Week 14 fantasy football rankings

We’re on the brink of the fantasy football playoffs, so let’s ensure you secure your spot. With six teams on a bye week, the Week 14 rankings may be less populated, but this makes the information even more crucial, and it’s time to aim for those peaks.

Just a reminder! I always include some entertaining rankings! It can range from cartoons to players from the 80s to tips on what not to do after turning 30 — feel free to share your ideas. I also strive to respond to as many comments as I can, but if it’s a straightforward WDIS within a position or a question like “Who should I trade for?”, those are largely addressed within the rankings and trade charts links. Let’s dive in!

#CheckTheLink-age

Waiver Wire for Week 14
Strength of Schedule Rankings for Week 14
Fantasy 101 (weather, start/sit advice, trading, and more)
🎙️All in Fantasy Podcast🎙️

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WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

BYES: BAL, DEN, HOU, IND, NE, WSH

Packers vs. Lions, Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET

• If Romeo Doubs participates, the Packers’ hierarchy reverts to Jayden Reed and Doubs leading, while Christian Watson could be a hit-or-miss WR4. Should Doubs be unavailable, Watson’s potential as a WR2 rises.
• The Lions lead the league in man coverage (41.4%), and Reed experiences a notable decrease against man in YPRR (Yards Per Route Run), dropping from 2.97 against zone to 1.23 versus man. On the other hand, Watson performs well against both, showing a slight increase from 2.13 against zone to 2.49 against man.

Jaguars vs. Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• If you needed additional reasons to steer clear of the Jaguars backfield, the Titans rank fourth in Stuff% (percentage of runs for 0 or fewer yards) at 25.3%.
• In my podcast, I humorously mentioned that Calvin Ridley left behind 90 yards (more so because of Will Levis), but in reality, it was actually 93. This is more about a bounce-back chance. The Jaguars dominate man coverage (35.8%), and Ridley enjoys a significant increase against man, with a leap from 1.30 YPRR against zone to 2.77 against man.

Jets vs. Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• Raheem Mostert’s RBTouch% in Week 13 (29.2) was his highest since Week 9. Still, he’s not worth using, which diminishes any desperation value for Jaylen Wright, who may have lost the backup role due to a fumble in Week 12…or because Mostert is healthy…or, just avoid the Dolphins backups altogether.
• The contrast between Garrett Wilson’s performance in his first three games versus his last three with Davante Adams? AirYD/TGT. Wilson posted 12.04 AirYD/TGT, 13.9 YD/REC, and 2.59 YPRR in the initial three compared to figures of 8.88, 7.1, and 0.90 in the subsequent ones. Those later matchups included two heavily zone-oriented defenses, and Wilson tends to perform better against man. Unfortunately, only the Jaguars (next week) utilize man coverage more frequently than half the league (third).

Falcons vs. Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• Kirk Cousins has struggled significantly recently, and it seems unlikely that he will improve this week. The Vikings run zone the second most (78.7%), and Cousins has a -0.02 EPA against zone (26th), whereas he achieves 0.29 against man (fourth highest).
• Similarly, Sam Darnold exhibits this trend with a -0.03 against zone (28th) and 0.21 against man (11th). The Falcons employ zone coverage the fourth most (77.8%).
• Back to Cousins, he ranks 46th of 48 qualifiers in TD+1D/ATT (touchdown plus first downs per attempt) when blitzed (8.5%), and the Vikings blitz at a league-high 26.9%.

Saints vs. Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• While it’s not a large sample, when Chris Olave and Taysom Hill are sidelined, Marquez Valdes-Scantling leads the team with a 14.3 TmTGT%, including games he missed as a Saint. For those seeking a tight end flier, Juwan Johnson ranks second at 12.7%.
• If Tommy DeVito plays… well, who are we kidding? It doesn’t change anything! (full Rock voice). Malik Nabers is a risk but mostly an essential start, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. is difficult to bench in a week with six teams on bye, yet the committee has diminished his reliable RB2 status.
• If Nabers is unavailable, Wan’Dale Robinson could see a slight uplift, and Darius Slayton might become a WR4 long shot.

Panthers vs. Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• Make sure Dallas Goedert is active; if so, he’s in an outstanding position. The Panthers employ the second-most Cover-3 (47.2%), and Goedert transitions from 1.76 YPRR against other coverage to 2.71 versus Cover-3.
• Since their bye (Week 5), wide receivers with at least 8.6 points against the Eagles include Ja’Marr Chase at 15.9; Puka Nacua at 16.2; Cooper Kupp at 16.0. That’s it. Adam Thielen might start, but it carries a risky floor.

Browns vs. Steelers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

• If Cedric Tillman is back, it affects Elijah Moore, but I would still place him ahead of Tillman with Jameis Winston as QB (rated for his upside; if a risk of a 5 isn’t for you, I understand). Should Tillman not play, Moore would still be a reliable WR3 in this matchup.
• You aren’t going to bench Jerry Jeudy, but you may wish to adjust your WR1 expectations. The Steelers extensively use Cover-3 (43.8%), and Jeudy averages just 1.50 YPRR against it, versus 2.32 against other coverages (for reference, the Broncos rank 19th).
• And in regards to zone versus man, the Browns employ the fourth most man coverage (35.0% — one of only four teams over 33%), and George Pickens excels against zone (2.13 YPRR), but excels even more against man (3.38).

Raiders vs. Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Seahawks vs. Cardinals, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

• This matchup was a letdown two weeks ago, but both defenses have improved during the second half of the season.
• Despite the solid defensive showings, the Seahawks remain susceptible to passing, particularly against wideouts, and Trey McBride had his second-highest Slot% of the season — expect that to continue.

Bills vs. Rams, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

• The Rams field the fifth heaviest zone defense, and Khalil Shakir enjoys a YPRR boost from man coverage (1.93) to zone (2.66).
• The Rams also hold the third-lowest Stuff% (16.7), placing Ray Davis in the desperation/Flex category.
• Kyren Williams’ performance metrics are nearly indistinguishable from Weeks 1-7 compared to Weeks 8-13 (while both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua were healthy), except one: RushTD/ATT%. In Weeks 1-7, Williams boasted 6.9 RushTD/ATT despite averaging 3.8 YPC, whereas he has dropped to 1.9% with a 4.6 YPC (even with better YPR, for what it’s worth). What accounts for this? Williams saw a drop from 2.0 G2G (goal-to-go) attempts per game to 1.1 as the Rams shifted from a 50.0 Pass% on G2G situations to 66.7 Pass% from Weeks 8-13.

Bears vs. 49ers, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

• Following Shane Waldron’s dismissal, Caleb Williams has seen his Sack% decrease from 10.7 to 7.9, his Completion% from 60.5 to 64.1, YD/Comp has improved from 10.0 to 11.0, throw time has dropped almost half a second, and he’s now targeting wide receivers 73.5% of the time, compared to 60.9% previously.
• Concerning for Jauan Jennings — and not just about the offense lately — the Bears primarily use Cover-3 (fourth most at 45.5%), and Jennings drops from 2.97 YPRR against other coverages to 1.38 against Cover-3.
• I previously mentioned in my offseason NFL Draft analysis how I admire Isaac Guerendo’s alignment with a Kyle Shanahan offense. The Bears have average performance metrics for RBs, so I’m not too worried about playing Guerendo here.

Chargers vs. Chiefs, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

• If Ladd McConkey is unable to go, Joshua Palmer would be prioritized over Quentin Johnston as a WR3. He’d serve as an excellent backup plan while awaiting news on McConkey.
• Hassan Haskins’ role in pass blocking complicates this backfield, but this encounter hints at increased utilization of Kimani Vidal. If you’re seeking a high-risk play, Vidal could be a viable choice, yet if the Chargers can hold their own against the Chiefs, Gus Edwards would likely dominate, resulting in a very low floor for Vidal.
• DeAndre Hopkins’s Route% increased to his second-highest level against the Chiefs, though it remained at 66.7%. Like last week, he’s the only player I’d consider risking, and even then, I have no faith in the Chiefs’ wide receiver corps.

Bengals at Cowboys, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

• From Week 5 onward, Tee Higgins ranks No. 2 in FPPG (18.6 in five games — also No. 3 overall this season with 15.3). Ja’Marr Chase is leading both in that span and for the entire season (19.4).
• Joe Burrow stands second in FPPG (21.6) for the season, while Chase Brown ranks second with 19.1 FPPG since Zack Moss’ second injury.
• Reports indicate CeeDee Lamb should be ready to play, but if you’re reluctant to wait, I wouldn’t risk a lackluster backup plan like Jalen Tolbert in place of Lamb, who is a borderline WR2/3 with Cooper Rush.

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WEEK 14 SLEEPERS

QUARTERBACK

• Caleb Williams, CHI — The entire squad is crumbling, and while the 49ers have generally been effective at limiting passing yards, they’ve shown weaknesses against quarterbacks who run.

RUNNING BACK

• Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG — His recent usage is frustrating, but this matchup is one of the best, and six teams are on a bye.
• Tony Pollard, TEN — Tyjae Spears was seldom utilized in his return, it’s a favorable matchup, causing Pollard to see increased work when the Titans are close or leading… which should be expected this week.

WIDE RECEIVER

• Calvin Ridley, TEN — The Titans are bound to disappoint me, aren’t they? Refer to the notes on Ridley. Note the matchup. Recognize the potential for a WR1 finish.
• Jakobi Meyers, LV — This matchup suits Meyers’ skills well — he capitalizes on Cover-3, and the Bucs lean heavily into this coverage.
• Jordan Addison, MIN — It’s a thin week, and like Meyers, Addison enjoys an increase against Cover-3, utilized by the Falcons significantly.

TIGHT END

• Jake Ferguson, DAL — If he returns, if not, pivot to Luke Schoonmaker. Even Cooper Rush’s presence doesn’t complicate this matchup much, and he often targets his tight ends adequately.

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FUN WITH RANKS

Ben G. actually proposed this enjoyable list before “we” did it on the website, so it was already in motion considering the NBA Cup event. I’ll continue ranking my favorites, maintaining it to 10, while also listing my selection for “Worst Place”.

Top 10 NBA Cup Court Designs (even though the tournament isn’t completely appealing to me)

1. Orlando Magic — While I may end up with a few grey courts, the Magic grey isn’t dull; the stars are perfectly balanced, making it an ideal blend for me.
2. New Orleans Pelicans — I might be drawn to blue and red, but I genuinely like this court… a lot. The logo court design is also a lovely mix, even if some people dislike it.
3. Portland Trail Blazers — This is a tight race with the next one, and although I favor the Lakers’ design slightly more (you’ll notice a recurring theme of skylines), the colors here are more appealing than the eye-straining yellow.
4. Los Angeles Lakers — Refer to what I mentioned above. Excellent use of elements, though the yellow drags it down a few spots (not that they can do anything about it, haha).
5. Charlotte Hornets — I can’t help but think of “Grandmama” and having Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning dominate in NBA Jam TE. I need a Starter jacket!
6. New York Knicks — Like the Lakers, there’s little they can do regarding the color, and the three-color-phasing circles is a requirement (who knows why?), but the highlighter orange keeps it from a top slot. The skyline is a huge plus.
7. Dallas Mavericks — The Bucks closely follow, but where’s the green? Regardless, the Mavericks feature a skyline, and I loved seeing Luka Doncic shoot from the “other” arch.
8. Indiana Pacers — The “Boom Baby” reference is fantastic, and the colors work well with these designs.
9. Utah Jazz — I’m honestly not aiming to favor so much grey, but the color serves better as a backdrop without distracting the viewers from the play. Plus, the mountains are neat… and I’m poking fun at the Nuggets for not utilizing them. What?!
10. Sacramento Kings — If they had spread the crowns like the Magic stars, I would have preferred it more. As it is, it barely makes the Top 10 because the lines can cause vertigo if glanced at too long.

Worst Place (tie): Brooklyn Nets (you get dizzy and nauseous just from looking at it)… Detroit Pistons (it seems like all logos were thrown together for ideas, and someone else said, “What an odd choice, but here we go. Utilize them all!”)… Memphis Grizzlies (too dull? And, did I really need to be told that was MEM on the court?)… see, I don’t dislike all the grey.

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WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These may differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS indicate the order I’d start players, excluding additional context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Functions on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point for others, and Half-PPR

Projections Download Link — SATURDAY

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WEEK 14 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

• Regrettably, there’s no perfect widget available. Many prefer viewing this on mobile, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible, or 2) open in your phone’s browser, particularly for Androids, to enable scrolling (or Android users might try a two-finger scroll).
• ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t consistently updated by everyone, so approach with caution).
• Regular updates, so check until lineups get locked in.

(Top photo of Caleb Williams: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images)