Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Highlighting Matchups to Exploit and Avoid

Finding matchups to exploit and avoid is a necessary component for the success of fantasy owners throughout the regular season. However, with fantasy playoffs beginning in Week 14, locating these key matchups is even more crucial.

For instance, Tony Romo was a solid matchup play this week due to a Chicago Bears defense allowing an average of 19.0 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Despite a run-heavy offense, Romo managed to throw three touchdown passes and came away with 20 fantasy points—not too shabby of an outing.

Our next order of business is to sort through the remaining 15 games on this week's slate and handpick players who will share similar success. Obviously, top-tier fantasy studs like Peyton Manning or Jordy Nelson will be started each week, no matter the matchup. So, let's base this around fringe starters.

Here's a look at an example of a great play at each position, followed by some not-so-great plays, for Week 14.

Start 'Em

Pos.	Player	Opponent
QB	Russell Wilson, SEA	Philadelphia Eagles
RB	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	New Orleans Saints
WR	Jarvis Landry, MIA	Baltimore Ravens
TE	Jermaine Gresham, CIN	Pittsburgh Steelers
D/ST	New York Jets	Minnesota Vikings
K	Cairo Santos, KC	Arizona Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks travel east to face the Philadelphia Eagles in one of the week's featured contests. This battle should be treated like a playoff game for both teams, and if Seattle is to come away with a huge road win, it must rely heavily on Russell Wilson.

Wilson hasn't lit it up as a passer this season, throwing for more than 300 yards just once and failing to throw for more than two touchdowns in any contest; however, he continues to rack up the fantasy points due to his ability to gain yards with his legs. Here's a look at just how good he's been on the ground this season, via NFL on ESPN:

Expect him to continue that trend in a favorable matchup against the Eagles.

Philadelphia is giving up an average of 18.1 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers, the fourth most in the league. The team has allowed at least two touchdown passes in all but two games this season, and factoring in Wilson's dual-threat ability, he should be treated as a strong QB1 play this week.

Jonathan Stewart is only owned in 41.9 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues, so if you're a running back-needy owner, be sure to check the waiver wire before Sunday. In Week 13, Stewart rattled off 85 yards on 12 carries, adding two receptions for 25 yards, accumulating 10 fantasy points. He's the team's best option out of the backfield and has a favorable matchup in Week 14.

Apparently, the Carolina Panthers know this and tweeted a great message to the running back's fantasy owners:

The Panthers face off against a New Orleans Saints team that is allowing an average of 20.4 fantasy points to opposing ball-carriers. Stewart only rushed eight times when these teams last met, but he averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Expect him to see more usage this time around, making him a strong RB2 play.

Fantasy owners continue to sleep on Jarvis Landry, so check your league's waiver wire and reap the benefits of a great matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore is giving up an average of 27.4 fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season, the most of any NFL team. They were just burned by Keenan Allen and Co. for 44 fantasy points in Week 13.

Landry is garnering lots of attention from quarterback Ryan Tannehill, racking up 32 receptions over the last five weeks. Here's a look at the breakdown over the past three weeks, via Fantasy Football Live:

He should continue to get the same amount of opportunities in Week 14, and he'll get a great chance to make the most of them against a porous Ravens secondary. Start him with confidence as a WR2.

Jermaine Gresham hasn't been the sexiest option at tight end this season; however, he continues to see targets from Andy Dalton and is coming off a five-catch outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His main value comes as a red-zone target, but he's only scored twice this season. There's a good chance he will again in Week 14.

The Cincinnati Bengals will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a pivotal divisional contest, and Dalton may have to rely often on his big security blanket to thwart a good Pittsburgh pass rush. That's great news for the tight end's fantasy owners, as the Steelers are allowing an average of 8.8 fantasy points to the position and have given up a touchdown to an opposing tight end in each of their last five games.

Starting the New York Jets defense in Week 14 may not seem like a great idea; however, the unit is coming off a solid performance against the Miami Dolphins and is facing a Minnesota Vikings team that ranks 30th in total offense and 24th in scoring offense. This is a sneaky good play for fantasy owners in need.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos is riding a five-game streak of single-digit fantasy outings. Although, that's likely to change in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona's defense has begun to melt down of late, allowing opposing offenses to regularly get into field-goal range. That's led to five field-goal attempts by opposing kickers in both of its last two games. Santos hasn't missed since Week 2.

Sit 'Em

Pos.	Player	Opponent
QB	Joe Flacco, BAL	Miami Dolphins
RB	Denard Robinson, JAX	Houston Texans
WR	Jordan Matthews, PHI	Seattle Seahawks
TE	Heath Miller, PIT	Cincinnati Bengals
D/ST	Seattle Seahawks	Philadelphia Eagles
K	Matt Bryant, ATL	Green Bay Packers

Joe Flacco doesn't have a good matchup against a stingy Dolphins defense this week. Miami is only allowing an average of 11.9 fantasy points to opposing signal-callers this season and has only given up more than 18 fantasy points twice—once to Aaron Rodgers and once to Peyton Manning. Flacco is neither Rodgers nor Manning.

Flacco has struggled on the road this season as well. In six away games, he's produced 13 points or fewer on four occasions. Yes, he torched the Buccaneers for 32 fantasy points, but we should consider that a major outlier. Taking into consideration how well Justin Forsett has been running the ball, expect Baltimore to utilize more of a ground-and-pound scheme on Sunday, further limiting Flacco's opportunities.

Fantasy owners received a couple good weeks from Jacksonville Jaguars running back Denard Robinson, but that ship has sailed. When Robinson was given a sizable workload, he put up some gaudy numbers; however, with just 14 and 11 carries over the last two weeks, respectively, he is quickly trending downward.

Mike Braude of Apex Fantasy Leagues tweeted his take about the decline of Robinson's touches:

If the Jaguars don't feel inclined to get the ball in Robinson's hands more often in Week 14, fantasy owners must keep the ball-carrier on the bench despite a decent matchup against the Houston Texans. Houston has been boom or bust against running backs recently, giving up at least 20 fantasy points to the position in two of its last five games, but allowing single-digit production in the other three.

Rookie wide receiver Jordan Matthews has been a revelation on Philadelphia's offense, especially since Mark Sanchez took over at the quarterback position. Pete Damilatis of Pro Football Focus tweeted the numbers:

Although, this is one week where it will be beneficial to keep the wideout on the bench. The Seahawks have been the league's stingiest team against opposing wide receivers this season, allowing an average of just 14.0 fantasy points per game to the position. The team has been extremely stout of late, holding wideouts to eight fantasy points or fewer in four of its last five contests, and allowing just one touchdown over its last eight.

Heath Miller has continued to see plenty of targets from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of late. He's coming off an eight-reception showing against the Saints. His matchup against Cincinnati appears favorable, but the Bengals have been much better against opposing tight ends in recent games.

While Cincinnati is allowing an average of 7.8 fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, much of that damage was done earlier in the year. Over Cincinnati's last six games, it has held the position to 46 yards or fewer and hasn't allowed a single touchdown. Miller isn't consistent enough to warrant any confidence in breaking that trend.

Yahoo! Fantasy Football appears to agree, advising to keep the tight end on the bench this week:

Seattle has been one of the league's scariest defenses for a few years now, and its coming off back-to-back double-digit fantasy performances. However, it may be a different story this week against the Eagles. Philadelphia has caused opposing defenses to fall into negative numbers in three of its last four outings. Sanchez continues to limit his turnovers, making the Seahawks a risky play in Week 14.

Matt Bryant is coming off an 18-point fantasy performance, racking up five field goals and two extra points against Arizona. It will be a different story this week against the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers and Co. continue to light up the scoreboard early and often at Lambeau Field this season, quickly making opposing kickers irrelevant. The Packers have only allowed two double-digit fantasy showings to kickers in 2014.

All fantasy rankings and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com and current as of December 5.