Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projections for Top 10 Players at Each Position

Throw out feelings—the fantasy playoffs are here for most. 

Forget where a guy was drafted. Disregard all feelings of commitment to that running back swindled away from a close friend. Ignore the waiver-wire gem that won a few games on his own.

Now is the time to maximize lineups, not get emotional. This means benching an A.J. Green for a Kenny Stills (extreme example, please don't do this). It means be cold and calculated when it comes to numbers and research.

Owners who cannot do this will suffer at the hands of those who will. So try not to be the guy or gal who takes a tumble out of the postseason for frivolous reasons. A guide to help in this effort rests below.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	BUF	24
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	ATL	23
3	Andrew Luck, IND	at CLE	22
4	Drew Brees, NO	CAR	22
5	Tom Brady, NE	at SD	18
6	Matthew Stafford, DET	TB	18
7	Joe Flacco, BAL	at MIA	17
8	Philip Rivers, SD	NE	16
9	Colin Kaepernick, SF	at OAK	14
10	Russell Wilson, SEA	at PHI	12

Start 'Em: Russell Wilson, SEA (at PHI)

USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is the fifth-highest scorer at the position this year.

Still, owners may have pause with Wilson at this juncture, as his latest outputs of 19 and 16 points over the course of the past two weeks pale in comparison to his three trips over 20 points this year. 

Good news, Wilson owners. His next opponent is the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that allows the fourth-most points to quarterbacks this season. Eagles coach Chip Kelly seems to know exactly how Wilson gives defenses fits, per the team's Twitter account:

Wilson might just be in for one of his biggest performances of the year, so feel safe with him in lineups.

Sit 'Em: Cam Newton, CAR (at NO)

Cam Newton is not much of a threat on the ground in comparison to Wilson this year. 

Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey paints the picture:

"

Russell Wilson has the 14th most rushing yards of anyone in the NFL. Next QB, Cam Newton, ranks 44th.

— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) December 1, 2014"

The Carolina Panthers signal-caller is still a hot commodity in leagues, but scored just 13 points last week and has just one trip above 20 points this season. Keep in mind he has now thrown an interception in eight consecutive games.

Next up for Newton is the New Orleans Saints. Rob Ryan's defense may surrender the sixth-most points to the position this year, but Newton posted just 12 points against the unit back in Week 9.

A trip to the Superdome this time around may produce even worse results.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Arian Foster, HOU	at JAC	27
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	at CIN	26
3	Jamaal Charles, KC	at ARI	22
4	LeSean McCoy, PHI	SEA	21
5	Justin Forsett, BAL	at MIA	18
6	C.J. Anderson, DEN	BUF	15
7	Denard Robinson, JAC	HOU	14
8	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	at PHI	14
9	Eddie Lacy, GB	ATL	12
10	Tre Mason, STL	at WAS	10

Start 'Em: Frank Gore, SF (at OAK)

As the numbers show, the San Francisco 49ers have not been much of a rushing team this season:

There is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for veteran Frank Gore, though.

That light is an Oakland Raiders defense that has allowed the most points to backs this season and just allowed a whopping 35 points one week ago—good for the fourth time this year a team has reached a minimum of 30 points.

Gore only has four trips to double digits this year, but a fifth is on the way.

Sit 'Em: Fred Jackson, BUF (at DEN)

Owners are right to feel as if Buffalo Bills back Fred Jackson is back as an RB1. Perhaps, but now is not the week to test the theory. 

Jackson is back from injury and has 19 total points over the course of his past two outings as C.J. Spiller remains sidelined. While opportunities equal production at running back, that is not always the case against the Denver Broncos.

Denver's defense has only allowed three backfields over the 20-point barrier this season and four did not reach 10 points. Once Peyton Manning and Co. jump out to a lead at home, Jackson will be a pass-blocker more than anything.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	TB	16
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	BUF	16
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	at CIN	14
4	Jordy Nelson, GB	ATL	14
5	Julio Jones, ATL	at GB	13
6	A.J. Green, CIN	PIT	13
7	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	SEA	13
8	Josh Gordon, CLE	IND	12
9	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	at TEN	12
10	T.Y. Hilton, IND	at CLE	12

Start 'Em: Mohamed Sanu, CIN (vs. PIT)

STEVE NESIUS/Associated Press

The owner of six double-digit outings this season, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Mohamed Sanu is owned in 66.2 percent of leagues. Owners have begun to look elsewhere for production as the Rutgers product has more than 50 receiving yards in just two games this season with A.J. Green in the lineup as well. 

Before hitting that drop button though, take a gander at Sanu's Week 14 matchup.

The Pittsburgh Steelers rank in the middle of the pack against wideouts but just last week allowed the position to go for 36 points and have now allowed 12 touchdowns this season.

Sanu is a target-wealthy player who has a minimum of seven targets in eight of his past 10 appearances, so expect him to post gaudy numbers as the Steelers focus on Green.

Sit 'Em: Jeremy Maclin, PHI (vs. SEA)

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

It hurts to bench the fourth-highest scorer at any position. This is especially the case for Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin.

Maclin has hit double digits in eight games this year and two of his last three. But look closer—his output has dropped with Mark Sanchez under center and a meeting with the Seahawks does not bode well for a turnaround.

Richard Sherman and the Seahawks allow the fewest points to wideouts this season. The unit has let receivers score just four touchdowns. The team's last three opponents have totaled 13 points.

Maclin might not reach that on his own Sunday.

Tight Ends 

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	at SD	14
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	CAR	13
3	Julius Thomas, DEN	BUF	13
4	Delanie Walker, TEN	NYG	12
5	Greg Olsen, CAR	at NO	12
6	Dwayne Allen, IND	at CLE	11
7	Jared Cook, STL	at WAS	10
8	Travis Kelce, KC	at ARI	9
9	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	NYJ	9
10	Owen Daniels, BAL	at MIA	9

Start 'Em: Heath Miller, PIT (at CIN)

Don Wright/Associated Press

For one reason or another, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller has seen an uptick in production over the course of his late two outings. 

Miller now has 15 total points in that span thanks to 13 grabs for 153 yards. Ben Roethlisberger seems to have rediscovered one of his most reliable weapons, which is good news going into an encounter with Cincinnati.

The Bengals are allowing the 13th-most points to tight ends this year. Things have been great as of late for the defense, but it was not too long ago that the position went for 30, 13 and 19 over the span of three weeks.

Miller knows the Bengals quite well and is good for quality production.

Sit 'Em: Mychal Rivera, OAK (vs. SF)

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

A former waiver-wire hero, Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera is now a must-avoid play for the time being as rookie quarterback Derek Carr struggles and the team loses by 52 points.

Rivera has four grabs for 29 yards over the course of his past two games and has not tallied more than three catches in a contest since Week 10.

Now the task is to overcome a San Francisco defense that has allowed a total of 10 points to the position in the last two weeks. Right now, each and every member of the Raiders needs to sit on the bench.

D/ST

Rank	Unit	Opponent	Projection
1	Texans	at JAC	12
2	Lions	TB	12
3	Vikings	NYJ	10
4	49ers	at OAK	9
5	Rams	at WAS	8
6	Giants	at TEN	7
7	Washington	STL	7
8	Ravens	at MIA	6
9	Eagles	SEA	5
10	Cardinals	KC	5

Start 'Em: Lions (vs. TB)

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The Detroit Lions rest as the fifth-highest scoring defense at the moment. 

A Week 12 encounter with New England was ugly, but things got back on track last week with a cool 10 points against Chicago.

Things will only continue to swing in the positive direction this week for Ndamukong Suh and Co. thanks to a matchup with Tampa Bay, an offense that helps opposing defenses score some of the most gaudy point totals of all this season.

Sit 'Em: Bills (at DEN)

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Mario Williams and the Bills have been good to owners this year, coming in as the second-highest scoring unit.

Denver is the exact opposite.

The Broncos allow the fewest points to opposing defenses this year. Defenses literally score in the negatives on average against Manning and Co. to date.

Don't even think about it.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Projection
1	Cody Parkey, PHI	SEA	15
2	Mason Crosby, GB	ATL	12
3	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	at SD	12
4	Nick Novak, SD	NE	11
5	Dan Carpenter, BUF	at DEN	11
6	Kai Forbath, WAS	STL	11
7	Shayne Graham, NO	CAR	10
8	Josh Scobee, JAC	HOU	9
9	Josh Brown, NYG	at TEN	9
10	Mike Nugent, CIN	PIT	9

Start 'Em: Blair Walsh, MIN (vs. NYJ)

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh has not lit the world on fire with his point totals this season, but he has mustered eight, nine and seven points in his last three games. 

Next up is the New York Jets, a team that just so happens to allow the eighth-most points to the position this season.

The Jets have allowed 12 field goals in their past six games and each of the last two opposing kickers has reached double digits.

Sit 'Em: Matt Bryant, ATL (at GB)

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Conventional wisdom says a shootout between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers will provide healthy fantasy totals for all involved. 

Try to ignore the fact that Matt Bryant is the sixth-highest scorer at this position.

Instead, focus on the fact the Packers rank among the top 10 teams that surrender the fewest points to kickers. Feel free to add in the fact that the Packers have allowed just five field goals in six games at home this year.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.