Table of Contents
Set your Week 14 fantasy football lineups with Dalton Del Don’s key tips for getting started and sitting for every game on the slate.
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Start: Jonnu Smith
Smith leads the Dolphins target share (21.5%)participation in first reading (26.3%) and objectives designed since the Week 6 break in Miami. He leads all pass catchers in first attempts at route travel during that period. He’s been the fantasy TE1 for the last three weeks, and Smith should stay busy on sunday.
Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings
Start: Sam Darnold
Darnold has thrown multiple touchdowns in five of his last six games. You get a Falcons defense that allows the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks with an NFL-low 15 sacks this season. Minnesota has a healthy implied team total of 26.5 points in this fast-paced matchup, and the Vikings have had great difficulty making a run to the goal line. Darnold is a top 10 QB this week.
This embedded content is not available in your region.
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube either wherever you listen.
New Orleans Saints @ New York Giants
Home: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy Jr. lost some touches last week, but bounced back with 71% snap participation, including a goal-line score (a week after missing snaps after fumbling). The rookie is getting 5.0 YPC and has been Fantasy’s RB16 since Week 8. The game script should remain manageable against a depleted New Orleans team, and Tracy Jr. could see additional work with Malik Nabers dealing with a right back injury. the groin Saints’ opponents have the fourth-lowest approval rate above expectations for the last month, so Tracy Jr. is in the top 20 this week.
Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sitting: Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard still earned a 79% snap last week, but missed 9 of 21 RB opportunities. Hubbard’s 67% rushing percentage was his lowest since Week 2, as rookie Jonathon Brooks saw more work during his second game back from injury. Facing the best defense in the league is an even bigger concern this week. The Eagles have given up only 241 yards per game in the last two monthswhich is more than 65 yards less than the next best.
Philadelphia hasn’t allowed a running back to rush for 100 yards all season, and the Eagles simply kept Derrick Henry out of the end zone last week. The Panthers have a league-low implied team total of 16.5 points and are 13-point underdogs, so the game script will be a challenge. Hubbard is the RB22 in “expert consensus ranges”And it’s true that it may be necessary for a week with six breaks, but look for alternatives if possible.
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sit: Nick Chubb
Chubb has scored three touchdowns in the last two games, but last week he finished with a season-low nine rushing attempts, the same as Jerome Ford. Chubb has run just 20% of the routes since Ford returned four games ago, and he plays in an above-expected passing-rate Cleveland offense with Jameis Winston as the starter. Chubb has averaged an anemic 3.0 YPC since returning from yet another multiligament surgery, and he has a solid Pittsburgh defense that allows the second-fewest. tight schedule Fantasy targets RBs for the last five weeks.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Start: Cade Otton
Otton has been quieter the last two games, but could be busier on Sunday. Mike Evans missed practice Thursday with hamstring and calf injuries, so he may be limited if he’s able to suit up this week. Otton has been the TE25 (5.9 fantasy points per game) during games with Evans this season, but has been the TE1 by a mile (16.1 fpg) without him (h/t FTN).
Emerging star running back Bucky Irving also missed Thursday’s practice, and although he returned Friday, it remains to be seen if he will be limited in Week 14. Chris Godwin remains on IR, so Otton should see good volume against the Raiders. ‘the defense is torn apart by the tight ends; Opposing TEs have averaged 8.6 receptions, 101.2 receiving yards and 1.2 TDs in the last five games against Las Vegas. The Raiders’ opponents have by far the highest PROE during the last month. Turn Otton on in fantasy lineups this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
Start: Calvin Ridley
Ridley leads NFL in passing yards (776) and has averaged 8.5 targets and 82.7 receiving yards in six games since trading for DeAndre Hopkins. Will Levis has posted 8.3 YPA while averaging 240.0 passing yards and 1.8 TDs in four games since returning from injury, so Tennessee’s passing offense has life.
Ridley gets a very favorable confrontation this week in a revenge match against Jacksonville’s league-worst pass defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Ridley’s target rate jumps from 18.2% against zone to 27.9% against man coverage, which the Jaguars They have used at the second highest rate in the league. Ridley is on the verge of a top-10 WR this week.
Bigsby seat tankwho missed 16 of 24 RB opportunities to a now healthier Travis Etienne Jr. coming off Jacksonville’s bye last week. The Jaguars have the second-lowest implied team total (18.5 points) this week with Mac Jones starting.
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals
Sit: Geno Smith
Smith is third in the league in passing yards per game (270.1), but only has two multiple touchdown games all season. DK Metcalf missed practice Thursday with a shoulder injury, so he could be absent or limited on Sunday. Additionally, the Cardinals have fielded one of the most improved defenses in the league lately (along with Seattle’s).
Arizona has given up just four total touchdowns to quarterbacks in the last six games and the second fewest. tight schedule Fantasy targets the bottom five QBs. These teams combined for just 22 points when they met just two weeks ago, and there could be another lower-scoring, slower-paced matchup on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams
Start: Khalil Shakir
Shakir saw seven goals last week, but that actually set a record for shooting percentage with Josh Allen attempting just 17 passes in a blizzard. There should be more volume on Sunday in an indoor matchup with this weekend’s highest total (49.5 points). Shakir ranks eighth in target share (29.1%) and tenth in yards per route run (2.51) this season. Your target rate jumps from 18.3% vs. man to 29.5% vs. zone coveragewhich the Rams have used at the fourth-highest rate in the league (77.1%) this season. He also ranks in the top 15 among 131 WRs in fantasy points per route run (0.50) versus zone. A healthy Rams offense could put pressure on Buffalo, so start with Shakir this week.
Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers
Start: Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo suddenly jumped from the waiver list to a fantasy top 10 this week after Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason suffered season-ending injuries. Guerendo has averaged the fourth highest YPC (5.9) this season and has fresh legs. The rookie needs to work on his vision and is far from a complete running back, but while Mason might be the slowest running back in the league, Guerendo could be the fastest (Giving you more fantasy advantages).
The Bears have given up the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, but Chicago has given up the fifth-most schedule-adjusted FP to RBs over the last five games. The 49ers’ offense isn’t the same without Trent Williams and a banged-up Brock Purdy, but San Francisco has a healthy implied team total (24.5 points) and should have a favorable game script as a four-point favorite. Patrick Taylor will also see work, but Guerendo belongs in fantasy lineups.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Sitting: Justin Herbert
The Chiefs’ pass defense has taken a step back recently, but Herbert could still be in a tough spot on Sunday night. Ladd McConkey appears doubtful with shoulder and knee injuries, and his absence would be felt more strongly against a man-laden KC defense. Herbert took five sacks on just 23 pass attempts against an Atlanta defense that entered with a league-low 10 sacks, primarily because no other receiver could get open last week.
Additionally, Herbert had 8.4 YPA with a passer rating versus zone coverage of 106.9, but he only had 6.2 YPA with a passer versus man rating of 76.9, which Kansas City uses at one of the highest ratings in the league. The Chargers have one of the lowest implied team totals (20.5 points) this week, and fantasy managers starting Herbert are hoping McConkey can leave.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys
Start: Rico Dowdle
Dowdle saw 25 of 29 running back opportunities and set career highs in snap percentage (71%), carries (22) and rushing yards (112) last week. He sports a 8.2 Usage score in the last two weekswhich historically is border territory with RB1. The Bengals have allowed the fourth-most EPA/rush and fifth-most RB rushing touchdowns this season, and Dowdle should see a heavy workload with CeeDee Lamb banged up. He’s a top 15 RB this week.