Finish STRONG

We get it , Week 14 is here and yeah I know a few of you already strutted out of Week 13 with the turkey leg in one hand and a playoff berth in the other. Heck, some of y’all probably locked it up before the leftovers were even cold.

But this is NOT the week to start walking around like you’re on a victory tour. Don’t be that top seed who “takes it easy,” only to get bounced in Round 1 by the dude everyone forgot was still in the league. We’ve seen that movie way too many times. Close the door. Lock it. Bolt it. Finish the job.

This is the final week to tighten up the roster, iron out the wrinkles, and actually know what weapons you’re bringing into the dance. And while it’s not quite Bye-Maggedon 2.0, let’s not pretend losing the Patriots, Giants, Panthers, AND 49ers doesn’t sting a little. I don’t know about you, but this is the first week all season where the byes feel….. personal. Some teams won’t feel it at all… and some of us are in full “Roster Tetris” mode trying to survive it when it matters most.

Stick with me as we dive into this week’s Greenlight picks and the guys we need to pump the brakes on across DL, LB, and DB. Whether you’re already polishing that playoff spot or clawing your way into the last dance…

FINISH STRONG.

*This is in reference to FantasyPros Week to Week Rankings & using a platform that allows dual designation*

⚡ Green Light – DL: James Pearce vs.
(Season Rank: DL76 through Week 13)

The 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — Mr. James Pearce Jr. It’s been fun watching the Falcons build that defense through the draft, and Pearce has been one of the guys I’ve kept an eye on all season. At this point, I think it’s the perfect time to finally give him a shot.

Over the last three weeks he’s been DL15, and honestly, that feels right in line with who he’s becoming. He’s got a sack in four straight games, and this week he’s lining up against an offense that’s been handing out tackle opportunities to opposing defensive linemen like candy. If that snap share bumps even a little bit… Watch out.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 59% → 49% → 50%

Bottom Line: Pearce is heating up, the matchup is friendly, and he’s trending in all the right ways. If you’ve been waiting for the green light, this is it.

⚡ Green Light – LB: Nick Bolton vs.
(Season Rank: LB24 through Week 13)

IDP managers know Nick Bolton all too well. The name still carries weight, but let’s be honest the ROI hasn’t been what people hoped for. In redraft, he went early. In dynasty, he was the young LB everyone wanted after he exploded onto the scene. But in 2025, he’s been living in that fringe LB2 territory.

The good news? He’s heating up at the exact moment you need him. Over the last three weeks he’s been LB18, and the usage is exactly what you want as he’s basically never leaving the field. And now he gets the Texans, a matchup handing out the 4th-most tackles to opposing linebackers. That’s the kind of late season alignment you don’t ignore.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 100% → 100% → 99%

Bottom Line: Bolton’s usage is elite, the production is trending up, and the matchup is made for a strong LB2 week with LB1 upside. Fire him up.

⚡ Green Light – DB: Kevin Winston vs.
(Season Rank: DB180 through Week 13)

Another rookie? Yep, I guess that’s just where we’re at this time of year. And sure, DB180 jumps off the page like, “Why are we even talking about this guy?” But zoom in on the last three weeks, and suddenly he’s sitting at DB12. That’s not a typo, that’s a player forcing his way into relevance.

The Titans are clearly trying to see what they’ve got in their 3rd-rounder, and from an IDP standpoint, that’s exactly what we want. They’ve moved him around between safety and the slot, but the key is this: he’s not leaving the field. Full-time usage plus a young player flying around with something to prove? That’s a recipe. And the matchup doesn’t hurt either as the Browns sit top 10 in tackles allowed to opposing secondary’s, and I don’t see that shifting in Week 14.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 100% → 100% → 100%

Bottom Line: Winston’s role is locked in, his production is surging, and the matchup feeds directly into his strengths. He’s a sneaky Week 14 starter with real DB2 upside.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – DL: Jared Verse vs.
(Season Rank: DL12 through Week 13)

I’m as high on Jared Verse as anybody, this dude is going to be a problem in the league for a long time. But even with all that talent and all that future upside, this is one of those weeks where we need to slow down and actually look at the matchup.

At first glance, everything looks fine. The Cardinals are middle of the pack on the season when it comes to giving up tackles to defensive linemen, and Verse sitting at DL12 overall feels like the kind of profile you normally bet on. But once you zoom in, things get a little less friendly. Over the last three weeks, Arizona has been really stingy, one of the toughest matchups for DL production. And Verse himself has cooled off just a bit, sliding backward a few spots in the weekly ranks. The snap share is solid, but the matchup is working against him more than the season-long numbers suggest.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 76% → 73% → 83%

Bottom Line: Verse is still a stud, but this isn’t the week to expect a ceiling game. Temper expectations and treat him more like a low-end DL2 in a tough matchup.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – LB: Tyrel Dodson vs.
(Season Rank: LB8 through Week 13)

Dodson has been awesome this year, LB8 through 13 weeks is nothing to shrug at. The Dolphins have given us not one but two stud linebackers with Jordyn Brooks and Dodson both sitting inside the top 12. Brooks has stayed rock solid as LB1, but Dodson… the recent trend hasn’t been what you want heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Over the last three weeks, he’s been LB36, and that’s a pretty steep dip from where he started the season. Pair that with a Jets matchup that looks decent on the season (11th in LB tackles allowed) but has really tightened up over the last few weeks, and suddenly this isn’t as friendly as it appears on paper. Both sides here, Dodson’s production and the Jets’ tackle opportunities are trending in the wrong direction at the wrong time.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 99% → 100% → 100%

Bottom Line: Dodson is still locked into a full-time role, but the recent production slide plus a cooling matchup makes him more of a shaky LB2 this week. Temper expectations.

🛑 Pump the Brakes – DB: Tykee Smith vs.
(Season Rank: DB1 through Week 13)

Yeah… this one feels weird. We’re talking about the DB1 on the entire season. Benching or even doubting a guy like that isn’t something we do lightly. But the numbers behind this matchup aren’t whispering, they’re yelling.

Over the last three weeks, Tykee has finished as DB39, and that is not the kind of trend you want heading into the weeks that decide your season. Production has cooled off sharply, and now he draws a matchup that flat-out doesn’t help. Seattle sits in the bottom five in the NFL in tackles allowed to opposing safeties. That’s about as rough as it gets for a player whose value is rooted heavily in tackle volume. Elite player, absolute top-tier season… brutal Week 14 environment.

Snap Share (Last 3 Weeks): 100% → 100% → 98

Bottom Line: Tykee is a superstar, but the recent cold streak paired with one of the worst safety matchups in football makes him risky. Treat him more like a volatile DB2 this week.

Connect with Me
Want to talk more IDP, bounce around trade ideas, or just chat fantasy football? You can find me here:

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Come hang out, share your takes, and let’s keep building those championship rosters together!



References
– Tackles Allowed by Team/Position: PFF – Macri
– Rankings: FantasyPros Week-to-Week Leaders
– Snap %: https://www.footballguys.com/
– QB Sacks: https://www.statmuse.com/