Fantasy Football Week 14: The Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action

If not for the updated injury information, you could have mapped out your fantasy starting lineup for the postseason weeks ago. Unfortunately, this is one of the sketchiest weeks for game-time decisions we have gotten all season.

Fantasy football is going to make you earn this victory in the first of your playoff matchups in standard leagues. We have blow-by-blow injury information here to keep you as prepared as possible.

This is Bleacher Report's Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action, where we review Week 14's top-100 rankings, injury report, starts, sits, sleepers, busts and last-minute waiver options. It is a definitive guide to setting your lineups. Also, if the fantasy analysis isn't enough, you can reference Michael Schottey's must-read NFL-based Ultimate Guide to Sunday's Action.

Overall Rankings

David Seelig/Associated Press

Desperate times can call for desperate measures. The fantasy playoffs sometimes forces your hand to put your starting running back spot in the hands of an underwhelming rookie like Stepfan Taylor.

Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, so Bruce Arians told ArizonaSports.com's Adam Green that Taylor will start and Marion Grice will come in behind him:

"

We're just going to play it by ear. Each guy's got a little package for this one, and there's always a surprise here and there. Stepf will start the game and we'll play Marion, we'll play the rest of the guys.

"

Some Ellington owners are stuck playing a plodding rookie running back starting for the 31st rush offense against a Chiefs defense that has been the NFL's third worst against the run, despite giving up just two rushing touchdowns (just Latavius Murray) to fantasy backs, per FFToday.com. At least Taylor has a pulse, and a starting job, though.

Ellington would have been a top-100 play if he was going to be active, something neither Taylor nor Grice is.

Here are B/R's final top 100 rankings for Week 14:

Week 14 Top 100 - Eric Mack

Rank	Flex Rankings	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	vs. Atl	1	0
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	vs. Buf	2	0
3	DeMarco Murray	DAL	at Chi	5	+2
4	Eddie Lacy	GB	vs. Atl	18	+14
5	Arian Foster	HOU	at Jac	8	+3
6	Calvin Johnson	DET	vs. TB	24	+18
7	Antonio Brown	PIT	at Cin	38	+31
8	Drew Brees	NO	vs. Car	3	-5
9	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at SD	41	+32
10	Andrew Luck	IND	at Cle	4	-6
11	Matt Forte	CHI	vs. Dal	10	-1
12	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	vs. Buf	28	+16
13	Jamaal Charles	KC	at Ari	25	+12
14	Jimmy Graham	NO	vs. Car	44	+30
15	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	at Cin	7	-8
16	LeSean McCoy	PHI	vs. Sea	39	+23
17	Jordy Nelson	GB	vs. Atl	30	+13
18	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at Phi	27	+9
19	Dez Bryant	DAL	at Chi	31	+12
20	Julio Jones	ATL	at GB	45	+25
21	A.J. Green	CIN	vs. Pit	42	+21
22	Justin Forsett	BAL	at Mia	34	+12
23	Tre Mason	STL	at Was	43	+20
24	Josh Gordon	CLE	vs. Ind	49	+25
25	Tom Brady	NE	at SD	6	-19
26	Randall Cobb	GB	vs. Atl	51	+25
27	Tony Romo	DAL	at Chi	11	-16
28	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	vs. Buf	48	+20
29	Odell Beckham	NYG	at Ten	52	+23
30	Brandon Marshall	CHI	vs. Dal
31	C.J. Anderson	DEN	vs. Buf	26	-5
32	T.Y. Hilton	IND	at Cle	58	+26
33	Matt Ryan	ATL	at GB	16	-17
34	Matthew Stafford	DET	vs. TB	12	-22
35	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	at NO	61	+26
36	Mark Ingram	NO	vs. Car	36	0
37	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	at Jac	63	+26
38	Alfred Morris	WAS	vs. StL	46	+8
39	Frank Gore	SF	at Oak	66	+27
40	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	vs. Dal	55	+15
41	Jeremy Hill	CIN	vs. Pit	54	+13
42	Giovani Bernard	CIN	vs. Pit	65	+23
43	Mike Evans	TB	at Det	64	+21
44	Russell Wilson	SEA	at Phi	9	-35
45	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	vs. Ind	50	+5
46	Keenan Allen	SD	vs. NE	73	+27
47	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	vs. Sea	74	+27
48	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. Bal	67	+19
49	Jay Cutler	CHI	vs. Dal	13	-36
50	Philip Rivers	SD	vs. NE	14	-36
51	Joique Bell	DET	vs. TB	47	-4
52	Ryan Mathews	SD	vs. NE	60	+8
53	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at Cin	17	-36
54	Denard Robinson	JAC	vs. Hou	92	+38
55	LeGarrette Blount	NE	at SD	91	+36
56	Greg Olsen	CAR	at NO	88	+32
57	Carlos Hyde	SF	at Oak	145	+88
58	Brandon LaFell	NE	at SD	72	+14
59	Cam Newton	CAR	at NO	19	-40
60	Mike Wallace	MIA	vs. Bal	71	+11
61	Dan Herron	IND	at Cle	62	+1
62	Eli Manning	NYG	at Ten	21	-41
63	Martellus Bennett	CHI	vs. Dal	76	+13
64	Jarvis Landry	MIA	vs. Bal	86	+22
65	Rashad Jennings	NYG	at Ten	70	+5
66	Fred Jackson	BUF	at Den	75	+9
67	Antonio Gates	SD	vs. NE	93	+26
68	Joe Flacco	BAL	at Mia	33	-35
69	Steven Jackson	ATL	at GB	95	+26
70	DeSean Jackson	WAS	vs. StL	89	+19
71	Roddy White	ATL	at GB	81	+10
72	Bishop Sankey	TEN	vs. NYG	87	+15
73	Coby Fleener	IND	at Cle	123	+50
74	Jordan Matthews	PHI	vs. Sea	80	+6
75	Jason Witten	DAL	at Chi	100	+25
76	Golden Tate	DET	vs. TB	68	-8
77	Jordan Reed	WAS	vs. StL	110	+33
78	Terrance West	CLE	vs. Ind	147	+69
79	Andre Johnson	HOU	at Jac	82	+3
80	Sammy Watkins	BUF	at Den	90	+10
81	Torrey Smith	BAL	at Mia	85	+4
82	Kenny Stills	NO	vs. Car	69	-13
83	Anquan Boldin	SF	at Oak	77	-6
84	Julian Edelman	NE	at SD	83	-1
85	Chris Ivory	NYJ	at Min	102	+17
86	Marques Colston	NO	vs. Car	97	+11
87	Michael Crabtree	SF	at Oak	105	+18
88	Shane Vereen	NE	at SD	107	+19
89	Ryan Fitzpatrick	HOU	at Jac	29	-60
90	Delanie Walker	TEN	vs. NYG	94	+4
91	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	vs. Bal	15	-76
92	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	vs. Pit	96	+4
93	Brian Hoyer	CLE	vs. Ind	57	-36
94	Vincent Jackson	TB	at Det	98	+4
95	Latavius Murray	OAK	vs. SF	112	+17
96	Nate Washington	TEN	vs. NYG	120	+24
97	Colin Kaepernick	SF	at Oak	20	-77
98	Doug Martin	TB	at Det	143	+45
99	Eric Decker	NYJ	at Min	127	+28
100	Reggie Wayne	IND	at Cle	104	+4

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Injury Report

Every week, we break down the most significant injuries on the official NFL injury report (NFLMedia.com credentials required) as they pertain to fantasy, from the game-time decisions to the probables and those ruled out.

Game-Time Decisions

Running Backs

1. Justin Forsett (knee), Baltimore Ravens: He is expected to play, according to John Meoli of The Baltimore Sun. Keep him active.
2. Isaiah Crowell (hip), Cleveland Browns: He told Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com he is expecting to play. He is a favorable start against the suspect Indianapolis Colts run defense.
3. Rashad Jennings (ankle), New York Giants: He might play, but he won't be 100 percent, he told Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Be wary of trusting him if you have viable alternatives. Get ready to fire up Andre Williams if Jennings is on the wrong side of a game-time decision Sunday.
4. Shane Vereen (ankle), New England Patriots: He hasn't been productive enough in recent weeks to trust in fantasy crunch time.
5. RB Bobby Rainey (ankle), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The return of Doug Martin has pushed Rainey too far down the pecking order to consider him even when healthy.

Wide Receivers

1. DeSean Jackson (shin), Washington Redskins: He missed practice all week and has some healing to do, ESPN.com's John Keim reported. "If he's not full strength, then he'll be a longshot to play," head coach Jay Gruden told Keim. Start Jackson if he is active Sunday morning.
2. Brandon LaFell (shoulder), New England Patriots: He will play, so consider him a viable flex option or No. 3 wide receiver.
   
3. Julian Edelman (thigh), New England Patriots: He has fallen behind LaFell in Tom Brady's pecking order, but he is similarly going to play and be a viable flex option.
4. Kendall Wright (hand), Tennessee Titans: A broken hand has him on the wrong side of a game-time decision, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
5. Larry Fitzgerald (knee), Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Arians told Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website Fitzgerald is still not 100 percent. He would need to be trusted in fantasy at this point. Sit him.

Tight Ends

1. Julius Thomas (ankle), Denver Broncos: This shapes up to be another bad week to expect Thomas to contribute, according to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. The Broncos will play it cautious with him. Use your alternative option.
2. Greg Olsen (knee), Carolina Panthers: There is "no concern" from head coach Ron Rivera, per Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer. Olsen is a top five, if not a top three, option this week at his position.
3. Jordan Cameron (concussion), Cleveland Browns: He has not been cleared for contact this week, per Scott Petrak of Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Don't expect him to be active.
4. Charles Clay (hamstring, knee), Miami Dolphins: He hasn't been right in weeks. Look elsewhere.
5. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (back), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The rookie isn't consistent enough to trust even when 100 percent. Ignore him.

The Probables

The following players were officially listed as probable, so you can consider them safe to play in fantasy, as needed:

1. RB Jamaal Charles (knee)
2. RB Arian Foster (groin)
3. WR Calvin Johnson (ankle)
4. WR Demaryius Thomas (ankle)
5. RB Marshawn Lynch (back)
6. WR A.J. Green (thigh)
7. RB C.J. Anderson (ankle)
8. WR T.Y. Hilton (hamstring)
9. QB Tom Brady (ankle)
10. QB Philip Rivers (chest)
11. RB Mark Ingram (ankle, toe)
12. WR Sammy Watkins (hip)
13. WR Mike Wallace (chest)
14. WR Torrey Smith (knee)
15. TE Dwayne Allen (ankle)
16. WR Michael Crabtree (knee)
17. RB Latavius Murray (concussion)
18. RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder)
19. RB Chris Johnson (knee)
20. RB Khiry Robinson (forearm)
21. RB Reggie Bush (ankle, back)
22. RB Theo Riddick (toe)
23. RB Juwan Thompson (knee)
24. TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin)
25. K Cody Parkey (right groin)
26. WR Steve Johnson (knee)
27. WR Robert Woods (ankle)
28. WR Brian Hartline (knee)
29. RB Travaris Cadet (hamstring)
30. TE Anthony Fasano (knee)
31. RB Toby Gerhart (shoulder)
32. WR Preston Parker (knee)
33. K Nick Folk (right hip)
34. WR Chris Hogan (hamstring)
35. WR Donnie Avery (groin)

Find Replacements

The doubtful and players labeled officially out have to be benched in all leagues, while their backups should be considered viable fantasy sleepers, if not stars. Line up replacements for these guys:

1. RB Montee Ball (groin)
2. RB Andre Ellington (hip, foot)
3. RB Ronnie Hillman (foot)
4. QB Nick Foles (collarbone)
5. RB Jerick McKinnon (back)
6. RB DeAngelo Williams (hand)
7. TE Jace Amaro (concussion)
8. WR Cody Latimer (concussion)
9. WR Mike Williams (calf)

Start 'Em

USA TODAY Sports

Here are five must-start options for Week 13 based on health, game plan or matchup for fantasy football owners, one at each position:

QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

There are few NFL teams that can get the conservative Seahawks to open up the offense. The Philadelphia Eagles are one, particularly on the road. Even if Wilson is short on viable receiving threats, he can do damage in the play-action game and creating opportunities out of the pocket. We like Wilson to get back to his early season production for fantasy owners here: two touchdowns passing and one rushing.

RB Frank Gore/Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers need to get their offense going, and it all starts up front for them. Thankfully, they have the Raiders across the Bay next up on the schedule. They were ripped by the St. Louis Rams and Tre Mason a week ago, something Gore and Hyde owners had to be licking their chops over. The Raiders are the worst team in fantasy against running backs (FFToday.com), so consider Gore a start in all leagues and Hyde a viable sleeper or flex play.

WR Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

He still might be the most underrated player in fantasy, despite emerging as Ryan Tannehill's go-to target since midseason. Landry is a target and reception machine for PPR formats and has been getting in the end zone regularly of late, too. To top it off, the Baltimore Ravens are the worst team in fantasy against wide receivers. Landry is a must-start option in crunch time now.

TE Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

He has run hot and cold this season, but Walker should be on the right side of that against the New York Giants, particularly with Justin Hunter out for the season and Kendall Wright (broken hand) unlikely to play. Walker becomes Zach Mettenberger's go-to man against a New York Giants defense that is in the bottom 10 of fantasy against tight ends.

D/ST St. Louis Rams

The San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans are great plays, but the Rams are more readily available as a streaming option. They can still be picked up in over 40 percent of ESPN.com leagues. That should not be the case after what they did to the poor Oakland Raiders last week, particularly since the third-worst team in fantasy against defense/special teams (FFToday.com) is next on tap, the Washington Redskins. Start this attacking unit with confidence.

Sit 'Em

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Here are five players, one at each of the primary positions, whose matchups are unfavorable enough to keep them out of fantasy starting lineups for Week 14:

QB Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles

As much as Sanchez has been a valuable place-holder for Nick Foles (shoulder), he hasn't been completely error free. That is a bad thing to take into a matchup against a defense like the Seattle Seahawks. They are the No. 1 team in fantasy against quarterbacks (FFToday.com), so we highly recommend you start your other option. 

RB Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders

He is returning from the concussion that knocked him out of his breakthrough game a few weeks ago, but he returns against a San Francisco 49ers defense that is in the top quarter of the NFL against the run and fantasy against running backs. We cannot be sure the Raiders will do the right thing and give Murray a full complement of carries anyway.

WR Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The emergence of rookie Mike Evans has done a number on Jackson's fantasy value this season. The quarterback situation and Jackson's advanced age (31) don't help either. After that weak Week 13 performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, we expect more of the same against the Detroit Lions. That is the No. 3 team in fantasy against wide receivers. Only the Bengals and Seahawks are better.

TE Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens

We like Daniels with the Ravens, but just not enough to trust him in crunch time—especially against the No. 1 team in fantasy against tight ends. The Miami Dolphins have given up a league-low 37 receptions to the position and the second-fewest yards (342), according to FFToday.com. This is a bad week to hope Daniels rebounds from a string of quiet fantasy production.

D/ST Buffalo Bills

They have been surprisingly capable this season and productive for fantasy owners, but trusting any unit in Denver during crunch time is fantasy postseason suicide. The Broncos might be banged up, but they are third best in fantasy against defense/special teams, according to FFToday.com, making the Bills very difficult to trust to keep this game close.

Sleepers and Busts

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Here are five sleeper options to consider playing and five regular starters to consider sitting—one each at the primary positions—in daily fantasy leagues this week:

Five Week 14 Sleepers

1. QB Eli Manning, New York Giants—You saw what Ryan Fitzpatrick did to that Tennessee Titans defense last week with six touchdowns, right? You have to figure Manning can be at least half as good.
2. RB Andre Williams, New York Giants—We stay with the matchup here and remind you what we wrote in the Injury Report slide: Rashad Jennings (ankle) won't be 100 percent if he even plays. Williams would have split carries at worst. He scores at least one touchdown here.
3. WR Nate Washingon, Tennessee Titans—He has been a popular target for Zach Mettenberger and the loss of Justin Hunter and an injury to Kendall Wright should make Washington a large part of the offense.
4. TE Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings—Teddy Bridgewater has proved to be a game manager who will need his tight end, especially against a New York Jets team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends (FFToday.com).
5. D/ST Minnesota Vikings—A home matchup against the woeful New York Jets? Yes, please. Head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guy that has turned this unit around this season.

Five Week 14 Lineup Busts

1. QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens—The Miami Dolphins have beaten Tom Brady, blown out Philip Rivers and lost to Aaron Rodgers by a mere three points at home this season. Flacco shouldn't be that much of a challenge.
2. RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins—You cannot sit him unless you have a real deep bench, but the Ravens are the No. 1 team in fantasy against running backs, per FFToday.com.
3. WR Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers—He has been resurgent of late, but he might be lost on Revis Island on Sunday night.
4. TE Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts—He has been a monster and a must-start option with Dwayne Allen (ankle) out. Now, Allen is back in time to ruin Fleener's value in the most crucial point of the fantasy season.
5. D/ST Seattle Seahawks—You drafted them to play against anyone. A trip to Philadelphia to face the soaring Eagles in the first fantasy playoff week might be an exception to that rule.

Last-Minute Waiver Options

The late-week news can prove to be just as crucial to fantasy success as the analysis of the matchups and injury report. We review the top 10 most-viewed players the past 24 hours from CBSSports.com:

1. RB Stepfan Taylor, Arizona Cardinals—It is intriguing to hear he is starting for Andre Ellington (hip, foot), but you really have to be desperate to use him this week. You made the playoffs, so you cannot be that desperate.
2. RB Rashad Jennings, New York Giants—The matchup might look great, but as we wrote in the Injury Report slide, his status does not.
3. WR Stedman Bailey, St. Louis Rams—He has been Shaun Hill's favorite target, so you can consider picking him up and starting him in any league right now.
4. TE Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos—They don't have any good reason to rush him back into action against the Buffalo Bills. Find an alternative.
5. RB Marion Grice, Arizona Cardinals—As we wrote in the Overall Rankings slide, Taylor will start and Grice backs him up. Grice is a low-end backup on a bad running team facing a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed just two rushing touchdowns to backs.
6. RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens—He is hot and is expected to play, we wrote in the Injury Report slide. Keep him active.
7. RB Andre Williams, New York Giants—He was going to be a fringe option in a favorable matchup sharing time with Jennings. Williams might not even have to share time either. Start him.
8. WR DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins—The good news is, we will know if he is active by 11:30 a.m. ET. If he plays, he should start for you.
9. RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns—He might give up more carries to Terrance West this season amid a hip issue, but the Indianapolis Colts can make both Crowell and West productive fantasy starts this week.
10. WR Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts—Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Wayne are in deep decline, while Moncrief is trending in the right direction. The rookie sees the targets you like to see in fantasy right now.

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.