“Start, Sit & Seth” is the original column of In-Between Media, bridging feel-good lifestyle advice with redraft fantasy football analysis. Consistently following Seth Woolcock’s journey as a young creator, this series is now in its fifth season. Join him in this edition as he reflects on a life lesson learned from a beloved family member and the lyrics of Zach Bryan. He also looks forward to this next week’s slate of games as he shares his start and sit selections for Week 14.
Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan wrote, “I heard life is what passes when you’re too busy living.”
Learning of my step-grandfather’s passing overnight, Bryan’s lyrics hit close to home on this surprisingly warm Pennsylvania December day.
Lee Gausman was a known face around the “Star in the Forest” town of Kane, Pa. Whether he was racing cars in his younger days, fixing cars at his garage or picking up the slack, doing a run for his bussing company – he did it with a smile on his face.
He and his wife, Nancy, came into my life before I could formulate the words I write today. They treated my older brother and me as if we were their own grandsons.
Boat and four-wheeler rides, fishing on the lake and trips to the rifle range – Lee had time to do it all with us, despite running multiple businesses. And the little things like throwing the stick to the dog or Saturday morning breakfast with his boys were never forgotten.
That’s what I always admired, maybe the most, about Lee. He was the most laid-back busy person I had ever met.
Make It Happen
I’m busy now, and you can tell. I fall asleep working late in my office at least once a week. I go days without doing much outside of work aside from watching a show with dinner. And I put off the dumbest things like scheduling doctor appointments or going to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). I don’t make it back to see family as much as I should.
It’s the part of myself I dislike the most. “The hustle,” “the grind” – they’re not always as beautiful as they make it out to be.
Yet, somehow, this lanky, white-haired man, nicknamed “Leebo,” made it look so darn easy for so long. I wish I would have asked him while I had the chance how he did it.
While I am left wondering what he would have said, I can learn from his actions. And what those always told me is that you can always make it happen for the people and things you love.
There will always be work to be done. You can’t say the same for the other.
Lee showed me this when he was there to pick me up after practice when my stepdad, Dave, was still working. He showed it to me when I couldn’t come up with a semester’s worth of rent up-front. And he was there for me on the darkest days of my life, when I testified on the opposite side of my mother, found guilty of multiple felonies.
I’ll continue to strive to be a self-made man, just like Leebo. But more importantly, I will try to show others the love he and his family showed me since I was just a boy.
No matter what I’m doing – writing, podcasting or working on something else involving fantasy sports – I won’t let it keep me too busy to let life and those I love to pass me by. And I hope readers do the same.
Alright, and here we go.
The following start/sit selections are based on stats, trends and film research, reflecting value in Points Per Reception (PPR) Redraft Leagues.
Quarterback I’d Start in Week 14:
Jared Goff (Detroit): I’m calling for back-to-back QB1 performances from Jared Goff this week as the Lions play host to the struggling Vikings’ defense. Goff has been dealing, averaging 290 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions over his last two outings.
Part of Goff’s recent success comes from a rejuvenated touchdown rate (4.7 percent) and a sound 1.7 percent interception rate. I think he’ll continue to find his playmakers against the Vikings, who have allowed an average of 375.5 passing yards to Mike White and Mac Jones over their last two games. Additionally, the Vikings have been a top-eight matchup for QBs, both on the season and over the past month.
Quarterback I’d Sit in Week 14:
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay): I’m doing what I can to avoid starting Tom Brady here in Week 14. Brady has been solid as of late but still has crossed 20 fantasy points only once this season (all the way back in Week 4).
This week he faces the 49ers, who have limited both Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert to fewer than 15 fantasy points. During that month, the 49ers allowed just one total touchdown to QBs. Brady has struggled himself to score this season, seeing his touchdown rate cut nearly in half from six percent to 3.1 percent.
Running Back I’d Start in Week 14:
Jamaal Williams (Detroit): This is your reminder not to get cute with your start/sit decisions in Week 14. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Jamaal Williams following last week when D’Andre Swift out-touched him.
I get that Swift is the more exciting and higher-upside play when allotted the opportunity. The key word is opportunity. Prior to last week, Swift had not out-touched Williams since Week 1. It also marks just the third time Swift has seen 12-plus touches in a game this season.
Wiliams has been phenomenal in his own right. He’s been a PPR RB1 thus far, scoring six TDs across the last month. With the 27-year-old already setting career-highs in rushing attempts (188), yards (769) and rushing TDs (14), it’s hard to get away from him. That’s especially true this week as he faces Minnesota, the second friendliest matchup for opposing RBs over the past month.
Running Back I’d Sit in Week 14:
Kareem Hunt (Cleveland): On paper, Kareem Hunt has a sound week in Cincinnati. Yet, the same was said last week against the Houston Texans, who have allowed more rushing yards than any other team this season.
In an inept offense that looks like it lost a step bringing Deshaun Watson back, Hunt totaled 74 yards on 12 touches last week. It’s hard to expect more from him when he has totaled double-digit PPR points only three times this season – and not since Week 8.
With Hunt receiving just a 34.3 opportunity share (a team’s total running back carries plus targets), there are better options. This includes the Jets’ Zonovan Knight and both Miami RBs, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert.
Wide Receiver I’d Start in Week 14:
Darius Slayton (New York Giants): Until industry rankers and fantasy managers adjust, I will continue to ride the hot hands of Darius Slayton as my WR start selection.
It’s a tougher matchup, with the Eagles limiting opposing WRs to the fifth-fewest PPR points this season. However, Slayton recently averaged 15.1 PPR points against the Seahawks and Texans, who have limited opposing WRs to the sixth and seventh-least amount of PPR points, respectively.
Slayton is averaging eight targets and 79.7 receiving yards in the last three weeks. That pace has him on track to push for 1,000 yards and 50-plus receptions – both career highs.
Wide Receiver I’d Sit in Week 14:
Robert Woods (Tennessee): Despite it being a plus matchup and possibly no Treylon Burks, Robert Woods is not the answer to your WR woes. He has finished as a PPR WR3 just twice this season. Additionally, he has never scored more than 13 PPR points as a Titan.
Tennessee runs the ball 51 percent of the time (third most in the NFL). They also run just 56.5 plays per game, the second-fewest among teams. This leaves roughly 27.7 passing attempts per game for Titans’ receivers.
With the 30-year-old Woods averaging just 1.2 fantasy points per target (96th amongst WRs), there isn’t enough juice to get behind him on the former side of my start and sit decisions in Week 14.
If you have a feel-good story that you would like to share for an opportunity to be featured in an upcoming edition of “Start, Sit & Seth,” please reach out.
And for more fantasy football and uplifting content, especially start/sit advice, you can find me on Twitter @Between_SethFF.