Goodbye Byes
Every week of the NFL season, fantasy gamers juggle players to insert into lineups at each position. Are you questioning which players face easy matchups and which players face tougher paths to production? You are in the right place!
Week 14 is the last week with players on bye. For most fantasy leagues, the fantasy playoffs start next week, making this the last chance for a playoff push. The Commanders and Cardinals are on bye this week, leaving a few key players on fantasy benches. For seasonal leagues, DFS, and more, these Week 14 Must Start and Sit picks give guidance on setting lineups. Good luck!
Week 14 Quarterback Start and Sit
Start: Jared Goff
The Lions offense has continued to click, with Jared Goff scoring more than 16 fantasy points over each of his last four games. In Week 14, he gets a Bears matchup that’s not necessarily enticing, but Detroit’s high-opportunity offense will boost Goff’s production. In Week 11, Goff threw three interceptions to the Bears, but still ended as QB16 on the week after a comeback victory. Chicago has been an excellent defense as of late, but allowed 19 passing touchdowns to 6 interceptions prior to Week 11. Goff is in an offense that attempts 36.8 (No. 7) Team Pass Plays Per Game, and his 76.4-percent True Completion Percentage is No. 1 among QBs. Expect volume as the Lions’ weapons produce and boost Goff into start territory this week.
Sit: Matthew Stafford
The Rams’ pass-catchers are banged up with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua nursing injuries. Matthew Stafford is averaging 16.1 (No. 18) Fantasy Points Per Game, with back-to-back games over 23 fantasy points. However, he is set to come back down to earth, facing a tough Ravens defense in Week 14. Baltimore has allowed the second-least fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. The Ravens are one of the top defenses in the league in sacks, with a solid secondary that has allowed 10 passing touchdowns and grabbed 11 interceptions. The hobbled duo of Kupp and Nacua will have a tougher time than usual getting open. Stafford would be considered a start in deep 1QB or SuperFlex leagues; however, he is a sit this week in other leagues.
Week 14 Running Back Start and Sit
Start: Ty Chandler
The Vikings backfield has become muddy, with both Ty Chandler and Alexander Mattison receiving significant snaps. Chandler has had three straight weeks of at least a 30-percent Snap Share, scoring at least 10 fantasy points in two of his last three. He is just getting on fantasy radars, with 35 touches since Week 10.
The Vikings face the Raiders this week, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Opposing backfields are averaging more than 100 rush yards per game and more than five receptions. Mattison is more likely to be on fantasy rosters, but with injuries to Rhamondre Stevenson and Brian Robinson (who is also on bye), Chandler is a good start this week.
Sit: Either Seahawks RB
Both Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker are banged up entering Week 14. Walker has been out since Week 11, while Charbonnet suffered a knee injury in Week 13. The Seahawks face the 49ers this week, an opponent they lost to in Week 12. Charbonnet started the game, finishing with just 58 total yards on 18 touches. Even though the 49ers yield more than five RB receptions per game, they allow less than 60 rushing yards per game, usually working with the lead and impacting Game Script for their opponents. The health of the Seahawks’ backfield is uncertain, clouding the Week 14 situation further for fantasy managers. Both Charbonnet and Walker are sits with a tough matchup and injury questions.
Week 14 Wide Receiver Start and Sit
Start: Courtland Sutton
The Broncos offense has been highly dependent on Courtland Sutton‘s touchdown-scoring this season. He has a 100-percent (No. 1) Route Participation with nine (No. 3) total touchdowns. Sutton has scored in six of his last seven and now gets a weak Chargers defense in Week 14.
These 5 WRs are dominating the NFL in End Zone Target Share (min. 300 snaps)!⤵️
Courtland Sutton, Christian Watson, Calvin Ridley, D.K. Metcalf, & A.J. Brown🏈
Watson is the only one with less than 5 TDs📉#PlayerProfilerStats pic.twitter.com/50sunGD9gv
— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) November 29, 2023
The Chargers allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Opponents have scored 13 WR touchdowns on them, averaging 181 receiving yards per game. Sutton is operating as the Broncos’ first option in the receiving game and has 15 (No. 6) Red Zone Targets this season. Russell Wilson looks Sutton’s way often when its time to score, and against a bendy Chargers defense, Sutton is headed for a start week.
Sit: Adam Thielen
Experiencing a nice renaissance earlier this season, Adam Thielen has crashed back down with just four catches over his last two games. Thielen was a double-digit target-earner a few games ago, but is now looking at lower target volume and quality. As Chuba Hubbard has gotten higher-leverage opportunities and Jonathan Mingo higher volume, Thielen has seen lower-yardage, lower-leverage usage. To add to that, he faces the Saints in Week 14.
The Saints allow a middling 21st-most fantasy points to wide receivers. In a Week 2 matchup between the Panthers and Saints, Thielen scored a touchdown on nine targets. However, with the Saints allowing four straight games of less than 10 WR receptions and Thielen’s decreasing role, he is a sit this week.
Week 14 Tight End Start and Sit
Start: Tyler Conklin
The Jets quarterback situation is a mess; however, even with a rotating cast under center, Jets pass-catchers have still gotten chances. One such player is Tyler Conklin, who has at least five targets in four of his last five games. While he has been a back-end TE2 this season, Conklin has had a few nice games, including three top-12 finishes. He gets a nice matchup with the Texans this week. Houston allows nearly six receptions per game and yields the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Logan Thomas and Trey McBride are on bye this week, potentially leaving teams looking for a streamer. Conklin’s role and softer matchup make him a start for 12-team leagues.
Sit: Tucker Kraft
With fellow rookie Luke Musgrave out, Tucker Kraft has seen Snap Shares above 90-percent in back-to-back games. Kraft has been slotted into Musgrave’s role and has five catches and a touchdown on eight targets over his last two games. While the role increase makes him an enticing streamer upside-pick, Kraft faces a tough matchup in Week 14. The Giants have allowed less than four TE receptions per game this season, giving up two total TE touchdowns.
Kraft is getting TE1 playing time, but has not had the production to match. The Packers offense is more likely to utilize Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed in a game potentially missing Christian Watson. Facing a ceiling-limiting matchup in the Giants defense, Kraft is best left out of streaming conversations and on benches.
Sorting Late Season Injuries
The injuries continue to stack up, with Rhamondre Stevenson, Trevor Lawrence, and others coming off the field in Week 13. Monitoring waivers can help you find guys like Jake Browning for spot-starts in a playoff push. Situations, matchups, and opportunities help distinguish fantasy lineup decisions as the pursuit of championships ramps up.
