Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14
Well, the final week of the fantasy regular season is here, at least for most of us, and if you’re like me you are in multiple leagues, some of which find you on the playoff bubble. After a week that had six crucial teams on bye, there are only two teams (Cardinals and Commanders) on bye in week 14, so most of your healthy starters should be available to you. This doesn’t mean that choosing who to put in your lineup is easy. This is especially true in a week when making the wrong decision could be the difference between making the playoffs or not. Below are names that I believe will help you get the advantage over your opponent and win the week. Depending on your team, not all of these suggestions are must-starts, but I do anticipate all of them will outperform their week 14 projections. If you need help due to injury or this is a must-win week for you, these players should help. Check out this weeks Start’em / Sit’em for week 14
Week 14 Starts
Jordan Love (QB)
Green Bay Packers vs. NYG (34% Start)
After a shaky start to the 2023 season, over the last three weeks, Jordan Love has been playing incredibly well, looking far more comfortable and playing with a level of confidence that was not there early in the season. He has finished inside the top-10 at the position each week, throwing eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. He has also led the Packers to a three-game winning streak putting them in the hunt for a playoff spot. While not everyone is completely sold on the fourth-year signal caller, what he has been able to do over the last month is undeniable. Love has managed wins against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, the division-leading Detroit Lions, and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. That last one was arguably the most impressive outing of this season. One game might be a fluke, after two you still might have some questions, but three in a row? It’s time to fire him up. While the Giants are not the easiest of matchups, the way Love is playing right now makes it worth taking a chance on him.
Justin Fields (QB)
Chicago Bears vs. DET (14% Start)
Because this article comes out on Tuesday, this starting percentage may be due to Fields coming off his bye week, but regardless, Fields should be in lineups this week. When Fields faced the Lions back in week 11 (his first game back after missing four games with a thumb injury), he finished as the QB8 with over 23 points. The most encouraging part of his production is the amount of work he’s been getting on the ground. After failing to register 12 carries in a game through the first six weeks of the season, Fields has topped that mark in two straight contests. Against the Lions Fields carried the ball 18 times for a total of 104 yards and against the Vikings he ran 12 times for 59 yards, making him one of the better dual-threat fantasy options at the position. His rushing totals since returning are beginning to look very reminiscent of his breakout 2022 campaign. The Lions allow the third most fantasy points to opposing QBs and already struggled to contain Fields once. Look for him to have another productive outing, finishing as a top-10 QB.
De’Von Achane (RB)
Miami Dolphins vs. TEN (54% Start)
Coming into week 13 there was skepticism surrounding De’Von Achane. After missing four weeks due to injury, Achane returned in week 11, only to re-injure himself, missing week 12 as a result. So when Achane returned in week 13, no one really knew what to do with him. We all know his upside may be more electric than nearly any other player but the fear of a re-aggravation was enough to keep Achane out of many lineups with managers taking a “prove it to me” approach. Those who did take a chance on him were rewarded to the tune of 23.8 half-PPR points. In a 45-15 blowout against the Commanders, Achane received 20 touches, resulting in 103 total yards, and two touchdowns. This should be enough to automatically insert him back into your lineup in week 14, especially in a game that could turn into another blowout, against a Titans team that just gave up 31 points to the Colts. The Titans are easier to pass on than run on, but when healthy, Achane brings a level of speed and explosiveness to his game that just might make him matchup-proof. Achane is a solid RB2 this week, with obvious RB1 upside.
Chuba Hubbard (RB)
Carolina Panthers vs. NO (36% Start)
To those of you who took a chance on stashing Hubbard earlier in the season, congratulations. You were right to make that move and it has paid off. After firing Frank Reich, interim head coach Chris Tabor chose to turn to Hubbard as his lead back, giving him nearly all the touches in this backfield, culminating in 25 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns against a stout Tampa Bay defense in week 13. If you’ve already been relying on Hubbard, you are likely dealing with injuries or players who have been underperforming. I don’t see any reason to get away from Hubbard this week. Yes, New Orleans is solid against the run, only allowing 18.3 points to the position, which is a top-8 number, but in fantasy, when discussing any player that isn’t an automatic must-start, volume is king, and Hubbard gets the volume. Over the last two weeks, Hubbard has faced the Buccaneers and the Titans (two top-12 run defenses) and still managed at least 17 points and a top-12 finish in each game. There may be some risk with Hubbard but his usage provides a safe floor and if he finds the end zone (something he’s done three times in the last two games) we could be looking at another top-12 finish.
Rashee Rice (WR)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. BUF (48% Start)
Over the last two weeks, Rashee Rice has staked his claim as the clear-cut No. 2 option in Kansas City behind tight end Travis Kelce. Over that span Rice has seen an increase in snap share each week and has received 19 targets, catching 16 for 171 yards and a touchdown. Rice is not yet a player who will win you your week, but as a rookie who is developing chemistry with Patrick Mahomes things are trending in the right direction. The combination of his speed and defenses focusing on Kelce allows Rice to take advantage, which has led to an uptick in production. The Chiefs are coming off a tough Sunday night loss against the Green Bay Packers and will face a Bills defense that just gave up over 300 passing yards to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs have also lost three of their last five games and this week’s matchup could be important come playoff time. Don’t be surprised to see Mahomes & Co. open up the playbook and air it out early and often, giving Rice plenty of opportunities to produce.
Christian Watson (WR)
Green Bay Packers vs. NYG (41%/Start)
This suggestion is, of course, dependent upon whether or not Watson is healthy enough to go this week. Watson is reportedly dealing with a hamstring issue, the severity of which is unknown. Unfortunately, Watson does play on Monday Night Football, adding an element of risk to playing him in a very important week for fantasy managers, unless you have quality pivot options. Still, if he is good to go, he should be in your lineup. Over the last two weeks, Watson has reestablished himself as the WR1 on the Packers and has developed great chemistry with Jordan Love who has looked better and better each week. Watson has received 16 targets in the last two games, catching 12 for 165 total yards and three touchdowns, finishing in the top-10 at the position in each game. He will now face a Giants defense that has allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. The Giants could also struggle to move the ball in this one leading to more possessions for the Packers and more opportunities for Watson. Hopefully, due to the hamstring issue, if you have Watson you also picked up teammates Jayden Reed or Romeo Doubs. Both are decent pivot options if Watson were not able to go. Either way, keep an eye on the reports this week and if Watson is out there, get him in your lineup.
Dalton Kincaid (TE)
Buffalo Bills vs. KC (10% Start)
This suggestion comes with a bit of a caveat. There are reports that the Bills are hopeful fellow tight end, Dawson Knox could return in week 14. This would clearly cap Kincaid’s ceiling, but that impact may not be felt until week 15 or beyond even if Knox does play, something that is far from a guarantee at this point. If Knox is good to go, it’s likely the team will ease him back into the lineup, especially with Kincaid looking as good as he has the past several weeks. Since Knox went down with a wrist injury in week 7, Kincaid has finished as a TE1 in five of his last six games. He has also received six or more targets in all six of those games. It’s hard to imagine them completely going away from their talented rookie even with Knox out there. Knox is a serviceable tight end, but Kincaid is the more talented pass catcher and in what could be a very important matchup against the Chiefs, Kincaid could remain heavily involved. The Chiefs rank as a top-10 unit against tight ends, but that has to be taken with a grain of salt because not every team utilizes the tight end position as much as the Bills, and other than Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson, Kincaid will be the most talented tight end the Chiefs have faced in 2023. I’d start him regardless of Knox’s status, but if Knox misses this one, Kincaid could flirt with top-5 numbers.
Week 14 Sits
Justin Herbert (QB)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. DEN (85% Start)
Let me start by saying, I am not saying Herbert is a must-sit. I understand that the idea of benching Justin Herbert seems ridiculous. He is one of the best young QBs in the league and leads one of the best overall offenses when it’s clicking. The issue is that, in 2023, the offense has been wildly inconsistent, making it hard to predict when the skill players will explode and when they will fizzle. In four of the eight games since their Week 5 bye, Herbert has scored under 20 fantasy points in six points-per-passing touchdown leagues, and in three of them, including Sunday’s 6-0 win over the New England Patriots, he has scored under 13 points. Making matters worse he has only thrown one touchdown in his last two games to go along with one interception. Still, he could find success against a Broncos defense that is bottom-12 against opposing signal callers, but that ranking may be a bit of a trap. In 2023, the Broncos defense started historically bad but has turned a corner as of late, looking much improved. In their last five games, the Broncos have recovered 10 fumbles and forced five interceptions. With the Chargers’ run game lacking the potency it has had in years past, the Broncos could have plenty of opportunities to get after Herbert and force him into a turnover or two. Lacking a better option, fantasy managers should still risk it with Herbert, but if you have a viable backup it may be worth putting them into your lineup this week.
Seahawks RBs
Seattle Seahawks vs. SF
This one is easy. I’m not sure it matters whether Kenneth Walker returns this week, if Zach Charbonnet is somehow good to go and gets another start, or if someone else takes the reins, I don’t like the matchup. Walker has missed the last two weeks and has failed to perform well in touch matchups. Charbonnet is dealing with significant swelling in his knee and seems unlikely to play on Sunday. If neither is able to go, do we really think DeeJay Dallas is going to produce against one of the best defenses and overall teams in the league? The reality is we’ve already seen this story, just two weeks ago when the 49ers and Seahawks faced each other for the first time this season. The 49ers won that game 31-13 and Charbonnet (as the starter) managed just 3.36 yards per carry and 7.8 half-PPR fantasy points. I don’t see things playing out much differently in week 14, no matter who is taking the handoffs from Geno Smith. With how Brock Purdy and the 49ers are playing right now this could, once again, get ugly quickly, causing the Seahawks to abandon the run and force the ball downfield. D.K. Metcalf, and maybe Tyler Lockett, are the only Seahawks worth playing this week, and even they come with some risk. Otherwise, all players in a Seattle jersey should be on your bench.
Adam Thielen (WR)
Carolina Panthers vs. NO (69% Start)
Through the first six weeks of the 2023 season, Adam Thielen was looking like a revelation. With three top-5 performances in six weeks, he was a mid to late-round gem that was single-handedly winning managers their weeks. But coming out of their week 7 bye, Thielen has been unable to keep the momentum going and has finished outside the top-30 at the position in five of the last six games. It’s rare to see such a drastic turnaround that isn’t due to some sort of lingering injury, but the Panthers are in a free fall right now and Thielen’s production is taking a hit because of it, transforming him from a must-start player to near must-sit territory. Much of this can be linked to the poor play of rookie Bryce Young who, as bad as he looked early in the season, has looked even worse in recent weeks. The Saints are a solid defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and who should have success in making Young uncomfortable all afternoon. Assuming you have better WR2 or flex options I would do whatever I could to get away from Thielen until further notice. We are unlikely to see him regain his early-season success any time soon.
Garrett Wilson (WR)
New York Jets vs. HOU (80% Start)
It’s hard for me to think of another receiver as talented as Garrett Wilson who is in as bad of a situation. After Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles injury no one expected much from this Jets offense, but what was to come has been even worse than what most predicted. After backup Zach Wilson was ineffective the team turned to Tim Boyle. That experiment lasted about a game and a half before he was benched in favor of Trevor Siemian, and now there are reports that the team wants to turn back to Zach Wilson but that he is reluctant to step back into the starting role, and who can really blame him? This is a mess of a situation that I would say is one to monitor, but anyway it plays out is most likely bad for all involved, including Garrett Wilson. This week, he will face a Texans defense that is playing very well and is top-12 against wide receivers. Wilson could see plenty of Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr., making things difficult for him. Wilson does have a safe floor most weeks because of his target share and if that’s what you need, I understand, but be sure to temper your expectations, and if you have any higher ceiling options on your bench I’d go with them this week.
Cade Otton (TE)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. ATL (41% Start)
Things seemed to be looking up for Cade Otton in recent weeks. He appeared to be becoming a consistent, if unspectacular, fantasy tight end, and reliable safety valve for QB Baker Mayfield. With consistency being hard to come by at the position, this was a welcomed development. But after consecutive weeks of at least four targets and six half-PPR fantasy points, Otton did not receive a single target in the Buccaneers’ week 13 matchup against the Panthers. With very little touchdown upside to speak of, Otton seems like a high-risk, low-reward option heading into a week 14 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is allowing the 10th most fantasy points to the position, but now that we’ve seen Otton’s floor, I’m not sure his ceiling makes him worth the risk. If you’ve already been relying on Otton then you may have to again, unless you can find someone on the waiver wire with more weekly upside. The best-case scenario is that he was just a bye-week fill-in and you’re able to go right back to your normal starter because if you are can get away from Otton moving forward I would do so.
