Fantasy Football Week 14: Rankings, Projections and Waiver-Wire Tips

It's about time for some fantasy football playoffs. Week 14 of the NFL season generally signifies the commencement of the fantasy realm's postseason, and the fortunate owners to make it this far can't afford to allow a shot at a league championship to slip away due to a lack of preparation.

Even though the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have yet to face off on Monday Night Football to officially conclude Week 13, it's never too early to look ahead, especially in a situation with so much at stake. That said, it's time to concentrate on Week 14.

Of course, all fantasy owners will be starting their respective studs, but unless you drafted with a group of people who have the same fantasy football mentality as Taco from The League, chances are you don't have a star in every position. This is where taking advantage of the matchups comes into play.

Fortunately, there are plenty of favorable matchups for fringe starters at every position in Week 14. Here's a look at the ensuing week's rankings at each position to use as a guide to help find your best fantasy plays and ultimate starting lineup.

Thursday, Dec. 4	Time (ET)
Sunday, Dec. 7	Time (ET)
Monday, Dec. 8	Time (ET)
Dallas at Chicago	8:25 p.m.
Baltimore at Miami	1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Cleveland	1 p.m.
Carolina at New Orleans	1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati	1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Detroit	1 p.m.
Houston at Jacksonville	1 p.m.
NY Jets at Minnesota	1 p.m.
NY Giants at Tennessee	1 p.m.
St. Louis at Washington	1 p.m.
Buffalo at Denver	4:05 p.m.
Kansas City at Arizona	4:05 p.m.
San Francisco at Oakland	4:25 p.m.
Seattle at Philadelphia	4:25 p.m.
New England at San Diego	8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Green Bay	8:30 p.m.

(Note: Please keep in mind any highlighted players when checking out the rankings; it means they're either an injury risk heading into Week 14 or are on the schedule for Monday night.) 

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	26
2	Tom Brady, NE	24
3	Drew Brees, NO	23
4	Peyton Manning, DEN	22
5	Andrew Luck, IND	21
6	Tony Romo, DAL	19
7	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	18
8	Philip Rivers, SD	18
9	Matthew Stafford, DET	17
10	Russell Wilson, SEA	17
11	Jay Cutler, CHI	16
12	Ryan Fitzpatrick, HOU	16
13	Colin Kaepernick, SF	15
14	Matt Ryan, ATL	15
15	Colt McCoy, WAS	15
16	Cam Newton, CAR	14
17	Andy Dalton, CIN	14
18	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	14
19	Eli Manning, NYG	14
20	Joe Flacco, BAL	13

Top Dog: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

There isn't much of a reason to think of Rodgers as anything less than the top dog at the quarterback position heading into Week 14. He's thrown 20 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season at Lambeau Field, and he's set to take on an Atlanta Falcons defense that was recently gashed by the likes of Cam Newton and Josh McCown.

Rodgers, meanwhile, put up 368 yards and two touchdowns against Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots secondary. If he can put up that kind of stat line against a solid defense, expect to see some video game numbers against Atlanta in Week 14.

Sleeper: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Houston Texans

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Fitzpatrick probably needed to let off some steam after being benched for Ryan Mallett earlier in the season. Well, the unfortunate recipient of this quarterback's rage was the Tennessee Titans secondary, as it watched Fitzpatrick go off for 358 yards and six touchdowns.

This quarterback is riding some serious momentum right now, and he's likely to make a spectacle out of a lowly Jacksonville Jaguars team that's allowing an average of 16.4 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Beware: Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns

When the Browns benched Brian Hoyer and sent Manziel into action, fantasy owners watched as the rookie rattled off a quick touchdown run. Please, don't be fooled. He's still a rookie and is likely to go through some serious growing pains. The Indianapolis Colts recently held Blake Bortles to just five fantasy points. They aren't nice to rookie signal-callers.

It's unclear at this time if Manziel will get the start. But even if he does, he's a very risky play.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	22
2	Arian Foster, HOU	20
3	Matt Forte, CHI	19
4	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	18
5	Eddie Lacy, GB	17
6	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	16
7	Mark Ingram, NO	15
8	LeSean McCoy, PHI	15
9	Justin Forsett, BAL	15
10	Tre Mason, STL	14
11	Joique Bell, DET	14
12	Jamaal Charles, KC	14
13	Andre Ellington, AZ	13
14	C.J. Anderson, DEN	13
15	Denard Robinson, JAX	12
16	Lamar Miller, MIA	12
17	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	11
18	Giovani Bernard, CIN	11
19	Ryan Mathews, SD	11
20	Rashad Jennings, NYG	10
21	Latavius Murray, OAK	9
22	Fred Jackson, BUF	9
23	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	9
24	Chris Ivory, NYJ	8
25	Jeremy Hill, CIN	8
26	Bishop Sankey, TEN	7
27	Daniel Herron, IND	7
28	Alfred Morris, WAS	7
29	Steven Jackson, ATL	6
30	Frank Gore, SF	6

Top Dog: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas made a big mistake on Thanksgiving Day, allowing Tony Romo to throw too often and failing to find more ways to get the ball into Murray's hands. Still, the talented running back finished the game with 17 fantasy points.

Murray will take on the Chicago Bears in Week 14. This team hasn't been able to stop much of anyone this season, allowing double-digit fantasy points to opposing backfields in all but two games. Expect Murray to see an increase in touches and deliver yet another big performance for his fantasy owners.

Sleeper: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Murray destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12, rushing for 112 yards and two scores on just four carries before being taken out of the game with a concussion. He missed the team's Week 13 contest against the St. Louis Rams, and it should be safe to say the Raiders missed the running back after losing 52-0.

Oakland plays in-state rival San Francisco in Week 14, and while the 49ers have a solid defense, rest assured the Raiders want this win badly. It's basically their Super Bowl. If he's cleared to play, Murray gives the team the best chance to move the ball, so expect him to see plenty of touches.

Beware: Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

The Colts may be facing a Browns team that has been absolutely dreadful against the run this season, but do yourself a favor and don't get cute. Putting Richardson in any starting lineup is fantasy suicide. Daniel Herron is clearly the better option out of the Colts backfield, and he should be expected to see increased carries going forward. It's time to move on from this plodding ball-carrier.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	19
2	Jordy Nelson, GB	18
3	Dez Bryant, DAL	17
4	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	17
5	Calvin Johnson, DET	16
6	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	15
7	A.J. Green, CIN	14
8	Antonio Brown, PIT	14
9	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	14
10	Julio Jones, ATL	13
11	Randall Cobb, GB	12
12	Brandon Marshall, CHI	12
13	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	12
14	T.Y. Hilton, IND	11
15	Jarvis Landry, MIA	11
16	Keenan Allen, SD	11
17	Stedman Bailey, STL	10
18	Golden Tate, DET	10
19	Mike Wallace, MIA	9
20	Brandon LaFell, NE	9
21	Andre Johnson, HOU	9
22	Josh Gordon, CLE	9
23	Reggie Wayne, IND	8
24	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	8
25	Kenny Stills, NO	8
26	Torrey Smith, BAL	8
27	Terrance Williams, DAL	7
28	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	7
29	Mike Evans, TB	7
30	Doug Baldwin, SEA	7
31	Michael Floyd, AZ	6
32	Steve Smith, BAL	6
33	DeSean Jackson, WAS	6
34	Michael Crabtree, SF	6
35	Kenny Britt, STL	5
36	Sammy Watkins, BUF	5
37	Marques Colston, NO	5
38	Roddy White, ATL	5
39	Jordan Matthews, PHI	5
40	Vincent Jackson, TB	5

Top Dog: Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Even on a slow night for Peyton Manning, Thomas still racked up 63 yards and a touchdown. He's the go-to target for one of the NFL's most prolific passers, making him a must-start player each week and continuously keeping him very high in fantasy rankings.

Thomas gets top-dog honors in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills. While Buffalo has been solid on defense this season, the team has given up many fantasy points to the potent passing attacks of the Patriots, San Diego Chargers and Dolphins. Expect more of the same from the Broncos.

Sleeper: Stedman Bailey, St. Louis Rams

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Bailey is quickly becoming the favorite target of quarterback Shaun Hill. He recorded seven receptions for 89 yards and a score in Week 12 and added five receptions for 100 yards in Week 13 against the Raiders. He continues to garner more snaps per game, and that will lead to more targets.

In Week 14, Bailey faces a Washington Redskins defense that just allowed five touchdowns to Andrew Luck. While Hill certainly isn't nearly as talented as Luck, Washington's terrible secondary will make him look very good, with Bailey being the primary beneficiary.

Beware: All Jaguars Receivers

In Week 13, the team's highest-scoring receiver was Marquise Lee. In Week 12, it was, well, no one. In Week 10, it was Cecil Shorts. In Week 9, it was Allen Hurns. The point here is simple: You never know which receiver you can trust on any given week. This team isn't worth the gamble in the fantasy playoffs.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	15
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	14
3	Antonio Gates, SD	12
4	Jason Witten, DAL	12
5	Martellus Bennett, CHI	11
6	Greg Olsen, CAR	10
7	Julius Thomas, DEN	9
8	Larry Donnell, NYG	8
9	Coby Fleener, IND	8
10	Delanie Walker, TEN	7
11	Travis Kelce, KC	7
12	Jordan Reed, WAS	6
13	Heath Miller, PIT	6
14	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	5
15	Zach Ertz, PHI	5

Top Dog: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Gronkowski is a human wrecking ball. While he didn't find the end zone for the second consecutive week on Sunday, he still accumulated 98 yards on seven receptions, punishing several Green Bay defenders along the way.

In Week 14, Gronkowski faces a Chargers team that has been very good against tight ends this season. However, in this instance, we can go ahead and ignore that fact completely. This particular tight end happens to be matchup-proof.

Sleeper: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

There's been a sudden change in the pecking order of Redskins tight ends. Niles Paul was expected to see most of the workload on Sunday, but quarterback Colt McCoy took a big liking to Reed, connecting with the tight end nine times for 123 yards.

Tight ends can be big, friendly targets for inexperienced quarterbacks, and that seems to be what McCoy has found in Reed. A Week 14 matchup against the Rams isn't the most favorable, but this could be a sneaky-good play in a pinch.

Beware: Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams

USA TODAY Sports

This is an easy one: Cook is way too inconsistent to warrant a spot in fantasy starting lineups during the playoffs. Sure, he's always a threat to break a big play, but after laying an egg against the Raiders, fantasy owners should be looking elsewhere.

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projected Points
1	Detroit Lions	vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	14
2	San Francisco 49ers	at Oakland Raiders	12
3	Houston Texans	at Jacksonville Jaguars	10
4	Indianapolis Colts	at Cleveland Browns	9
5	Minnesota Vikings	vs. New York Jets	9
6	Denver Broncos	vs. Buffalo Bills	8
7	St. Louis Rams	at Washington Redskins	7
8	New Orleans Saints	vs. Carolina Panthers	6
9	Dallas Cowboys	at Chicago Bears	6
10	New York Jets	at Minnesota Vikings	6
11	New York Giants	at Tennessee Titans	5
12	Arizona Cardinals	vs. Kansas City Chiefs	5
13	Kansas City Chiefs	at Arizona Cardinals	5
14	Green Bay Packers	vs. Atlanta Falcons	4
15	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	4

Top Dog: Detroit Lions

This matchup is a thing of beauty for owners of the Lions defense. Tampa Bay continues to struggle on the offensive side of the ball, scoring just 13 points against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13, and now the Buccaneers must travel to Detroit to face one of the league's most fierce defenses. This matchup is pure gold.

Sleeper: New York Jets

The Jets are a bad football team. We know that. However, the Vikings have been struggling to move the ball on offense. They may have scored 31 points in Week 13 against the Panthers, but two blocked punts returned for touchdowns sure helped. If New York can cut back on mistakes, this could be a decent play for owners in need.

Beware: Seattle Seahawks

Seattle is heading into Eagles territory, where a resurgent LeSean McCoy lies in wait. Philadelphia's offense looked very solid against the Cowboys in Week 13, and the Eagles have also been excellent on special teams. They can score in a variety of fashions, so be careful if you plan on rolling out the Seahawks defense in Week 14.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	14
2	Mason Crosby, GB	13
3	Adam Vinatieri, IND	12
4	Caleb Sturgis, MIA	12
5	Dan Bailey, DAL	11
6	Shaun Suisham, PIT	11
7	Cody Parkey, PHI	10
8	Matt Bryant, ATL	10
9	Steven Hauschka, SEA	10
10	Randy Bullock, HOU	9
11	Matt Prater, DET	9
12	Blair Walsh, MIN	9
13	Josh Brown, NYG	8
14	Mike Nugent, CIN	8
15	Phil Dawson, SF	7

Top Dog: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

The Patriots know how to move the ball, and Gostkowski kicks plenty of field goals as a result. San Diego's defense will allow this trend to continue in Week 14.

Sleeper: Randy Bullock, Houston Texans

With the resilient Fitzpatrick back in the mix, the Texans offense has come to life. Houston should be able to take full advantage of a bad Jaguars defense in Week 14, allowing Bullock to attempt his fair share of kicks.

Beware: Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears

Don't expect Gould to suddenly have fantasy value due to a potential shootout with the Cowboys. He's only scored double-digit fantasy points once this season, and that's not likely to change anytime soon.

Waiver-Wire Advice

The below players are owned in 50 percent or less of ESPN.com standard fantasy leagues. All are deserving of roster spots to help you on your way to a league championship. Be sure to scour your league's waiver wire and check on their availability.

Player	Position	Team	Ownership
Ryan Fitzpatrick	QB	Houston Texans	4.4%
Colt McCoy	QB	Washington Redskins	2.8%
Latavius Murray	RB	Oakland Raiders	37.5%
Daniel Herron	RB	Indianapolis Colts	40.9%
Jarvis Landry	WR	Miami Dolphins	28.4%
Stedman Bailey	WR	St. Louis Rams	4.2%
Kenny Stills	WR	New Orleans Saints	17.6%
Kyle Rudolph	TE	Minnesota Vikings	18.3%

Grab Him Now: Jarvis Landry (WR, Miami Dolphins)

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

While this advice is for Week 14, Landry still has yet to play in Week 13. The Dolphins are slated to face off against the Jets on Monday Night Football, and this rookie has an excellent matchup. He's been a touchdown-scoring machine of late, totaling four in his last four games.

In fact, due to his recent trips to the end zone, fantasy owners who are planning on starting Mike Wallace Monday night may want to rethink that choice and add Landry instead if he's available. If not, grab him anyway, because a date with the Ravens' porous secondary is set for Landry in Week 14.

This is a player who will contribute to your championship run.

Stash Him While You Can: Colt McCoy (QB, Washington Redskins)

You never know when you'll need a starting quarterback. Injuries and other unexpected events take place on a weekly basis in the NFL, and it's always better to be prepared.

When McCoy started against Dallas in Week 8, he put up very nice numbers, completing 83.3 percent of his passes for 299 yards and a pick. It seemed like he just had a good day, but there may be more to it than that.

On Sunday, this journeyman quarterback struck again, passing for 392 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts. Suddenly, his performance against the Cowboys doesn't seem like a fluke. After his Week 13 showing, we should expect McCoy to remain under center for Washington for the remainder of the season, and he has some favorable matchups ahead.

Player	Position	Team	Ownership
Jonas Gray	RB	New England Patriots	61.5%
Reggie Bush	RB	Detroit Lions	51.0%
Terrance West	RB	Cleveland Browns	60.2%
Percy Harvin	WR	New York Jets	63.7
Pierre Garcon	WR	Washington Redskins	62.2
Michael Crabtree	WR	San Francisco 49ers	79.5%
Vernon Davis	TE	San Francisco 49ers	52.3%

Top Drop of the Week: Jonas Gray (RB, New England Patriots)

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Well, it was a fun ride while it lasted for Gray. He broke out with a monster performance in Week 11, rushing for 204 yards and four touchdowns, accumulating 44 fantasy points on most league's waiver wires. After that showing, there was a mad rush to acquire his services.

It didn't take long for fantasy owners to be severely disappointed, as Gray wasn't given a single snap one week later due to missing a team meeting. Making matters worse, the Patriots signed LeGarrette Blount, who quickly racked up 78 yards and two touchdowns in Gray's stead.

With Gray's punishment served, he was poised to get right back into action in Week 13, right? Nope. This time, Blount received 10 carries, rushing for 58 yards, while Brandon Bolden came out of nowhere to score a touchdown. Even Shane Vereen was given three carries. So, how many did Gray get? One.

That one carry should signal to all fantasy owners that Gray is a one-hit wonder, and he should be sent right back to the waiver wire where he belongs.

All fantasy statistics and rankings courtesy of ESPN.com and current as of December 1 at 4:30 a.m. ET.