Fantasy Football Week 14: Before You Start

It’s that time of the fake football season that most fake football owners have been waiting for: fantasy football playoff season. Week 14 is the traditional start of the playoff season in most fantasy football leagues and if you were one of the lucky ones to make the playoffs then this has to be a pretty stressful time for you, no matter how strong you think your team is. Anything can happen in the world of real and fake football so you can’t take anything for granted. For instance, look at last week’s Saints-Falcons game.

Nov 29, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is hit as he throws by Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham (55) in the first half at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

If you were riding your hopes of making the playoffs on the likes of Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Roddy White or Julio Jones you probably didn’t rest easy for the rest of the week. You always gotta start your studs but they don’t always produce studworthy performances. You don’t want to go too bold with your line-up decisions but sometimes you have to think outside the box if you’re desperate.

Below you’ll find all the relevant news and notes happening around the NFL that might have an impact on your final fantasy football line-up for the week. Good luck and may you need to read this article next week!

-Players that have already been ruled before today: Vikings WR Percy Harvin (out for rest of the season), Bears WR Earl Bennett, Jets TE Dustin Keller, Colts RB Donald Brown, Jaguars RB Rashad Jennings (Montell Owens is the Jags starter at RB this week), Eagles QB Mike Vick and RB LeSean McCoy, Packers RB James Stark, Packers WR Jordy Nelson, and Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts.

-Bills WR Stevie Johnson is active.

-Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is expected to play.

-Falcons RB Michael Turner is active.

-Lions WR Mike Thomas is expected to be the team’s primary slot WR.

-Cardinals RB Beanie Wells is expected to play.

-Texans RB Ben Tate is probable for Monday Night. Any Arian Foster owners need to make sure he is on their bench.

-A trio of Patriots pass-catchers have been listed as questionable for Monday’s game versus the Texans: WRs Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker, and TE Aaron Hernandez. All three should start but only Welker and Hernandez should be starting for you.

-Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is back.

-Texans TE Garret Graham ruled out for Monday night.

-Rams WR Danny Amendola is out.

-Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall is inactive.

-Panthers WR Brandon LaFell and RB Jonathan Stewart are both inactive.

-Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham is active.

-Panthers TE Greg Olsen is active.

-Jets QB Tim Tebow is active; Greg McElroy isn’t.