Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Week 14 Include Travis Homer, Dameon Pierce And Tyler Huntley

Every week, I share some of my favored players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These choices are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2022 fantasy football season.

We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls, and guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting them. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings. When considering each player for your lineup, check my rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.

Scott Engel was the No. 2 overall fantasy football accuracy ranker on fantasypros.com in Week 9. He finished as the No. 8 ranker for QBs and No. 3 for defenses in Week 13. 

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Running Backs

Travis Homer

SUNDAY UPDATE: Tony Jones is now expected to start, according to ESPN. Jones has a better shot of a rushing TD but Homer is the better pass-catcher. Both are lower-end flex plays with a slight lean to Jones. 

On Saturday night, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Kenneth Walker III (ankle) is not expected to play in Sunday’s game vs. Carolina. DeeJay Dallas, also dealing with an ankle injury, is reportedly considered a longshot to play.

Travis Homer with his best beastquake impression 💥#Seahawks | #CHIvsSEA pic.twitter.com/emP75sFlK5

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 19, 2022

Travis Homer, who did not play in Week 13 because of a knee injury, has been able to practice in full and I anticipate him to be the starter and/or more productive fantasy player against the Panthers. Tony Jones, who played on 34 percent of the snaps in Week 13 when Walker and Dallas suffered in-game injuries, may operate in a complementary role to Homer.

Godwin Igwebuike was elevated from the practice squad for further depth, but I am expecting Jones to be the No. 2 guy in terms of touches, and it may just be a question of how much of the reps he will split with Homer.

I have Homer ranked as a low-end fantasy RB2 (No. 20) for fantasy football Week 14 because I think he can make the most of his touches as a dual-threat performer. He looked improved during the 2022 preseason and he has impressed on a few of his regular-season touches. In the preseason, he had a 33-yard run in Week 2, and he totaled 74 scrimmage yards on six touches in the preseason finale. He had a 25-yard reception and a 16-yard run in that exhibition game.

Homer has 10 receptions for 124 yards in sparse regular season work this season, with receptions of 20-plus yards in three games. He ran decisively in the preseason when utilized as a ball carrier and he has the potential for some sizable gainers when he gets past the first wave of defenders. Homer is versatile and he is considered a good pass blocker, a skill that should keep him on the field for a good portion of the day.

I would definitely use Homer as a flex play or as an RB2 fill-in. Carolina ranks 21st in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to running backs.

James Cook

The rookie had a career-high 105 scrimmage yards (64 rushing) with six catches in Week 13. He has 85+ scrimmage yards in two of his past three games. Cook played on 43 percent of the snaps in Week 13, so it is clear that he is moving in a direction of taking much more RB work away from Devin Singletary.

The Jets have a reputation as a top defense for opponents to face, but they are in no way a shutdown unit against opposing RBs. Over the past four weeks, New York ranks 20th in FFPG allowed to RBs and it ranks 25th in receiving yards allowed to the position. Cook is a good flex option for Week 14.

Dameon Pierce

In a rebound outing, Pierce had 95 scrimmage yards (73 rushing.) last week, his seventh game with 90+ scrimmage yards this season, the most among rookies. He has 100+ scrimmage yards in four of his past five road games. Pierce leads all rookies with 1,026 scrimmage yards and 861 rush yards.

But I am hesitant to lean to Pierce in many tight decisions involving him this week. In the two games prior to Week 13, the Texans got into big early holes, and Pierce was scripted out of the offensive mix. In Weeks 11 and 12, he totaled 25 scrimmage yards. The Texans have a very good chance of getting blown out again by a Cowboys team that has been quite merciless to all recent opponents. Pierce is a big risk to be a non-factor again this week.

Raheem Mostert

The Dolphins RBs were shut down by the 49ers last week, but they get a much better matchup against the Chargers in Week 14. Los Angeles has allowed the most rushing yards to RBs over the past four weeks and it ranks 30th for the season.

Projecting who can be more effective between Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. isn’t easy, as Mike McDaniel may just go with the hot hand. But Mostert played on 61 percent of the snaps last week and he has rushed for a TD in two of his last three games, so I lean toward him. He is a recommended flex play, or Mostert can be effectively used as an RB2 if needed.

Wide Receivers

Garrett Wilson

The Jets rookie had eight catches for 162 yards last week, the third-most receiving yards by a rookie in a single game in Jets franchise history. Wilson is aiming for his third game in a row with 5+ catches and 95+ rec. yards. He has 90+ rec. yards in four of his past five games. Wilson had eight catches for 92 yards in his first meeting with the Bills this season. He ranks second among rookies in receptions (57) and receiving yards (790).

I am not fearing the Buffalo defense at all when making lineup decisions on Wilson. Bills CB Tre’Davious White has returned from a major injury, but the Bills may not be able to generate the same amount of pass pressure without Von Miller. Wilson clearly has more upside with Mike White at QB, and I have him ranked as a high-end fantasy WR2 this week.

Jerry Jeudy

He should be the No. 1 WR for the Broncos with Courtland Sutton (hamstring) out this week. Jeudy had 65 receiving yards last week and he has 50+ yards in six of his last seven games. The Broncos have the worst offense in the league and the 27th-ranked passing game, but Jeudy should get enough targets to merit using him as a WR3. He is not an upside play, but he can be useful for a decent stat line.

Michael Gallup

Cowboys: Hosting Odell Beckham Jr. for a visit tomorrow

Michael Gallup: pic.twitter.com/2Ug98TMYeJ

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 5, 2022

Gallup had his third career two-TD game last week. In the previous game, he had five receptions for 63 yards. He is showing real signs that he is on the verge of regaining much of his better form. The Dallas offense is on a major roll, and Gallup should continue to be involved as the Cowboys coast to another one-sided win this week over Houston. He is worthy of consideration as a flex play or WR3 fill-in.

D.J. Chark

He is healthy again, and Chark had his best game with the Lions in Week 13, catching five of his six targets for 98 yards. Detroit faces Minnesota, which has the league’s worst pass defense, and Jared Goff is always better at home, where he has notched 17 of his 19 TD passes for the season. Chark has some statistical promise for this week as a No 2 WR for the Lions. Jameson Williams is being eased in slowly and may not cut much into Chark’s Week 14 production.

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends

Kirk Cousins

Cousins passed for 260 yards and two TDs vs. 0 INTs in his Week 3 meeting with the Lions. He has 15 TDs (13 passing) vs. 0 INTs in five career starts at Detroit. Cousins is aiming for his fourth game in a row at Detroit with 325+ passing yards. The Lions' defense, though, limited Josh Allen to 253 passing yards and two TDs two weeks ago, and Trevor Lawrence had 179 passing yards and one TD against them last week.

I think Cousins can post satisfactory but not outstanding totals in a divisional matchup with a team that is improving and knows the Minnesota QB better than some other opponents.

Tyler Huntley

He completed 27 of 32 attempts for 187 yards and rushed for 41 yards and the game-winning TD with 28 seconds remaining last week. Huntley has 50+ rush yards in three of four career starts. He has three TD passes in those four starts. His best start was in Week 14 of 2021 when he had two passing TDs and rushed for 73 yards and two more TDs against Green Bay. Huntley does have some upside, and he can come through with at least satisfactory stats as a streamer.

Chigoziem Okonkwo

Okonkwo led the Titans with a career-high 68 receiving yards last week. He is averaging 18.3 yards per reception and appears ticketed for a bigger role this week. The Jaguars have allowed the most FFPG to TEs over the past four weeks. I would not use him over a more proven TE such as Dalton Schultz or Pat Freiermuth, and I also would start Hunter Henry over Okonkwo, as the Cardinals have been the best matchup for TEs this season. But I do have Okonkwo ranked just outside the top-10 at TE in Week 14.

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

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