Week 14 Start or Sit

Start 'em Baker Mayfield (TB, QB)
Heading into Week 14, Baker Mayfield looks to top 200 passing yards for the first time in four weeks as the Buccaneers face the Saints. He showed some improvement in Week 13 after a poor outing, but still finished under 200 yards with just one touchdown and has only one multi-TD, 200-plus yard game in his last five starts despite an MVP-level beginning to the season. New Orleans won't be an easy opponent - they've allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year and recently bottled up Tua - but Mayfield has been much better at home (22.3 fantasy points per game) and had a string of strong performances versus the Saints before his earlier dud; six QBs have topped 21.5 fantasy points against New Orleans this season, and we expect him to get back on track in Tampa.

Start 'em Joe Burrow (CIN, QB)
Joe Burrow returned from a nine-game absence and completed 24 of 46 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati's Week 13 win, showing some rust but plenty of volume. He faces a tough Week 14 assignment in Buffalo, which ranks second-fewest in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks (13.0), a matchup that tempers his upside. Still, with FanDuel prop action around 35.5 attempts and a history of big fantasy outputs when he's thrown 36+ times (13 such games the past two seasons, averaging 29.8 fantasy points with only two under 21.2), he remains a playable, if somewhat risky, starting option.

Start 'em Quinshon Judkins (CLE, RB)
Quinshon Judkins has been the Browns' workhorse, posting 20+ carries in five of his last nine games and at least 15 rushes in four straight, but Cleveland's limited passing attack has capped his ceiling. That could change in Week 14 against a Titans defense that ranks near the bottom in yards per carry allowed and has given up the most rushing touchdowns, making this an attractive matchup. Judkins piled up 23 carries for 91 yards plus three catches for 18 yards in Week 13, and with Dylan Sampson sidelined (calf), Judkins should retain lead-back duties and a steady workload. He profiles as a solid RB2 with clear upside and is a strong start in most formats.

Start 'em RJ Harvey (DEN, RB)
RJ Harvey was the difference-maker in overtime at Washington, scoring the decisive touchdown, but otherwise produced modest yards (62 scrimmage on 16 touches) and has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry across two starts since J.K. Dobbins' foot injury. With Dobbins' return uncertain, Harvey has retained the lead role in Denver's backfield and is likely to get goal-line looks and the first crack at carries in Week 14 against a Raiders defense that has been vulnerable to running backs and surrendered a large share of RB touchdowns. Given the workload and matchup, he profiles as a solid No. 2 fantasy option in most formats.

Start 'em Michael Wilson (ARI, WR)
If Marvin Harrison (heel) can't go in Week 14, Michael Wilson could slide back into Arizona's top receiving role against the Rams. Wilson was limited to a 3-36 line when Harrison returned from an appendectomy, but in the two games Harrison missed he totaled 33 targets for 25 catches and 303 yards - back-to-back 100-yard performances. Los Angeles has been more vulnerable to the pass than the run and has allowed plenty of wideout production this year, so Wilson projects as a viable WR2 in fantasy if Harrison sits, while Greg Dortch (12 catches, 119 yards, 2 TDs on 15 targets across those two games) is a worthwhile sleeper.

Start 'em Kyle Pitts (ATL, TE)
After a three-game stretch with just two catches, Pitts bounced back in Week 13 with seven grabs for 82 yards and will try to build on that in Week 14 against Seattle. He's totaled 56 receptions for 541 yards and a touchdown this season, on pace to top last year's output, and the matchup looks favorable - Seattle has been porous to pass catchers, ranking near the top in fantasy points allowed to both wideouts and tight ends. Pitts has been inconsistent (four of five games in single digits, though he scored 15.2 last week), but with Drake London's status uncertain, he's a viable starter if he draws volume against a defense that has already allowed ten tight ends to score 10+ fantasy points in 12 games.

Start 'em Brenton Strange (JAC, TE)
Since coming off injured reserve with a hip injury, Brenton Strange has totaled 138 receiving yards, a touchdown and 27.8 fantasy points in two games, and he's clearly earned Trevor Lawrence's trust. He's playing like a fantasy starter and projects as a top-10 TE for Week 14 against a Colts unit that allows about 72 yards per game to tight ends (among the league's worst), so check your waiver wire - Strange could still be available in some leagues.

Start 'em Cleveland Browns (CLE, DEF)
It's the Browns' turn to pick on the Titans. Tennessee has allowed a league-high 48 sacks and coughed up 16 turnovers. They're also last in the league in points and total net yards per game, so we're expecting Cleveland's defense to turn in a strong performance.

Start 'em Chase McLaughlin (TB, K)
Chase McLaughlin heads into Week 14 riding momentum after converting both field-goal attempts and extra points against Arizona, a stretch that's seen him make all eight of his kicks over the past five games (he's missed four of 26 tries this season). He draws a favorable matchup with New Orleans, which has surrendered roughly 8–9 fantasy points per game to kickers and 23 field goals overall, and McLaughlin already cashed in with three 50+-yard FGs and 17 fantasy points the last time these NFC South rivals met - so he's worth keeping in lineups.

Sit 'em Tua Tagovailoa (MIA, QB)
Tua projects as a low-volume, low-ceiling play in Week 14 at the Jets. He's gone multiple games without a touchdown recently and managed no better than 15 completions and 173 yards across Miami's last three outings, producing 14.8 fantasy points or fewer in most of his recent starts. New York has been tough on opposing quarterbacks - allowing just 196.9 passing yards and about 19.3 fantasy points per game - and likely cold weather plus Miami's growing reliance on De'Von Achane should further limit Tua's upside. He's primarily a consideration only in superflex or two-QB leagues.

Sit 'em Caleb Williams (CHI, QB)
Caleb Williams and the Bears travel to Green Bay in Week 14 coming off an underwhelming fantasy outing (154 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) - his second sub-200-yard game in three starts - and he's been under 240 yards in each of Chicago's last four games. The Packers, who rank fourth in pass defense and allow just 6.2 yards per pass attempt, present a tough matchup, and the NFL's pressure leader, Micah Parsons, has recorded 70 QB pressures this season. Williams has scored just 11.5 fantasy points in Week 13 and 10.3 on the road in Week 11, and Green Bay has limited four of the past five quarterbacks to 14 fantasy points or fewer; he was also held to 16.2 points or less in both rookie meetings with the Packers. He's a better QB this year, but expect a run-leaning game plan - start him only in Superflex or two-QB leagues.

Sit 'em Kareem Hunt (KC, RB)
Kareem Hunt's four-game touchdown streak ended in Kansas City's Week 13 loss to Dallas, but he remained the lead back despite Isiah Pacheco's return from a knee injury, outpacing him in touches and finishing with 14 carries for 58 yards and a 22-yard catch. With eight touchdowns in 12 games - all in the red zone - Hunt is on pace for double digits for the first time since 2020, which gives him a solid floor even as Pacheco's role grows. He's a touchdown-dependent fantasy option against a stingy Texans front that's among the league's best at limiting running backs, and Kansas City's injured offensive line further caps his upside, making Hunt more of a flex play in most formats.

Sit 'em Alvin Kamara (NO, RB)
Alvin Kamara is listed as questionable for the Saints' Week 14 trip to Tampa Bay after missing Week 13 with a sprained MCL, and his status will depend on how he handles practice this week. He's on pace for career-low production - roughly 131 carries for 471 yards and one rushing TD, plus 33 catches for 186 yards - and even if he plays he may be eased back into a limited role rather than resuming workhorse duties. If active, he'll face a Buccaneers run defense that's been about middle of the pack, having given up the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs this season.

Sit 'em Zay Flowers (BAL, WR)
Zay Flowers has been one of Baltimore's most reliable receivers, clearing 60 yards in eight of 12 games, but he's cooled off lately - hauling in two of seven targets for just six yards in Week 13, his second consecutive quiet outing. We at Fantasy Nerds want to send him some glue for his hands (perhaps an early Christmas present) to help with the drops. He draws a favorable Week 14 matchup at home against Pittsburgh, a unit that has been generous to opposing wideouts in receptions, yards and fantasy scoring. Despite going without a touchdown since Week 1 (one score was wiped out by an offensive‑pass‑interference call) and three straight outings of 11.9 PPR points or fewer, Flowers profiles as a low-end WR3 in most leagues rather than a must-start.

Sit 'em Quentin Johnston (LAC, WR)
Quentin Johnston caught all three targets for 23 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers' Week 13 win over the Raiders, but the third-year speedster has been inconsistent lately - he's averaged just 27 yards over his last seven games and had two outings with no receptions in the past five. Part of the problem has been Justin Herbert's limited time in the pocket behind an injured offensive line; Herbert also had surgery on his non‑throwing hand Monday and might not be cleared for Week 14, which would put the passing attack at risk if Trey Lance starts. Whoever is under center Monday night, Johnston will be up against an Eagles secondary that ranks middle of the pack in points allowed to wide receivers.

Sit 'em Evan Engram (DEN, TE)
Evan Engram came off his best outing of the year, turning nine targets into six catches for a season-high 79 yards in Denver's Week 13 overtime win, after failing to top 42 yards in any game before that and notching just one TD back in Week 5. Over the seven games since that score he's posted a 26-244-0 line on 40 targets and had missed double-digit fantasy points in six straight before last week's 13.9. With the Broncos' defense carrying much of the load, Engram remains a spot-play option - but his Week 14 matchup is bleak on paper, as the Raiders rank among the league's stingiest units vs. tight ends and have allowed very few double-digit fantasy performances to the position.

Sit 'em Oronde Gadsden (LAC, TE)
Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden suffered a knee/quadriceps issue in Week 11 and, while he hasn't missed a game, looks limited - he's managed just three catches on seven targets for 68 yards over the last two games and 81 yards across his past three after four straight 68+ yard outings. The passing game hasn't helped: Justin Herbert has been pressured behind an injured line and had surgery on his non‑throwing hand Monday, and a potential Trey Lance start would further cloud things. To make matters worse, Gadsden draws a tough Week 14 matchup against an Eagles defense that's among the league's stingiest against tight ends and seldom allows a TE to put up big fantasy numbers.

Sit 'em Los Angeles Chargers (LAC, DEF)
After drawing lots of streaming interest against the Raiders, the Chargers aren't nearly as enticing facing Philadelphia. They've only coughed it up eight times (tied for the second-fewest) but have allowed 27 sacks (tied for 16th), so I'd leave the Bolts on the wire for a high-profile Monday night matchup.

Sit 'em Harrison Butker (KC, K)
Harrison Butker went 4-for-4 on PATs but didn't attempt a field goal in Kansas City's Week 13 loss - the third time this season he's posted that exact line. He hasn't combined multiple FGs and PATs since Week 4, has kicked more than two FGs just once in his last eight games, and managed only four fantasy points last week (having topped eight points only once since Week 4), which limits his upside. Facing a Texans defense that allows a league-low 16.5 points per game and has given up just 13 field goals, Butker's matchup is tough so don't be surprised if he kicks "wide right" once again in Week 14.