Start/Sit Week 14

By Tommy Harvey

Early Sunday Afternoon 

Houston @ Dallas

Start: All Cowboys

Sit: All Texans

This should be pretty easy.  Dallas is rolling and Houston is terrible.  Fire up your Cowboys and fade your Texans

New York Jets @ Buffalo

Start: QB Mike White, RB Zonovan Knight, WR Garrett Wilson, TE Tyler Conklin, QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook, WR Stefon Diggs

Sit: RB Michael Carter, RB Devin Singletary, WR Gabriel Davis, TE Dawson Knox

Mike White has been really solid since taking over for Zack Wilson.  The Jets had issues finding the endzone last week against the Vikings, but I think they will have some things straightened out this week in a huge divisional matchup.  Zonovan Knight has taken over the backfield and is a good fantasy option.  Garrett Wilson is an every week start now.  Tyler Conklin only caught 2 passes last week, but saw 7 targets.  He is a viable fantasy TE with White at QB. Michael Carter returns after missing last week, but Knight has been too good for Carter to have a major role.

Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs are obvious starts and this feels like the type of game where James Cook and Dawson Knox will be utilized as safety blankets.  With New York’s stout pass defense, I’m sitting Gabriel Davis this week if I can.  There probably won’t be much running room for Devin Singletary either.

Cleveland @ Cincinnati

Start: RB Nick Chubb, RB Kareem Hunt, TE David Njoku, QB Joe Burrow, RB Joe Mixon, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins, WR Tyler Boyd

Sits: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Amari Cooper (questionable), TE Hayden Hurst (out)

Cleveland is going to have to run the ball effectively to have a chance at winning this game.  Fire up Chubb and Hunt in anticipation of that.  David Njoku is back after missing last week’s game and he should provide Deshaun Watson with a big playmaker.  The obvious every week starts for the Bengals are all in place and Joe Mixon is back from the concussion.  Hayden Hurst is out this week, so I’m expecting an uptick for Tyler Boyd.

Minnesota @ Detroit

Start: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson, WR Adam Thielen, TE TJ Hockenson, QB Jared Goff, RB Jamaal Williams, RB D’Andre Swift, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR DJ Chark

Sit: WR Jameson Williams

This is going to be a shootout.  The Lions are actually favored in this matchup and are in must-win mode.  The only player I sit here is Jameson Williams…let’s see a role for him before we throw him in the lineup

Jacksonville @ Tennessee

Start: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WR Christian Kirk, WR Marvin Jones Jr., TE Evan Engram, QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, WR Treylon Burks, TE Chig Okonkwo, TE Austin Hooper

Sit: WR Zay Jones (questionable), WR Robert Woods, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Both of these teams are BAD on offense, but both of their pass defenses are near non-existant.  Trevor Lawrence will rely on his playmakers in the passing game.  Expect for Etienne, Kirk, and Engram to have solid games. Marvin Jones Jr. could be in play this week too if Zay Jones is limited or misses.  

If there was ever a game to feel anywhere near comfortable in starting Ryan Tannehill, it’s this one.  Burks, Okonkwo, and Hooper have become somewhat reliable targets.  Derrick Henry is going to do Derrick Henry things.

Philadelphia @ New York Giants

Start: QB Jalen Hurts, WR AJ Brown, WR Devonta Smith, RB Saquan Barkley

Sit: RB Miles Sanders, All Giants not named Saquan Barkley

Philly has been a machine all season long.  Hurts, Brown, and Smith are hitting on all cylinders right now and with New York’s secondary woes, that probably won’t stop this week.  Keep the Eagles’ RBs on your bench if you can afford to.  Their running game has mainly been Hurts.

Saquan Barkley is the only Giant worth a start this week.  He has been good, but the rest of the offense has struggled.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Start: TE Mark Andrews, RB Najee Harris, WR George Pickens, TE Pat Freiermuth

Sit: QB Lamar Jackson (doubtful), QB Tyler Huntley, Ravens RBs, QB Kenny Pickett, Diontae Johnson

Baltimore is really struggling on offense right now.  Teams are keying in on Mark Andrews because the Ravens have no real threat at WR right now.  Pittsburgh is a top-7 run defense, so Baltimore’s RBs will likely struggle to move the ball.  

Najee Harris has been pretty good lately, running for over 85 yards in 3 of his last 4 games.  George Pickens was vocal after last week about not getting the ball, so I expect him to get more targets this week.  That could cause Diontae Johnson’s target share to decrease as a result.  Pittsburgh will need to find a better balance.

Late Sunday Afternoon 

Kansas City @ Denver

Start: QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco, RB Jerrick McKinnon, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, TE Travis Kelce, TE Greg Dulcich

Sit: QB Russell Wilson, RB Latavius Murray, WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Courtland Sutton

Patrick Mahomes…DUH.  Pacheco and McKinnon have been playing well as of late and with this week’s byes, they should be looked at as startable.  JuJu, MVS, and Kelce are Mahomes’ playmakers and should be started.

Greg Dulcich is the only Bronco worth starting.  Denver’s offense is atrocious and isn’t getting any better any time soon.

Tampa Bay @ San Francisco

Start: QB Tom Brady, RB Rashaad White, WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin, RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, TE George Kittle

Sit: RB Leonard Fournette, TE Cade Otton, TE Cameron Brate, QB Brock Purdy, WR Brandon Aiyuk

This is a tough game to forecast.  Both teams have the ability to score and play good defense.  Both teams also have the ability to completely not show up.  I’d say to go with the usual suspects in this one.  Rashaad White is the better of the RBs in Tampa Bay, so go with him over Fournette.  

Carolina @ Seattle

Start: RB D’Onte Foreman, WR DJ Moore, QB Geno Smith, WR Tyler Lockett, WR DK Metcalf

Sit: RB Kenneth Walker (questionable), RB DeeJay Dallas (questionable), RB Travis Homer

D’Onte Foreman and DJ Moore have been the only bright spots for Carolina this season.  Since trading Christian McCaffrey, they have been really good.  

Geno Smith has been very good in Seattle with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.  The Seahawks are having issues at RB right now, however.  Walker and Dallas are on the bad side of questionable, and with Rashaad Penny already gone, Travis Homer is the likely RB on Sunday.

Sunday Night

Miami @ Los Angeles Chargers

Start: QB Tua Tagovailoa, RB Jeff Wilson, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Mike Gesicki, QB Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, WR Josh Palmer, WR Keenan Allen, TE Gerald Everett

Sit:  Nobody…Play them all

Dolphins and Chargers is likely the best game of the weekend.  Chalk full of studs, make sure you don’t overthink this.  Start whoever you have from this matchup.

Monday Night

New England @ Arizona

Start: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Jakobi Meyers, QB Kyler Murray, RB James Conner, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Marquise Brown

Sit: QB Mac Jones, WR Davante Parker, TE Jonnu Smith, TE Hunter Henry

This is going to be just the second time all season for the Cardinals to have Murray, Conner, Hopkins, and Brown together.  I’m thinking a laser show for Arizona at home on Monday.  Rhamondre Stevenson and Jakobi Meyers are the only consistent performers the Patriots have.