The Goal Post (Vol. 10)

Week 14, the final week before most leagues’ Fantasy Football Playoffs, is one of the most crucial weeks of the year. Teams attempting to make the playoffs or clinch a first-round bye now have to deal with the dreaded week 14 bye week – with high-profile roster players such as Terry Mclaurin, Jonathan Taylor, Christian Watson, Alvin Kamara, Cordalle Patterson, and Justin Fields unavailable to play. If your bench options can’t help you in this scenario, look no further than your fantasy waiver wire. 

This article assumes the following:

• Full Point Per Reception (PPR) Scoring.
• Rankings via the ESPN Fantasy App

Running Back (Position Rank 79th) Zonovan Knight: Zonovan Knight has been on a tear in his first two games of the season, scoring 13.3 points against the Bears and 16.8 points against the Vikings. Zonovan Knight could be a long-term solution depending on the Jets’ usage of the currently injured Michael Carter when he returns. Either way, as he has had two straight double-digit point games, expect Knight to average more carries due to his consistent play. Although Zonovan Knight plays the Bills next, the Bills have been dealing with several injuries to key defensive players such as Micah Hyde and Von Miller (both with season-ending injuries), so I expect him to continue to be successful in the Jets’ lead running back role – which has been a solid point producing position for fantasy this season. Honorable mention: Jerik McKinnon (Kansas City Chiefs)

Wide Receiver (Position Rank 50th) Darius Slayton: Slayton is definitely a long-term option for the playoffs. Slayton has been the Giants’ WR1 for the past two weeks due to the injuries of Sterling Shepard, Wandale Robinson, and Kenny Golladay. Since then, Slayton has been producing double-digit points consistently. Not only this, but Slayton has a great relationship with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, so expect Jones to get tons of receptions and yards in his week 14 matchup against the 11-1 Philadelphia Eagles (who have been more pedestrian lately against the pass). Slayton is likely available on your league’s waiver wire, so pick him up now for the stretch run.  Honorable mention: Donovan Peoples-Jones (Cleveland Browns)

Quarterback (Position Rank 46th) Tyler Huntley: Huntley is, arguably, the best waiver wire pickup as a streaming quarterback over the next few weeks while Lamar Jackson recovers from injury. Huntley is basically a miniature Lamar Jackson, as we saw in his Week 13 matchup against the Broncos. He is a mobile quarterback like Jackson and has the ability to put up points in a similar fashion.  People shouldn’t doubt Huntley as he played most of the season last year as the Ravens starting quarterback, throwing for 1,081 yards and rushing for 294 yards in only 7 games as the starter.  With injuries piling up at the position, Huntley should be able to help with 17-20 fantasy points a week while Lamar Jackson recovers from injury.  Honorable mention: Desmond Ridder (Atlanta Falcons)