The first week of the fantasy playoffs has arrived (for Yahoo default leagues), which means a poor lineup decision could prove to be a season-ending mistake. To help you avoid some potential Week 14 pitfalls (full season or daily), here's a few players I expect to look better/worse than usual on Sunday/Monday.

STARTS

QB - Brian Hoyer, Hou vs NE ($28 in DFS) - Here's a reliable option for any owner scrounging for an upgrade to Matt Ryan or, say, Drew Brees (see Sits below) this week. Since taking the starting role back from Ryan Mallett in Week 4, Hoyer has delivered 2-3 TD passes in each of the seven games in which he played the entire contest - he was knocked out (concussion) of the Week 10 affair at Cincy. If Hoyer hits the average of what opposing QBs manage against the Patriots (261 passing YPG) to go with his usual 2-3 TD tosses - a very reasonable projection - he's likely to land inside the top 15 QB plays for the week. And it certainly doesn't hurt Hoyer's cause that he has some background with the Pats' defense, having played there the first three seasons of his career.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $30K in our $300K contest for Week 14]

RB - Eddie Lacy, GB vs Dal ($18) - Call me crazy, but I'm backing the big lug this week despite his doghouse-aided dud (5 carries, 4 yards) in Week 13, brought about by Lacy missing curfew the night before Thursday's showdown with Detroit. Before that, though, Lacy was forcing his way back into our good graces with back-to-back 100-yard efforts, including a season-best 139 total yards and a TD against Chicago in Week 12. This week, Lacy and head coach Mike McCarthy had a kumbaya moment, talking through their issues. And McCarthy said that Lacy looks "rejuvenated" in practice this week, while also stating that the Green Bay backfield lead is wide open for the taking. Translation: step to the plate, Mr. Lacy, and take advantage of the opportunity. I think he'll do just that against a Dallas defense that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to the RB position.

RB - Theo Riddick, Det at StL ($12) - I love Riddick in a "Flex flyer" kind of way this week, especially in leagues that offer any kind of PPR compensation. Riddick leads all running backs in receptions (60), and ranks No. 19 in overall PPR scoring at the RB position. And he's facing a Rams defense that has been burnt often by RBs in the passing game - third-most receiving yards (672) allowed to running backs. Riddick had 10 catches for 53 yards and a TD against another blitz-heavy NFC West opponent (Arizona) back in Week 5. He could post a similar line this week.

WR - Tyler Lockett, Sea at Bal ($15) - Lockett was targeted a season-high seven times last week, catching all seven passes for 90 yards. Expect him to sustain a prominent role in the offense this week at Baltimore. Seattle loves to use him on bubble screens, as he's adept at running after the catch in tight spaces. And he's got the jets to also take the top off a defense with the deep ball. Against a Baltimore defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the WR position, I like the potential for Lockett to come up with a big play or two (and don't rule out the possibility that one of those big plays comes in the return game).



WR - Jordan Matthews, Phi vs Buf ($19) - It's fair to say that I haven't been Matthews' biggest fan this season. But I'm intrigued by his upside this week against the Bills. Matthews has managed to find the end zone in each of the past two games despite few yards (96 combined in those two games). But I think the yards could flow for him this week as the Bills are down top corner Stephon Gilmore (shoulder). And in the slot, where Matthews does most of his damage, he'll square off against Buffalo's diminutive Nickell Roby, who has been one of the most generous slot covers this season.

TE - Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TB vs NO ($12) - ASJ finally made his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury last week, but was able to muster just a 3/31 line against Atlanta. The silver lining is that he was targeted six times despite playing just 21 snaps. Now that he has a game under his belt after a 10-week layoff, expect his workload to grow. And his likely uptick in snaps comes at the perfect time, as he'll face a Saints defense that has allowed (by a wide margin) the most fantasy points to the TE position.

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