Week 14 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

Do you feel that pit in your stomach? That's fantasy football playoff pressure.

In most leagues, Week 14 is the last week of the regular season. Some fantasy managers are already either locked into a postseason spot or frozen out and playing out the string.

For many others, though, this week carries the highest of stakes. Get a victory in Week 14, and it's on to the playoffs; take another loss, and the 2025 fantasy campaign is over.

Bleacher Report is here to alleviate some of that pressure and help get you into the postseason, with some recommendations for players who should be in starting lineups and others who should be nowhere near them.

We'll even throw in some sleepers.

Author's Note: "Starts" have a started percentage at NFL.com of less than 60 percent or do not exceed a maximum DFS salary threshold at DraftKings. "Sits" have a started percentage over 70 percent or exceed a minimum salary threshold. "Sleepers" have a started percentage of less than 30 percent or don't exceed an even lower salary threshold.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Packers QB Jordan Love

Start 'Em

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

The Rams haven't been especially kind to opposing wide receivers this year. But Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers threw three touchdown passes against the Rams last week, and while Brissett hasn't been winning games, he has been racking up points—he's third in fantasy points among quarterbacks since Week 9.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Love had one of his best games of the season in a Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions, throwing four touchdown passes. Now, he'll face the rival Bears in a battle for first place in the NFC North. Chicago has been a plus matchup for quarterbacks in 2025, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position.

Sit 'Em

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (at BUF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]

Fantasy managers who only just recently got Joe Burrow back in the starting lineup don't want to hear about bad matchups. But in addition to having to shake off the rust from his long layoff, he now has to travel to face a Buffalo Bills team that has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800]

Sitting fantasy football's second-ranked quarterback after 13 weeks just isn't realistic for many managers, but the odds are good that Mahomes disappoints in Week 14. The Texans are allowing just 11.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks—10.5 points below his season average.

Sleeper

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (at TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,600]

Shough was quietly decent last week, throwing for 239 yards and two scores. It was the second time in three games that he has hit those benchmarks, and over the past three games, the rookie has averaged just under 15 fantasy points a game ahead of a matchup with a Buccaneers team that has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III

Start 'Em

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings (vs. WAS) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

The Washington Commanders have struggled against the run this season, giving up 133.3 yards per game on the ground—sixth-most in the NFL. Jones is nursing a shoulder injury, but he got in a limited practice Wednesday and appears to be on track to play in Week 14.

Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks (at ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Walker's role in Seattle's backfield committee has limited his fantasy upside, and he hasn't had 70 rushing yards in a game since early October. However, both he and Zach Charbonnet could eat Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as the Falcons have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game to running backs this season.

Sit 'Em

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

Jeanty's status as something of a fantasy bust has more to do with a terrible offensive line and his 1.2 yards before contact per attempt, which is dead-last among qualifying running backs. Things aren't likely to get any better this week against the Broncos, who are fifth in the league in run defense at 93.1 yards per game.

D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (at GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Swift is coming off a huge game: a season-high 125 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in a Black Friday win over the Philadelphia Eagles. A repeat of that is unlikely this week at Lambeau Field. The Packers are allowing less than 100 rushing yards per game and rank outside the top 20 in PPR points per game surrendered to running backs.

Sleeper

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (at TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,100]

Neal's debut as the Saints lead back last week wasn't especially impressive—17 touches for 69 yards against the Miami Dolphins. However, it appears Alvin Kamara (knee) will be sidelined again in Week 14, and the Buccaneers have surrendered the seventh-most PPR points per game to running backs this season.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

Start 'Em

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (at LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Denver's wide receivers have been rather hit-or-miss this season, but both Sutton and Troy Franklin are solid fantasy plays in Week 14. The Raiders have done little well this season, and that includes defending the pass. The team has surrendered the seventh-most PPR points per game to wideouts in 2025.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]

Watson has been sneaky-solid for fantasy managers of late, tallying 18 PPR points in two of the last three games. Look for the fourth-year pro to make it three of four in this week's big NFC North showdown with a Bears team that has given up the ninth-most PPR points per game to wide receivers this year.

Sit 'Em

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]

Brown has been on a Godzilla-esque rampage the past two weeks, with 18 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns. But the Eagles also lost both of those games, so DeVonta Smith could see a target bump this week against a Chargers team sitting dead-last in PPR points surrendered to wide receivers.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City (vs. HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,900]

Rice has been a top-five fantasy wideout the past month in terms of PPR points per game, and that essentially makes him impossible to sit. But the odds of a letdown in Week 14 are pretty high. The Texans are fourth in the league in pass defense, and Rice will see a lot of Derek Stingley Jr. on Sunday.

Sleeper

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

Admittedly, this is a Hail Mary play, as Bateman has 16 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns for the season. However, the Ravens are beyond desperate to get the passing game untracked, and the Steelers and their 28th-ranked pass defense present a good opportunity to do just that.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

Start 'Em

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

Strange has been excellent for fantasy managers since returning from injury, with nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks. That hot streak should continue this week against the Colts, who have surrendered the fourth-most PPR points per game to tight ends this season.

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]

Waller played for the first time in over a month last week, catching two passes for 47 yards. The Dolphins limited his snap share last week and will likely continue to do so moving forward. If they find themselves in the red zone, though, it's a good bet Tua Tagovailoa will look in Waller's direction.

Sit 'Em

Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]

Gadsden has had his moments for the Chargers as a rookie. But after producing double-digit fantasy points in four straight contests from Week 6 to Week 9, his target share has fallen way off ahead of a matchup with an Eagles defense allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends this year.

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]

Schultz has quietly posted top-10 fantasy numbers at his position, posting double-digit PPR points in four of his last five contests. However, this week's do-or-die matchup with the Chiefs isn't favorable—Kansas City has surrendered the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends in 2025.

Sleeper

Dawson Knox, Buffalo (vs. CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]

There's a chance Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) could return this week and ruin the fun here. He was limited in practice to open the week. If he sits, though, Knox could be a surprise smash play in Week 14. The Bengals have been the NFL's most generous team to tight ends this season.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Eagles LB Nakobe Dean

Start 'Em

Cleveland Browns Defense (vs. TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,700]

Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett has been a force of nature this season, and his 19 sacks are 3.5 short of tying the NFL's single-season record. He may well break it this week against a Titans team that has has given up an NFL-high 48 sacks and allowed the most fantasy points per game to defenses in the AFC this season.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]

The Eagles have been uncharacteristically poor at rushing the passer this season, posting just 24 sacks. But the Chargers weren't doing a particularly good job of protecting Justin Herbert before Joe Alt went down for the season, and they have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points per game to defenses.

Sit 'Em

Houston Texans Defense (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,600]

The Texans are back in the hunt in the AFC South because of a defense that leads the league in both yards and points allowed. Houston is also atop the leaderboard in fantasy points. This week, though, the Texans take on a desperate Chiefs team at Arrowhead—and Mahomes magic may mean a disappointing stat line.

Jacksonville Jaguars Defense (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,700]

Thanks largely to a penchant for taking the ball away, the Jaguars sit sixth among defenses in fantasy points for the season. But even though the Colts have come back to earth somewhat after a hot start, Indy still sits dead-last in fantasy points per game allowed to defenses in 2025.

Sleeper

Washington Commanders Defense (at MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,900]

The Commanders have struggled defensively. They are last in the NFC in total defense and 29th in the league in fantasy points. However, no team has given up more fantasy points per game to defenses than the Vikings, no matter who is under center.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.