Week 14 Fantasy Busts: Mike Davis, Cam Newton among risky 'starts'

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Week 14 Fantasy Busts: Mike Davis, Cam Newton among risky 'starts' image

Nobody is safe in our Week 14 fantasy bust predictions. We pick on guys who are usually must-starts, like Cam Newton, Devin Funchess and Kirk Cousins, hot waiver-wire hot pickups, like Kerwynn Williams and Mike Davis, and fill-ins like Trey Burton and Vernon Davis, who have had success in the past replacing injured starters. There are better weeks ahead for these guys, but they're all risky options in the first round of the fantasy football playoffs.   

Last week, we were a perfect three for three defenses (Cardinals, Panthers, Vikings) and tight ends (Tyler Kroft, O.J. Howard, Ricky Seals-Jones) and did well on the other positions thanks to shoddy performances from LeGarrette Blount, Tevin Coleman, Matthew Stafford, and Stefon Diggs. We're aiming to make it another solid week of bust predictions.

Go here for our Week 14 sleeper picks.

WEEK 14 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker 

Week 14 fantasy football busts: Running backs

Kerwynn Williams, Cardinals vs. Titans (Tony Fortier-Bensen).  Even if Adrian Peterson (concussion) doesn’t play, Williams will have a tough time against the third-best rush defense.

Latavius Murray, Vikings @ Panthers (Vinnie Iyer). It will be tough for either Minnesota running back to get on track in a brutal road matchup. And don't think because the Saints ran on the Panthers last week that Minnesota can this week. They’re not the New Orleans backs

Mike Davis, Seahawks @ Jaguars (Matt Lutovsky). Davis looked good on Monday night and figures to be the Seahawks' primary ball carrier, but Jacksonville's run defense has improved throughout the season, limiting backs to one rushing TD since Week 4 and only twice allowing more than 61 rushing yards to a back since then (Todd Gurley, Adrian Peterson). Davis could put up decent total yardage numbers, but this is a tougher matchup than it looks on paper.

Full Week 14 RB rankings

WEEK 14 DFS:
Yahoo GPP lineup | Y! cash | DK cash | DK GPP | FD GPP FD cash | Values | Stacks |
DFS lineup builder

Week 14 fantasy football busts: Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett, Colts @ Bills (Fortier-Bensen).  If you're looking for a streamer, pass on Brissett this week. Buffalo allows the fewest passing TDs (10) this season and with a forecast of 25 degrees with possible snow, passing will be at a premium.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins @ Chargers (Iyer). Cousins’ offensive line is letting him down with major injuries, and this could very well be a repeat of the Dallas game, only with less success vs. a much better secondary.

Cam Newton, Panthers vs. Vikings (Lutovsky).  Every fantasy owners knows how up-and-down Newton is, and while he's been more "up" than "down" lately, the Vikings have made a habit of shutting down QBs all season, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Garbage time saved Newton last week, but a tougher matchup in what figures to be a close game will severely limit his ceiling.

Full Week 14 QB rankings

Week 14 fantasy football busts: Wide receivers

Ted Ginn Jr., Saints @ Falcons (Fortier-Bensen).  The Falcons have allowed one WR to score a TD since Week 9 and two WRs over 60 yards. Add in a run-heavy Saints game plan, there won’t much for Ginn to do this week.

Devin Funchess, Panthers vs. Vikings (Iyer). It doesn’t take Professor Xavier to know every Rhodes is a thorn to No. 1 wideouts.

Jeremy Maclin, Ravens @ Steelers (Lutovsky). Maclin has only nine catches for 81 yards over the past three games, paling in comparing to Mike Wallace (14-219, TD). The Steelers have limited receivers to the ninth-fewest fantasy points this season, and Maclin managed only three catches for 21 yards when these teams met earlier this season.

Full Week 14 WR rankings

Week 14 fantasy football busts: Tight ends

Vernon Davis, Redskins @ Chargers (Fortier-Bensen).  His past two games have yielded a combined two catches for 15 yards, and the Chargers have allowed the second-fewest points to TEs this season. Make it three straight disappointing weeks for him.

Trey Burton, Eagles @ Rams (Iyer).  If Zach Ertz sits, it would be a tough spot for Burton against a team that generally covers the position very well.

Greg Olsen, Panthers vs. Vikings (Lutovsky). This is starting to feel like a "pick-on-the-Panthers" party, but Olsen wouldn't be a trustworthy play regardless of the matchup. After seeing his early exit two weeks ago and his inactivity last week, it's tough to count on his foot holding up for more than half Carolina's snaps.

Full Week 14 TE rankings

Week 14 fantasy football busts: Defenses

Carolina Panthers vs. Vikings (Fortier-Bensen).  The Vikings have allowed more than two sacks in only one game this year, and the past four games have yielded a combined four sacks and four turnovers. The Panthers may keep it low scoring, but they won’t find any points.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Eagles (Iyer).  Carson Wentz and company will rebound with a strong all-around game with few mistakes.

Full Week 14 D/ST rankings

Baltimore Ravens @ Steelers (Lutovsky). The Steelers don't give up much to D/STs (seventh-fewest FPPG), and Baltimore's loss of Jimmy Smith really makes them vulnerable against Pittsburgh's big-play receivers.

Tony Fortier-Bensen