It’s playoff time! If you are reading this you are most likely in the playoffs and a congratulations are in order but now the real season begins. The bye weeks are all done and the schedule for Week 14 is normal, for now. At this point in the season you likely have a good idea as to which players you trust on a weekly basis and in this fantasy football start/sit article, we will be looking at players on the fringes at QB1, RB2 and WR2 in typical PPR fantasy leagues to help you determine which players you can trust with your season on the line and which you need to leave on the bench.
Week 14 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Quarterbacks | Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Start: Taysom Hill at Eagles
For the third straight week, Taysom Hill is featured here as a start at QB. He has delivered in each of his three starts, finishing QB4, QB11 and QB8. This week, he draws a road matchup against the Eagles, who are giving up 17.9 fantasy points per game (fppg) to opposing QBs, which is actually top-10. However, they are second-worst in the league in rushing yards allowed to QBs on the season, having given up 331 yards. Having rushed for no less than 44 yards in each of his three starts and scoring two TDs on the ground in each, keep Hill in your lineup this week once again.
Start: Tom Brady vs. Vikings
At first glance, it would appear that the Vikings pass defense is much improved over the last few weeks. But upon looking further, you will see that they have not faced much in the way of competition, with matchups against Nick Foles, Andy Dalton and Mike Glennon included. Tom Brady has multiple TDs in each of his last three starts and the Vikings will not have an answer for all of his receiver options. With your season on the line, you can trust Brady to deliver this week.
Sit: Derek Carr at Colts
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Derek Carr made this article two weeks ago in a great matchup against the Falcons, where he put up 215 yards with no TDs and an INT. Last week, when he was on the sit list, he proceeded to have his best game of the year, putting up 32.74 points passing for 381 yards and throwing for three TDs and adding another on the ground. This week, he draws a home matchup with the Colts, who allow only 16.2 fppg to opposing QBs. Don’t chase the points. Leave him on your bench this week.
Sit: Cam Newton at Rams
Last week in Los Angeles, Cam Newton ran for 48 yards and two TDs, adding his fifth passing TD of the year. This week, in his return to L.A., he gets a far tougher matchup in the Rams, who are giving up only 14.8 fppg to opposing QBs. The Rams have only given up 181 rushing yards on the year to opposing QBs, however, and have allowed a league-low 14 passing TDs on the year. This looks like a terrible matchup for Cam, so look for a better option this week to keep your playoff dreams alive.
Check out our Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings, including scoring settings for PPR and half PPR leagues! Rankings are updated throughout the week and can be useful for finding the best fantasy football start sit candidates.
Running Backs | Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Start: D’Andre Swift vs. Packers
After missing Weeks 11 and 12 in the concussion protocol, D’Andre Swift then missed last week due to a non-COVID illness. Now, he returns to the field for a Week 14 matchup with the Packers, who are giving up 23.2 fppg to opposing RBs on the year. In his last two games before missing time, Swift had 16 and 21 touches en route to RB17 and RB4 finishes, so the workload is there, in addition to the plus matchup. He was back at practice on Wednesday, but was still limited due to illness, so be sure to check that he is active. If he is, fire Swift up as an RB2.
Start: James Conner at Bills
The Steelers have sorely missed James Conner, as he has missed the last two weeks with COVID. Over the last two games, Benny Snell put up 24 carries for 65 yards and no TDs. It safe to say that Conner’s job is not in any jeopardy. The Bills are giving up 19.3 fppg to opposing RBs and the Steelers are looking to get back to their running ways after two straight weeks of pass-heavy game plans with Conner sidelined. Lock Conner in as an RB2 this week and look for him to get at least 18-20 touches this week in a plus matchup.
Sit: Damien Harris at Rams
Where to begin with this one. The Rams are only giving up 14.9 fppg to opposing RBs on the season, so there’s that. Secondly, the Patriots welcomed Sony Michel back last week and Cam Newton once again proved that he is the best goal line runners on the team. So, you have a RB on a Bill Belichick-coached team who is rarely targeted in the passing game and likely won’t score a TD, as his QB will call his own number at the goal line, and is in a terrible matchup. Sit Harris this week.
Sit: Devontae Booker vs. Colts
Last week, with Josh Jacobs out and a matchup with the Jets, who are hell bent on landing the top pick, Devontae Booker looked like a plug and play. However, he only managed 50 yards on his 16 carries and caught one of his two targets for another yard. This week, in a matchup with plenty of playoff implications with the Colts who are giving up 17.7 fppg to opposing RBs, look for Booker to struggle to get much going once again. His best bet to return value is a TD, and there is a chance of that, as the Colts have given up at least one per game over their last seven, but he is more of a volume-based flex play than RB2.
Wide Receivers| Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Start: Robby Anderson vs. Broncos
This week looks like addition by subtraction for Robby Anderson, as Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore were both added to the COVID list with Moore having it and Samuel just for being in close contact. This makes Anderson the only experienced WR on the Panthers roster for the week, which should make him a sure bet for double-digit targets, especially if the Broncos are keying on whoever is healthy at running back. When Anderson has seen double-digit targets this season, he has finished WR15, WR15, WR18 and WR26. He has a great floor as a WR2 with touchdown potential this week.
Start: Corey Davis at Jaguars
Corey Davis is coming off of his biggest game of his breakout season, and he has another opportune matchup on deck against the Jaguars, who are giving up 26.9 fppg to opposing WRs. Davis is the epitome of the post-hype sleeper, as in his fourth season he is starting to deliver on the promise that the Titans were expecting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2017. He is on pace for over 1,000 yards and has been in double-digit PPR points in all but one game, when he was blanked by the Bears in Week 9. You can start him this week with your season on the line, as he provides a solid floor in addition to upside that he flashed last week.
Sit: DeVante Parker vs. Chiefs
DeVante Parker has fared far better with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm than with Tua Tagovailoa. Last week, he had only four receptions for 35 yards before being ejected after getting into a scuffle. This week, he has a matchup with the Chiefs, who are holding opposing WRs to only 20.6 fppg. After his breakout season last year, Parker has only finished as a WR2 or better in four games this season, and they all came with Fitzgerald behind center. We have seen enough to know that he is not a WR2 start this week.
Sit: D.J. Chark Jr. vs. Titans
Speaking of disappointing seasons, D.J. Chark has had a rough one, with only two WR2 or better performances. They were both big; he was the WR3 in Week 4, then WR5 in Week 9. Is this the week that he blows up again? If he is following a three week pattern, excluding byes and a game he missed due to injury, then he could be due this week. The Titans have given up some big games to WRs, including last week against the Browns, so it could happen. However, he is more of a WR3 or Flex, given his lack of production to this point.
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