Week 13 of the NFL season is officially in the books! The NFL landscape has been riddled with injuries and the fantasy playoffs are one week away for most leagues. If you’re facing tough lineup decisions for this upcoming crucial matchup, I’ve got you covered.
Let’s break down my start/sit fantasy football picks for Week 14.
Quarterback
Start ‘Em: Sam Darnold (Vikings) vs. Falcons
QB8 through 13 weeks is no fluke.
Sam Darnold has been legitimately fantastic this year, from a real-life and fantasy perspective. The former No. 3 overall pick has racked up at least 17 fantasy points in six of Minnesota’s last seven outings, providing a secure floor with mid-range QB1 upside.
Darnold has been lights out in each of the Vikings’ last three outings, boasting a 6:0 TD:INT ratio with 811 yards. He should keep the momentum rolling against the Falcons, who allow the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Sit ‘Em: Jared Goff (Lions) vs. Packers — THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Goff is in the midst of one of the most interesting seasons we’ve seen from a quarterback as of late.
He’s QB11 on the year thanks to some truly outstanding performances. He does exactly what Ben Johnson asks of him and as such boasts the second-best passer rating in the league.
That said, his game-to-game fantasy floor is too low to trust him in key matchups. The Lions’ offense revolves around the two-headed monster of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, making everyone else a complementary piece regardless of their individual talent. Goff and the Lions have played very well as of late, but the QB has scored fewer than 17 points in four of his last five games. He should remain on your bench Thursday night against a tough Packers defense.
Running Back
Start ‘Em: Tony Pollard (Titans) vs. Jaguars
The last four weeks haven’t been incredibly kind to Pollard from a production standpoint. Game script has taken him out of the equation in three of those contests, with him combining for just 26 carries over said matchups.
However, he did take 24 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown two weeks ago against Houston, proving the high ceiling is still there. I expect to see production on a somewhat similar level against the Jaguars, who allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs.
Fire Pollard up as a high-end RB2.
Sit ‘Em: Chuba Hubbard (Panthers) at Eagles
Is the Hubbard fantasy decline finally coming just in time for the fantasy playoffs?
It sure looks like it. Unfortunately for Chuba, this felt like an inevitable outcome considering Carolina’s volatile offense and the return of Jonathon Brooks. In Week 13 against Tampa Bay, Hubbard saw just 12 carries, his fewest since Week 2. He turned those limited touches into just 2.3 points, also his second-fewest total of the campaign.
This Sunday, he draws an incredibly tough matchup in Philadelphia, as the Eagles allow the fifth-fewest points to opposing backfields. Leave Chuba on your bench in this crucial fantasy week.
Check out my full Week 14 running back start/sit picks here!
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em: DJ Moore (Bears) at 49ers
Moore was my start of the week at receiver last time around, and I’m going right back to him.
Is that allowed? I’m gonna say it’s allowed.
After an immensely frustrating middle of the fantasy campaign, Moore has flipped a switch of the last two weeks, recording at least 23 points in both games. He saw a whopping 16 targets against the Lions on Thanksgiving, reestablishing himself as the clear No. 1 option for Caleb Williams. Ride the hot hand this week and fire DJM up as a high-end WR2.
Sit ‘Em: Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars) at Titans
The man has Mac Jones as his quarterback for the forseeable future. Need I say more?
(Sorry Mac, it’s nothing personal).
Thomas actually put up 18.7 PPR points against the Texans, but that was thanks to a very late touchdown. The unfortunate reality for everyone in Jacksonville’s offense is that they are going to struggle to move the ball. Thomas is an undeniably talented player, but he should be left on your bench against the Titans, who allow the seventh-fewest fantasy point to receivers.
Check out my full Week 14 wide receiver start/sit picks here!
Tight End
Start ‘Em: Cade Otton (Buccaneers) vs. Raiders
Otton has scored fewer than 10 points in three straight contests. There are plenty of reasons for concern about starting him in what could be a must-win fantasy matchup.
That said, if you’re willing to take the risk, I believe you’ll be rewarded. Otton saw his role in the offense ramp back up last week after receiving a target downgrade with Mike Evans back in the equation. The production wasn’t there, but seven targets with a 94% snap share is noteworthy.
The Raiders allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends, opening up an enticing opportunity for Otton to snap out of this slump.
Sit ‘Em: Sam LaPorta (Lions) vs. Packers — THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Don’t be fooled by LaPorta’s 15.6 PPR points last week.
The man caught three balls for a whopping six yards. Two of those catches just happened to be one-yard touchdowns. That’s been the story of any type of success that LaPorta has found this year. His role in the offense has drastically diminished, forcing an extremely talented tight end into touchdown-or-bust territory.
That’s not a game you should play against a tough Packers defense.
Check out my full Week 14 tight end start/sit picks here!
Those are my start ’em, sit ’em Week 14 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice and Week 14 start/sit picks over the next few days.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
