Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown
For most fantasy football leagues, Week 14 is playoff time.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the postseason. In that case, congratulations on surviving—and thriving—in an especially unpredictable NFL season. If you’re out of the playoffs and reading this, you’re going to be prepared for next year. In that case, tip of the cap to you.
There are no byes this week, which means there are no excuses. Let’s break down some rankings that can help with any start/sit close calls.
NFL Matchups
| Thursday, December 8 | Raiders at Chiefs | 8:25 p.m. |
| Sunday, December 11 | Redskins @ Eagles | 1 p.m. |
| Texans @ Colts | 1 p.m. | |
| Bengals @ Browns | 1 p.m. | |
| Broncos @ Titans | 1 p.m. | |
| Cardinals @ Dolphins | 1 p.m. | |
| Bears @ Lions | 1 p.m. | |
| Steelers @ Bills | 1 p.m. | |
| Chargers @ Panthers | 1 p.m. | |
| Vikings @ Jaguars | 1 p.m. | |
| Jets @ 49ers | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Falcons @ Rams | 4:25 p.m. | |
| Saints @ Buccaneers | 4:25 p.m. | |
| Seahawks @ Packers | 4:25 p.m. | |
| Cowboys @ Giants | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Monday, December 12 | Ravens @ Patriots | 8:30 p.m. |
Note: All games are listed in Eastern time.
Quarterback
| 1 | Ben Roethlisberger | Steelers | Bills |
| 2 | Drew Brees | Saints | Buccaneers |
| 3 | Tom Brady | Patriots | Ravens |
| 4 | Russell Wilson | Seahawks | Packers |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | Packers | Seahawks |
| 6 | Matt Ryan | Falcons | Rams |
| 7 | Kirk Cousins | Redskins | Eagles |
| 8 | Andrew Luck | Colts | Texans |
| 9 | Dak Prescott | Cowboys | Giants |
| 10 | Colin Kaepernick | 49ers | Jets |
Player focus
Dak Prescott
For the first time since Week 1, Dak Prescott let you down.
The Dallas Cowboys rookie completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 139 yards and a score against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. He added 37 yards on the ground but also lost a fumble.
In leagues that reward passing touchdowns with six points, Prescott put up 13.26 points, which wouldn’t have crashed your entire week. Still, it was less than owners have become accustomed to from the No. 7 quarterback in fantasy.
This week, the Dak Attack should bounce back, even against the same New York Giants defense that held him to a season-low 10.28 fantasy points in Week 1, Dallas’ only loss of the year.
Don’t be scared off.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been a fantasy superstar all year. If you’re anywhere near the playoffs, Brees is likely a massive reason why.
In Week 13, though, he choked. Hopefully, the guy who’s sparked your fantasy season didn’t ruin it.
On Sunday, Brees was 31-of-44 for 326 yards—so far, so good!—to go along with three interceptions against the Detroit Lions.
Brees will continue to be slightly boom/bust, especially against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks from now, but his booms will far outweigh the busts. Frankly, his ceiling is too high to ever sit him. Brees will be a top-three play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week.
Yes, this is high for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick—you know, the guy who completed one pass for four yards in three quarters against the Chicago Bears.
Was the snow a factor? Sure. But Matt Barkley tossed for 192 yards on 11-of-18 passing under the same conditions.
Just to be clear, that was Matt Barkley who threw for 188 more yards than Kaepernick.
Put bluntly, it was an embarrassing performance that resulted in both emotional and pileous damage for owners who were daring enough to start him.
But before you cut ties with Kap altogether, keep in mind that according to FantasyPros, he was the No. 7 quarterback from Week 6 to Week 12. In Week 14, he hosts the New York Jets in snow-free California. It’s a real possibility Kaepernick goes from the QB29 to a top-12 play.
Running Back
| 1 | David Johnson | Cardinals | Dolphins |
| 2 | Le’Veon Bell | Steelers | Bills |
| 3 | LeSean McCoy | Bills | Steelers |
| 4 | Ezekiel Elliott | Cowboys | Giants |
| 5 | DeMarco Murray | Titans | Broncos |
| 6 | Thomas Rawls | Seahawks | Packers |
| 7 | Devonta Freeman | Falcons | Rams |
| 8 | Spencer Ware | Chiefs | Raiders |
| 9 | Melvin Gordon | Chargers | Panthers |
| 10 | Matt Forte | Jets | 49ers |
Player focus
Thomas Rawls
Thomas Rawls is back.
Arguably the angriest runner in the NFL rumbled for two scores and 106 yards on 15 carries in the Seattle Seahawks’ 40-7 prime-time beatdown of the Carolina Panthers. If the game was closer, Rawls could’ve stat-padded even more. He and the rest of the starters were yanked in the fourth quarter.
Rawls was also evaluated for a concussion in the first half but was cleared to keep playing.
His matchups the rest of the way aren’t exactly appetizing, but the featured runner in a (usually) elite offense deserves RB1 treatment. Start him with confidence going forward.
The Jets play the 49ers. That’s all that needs to be said.
Bears rookie Jordan Howard torched the Niners for 117 yards and three scores last week. Performances like that have become commonplace. San Francisco has given up a touchdown to opposing running backs in all but three weeks this year. Opposing teams have rushed for over 130 yards eight times, too.
Matt Forte is a no-brainer must-start. Second-string running back Bilal Powell is also in the flex conversation thanks to the juicy matchup.
Wide Receiver
| 1 | Mike Evans | Buccaneers | Saints |
| 2 | Antonio Brown | Steelers | Dolphins |
| 3 | Odell Beckham Jr. | Giants | Cowboys |
| 4 | Julio Jones | Falcons | Rams |
| 5 | Amari Cooper | Raiders | Chiefs |
| 6 | Dez Bryant | Cowboys | Giants |
| 7 | Jordy Nelson | Packers | Seahawks |
| 8 | T.Y. Hilton | Colts | Texans |
| 9 | Golden Tate | Lions | Bears |
| 10 | Doug Baldwin | Seahawks | Packers |
Player focus
Mike Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans, the NFL’s target leader, gave owners a dud on Sunday. He was due for one after dominating for six straight weeks.
Against the San Diego Chargers, Evans caught just three balls for 38 yards but salvaged an otherwise forgettable day with a two-point conversion. Expect Jameis Winston to target Evans early and often against the Saints’ cotton candy defense in Week 14. Multiple touchdowns are possible.
Amari Cooper
The last time the Oakland Raiders played the Kansas City Chiefs, in Week 6, they lost for only the second time all year. It was an ugly, muddy game in the pouring rain, but Amari Cooper still racked up 10 catches on 13 targets for 129 yards.
Andy Benoit of The MMQB took notice of the second-year man’s patience:
Here’s some film that shows Marcus Peters neglecting to shadow Cooper. He busted up anyone else who tried to stick with him:
Cooper always has the potential to disappoint, but he also has week-winning upside. You'd have to be wielding some truly elite options to sit him.
Golden Tate
Golden Tate was terrible for the first five weeks of the season. It’s likely he was dropped at least once in your league.
But according to FantasyPros, Tate has been the No. 12 standard wide receiver from Week 6 through Week 13. In points-per-reception leagues, he’s been No. 8.
In his most recent outing, the pint-sized (5'10", 197 lbs) big-play threat hauled in eight balls for 145 yards and a touchdown. Forget Marvin Jones—Tate is the receiver to own in Detroit.
Tight End
| 1 | Jordan Reed | Redskins | Eagles |
| 2 | Jimmy Graham | Seahawks | Packers |
| 3 | Travis Kelce | Chiefs | Raiders |
| 4 | Ladarius Green | Steelers | Bills |
| 5 | Tyler Eifert | Bengals | Browns |
| 6 | Cameron Brate | Buccaneers | Saints |
| 7 | Eric Ebron | Lions | Bears |
| 8 | Zach Ertz | Eagles | Redskins |
| 9 | Coby Fleener | Saints | Buccaneers |
| 10 | Greg Olsen | Panthers | Chargers |
Player focus
Jordan Reed
The qualifier with Washington tight end Jordan Reed is, as always, health.
No. 86 injured his left shoulder during a 10-catch, 95-yard, two-touchdown eruption against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. He missed a whole week of practice and remained sidelined for Sunday’s loss to Arizona.
If Reed plays, you start him. But it’s definitely a situation to monitor.
Ladarius Green
Ladarius Green got drafted with Week 13’s performance in mind.
Finally free from the shadow of Antonio Gates in San Diego, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason signing missed nine weeks (eight games plus the Week 8 bye) before suiting up three weeks ago.
He essentially did nothing until Sunday’s win over the Giants. That’s when he did everything.
Green racked up a career- and team-high 110 yards and one touchdown on six catches. New York made sure Antonio Brown didn’t run wild, leaving Green open seemingly every time Ben Roethlisberger looked his way.
"He’s getting up to speed," head coach Mike Tomlin said, per Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He’s finding a comfortable seat on a moving train."
The same could be said for your fantasy team. With Green—who played nearly 50 percent of snaps Sunday, per Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus—due for more playing time, he’s a top-five option at a barren position.
D/ST
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2 | San Diego Chargers | Carolina Panthers |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns |
| 4 | Denver Broncos | Tennessee Titans |
| 5 | New York Jets | San Francisco 49ers |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | Green Bay Packers |
| 7 | Arizona Cardinals | Miami Dolphins |
| 8 | Miami Dolphins | Arizona Cardinals |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | San Diego Chargers |
Team focus
Minnesota Vikings
The Jacksonville Jaguars are tied for first in giveaways. Minnesota is tied for fourth in takeaways.
Just saying.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins got clobbered by the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, 38-6. It was a disaster for those who started the Miami defense/special teams. This week, though, the Dolphins get the Cardinals, who are tied for ninth in giveaways and tied for third in sacks allowed.
Following that type of embarrassment against Baltimore, Miami should at least be serviceable against Carson Palmer and Co.
Kicker
| 1 | Matt Prater | Lions | Bears |
| 2 | Justin Tucker | Ravens | Patriots |
| 3 | Adam Vinatieri | Colts | Texans |
| 4 | Dustin Hopkins | Redskins | Eagles |
| 5 | Dan Bailey | Cowboys | Giants |
| 6 | Sebastian Janikowski | Raiders | Chiefs |
| 7 | Steven Hauschka | Seahawks | Packers |
| 8 | Matt Bryant | Falcons | Rams |
| 9 | Cairo Santos | Chiefs | Raiders |
| 10 | Josh Lambo | Chargers | Panthers |
Player focus
Matt Prater
Matt Prater hasn’t scored fewer than nine fantasy points since Week 8. He’s put up 12 and 18 points for the typically high-scoring Lions the last two weeks, respectively, vaulting him into consideration for the top overall kicker.
Sebastian Janikowski
An oldie but goodie.
Even at 38 years old, Sebastian Janikowski is a crucial piece of the Raiders’ offensive attack. He has three games of double-digit fantasy points (17, 18, 12, 15) and just two under five.
In Oakland’s past six games, Seabass has been an elite option:
- Week 7: 18
- Week 8: 6
- Week 9: 12
- Week 10: Bye
- Week 11: 9
- Week 12: 9
- Week 13: 15
The sure-footed future Hall of Famer, owned in just 23 percent of Yahoo leagues, is well worth starting in a high-floor offense.
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