Fantasy Football Week 14: Making the Call on Toughest Lineup Decisions

With the fantasy football playoffs on the way, tough start 'em, sit 'em decisions weigh heavier than ever on how owners perform.

Last week provided strong warnings of the incoming difficulty. Matchup-free play Larry Fitzgerald, for example, posted just five points while lesser-known name Ted Ginn Jr. of the Carolina Panthers exploded for 20 and a top-five slot at the position.

If owners are to sneak up on the opposition like the surging Kansas City Chiefs, it requires going through each game and matchup with a fine comb and knocking the tough calls out of the park.

Within, let's provide assistance with a breakdown of some of Week 14's toughest situations.

START: Brian Hoyer vs. New England Patriots

The idea of leaning on Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer in the playoffs might not be the most attractive option for owners. 

Yet it might not be such a terrible idea for owners in need. It's easy to gloss over the fact Hoyer has hit on seven double-digit outings this year while leaning on DeAndre Hopkins, including two in a row.

Last week, Hoyer took the Buffalo Bills for a ride on the road with three touchdown passes and 22 points.

Now Hoyer gets the New England Patriots, a team on a two-game skid that has allowed three touchdowns to quarterbacks over its past two weeks. Given New England doesn't have anyone who can run with Hopkins, Hoyer should have a big day against his former team.

Keep in mind, too, the Texans might have to play from behind while attempting to keep their playoff dreams alive, which lends to more production for Hoyer.

Projected Week 14 Stats: 28-of-34, 270 passing yards, two touchdowns

SIT: Matt Ryan at Carolina Panthers

It's over for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. 

There's a reason Ryan touts an ownership percentage of just 85.3 when it would hover around 99 in normal years—he's scored more than 12 points in just one of his last three outings and has tossed nine interceptions over his last six games.

Many will debate the what and why of Ryan's severe collapse, but for fantasy owners the point is straightforward enough—his big name doesn't override the production.

Ryan now has to deal with the Carolina Panthers, a team allowing just the fourth-fewest points to the position. Drew Brees tossed three touchdowns on the unit last week, but Brees is far and above what Ryan is this year.

On the road against the league's best team, there's no reason to think Ryan's name or a divisional encounter will help him turn it around.

Projected Week 14 Stats: 22-of-38, 245 passing yards, one touchdown, three interceptions

START: Eddie Lacy vs. Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy was one of fantasy's biggest busts in Week 13 when he took a backseat in the offense as a member of coach Mike McCarthy's doghouse for an off-field gaffe.

Lacy figures to return to the every-down role this week, though, especially if comments by McCarthy serve as a sign.

"I think Eddie's been rejuvenated," McCarthy said, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "His work was good today. I checked in on him just like I do with all the players, and I look for him to have a very good week of practice, and I look for him to be productive Sunday."

It's great news for owners considering Lacy posted two of the best performances of his season with 10 and 17 points before the public punishment. 

Even better, Lacy now gets the Dallas Cowboys, the team coughing up the ninth-most points to backs. 

Projected Week 14 Stats: 24 carries, 112 yards, one touchdown

SIT: Latavius Murray at Denver Broncos

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Latavius Murray will struggle in a tough matchup this weekend.

Look, it's never easy this time of year to sit a top-11 scorer at any position who comes with a 96.4 ownership percentage.

This is the case with Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray, though. He's coming off a 15-point performance for his fifth double-digit outing of the year, but a trip to Denver to take on the Broncos negates everything about last weekend.

Those Broncos tout one of the best defenses in the league and haven't allowed 100 rushing yards by an opposing backfield since Week 2, nor have they allowed a rushing touchdown over their last two games.

Way back in Week 5, Murray posted his lowest output of the season at home against these Broncos, totaling just four points while taking 13 carries for 39 yards.

This time doesn't figure to be much different. Pair Denver's defense with Murray's inconsistency, and an owner has a situation to avoid.

Projected Week 14 Stats: 16 carries, 77 yards

START: Jeremy Hill vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Now would be the time for owners to go all-in with Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill. 

Hill stood tall as one of fantasy's biggest disappointments for most of the season. As a brief example, he posted 18 points in Week 1, only to turn around and post a negative-one score the following week.

While he's scored double digits just five times this year, two of those performances have come over his past three games, the exception still a decent nine-point outing against a tough St. Louis defense.

Cincinnati has shown a renewed commitment to the run as of late and gone away from the smaller Giovani Bernard, hence the uptick in production for Hill. The upward tick in usage comes at the right time, too, seeing as Hill next gets the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers rank well against runners, but it's more a product of opposing offenses exploiting a miserable secondary than the Steelers having an elite run defense. In Week 8, Hill posted a solid 60 yards on just 15 carries against the unit.

Now focused on the running game and Hill more than ever, look for the Bengals to ride him and create strong fantasy numbers.

Projected Week 14 Stats: 24 carries, 111 yards, one touchdown

SIT: Javorius Allen vs. Seattle Seahawks

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Javorius Allen won't continue to roll as starter in Baltimore.

Want to know what type of year it's been for fantasy football owners? 

Baltimore Ravens backup running back Javorius Allen is one of the premier players to own down the stretch.

While a nice status to hold, Allen isn't worth a start in Week 14.

Allen has 10 or more points in three consecutive games since taking over for Justin Forsett, capped off by a 22-point showing last week. But now Allen has to deal with the Seattle Seahawks, which is as bad of a matchup as it sounds.

Seattle allows the fewest points to running backs on average and held Adrian Peterson to eight carries for 18 yards last week. Seven entire opposing backfields haven't mustered more than nine points against the unit.

Despite a strong showing, Allen isn't going to magically break through and do better than what more than a handful of entire committees couldn't.

Projected Week 14 Stats: 15 carries, 45 yards

START: DeSean Jackson at Chicago Bears

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

DeSean Jackson will continue his epic tear in Week 14.

While it might seem super obvious to fire up Washington wideout DeSean Jackson against the Chicago Bears, some don't realize what the matchup truly entails.

Chicago might be a struggling team, but the defense happens to surrender the 12th-fewest points to wideouts. Four sets of opposing wideouts have even failed to break into double digits against the unit this year.

So no, it won't be a cakewalk for Jackson, although his string of three consecutive games with a touchdown and at least 12 points is quite attractive.

The good news? Jackson has been on the receiving end of at least seven targets in two of his last three, perhaps the first piece of passing consistency for Washington this season.

With reliable usage and upside personified by his last three outings, owners should feel comfortable firing up Jackson when it matters most, although they need to do so understanding the risks, too.

Projected Week 14 Stats: Five catches, 67 yards, one touchdown

SIT: Jermey Maclin vs. San Diego Chargers

Thanks to a strong couple of weeks, owners might have high expectations for Kansas City wideout Jeremy Maclin.

It's best to temper those and slap him on the bench.

Maclin has suddenly become a big part of the Kansas City offense, posting outings of 22 and 19 points over his last two games. The problem? The streak snapped a six-game skid of failing to reach double digits.

Like it or not, Kansas City remains a run-first team with an encouraging duo of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. Further dampening the issue is a matchup with the San Diego Chargers, the team allowing the fifth-fewest points to wideouts this season.

Before his epic tear, Maclin caught three passes for 29 yards and two points against these Chargers in Week 11. It's reasonable to expect a tad more this time around, but not by much.

Projected Week 14 Stats: Five catches, 55 yards

START: Scott Chandler at Houston Texans

Associated Press

Scott Chandler is a must-play if he sees most of the snaps.

Rob Gronkowski's replacement continues to shine. 

Scott Chandler now has two games with 11 or more points, and he's almost a surefire thing to make it three in a row going into a game against the Houston Texans.

Not that the Texans are slouches against the position. In fact, Houston surrenders the 12th-fewest points to the position and has let up just two touchdowns to it after allowing two scores in Week 1.

With Gronkowski missing practice Wednesday, according to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, it looks like Chandler will once again be one of Tom Brady's favorite targets.

As such, especially taking his elite production over the past two weeks into account, Chandler remains a matchup-proof play.

Projected Week 14 Stats: Six catches, 59 yards, one touchdown

SIT: Antonio Gates at Kansas City Chiefs

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Antonio Gates doesn't have value as a starter given the matchup.

A big name keeps San Diego tight end Antonio Gates at 90.4 percent owned.

It's certainly not production keeping the future Hall of Famer on rosters considering he's been hurt and hit double digits all of two times this year.

Granted, when Gates does hit double digits he makes it an epic performance, as he's scored two touchdowns apiece in two games this season.

Odds are he doesn't come close to anything of the sort against the Chiefs this weekend, though. The Chiefs allow the fewest points to tight ends this year with just three touchdowns allowed. Back in Week 11, Gates managed just one catch for six yards on the unit, keeping him off the fantasy scoreboard.

While a shutout might not be in the cards again, there's little to suggest Gates will hit the road in the cold in what should be a run-first affair and produce touchdown numbers to make him a viable start candidate.

Projected Week 14 Stats: Six catches, 61 yards

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of Dec. 10. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.