After feasting with all 32 teams in action for Week 13, the NFL is finishing off bye weeks in Week 14, with six teams out of action. If you’ve been starting players on your fantasy team from the Commanders, Ravens, Colts, Broncos, Patriots or Texans, you’ll have to come up with some different solutions this week. For most season-long leagues, this is the final week of the regular season, so you’ll need to plan very carefully to get the win this week and also set your team up for postseason success.
As you make your decisions about who to start this week, be sure to consider all the matchups and options on your roster. To help you make all your tough lineup choices, check out my rankings for each position in Week 14. I’ve highlighted some of the biggest risers and fallers at each spot, remembering all the absences due to bye weeks tend to move players up the rankings in general.
QB Risers and Fallers
For the second straight week, Jalen Hurts is in the top spot, but at No. 2 this week is Joe Burrow who jumped up from No. 6. With Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson getting their bye weeks, Kyler Murray is rising all the way into the top five.
Even with six teams on a bye week, Patrick Mahomes drops from No. 8 vs. the Raiders last week to outside the top 10 this week as he faces a tough Chargers defense on Sunday night.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are back in warmer weather and a friendlier fantasy matchup, so he’s back in my top 10 this week along with Caleb Williams, who is working with a new coach and may have to carry more of the offense with multiple injuries in the backfield.
Check out my full QB rankings for Week 14.
RB Risers and Fallers
Saquon Barkley is firmly entrenched in the top spot and has a great matchup vs. the Panthers, which makes him far and away the top play this week. I had Bucky Irving all the way up at No. 2 against the Raiders (up from No. 21 the week before), but now Irving is dealing with injury issues. If he plays, he’s an elite option, but keep a close eye on the practice reports.
Alvin Kamara jumps from No. 11 to No. 3 since Taysom Hill won’t be culturing touchdowns anymore, and the Saints have a great matchup in New York against the Giants. Chase Brown also rises into the top 10 while Kyren Williams actually drops a few spots due to matchup but still stays a top-10 start.
I had Jordan Mason in my top 10 since these rankings were before he landed on IR. Without him, I’d rank Isaac Guerendo in my top 15, probably just ahead of Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Even with all the bye weeks and everyone trending up in general as a result, Aaron Jones dropped two spots, and Chuba Hubbard slid out of my rankings in a tough matchup against the Eagles.
Trending into my top 25 this week, Isiah Pacheco is back for the Chiefs but still in a timeshare, while Travis Eteinne Jr. seems to have secured his role as the primary back for the Jaguars and re-enters the rankings at No. 24. Najee Harris is also back in my rankings at No. 18 for a grudge match vs. the Browns.
Check out my full RB rankings for Week 14.
WR Risers and Fallers
A strong matchup vs. the Cowboys has Ja’Marr Chase back in my top spot this week with Mike Evans just behind him. However, Evans is dealing with an injury, so we’ll have to watch his status closely. Calvin Ridley had a down week vs. the Commanders as the Titans were crushed, but I’m moving him up from No. 8 to No. 5 since he gets a great matchup vs. the Jaguars at home this week.
I moved Ladd McConkey into my top 10 for his matchup vs. the Chiefs, but now he’s also battling injury. George Pickens is also back in my top 10 as he continues to establish himself as the top option for the Steelers.
After his strong showing and with a new focus on him in Arizona’s offense, Marvin Harrison Jr. is back in my top 15 this week just ahead of fellow rookies Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers, who both are having to deal with QB issues.
On the other end of the experience spectrum, veteran Adam Thielen is back in the top 20 as the Panthers’ offense continues to improve. Jakobi Meyers is back in my top 25 since he’s become the Raiders’ No. 1 option at WR.
I already had Jerry Jeudy in my top 25 for this week before his monster performance on Monday Night Football, and I’d bump him up to about No. 18 after he went off against the Broncos.
Check out my full WR rankings for Week 14.
TE Risers and Fallers
The top three in my tight end rankings stay the same for the third straight week with Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and Travis Kelce holding their spots. One of the biggest risers throughout the season has been Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith, who is up to No. 4 for Miami’s matchup this week with the Jets.
With Mike Evans back to take a lot of the work, Cade Otton is down a couple of spots, but he’d jump right back up if Evans is sidelined or limited vs. the Raiders. Evan Engram is back in my top 10 despite a QB switch since he gets a favorable matchup against the Titans.
Sam LaPorta feasted on Thanksgiving and has another big game on Thursday against the Packers. He’s back into my top 10 this week. Like his teammate Jeudy, David Njoku was in my rankings before his big Monday performance, but I’d raise him a few spots after his strong showing
Check out my full TE rankings for Week 14.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
