Fantasy Football: Week 14 Starts & Sits
I’m baaaaaaaaack! I know last week was very hit or miss, mostly misses… after reviewing the week I was 4/12 on my starts and sits. It is okay though because this week I am going to bounce back big! For some fantasy football players, playoffs start this week, others are next week. Which means it is the most important time to have the correct players in your lineup. Obviously, keep the guys in your lineup that have been performing week after week. This article is going to give one start and sit for each position (QB, RB, WR, TE, D/ST, and K) the starts being guys that would usually be on the bench or a 50/50 start. But the guys that will be talked about sitting will be some guys that would typically make a starting lineup but have a tough matchup this week that may be a strong case to sit them.
Start em’ & Sit em’
Quarterbacks
Start: Cam Newton vs. Atlanta Falcons (Projected: 19.5)
Last time the Panthers played the Falcons, Cam Newton was not on the Panthers roster, Sam Darnold played awful against a bottom pass defense in the NFL. Now Cam Newton is not associated with having the ability to pass the ball, but everybody knows he is capable of launching a deep ball and fitting a pass into a tight window. This Falcons defense is allowing just over 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, but when you mix in Cam’s rushing ability, I think it is a no-brainer that he can get over 20 points. The Falcons defense is not only 31st in passing, but they are the 4th worst when it comes to containing the quarterback. Start Cam with confidence this week if you are in need of a QB. I know he had a rough time versus Miami, being benched for PJ Walker but after a bye week I expect a bounce back game.
Sit: Taylor Heinicke vs. Dallas Cowboys (Projected: 19.2)
Heinicke has been consistently good this year, not amazing, not spectacular but he has been doing the job for Washington. The team is coming off 4 straight wins but now faces their division rival the Dallas Cowboys, who have shocked a lot of people this year with how good its defense has been. This is the first time these two teams are meeting, and I think Washington is going to get hit by a brick wall in this game and be brought back to reality. It is not like the Dallas pass defense is phenomenal, but in rivalry games the tempo is always higher, a lot more is at stake, and this young Washington team is way over their heads coming into Dallas. Taylor Heinicke just lost Logan Thomas for the season after being placed on the IR for the second time this year. If the Cowboys defense can stop Terry McLaurin, then Heinicke will struggle in this game. By no means should the current QB15 touch your fantasy lineup this week.
Running backs
Start: Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Projected: 13.1)
I was going to put Javonte Williams here this week, but I didn’t want to pick on the Lions defense two weeks in a row, especially since they finally won a game. As a Raiders fan it is hard to write this but the truth hurts. The Raiders are allowing 21.4 fantasy points to running backs per game, though Darrel Williams may come in and steal some of Clyde’s workload. I think this game will be the Clyde show. In the week 10 matchup against the Raiders Clyde Edwards-Helaire was hurt so Darrel Williams was the lead back for the Chiefs. Williams racked up 29.4 PPR points, 11 carries for 43 yards which is not good at all, but he killed it in the receiving game with 9 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Being a first round pick in the 2020 NFL draft (a questionable first round pick) Clyde has a lot to prove, and coming back from injury he needs to prove it this week with that matchup he has and the volume that he could see. Fire up Clyde Edwards-Helaire this week, his 13.1 projected points is achievable in the first half of this game.
Sit: James Robinson @ Tennessee Titans (Projected: 14.2)
James Robinson has been disappointing to say the least, after a tremendous rookie season Robinson has done nothing in comparison. I will not put all the blame on Robinson; however, Urban Meyer has a terrible system for James Robinson to succeed. But, with the carries and receptions that he gets, Robinson has not made the most out of them. Sit James Robinson this week, I know seeing that he is projected 14.2 points is captivating, but the fact of the matter is that James Robinson has not put up that many fantasy points since week 10. Yes week 10 was not that long ago, but to go 3 weeks in a row following that to get less than his projection over and over again… not to mention his last game being a whopping 2.5 PPR fantasy points. The Tennessee Titans have the 4th best running defense in the NFL allowing 15.9 PPR points per game to running backs. Awesome, that is more than what Robinson is projected, but last week Carlos Hyde out-snapped James Robinson. So who is to say this week Urban Meyer doesn’t do the same thing? Take James Robinson out of your starting lineup right now and put him on your bench, unless you are desperate then I hope that he booms this week and has a field day against the Titans.
Wide Receivers
Start: K.J. Osborn vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Projected: 10.3)
This man right here is my start of the week, if he was on the waiver wire in my fantasy football leagues, there is a great chance that he is now on my roster. Adam Thielen is doubtful for Thursday night’s game against the Steelers, which means Osborn is going to take on that WR2 role in the Vikings offense. In the game that Adam Thielen got hurt in, Osborn got 14.7 PPR points, recently with Thielen in the lineup Osborn has not done anything worth being in a fantasy lineup. But this is the week, with injuries, and bye weeks Osborn is the guy to plug into your lineup. The most production Osborn has had this season was early on before the team’s bye week in week 6, and those games came as the WR3 on the team. I like the matchup for Osborn, and I think he is in a great position to succeed this week with no Adam Thielen, the only concern is that it is Kirk Cousins in primetime football.
Sit: Odell Beckham Jr. @ Arizona Cardinals (Projected: 13.2)
Congratulations Odell! You still have yet to have back-to-back games with 10+ fantasy points since week 16 and 17 of 2019!!! Can we please all stop with the nonsense that “Odell is back,” he has had one good game this season and it was against the Green Bay Packers who are without three all-pro starters, two on the defense. This week against the Cardinals is nothing different, he is going to be projected this number of points and ultimately disappoint. Van Jefferson has been more productive than Odell has, and this Cardinals defense is no push over to allowing WR’s fantasy points. 21.2 PPR points per game is all the Cardinals are allowing to WR’s, and the way that Cooper Kupp gets the ball thrown his way and the big plays he can make out of it, good luck to Odell getting any targets. I really hope Odell Beckham Sr. does not find this article… Please do yourself a favor and don’t start Odell Beckham Jr. this week.
Tight Ends
Start: Brevin Jordan vs. Seattle Seahawks (Projected: 6.3)
I know, I know, you are probably wondering who in the world this is. Brevin Jordan is a rookie tight end on the Houston Texans, and he has not done much this season, but this could be a very good week for the rookie. Jordan faces a now depleted Seahawks defense with Jamal Adams being ruled out for the remainder of the season. The Seahawks are the 5th worst defense against tight ends allowing 10.2 PPR points per game, and now without Jamal Adams overtop or coming into the box things are opened up for Brevin Jordan. Putting Jordan as a start this week is not telling you to bench a guy that has been more consistent, it is merely a suggestion if you are in need of a tight end.
Sit: T.J. Hockenson @ Denver Broncos (Projected: 10.6)
Yes, the Lions finally got a win! T.J. Hockenson also got a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since week 1 and 2! Hockenson has been for the most part consistent this year, with a few slopes here and there. But, this week against the Broncos is a little worrisome with the Broncos allowing the least amount of fantasy points to tight ends per game (4.5). Hockenson is the only true passing threat in the Lions offense, the WR’s are spotty, D’Andre Swift hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and Jamaal Williams can’t decide what week he wants to play football or not. I love T.J. Hockenson, I had him as a top 3 tight end before the season began and I love watching him succeed, but the Broncos are very stingy versus the tight end position so I cannot put my faith in Hockenson. Last week in a 22-9 loss the Broncos held Travis Kelce, the best tight end in the NFL to 3 receptions for 27 yards… Bench Hockenson this week, or hope the rest of your team can make up for the lack of points he will get.
Defense/Special Teams
Start: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (Projected: 7.1)
The Packers are legit, and I think super bowl favorites in the NFC if the entire team can stay healthy. The Packers play the Bears, and Matt Nagy just named Justin Fields the starting quarterback. The Packers had 4 sacks and 4 QB hits against Fields in week 6, Fields being the 4th most sacked quarterback in the NFL is facing a terrifying Packers front seven. Also mentioned earlier in the article the Packers are getting back cornerback Jaire Alexander and linebacker Za’Darius Smith, two players that will make Justin Fields’ job 10x harder. With Fields having missed time and now being thrusted back into the starting QB role, I expect the Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry to send constant pressure at Justin Fields.
Sit: Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons (Projected: 6.4)
This week will either be the week the Panthers defense steps up and gets back to that number 1 defense in the league, or it will be yet another week that they disappoint. The Falcons offense has been terrible, but the last week the Panthers defense delivered against a good team was week 9 against the Patriots (8 fantasy points). The last two weeks the Panthers defense scored 4 points against the Washington Football Team and 3 points against the Miami Dolphins. Two offenses that have recently been catching fire have shown the Panthers up and made the defense look foolish, the Falcons offense has been catching no fire but with Cordarrelle Patterson in you never know what could happen. Due to that boom or bust risk of the Panthers defense I do not feel comfortable starting them whatsoever.
Kickers
Start: Brandon McManus vs. Detroit Lions (Projected: 7.6)
Kickers are sooooo hit or miss for fantasy football, one week they are giving you 20 points and the next 5. Brandon McManus has not been performing well, the Broncos’ last three games McManus scoring just 14 fantasy points combined. But this week against the Lions that trend stops, McManus is going to get double digit fantasy points. The Lions have been a competitive team all year, their record may not show it, but they have been in almost every single game this year till the end. This Lions defense has the ability to stop this suspect Broncos offense and force McManus to kick field goals all day long. Now, the Lions’ run defense is not good, and Javonte Williams could very well repeat what he did on Sunday night against the Chiefs. Brandon McManus should be in your starting lineup this week, field goals or extra points he is guaranteed a good chunk of fantasy points this week.
Sit: Graham Gano @ Los Angeles Chargers (Projected: 7.8)
The Giants offense sucks, without Daniel Jones again this week I have no faith in the team being able to put up points, which means no field goals for Graham Gano. Gano is not a bad kicker and the matchup against the Chargers is not bad, but after what I saw last week from the Chargers defense… If the Bengals struggled with an above average offense, I cannot imagine how a below average Giants offense with two quarterbacks injured will fare. Do not start Graham Gano this week, if you do you are banking on him hitting 50 yarder after 50 yarder.