Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups and Sleepers Who May Be Available After Box Score Analysis

An exciting Week 14 slate kicked off on Thursday with a battle between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. As NFL teams continue to jockey for playoff positioning, fantasy football managers will be doing the same.

Unfortunately, many managers will be unable to rely on all of their top stars this week. Injuries will leave several key players out of lineups, while the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are on bye.

Here, we'll examine some potential replacements who may still be available after Week 14 waiver claims have been processed. All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

If you thought that the Houston Texans' offense looked better with Davis Mills behind center than it did with C.J. Stroud at the helm last week, you're not alone. Stroud appeared rusty in his return from a concussion, and he mustered a mere 10 fantasy points.

However, Stroud looms as a potential replacement for Brock Purdy or Drake Maye this week because he should be better in his second game back. He faces a tough situation against the Chiefs in Kansas City, but the matchup isn't as daunting as it might have been earlier in the year.

Kansas City's defense has started to slip, and the Chiefs are currently surrendering the 16th-most fantasy points (tied) to opposing quarterbacks. Stroud should have a respectable outing against what has become a middle-of-the-pack pass defense.

Stroud is rostered in 41 percent of Yahoo leagues and 48 percent of ESPN leagues.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders

AP PhotoNick Wass

To be fair, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. doesn't have the juiciest matchup this week, though it's far from terrible. The Commanders will face the Minnesota Vikings, who have surrendered the 14th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Rodriguez has emerged as Washington's lead back and a serviceable flex option over the last month. He's topped nine fantasy points in three of his last four games, and while his ceiling is limited, his floor is respectable for a late-week waiver option.

The reality is that managers aren't likely to find many viable RBs this late in the week, this late in the season. Rodriguez, though, is only rostered in 33 percent of Yahoo leagues and 27 percent of ESPN leagues.

Jayden Daniels may or may not be back in the lineup for Washington this week, but Marcus Mariota has played well enough in his stead that Rodriguez can be trusted.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Adonai Mitchell is very much a boom-or-bust option at receiver this week. He wasn't consistent with the Indianapolis Colts before he was traded, and he hasn't been consistent with the New York Jets either. Between the two teams, he's only topped 10 fantasy points twice this season.

Mitchell, though, has a high ceiling, as evidenced by last week's performance, which yielded 24.2 fantasy points.

He probably won't reach that number against the Miami Dolphins, who have surrendered the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. However, Mitchell is a high-upside waiver option for managers willing to gamble in Week 14.

Mitchell is rostered in just 21 percent of Yahoo leagues and 26 percent of ESPN leagues.

Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Rookie tight end Colston Loveland has had some terrific outings for the Chicago Bears but hasn't been consistently productive when fellow tight end Cole Kmet has been available.

Loveland has failed to reach eight fantasy points in two of his last three games and has a less-than-ideal matchup against the Green Bay Packers this week. The Packers have surrendered the 12th-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

However, Loveland's role in the offense remains more significant than it was early in the season. He's been targeted at least four times in seven straight contests and was targeted six times in Week 13.

Loveland is highly unlikely to draw a blank this week and is, therefore, a logical fill-in for managers without a strong backup TE. He remains available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.