Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Final Review Before 'Thursday Night Football'

This is it, folks—the playoffs are here.

This is no time for unnecessary risks, uneducated lineup decisions or unprepared owners. This is the time of year when every decision counts, when every advantage must be utilized, when the men are separated from the guys who thought they could just "wing" it. 

You can't wing it, folks. Below, you'll find my guide to either starting or sitting some of the more difficult players to evaluate this week. From studying the trends to evaluating the matchups, I'll help you navigate your trickiest lineup decisions this week.

Start 'Em: Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

After starting the season with six straight games of 16 or more fantasy points—a startling run of consistency for Jay Cutler—the oft-erratic quarterback has returned to his unpredictable ways, alternating between scoring less than 10 fantasy points in one week and scoring 15 or more points the next. 

Perhaps he can end the pattern against the Dallas Cowboys this week, however, a defense that has given up a total of 555 passing yards, four touchdowns and 43 fantasy points to Eli Manning and Mark Sanchez in consecutive weeks.

Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are a slight upgrade from the receivers the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles featured as well—and Matt Forte remains one of the top receiving backs in football—so don't be surprised if Dallas has a tough time containing Chicago's passing game this week.

Sit 'Em: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Don't let Big Ben's 25 fantasy points last week fool you—many of them came in garbage time against the New Orleans Saints, as both of his touchdown passes came with less than three minutes remaining in a game the Saints had already sewn up.

Yes, fantasy owners will take the points however they can get them, but this week Roethlisberger faces a Cincinnati defense that is not only much better than the Saints but is giving up just 7.8 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week in their last four games.

Roethlisberger has also produced far more fantasy points for owners at home than on the road this year. At home, he's averaging 26.3 fantasy points per contest. On the road, that number shrinks to 11.1 points per contest. In Cincinnati against a good defense, don't expect much from Big Ben this week.

Start 'Em: Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants

Let's just take a quick look at some of the numbers posted by the running backs that have faced the Tennessee Titans in their past five games.

• Week 8: Arian Foster totaled 173 yards from scrimmage, scored three touchdowns and registered 35 fantasy points.
• Week 9: The Titans were on bye. Mercifully.
• Week 10: Justin Forsett rushed 20 times for 112 yards and two scores, accumulating 23 fantasy points.
• Week 11: Le'Veon Bell rushed 33 times for 204 yards and a score, added two receptions for 18 yards and finished with 27 fantasy points.
• Week 12: LeSean McCoy rushed 21 times for 130 yards and a score, notching 19 fantasy points. For good measure, Darren Sproles added 39 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown for a total of nine fantasy points.
• Week 13: Foster had another good game against the Titans, rushing 19 times for 79 yards and adding five catches for 26 yards and a score. He totaled 15 fantasy points on the week.

It's pretty easy to see why Rashad Jennings is an RB1 this week, right? The Titans continue to get scorched by opposing running backs. And Jennings, to his credit, has 33 fantasy points total the past two weeks. 

Starting Jennings this week is about the easiest decision you can make.

Sit 'Em: Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Am I really telling you to sit the player who just rushed 14 times for 117 yards and two scores, added three receptions for 47 yards and another touchdown and finished with a whopping 33 fantasy points? 

Why yes, yes I am. 

While Mason has come on strong of late, it's important to remember that his 33 points are one more point than he managed in his previous four games combined. It's also important to remember that he won't be facing Oakland's shoddy run defense this week. Rather, he'll be facing a Washington defense that allows just 12.5 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, fourth in the NFL. 

Washington has a horrid pass defense, however, so you'd expect the Rams to attack them through the air. Mason may have made a name for himself last week, but don't be surprised if he's much closer to three points than 33 this week.

Start 'Em: Mike Wallace and Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins

Mike Wallace and Jarvis Landry disappointed against a shoddy New York Jets secondary in Week 13, combining for just 12 total fantasy points. Perhaps we can forgive them in a game against a divisional rival, on the road, that saw the Jets run the ball well and win the time of possession battle. 

Wallace and Landry don't have any excuses this week, however. They're at home and facing the Baltimore Ravens, a team that has the 31st-ranked pass defense and is giving up 27.4 fantasy points to opposing wideouts per week, 32nd in the NFL. Plus, the Ravens are excellent against the run—fourth in rushing yards allowed per game—so the Dolphins should be throwing early and often in this one. 

Don't expect Wallace and Landry to burn you for a second consecutive week.

Sit 'Em: Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Evan Habeeb/Getty Images

To give you an idea of just how difficult a Week 14 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is going to be for Philly's wideouts, consider that Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews combined to score 21 fantasy points last week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Now consider that the Seahawks have allowed just 13 total points to opposing wide receivers in their last three games combined. I repeat, the Seahawks have allowed just 13 total points to opposing wide receivers in their last three games!

Holy cow. 

Of course, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise. The Seahawks have allowed opposing wideouts to score just 14 fantasy points per week, tops in the NFL, led by Richard Sherman and the league's best secondary. If the Eagles are going to beat the Seahawks it will be because they play solid defense and establish a running game.

It's hard to imagine them winning this contest through the air.

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard-scoring leagues. Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than being Richard Sherman when the San Francisco 49ers come to town.