, but still ranks comfortably in the DL2 tier this season, despite recording just three sacks. The reason for his fantasy stability has been his tackle production, as Clowney ranks 12th among defensive ends for total tackles, and 18th versus all defensive linemen. This week offers Clowney the top-ranked matchup for edge rushers in the Colts, and Andrew Luck will need his head on a swivel. The embattled Indianapolis general has been a punching bag over the last four games, sacked nine times, hit 24 (ouch) and hurried 53, and Clowney will certainly be trying to add his name to the list of defenders who have dragged Luck down over the last month. With his high tackle floor to consider as well, Clowney appeals as a sleeper DL1 this week.

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Sit: Ziggy Ansah, Detroit Lions

There are many IDP gamers out there who will have seen value in the Lions IDP assets in the preseason. LB DeAndre Levy is a former No.1 fantasy linebacker who has been AWOL for the last two seasons, while Ansah himself has been hampered by injuries all year. Although he’s been back since Week 6, and playing 60-70 percent of snaps each week, Ansah hasn’t recorded a single sack this season. Detroit’s Week 14 opponents, Chicago, ranked 21st as a matchup for opposing lineman, so an out-of-form and banged-up player in a below average matchup is a recipe for disaster in the playoffs. Bench him.

Linebackers

Start: Korey Toomer, San Diego Chargers

Toomer was one of my waiver-wire recommendations this week and he’s also a must-start player if he’s currently on your bench. I’ve picked him up myself in all formats I can, and he’s locked into a starting spot in all my lineups. I’ll repost what I said on Tuesday, as nothing has changed since then, “[Toomer has] posted double-digit fantasy points in six of his last seven games, double-digit tackles in the last three and added three forced fumbles and one recovery over that period. Since Week 6 he’s been a low-end LB1.” Add in the fact that the Panthers are currently the second-best matchup for off-ball linebackers, and he is shaping up as a big scorer in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Oh, and the Chargers-Panthers game projects out as having the second-most tackles of any game this week, as well.

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Sit: K.J. Wright, Seattle Seahawks

You’re not going to bench Bobby Wagner in any circumstance, so we’ll just accept its going to be a down week for one the league’s best fantasy linebackers. Teammate Wright is not quite in the realms of the un-benchables though, so a game against the worst matchup for off-ball linebackers makes me think twice about starting him. Add in a three-tackle game last week (albeit saved by a forced fumble), which was a two-year low for him, and there are reasons to edge toward sitting him for Week 14. One caveat may be that the Seahawks played a season-low 58 snaps last week, but avoiding potential pitfalls like this is what makes a championship-winning season for your roster.

Defensive backs

Start: Rontez Miles or Calvin Pryor, New York Jets

Pryor is the Jets starting strong safety, but he missed last week’s game against the Colts due to a concussion, hence the dual recommendation here. Miles started in place of Pryor last week and notched up a double-digit fantasy score, so if he suits up again, can be trusted against a 49ers team that ranks as the third-best matchup for safeties. Assuming Pryor makes it through concussion protocol he’s appealing for his consistency this year, in his last eight games he’s scored at least seven fantasy points, despite recorded no double-digit tackle performances.

Sit: Reggie Nelson, Oakland Raiders

The Giants and Landon Collins have a worse matchup than the Raiders this week, but Collins has entered un-benchable territory, so instead I’ll recommend sitting veteran safety Nelson, who has been superb this season. With Karl Joseph also out with injury, gamers may look to Nelson to pick up the slack but the answer isn’t going to be Nelson this week. The Chiefs are not only an awkward divisional opponent, but also a perennially poor matchup for safeties, and 2016 is no different, as they currently rank 25th. Pass on Nelson this week despite posted a stellar season.