3 Daily Fantasy Football Players to Avoid in Week 14

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

FanDuel Price: $6,700

DraftKings Price: $6,200

This week looks like one to deploy a "stars and scrubs" approach at the running back position. If you have paid up this season for bell-cow backs who also hold a sizable market share of receiving production, you've probably had some success. This week is no different in that regard, as we have Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley all in plush draws.

At the other end of the salary spectrum, values like Jaylen Samuels and Jeff Wilson are sure to be popular as well, rendering mid-tier plays like Austin Ekeler essentially unnecessary this week. Ekeler hasn't exactly taken advantage of being the lead back this year, as in the two games Melvin Gordon has missed Ekeler has averaged only 8.1 FanDuel points in those contests, despite touch counts of 17 and 18 and an 85% snap share.

Add in the fact that Justin Jackson is emerging as real threat to Ekeler's workload, and this situation is an easy avoid this week. Jackson is fresh off of a 4/48/1 rushing line last week against the Steelers, and if he continues to play well we may see Ekeler return to a situational and third-down role. With so many question marks regarding Ekeler's performance this week, it's much more palatable to spend up or all the way down at running back in Week 14.