Fantasy Football Week 14: Rankings, Projections and Waiver-Wire Tips
Week 13 of the 2016 NFL season is almost at its end. In mere days, Week 14 will begin. This means that your fantasy league is likely playing its postseason or is about to get started.
Either way, Week 14 is going to be a critical week for fantasy enthusiasts. One wrong roster decision or waiver-wire add could send you home or keep you there throughout the playoffs.
We're here to help you make the right choices with our early Week 14 positional fantasy rankings. We'll be running down the top players at each position based on our point projections. We will also look at some potential waiver-wire options for each skill position.
All of our choices are based on factors like past performances, team and player health, projected role and matchups. For waiver-wire candidates, we'll be picking from players available in at least 50 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.
Good luck!
Quarterbacks
| 1 | Drew Brees, NO | 34.0 |
| 2 | Matt Ryan, ATL | 33.0 |
| 3 | Russell Wilson, SEA | 30.0 |
| 4 | Ben Roethlisberger, PIT | 28.0 |
| 5 | Andrew Luck, IND | 27.0 |
| 6 | Aaron Rodgers, GB | 26.0 |
| 7 | Philip Rivers, SD | 25.0 |
| 8 | Tom Brady, NE | 24.5 |
| 9 | Joe Flacco, BAL | 24.0 |
| 10 | Andy Dalton, CIN | 22.5 |
Hot Start: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees may have had a down week in Week 13—326 yards and three interceptions—but he is still one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL.
So far this season, Brees has amassed 3,913 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Expect him to get back on track in Week 14 when the Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pro Football Focus rates Tampa Bay just 28th in overall defense for the season.
Waiver-Wire Add: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith hasn't exactly been a fantasy stud throughout the 2016 season. In fact, he has just over 2,500 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
However, Smith seems to have found a bit of a groove in recent weeks. He has at least 220 yards and a touchdown in each of his last three games. He isn't likely to be a top-10 quarterback in Week 14, but if you need a fill-in or streamer, Smith could be your guy.
The Chiefs will host the Oakland Raiders, who are rated 20th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus and allow an average of 264.8 yards passing per game (24th in the NFL).
Smith is owned in just 27 percent of ESPN leagues.
Running Backs
| 1 | David Johnson, ARI | 25.5 |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell, PIT | 24.5 |
| 3 | LeSean McCoy, BUF | 23.5 |
| 4 | Melvin Gordon, SD | 22.5 |
| 5 | Spencer Ware, KC | 21.5 |
| 6 | Jeremy Hill, CIN | 20.5 |
| 7 | Ezekiel Elliott, DAL | 20.0 |
| 8 | Matt Forte, NYJ | 19.5 |
| 9 | Lamar Miller, HOU | 19.3 |
| 10 | Devonta Freeman, ATL | 19.0 |
| 11 | Devontae Booker, DEN | 18.5 |
| 12 | DeMarco Murray, TEN | 18.0 |
| 13 | Latavius Murray, OAK | 17.5 |
| 14 | Doug Martin, TB | 17.0 |
| 15 | Mark Ingram, NO | 16.0 |
| 16 | Theo Riddick, DET | 14.5 |
| 17 | Jordan Howard, CHI | 14.0 |
| 18 | Duke Johnson, CLE | 13.0 |
| 19 | Frank Gore, IND | 12.5 |
| 20 | Jay Ajayi, MIA | 12.0 |
Hot Start: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
It's no secret that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is supremely talented. In just nine games, he has amassed 817 yards rushing, 63 receptions, 501 yards receiving and four total touchdowns.
If you own Bell, you're starting him this week.
It's worth noting, though, that Bell could be in store for a strong day against the Buffalo Bills. While the Bills have their fair share of talent on the defensive side of the ball, the team has been susceptible to top offenses.
Pro Football Focus rates Buffalo ninth in run defense, but the team just surrendered 139 yards rushing and 399 yards of total offense to the Raiders. Given Bell's ability to perform as a runner and a receiver, he could have a monster day if the Bills defense doesn't rebound.
Waiver-Wire Add: Mike Gillislee, Buffalo Bills
The flip side of the Bills equation is the fact Buffalo fields the league's top-ranked rushing attack—161.9 yards per game. The Bills don't just rely on star running back LeSean McCoy, either.
Backup Mike Gillislee has already had some big fantasy outings for the Bills this season, most notably when McCoy was sidelined with a hamstring injury. However, Gillislee was able to have another strong day in Week 13, as the Bills ran both running backs early and often.
Gillislee finished with 49 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
Expect Gillislee to be a part of Buffalo's offensive game plan next week against the Steelers, who are rated 20th in run defense by Pro Football Focus. He should be a solid flex option with upside.
Gillislee is owned in just 25.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
Wide Receivers
| 1 | Mike Evans, TB | 26.0 |
| 2 | Antonio Brown, PIT | 25.0 |
| 3 | Julio Jones, ATL | 24.5 |
| 4 | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 23.0 |
| 5 | T.Y. Hilton, IND | 22.5 |
| 6 | Larry Fitzgerald, ARI | 21.5 |
| 7 | Michael Thomas, NO | 20.5 |
| 8 | Terrelle Pryor, CLE | 20.0 |
| 9 | Jordy Nelson, GB | 19.5 |
| 10 | Amari Cooper, OAK | 19.0 |
| 11 | Doug Baldwin, SEA | 18.0 |
| 12 | Jamison Crowder, WAS | 17.8 |
| 13 | Michael Crabtree, OAK | 17.6 |
| 14 | Tyreek Hill, KC | 17.5 |
| 15 | Brandin Cooks, NO | 17.3 |
| 16 | Tyrell Williams, SD | 17.1 |
| 17 | Julian Edelman, NE | 17.0 |
| 18 | Stefon Diggs, MIN | 16.8 |
| 19 | Brandon LaFell, CIN | 16.5 |
| 20 | Dez Bryant, DAL | 16.4 |
Hot Start: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans is another guy who had a down game this past week. He produced just three receptions for 38 yards and zero touchdowns on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
As is the case with Drew Brees, however, we believe Evans can rebound in Week 14. He is a legitimate fantasy stud with 76 receptions, 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns on his 2016 resume.
"I just know what Mike is capable of, and he's just scratching the surface," Bucs receivers coach Todd Monken said of Evans, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Evans and the Buccaneers will host the Saints, who are rated just 29th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
Expect an offensive duel in Tampa, with Brees and Evans as two of the top beneficiaries.
Waiver-Wire Add: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
No one is going to confuse the 2016 Minnesota Vikings with an offensive juggernaut. However, when the team does move the ball well, it typically comes through the air—Minnesota ranks 25th in passing (224.4 yards per game) and dead last in rushing (72.4 yards per game).
This has led to some bright performances by young wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is a true points-per-reception league standout.
The Minnesota State product has 52 receptions for 657 yards and three scores so far this season. He has 20 receptions over his last three games. This week, he'll face a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is rated 21st in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.
Thielen is owned in just 16.9 percent of ESPN leagues.
Tight Ends
| 1 | Greg Olsen, CAR | 15.0 |
| 2 | Travis Kelce, KC | 14.5 |
| 3 | Jimmy Graham, SEA | 14.0 |
| 4 | Tyler Eifert, CIN | 14.0 |
| 5 | Martellus Bennett, NE | 13.0 |
| 6 | Cameron Brate, TB | 12.5 |
| 7 | Kyle Rudolph, MIN | 12.5 |
| 8 | Jason Witten, DAL | 12.0 |
| 9 | Coby Fleener, NO | 12.0 |
| 10 | Dennis Pitta, BAL | 11.5 |
Hot Start: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert only caught two passes against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, but those two catches produced 25 yards and a touchdown. Expect even better numbers from Eifert in Week 14.
Eifert is one of the top receiving tight ends in football, and the Bengals are relying on his receiving skills even more with A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard on the sideline. This week, Eifert and the Bengals travel to Cleveland to take on the winless Browns.
Pro Football Focus rates Cleveland just 27th in pass coverage for the season so far.
Waiver-Wire Add: Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta continues to be ignored by fantasy enthusiasts, despite his production this season. Pitta has already racked up 61 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns. However, he is owned in only 47 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.
If you're looking for a streaming tight end, or perhaps a replacement for injured Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, consider Pitta.
He is coming off his best game of the season—nine receptions, 90 yards and two touchdowns—and should be a major piece of the offensive puzzle this week against New England.
Kickers
| 1 | Matt Bryant, ATL | 14.0 |
| 2 | Justin Tucker, BAL | 13.0 |
| 3 | Adam Vinatieri, IND | 13.0 |
| 4 | Dan Bailey, DAL | 13.0 |
| 5 | Caleb Sturgis, PHI | 12.0 |
| 6 | Cairo Santos, KC | 12.0 |
| 7 | Brandon McManus, DEN | 11.0 |
| 8 | Matt Prater, DET | 11.0 |
| 9 | Stephen Gostkowski, NE | 11.0 |
| 10 | Sebastian Janikowski, OAK | 11.0 |
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