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NFL Fantasy Picks: Herbert set for bounce-back, Montgomery to burn Texans

It's time for the playoffs, at least in the world of fantasy football.

Week 14 marks the point where the fight for fantasy supremacy hots up and, as Cam Akers proved in the Los Angeles Rams' Thursday victory over the New England Patriots, unheralded players can make a big impact at this late stage.

Another running back who few people view as a fantasy star could also have a significant influence on the first week of the playoffs.

Here we identify four players and a defense worthy of consideration for your starting line-up this week.

QB: Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert endured the worst performance of his young career as the Chargers were throttled 45-0 by the New England Patriots last week.

He completed under 50 per cent of his passes, totalled just 209 yards and was intercepted twice in the shutout loss.

Such a shackling is unlikely to take place this week as he faces an Atlanta Falcons defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.

Look for Herbert, who has six 300-yard games this season, to get back to the form that has made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year favourite.

RB: David Montgomery - Chicago Bears

Montgomery has failed to live up to his billing since being drafted in the third round in 2018. However, he has rounded into good form in recent weeks. 

He went for 111 yards on the ground against the Green Bay Packers in Week 12 and had 72 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears' loss to the Detroit Lions last week.

The Lions are the only team in the NFL allowing more fantasy points per game to running backs than the Houston Texans, whom the Bears face this week, meaning Montgomery could be in for another productive game.

WR: Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers' passing game has not been as consistently explosive as many hoped it would be with Tom Brady quarterbacking a team boasting a wealth of pass-catching options.

However, there have been positive signs for Brady's rapport with Mike Evans in recent times.

Evans had four touchdowns in their last three games before Tampa Bay's bye week. Facing a Minnesota Vikings defense conceding the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, Evans is in a strong spot to add to that tally.

TE: Eric Ebron - Pittsburgh Steelers

Ebron has back-to-back games with 11 targets and seven catches and has a favourable matchup as the Steelers look to bounce back from their shock Week 13 loss to the Washington Football Team.

The Buffalo Bills present a formidable opponent for Pittsburgh, but their defense has given up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Ebron is an intriguing play in points per reception leagues.

D/ST: San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers were shredded by Josh Allen and the Bills on Monday Night Football but their schedule in terms of opposing offenses softens over the next two games.

Washington are tied for the lead of the NFC East but their offense averages only 5.1 yards per play and could be without impressive rookie running back Antonio Gibson for a meeting with a top-10 run defense.

A low-scoring struggle looks likely in this matchup, and there is good reason to believe 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will oversee a strong fantasy day from his injury-hit group.