The fantasy playoffs are here! Alex Smith and Josh McCown went head to head in Week 13. They finished with the two highest fantasy totals for quarterbacks in Week 13.
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Kansas City has been playing so poorly as of late, and part of that has been the play of Smith. He was not to blame against the Jets, as he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a 70-yard gain. Smith is definitely worth a start this week against Oakland.
Josh McCown has quietly put up a top-10 fantasy quarterback season. We all would have laughed if anyone had said that in July or August. Against the Chiefs, he passed for 331 yards, one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. The rushing touchdowns obviously gave a boost to his points for the week. McCown and the Jets travel to Denver in Week 14. The Broncos haven’t been as tough to face, so McCown is worth a look in deeper leagues.
The Eli Manning saga took over the Week 13 football news cycle. You’ve probably heard by now that he’ll regain the starting job for Week 14. His matchup is promising against the Cowboys at home. Unfortunately, Manning remains limited by his lack of weapons in the passing game and a poor offensive line.
On the injury front, Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott each suffered injuries to their right hands. They both sound like they’ll be ready to play in Week 14.
Tyrod Taylor injured his knee but didn’t suffer any ligament damage. He’s been deemed day-to-day but will probably miss Week 14. Nathan Peterman would get the start against Indianapolis.
SB Nation’s sleeper pick for Week 14 is Jimmy Garoppolo. He almost passed for 300 yards in his first start for San Francisco but didn’t throw a touchdown. I expect that to change against a Houston pass defense that has surrendered the third-most passing touchdowns this season. Garoppolo is widely available in non-dynasty leagues. I think he’ll pass for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback rankings, Week 14
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG: Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
QB rankings, Week 14
Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp | SK | JG | DG | KB | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | NE | @ MIA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Philip Rivers | LAC | vs. WAS | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Carson Wentz | PHI | @ LAR | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Drew Brees | NO | @ ATL | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Alex Smith | KC | vs. OAK | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Matthew Stafford | DET | @ TB | 6 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| 7 | Russell Wilson | SEA | @ JAC | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 8 | Jared Goff | LAR | vs. PHI | 7 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 9 | Cam Newton | CAR | vs. MIN | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| 10 | Dak Prescott | DAL | @ NYG | 9 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| 11 | Matt Ryan | ATL | vs. NO | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
| 12 | Kirk Cousins | WAS | @ LAC | 12 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| 13 | Josh McCown | NYJ | @ DEN | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | vs. BAL | 14 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Derek Carr | OAK | @ KC | 15 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Case Keenum | MIN | @ CAR | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
| 17 | Marcus Mariota | TEN | @ ARI | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Jameis Winston | TB | vs. DET | 16 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | Andy Dalton | CIN | vs. CHI | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
| 20 | Brett Hundley | GB | @ CLE | 22 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 21 |
| 21 | Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | @ HOU | 19 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 |
| 22 | DeShone Kizer | CLE | vs. GB | 20 | 23 | -- | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| 23 | Blaine Gabbert | ARI | vs. TEN | 24 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
| 24 | Blake Bortles | JAC | vs. SEA | 23 | 25 | -- | 21 | 21 | 24 |
| 25 | Jacoby Brissett | IND | @ BUF | -- | -- | 17 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Eli Manning | NYG | vs. DAL | 25 | 24 | -- | 25 | 24 | 25 |
| -- | Kevin Hogan | CLE | vs. GB | -- | -- | 21 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Jay Cutler | MIA | vs. NE | -- | -- | 23 | -- | -- | -- |
