Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More

What were you guys thinking starting Peyton Manning over Ryan Fitzpatrick last week?

Anyone who actually played the Harvard grad over the NFL legend would have drawn a one-way ticket to the psych ward. Yet six touchdowns later, Fitzpatrick resounded as Week 13's top fantasy football scorer for the few brave souls who played him.

As for Manning, a humdrum 179 passing yards and two touchdowns. Meh. Nobody can complain when that's his off day, but countless owners spent Sunday night yelling at the TV screen all 32 times he handed the ball to C.J. Anderson.

Nobody in their right mind would have played Fitzpatrick over Manning, but the matchup indicated the stud would underwhelm against the Kansas City Chiefs' No. 1 passing defense as Anderson lit up the No. 30 rushing defense.

Fantasy football is maddening and unpredictable most of the time, but exploring the schedule can help foreshadow such bizarre happenings. So let's examine some sleepers and busts entering a crucial Week 14.

Smart Matchup Plays

Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers (at OAK)

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Banished to the "Busts" section last week, Frank Gore sure embraced the role, gaining 36 total yards against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. Let's hope owners heeded the warning flags and sat him in Week 13, but don't use that as fuel to sideline him this weekend.

Seattle ranks fifth against the run while surrendering just 3.5 yards per carry. The Oakland Raiders, on the other hand, reside all the way down to No. 27 on the same list, yielding 4.0 yards per rush. Last Sunday, Tre Mason smashed them for 164 total yards and three touchdowns on 17 touches.

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Ten years and over 2,000 carries later, Gore doesn't brandish the breakaway speed to tear off an 89-yard run like the St. Louis Rams rookie. The 31-year-old is also averaging a career-worst 3.9 yards per rush, and his carries have depreciated in each of the past three weeks.

In good matchups, however, he still holds value. Take his 114 yards against the New York Giants in Week 11 and his 83 yards and a score versus the New Orleans Saints the previous Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers are still eager to pound the ball, and they'll get plenty of chances against an Oakland club coming of a 52-0 defeat.

Deep-league and daily players are free to interpret this as reason to roll the dice on Carlos Hyde, who has scored four rushing touchdowns to Gore's two. Yet the veteran serves as a safer, steadier play to put up plenty of yards (and hopefully a score or two) against a vulnerable opponent.

Kenny Stills, WR, New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)

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Just claimed Kenny Stills off the waiver wire? Stashed him a week or two ago, but didn't have the guts to use him yet? Either way, don't wait any longer to insert him into the starting lineup.

Stills continued his explosion as New Orleans' most valuable fantasy wideout, burning Ike Taylor for a 69-yard touchdown on Sunday. The 22-year-old finished with a career-high 162 receiving yards.

The previous week, he grabbed eight catches and 98 yards on nine targets, which should assuage any fears of him operating as an all-or-nothing deep threat. Without Brandin Cooks, he's the top deep threat and a valuable member of Drew Brees' passing attack.

Two favorable matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers helped, but the Carolina Panthers are just as sweet of an opponent. In standard ESPN.com leagues, they yield 23.9 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts, coughing up 12.6 yards per catch and 15 touchdowns.

Even if Stills can't burn the secondary for another long score, he should collect enough catches and yards to make it worth everyone's while.

Sleepers

Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU)

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Every time any receiver from the Jacksonville Jaguars looks enticing, another strolls along to snatch away the spotlight. First Allen Hurns. Then Allen Robinson. Don't forget Cecil Shorts for a brief moment. Now Marqise Lee.

Not the best precursor to recommending Lee as a deep sleeper, one best reserved for the daily and deep-league readers. Looking at his recent production and the schedule, the rookie has a chance to sway some matchups.

Over the past two weeks, Lee has caught nine passes on 13 targets. Against the New York Giants, he delivered 75 yards and a score. Under normal circumstance, no Jacksonville wideout is worth anyone's attention, but the Texans present the best possible matchup in terms of ESPN.com points allowed.

For desperate managers out there, consider the USC alum as an ultimate dark-horse play.

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ)

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When it comes to Kyle Rudolph's fantasy value, it's a touchdown or bust.

This is hardly a novice concept for a tight end, a position that churns out only a handful of reliable choices. That scarcity makes the big man relevant, even though he has just five receptions over the last three games and 15 through six bouts.

Taking the glass-half-full approach, he also reached the end zone last Sunday against Carolina. Also, as noted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Matt Vensel, he played a full game, which is notable since he missed nearly two months after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

For those who have a starting stalwart, great. Don't waste your time on someone whose floor belongs at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. For those not as lucky, the New York Jets have issued an NFL-worst 12 touchdowns to opposing tight ends.

Rudolph is a tight end. Rudolph plays the Jets. He's a massive goal-line target, so the chance exists for another score. Not exactly the safest ploy, but an understandable one for owners in a bind.

Busts to Avoid

Mark Sanchez, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. SEA)

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No. Don't even think about it. You started Mark Sanchez a couple of times, and it went well. Some of those benefactors are probably mercilessly teasing the leaguemate who suffered a fantasy loss to Sanchez. 

That's all good and dandy, but the fun pauses against the Seahawks, by far the best defense he has played since replacing Nick Foles in Philadelphia.

During a favorable five-game slate, the formerly disgraced quarterback has posted nine touchdowns while averaging 8.02 yards per attempt. Transitioning from the conservative New York Jets to Chip Kelly's uptempo scheme has made him a revelation, and he's thrilled to get that second chance. Per the team's official Twitter page:

But come on, this is Seattle now. Five games, none against a top-10 pass-prevention unit, are not enough to trust Sanchez against the Legion of Boom.

For anyone in desperate need of a quarterback plug-in, Fitzpatrick and Colt McCoy are better jackpot gambles. Heck, Johnny Manziel is even a safer choice if he starts. 

Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CIN)

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That didn't last long. After scoring six touchdowns in a four-game outburst, Martavis Bryant has compiled three catches for 34 yards during his past two affairs. His temporary utility has expired, at least for now.

Even during his hot streak, he depended heavily on scores and huge plays, saving a near dud against the Jets with a late 80-yard score. The Titans and Saints presented two golden opportunities to sustain his breakout, but the magic halted.

Now is not the time to bank on an untested rookie snapping out of a slump. Not against the Cincinnati Bengals, whose 6.3 opposing yards per passing attempt limbos lower than all teams beside the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.

Only the Seahawks have relinquished fewer points to opposing wideouts in ESPN.com leagues. They recently stopped the seemingly unstoppable Mike Evans, keeping him out of the end zone for the first game since Oct. 26. With that, they're still on the hook for just six touchdowns to receivers.

Bryant is too much of a gamble during the fantasy playoffs. Jump ship for one of many other intriguing available pass-catchers.