Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

For most fantasy football leagues, Week 14 is playoff time.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably in the postseason. In that case, congratulations on surviving—and thriving—in an especially unpredictable NFL season. If you’re out of the playoffs and reading this, you’re going to be prepared for next year. In that case, tip of the cap to you.

There are no byes this week, which means there are no excuses. Let’s break down some rankings that can help with any start/sit close calls.

NFL Matchups

Day	Matchup	Time
Thursday, December 8	Raiders at Chiefs	8:25 p.m.
Sunday, December 11	Redskins @ Eagles	1 p.m.
	Texans @ Colts	1 p.m.
	Bengals @ Browns	1 p.m.
	Broncos @ Titans	1 p.m.
	Cardinals @ Dolphins	1 p.m.
	Bears @ Lions	1 p.m.
	Steelers @ Bills	1 p.m.
	Chargers @ Panthers	1 p.m.
	Vikings @ Jaguars	1 p.m.
	Jets @ 49ers	4:05 p.m.
	Falcons @ Rams	4:25 p.m.
	Saints @ Buccaneers	4:25 p.m.
	Seahawks @ Packers	4:25 p.m.
	Cowboys @ Giants	8:30 p.m.
Monday, December 12	Ravens @ Patriots	8:30 p.m.

Note: All games are listed in Eastern time.

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Ben Roethlisberger	Steelers	Bills
2	Drew Brees	Saints	Buccaneers
3	Tom Brady	Patriots	Ravens
4	Russell Wilson	Seahawks	Packers
5	Aaron Rodgers	Packers	Seahawks
6	Matt Ryan	Falcons	Rams
7	Kirk Cousins	Redskins	Eagles
8	Andrew Luck	Colts	Texans
9	Dak Prescott	Cowboys	Giants
10	Colin Kaepernick	49ers	Jets

Player focus

Dak Prescott

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

For the first time since Week 1, Dak Prescott let you down.

The Dallas Cowboys rookie completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 139 yards and a score against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. He added 37 yards on the ground but also lost a fumble.

In leagues that reward passing touchdowns with six points, Prescott put up 13.26 points, which wouldn’t have crashed your entire week. Still, it was less than owners have become accustomed to from the No. 7 quarterback in fantasy.

This week, the Dak Attack should bounce back, even against the same New York Giants defense that held him to a season-low 10.28 fantasy points in Week 1, Dallas’ only loss of the year.

Don’t be scared off.

Drew Brees

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been a fantasy superstar all year. If you’re anywhere near the playoffs, Brees is likely a massive reason why.

In Week 13, though, he choked. Hopefully, the guy who’s sparked your fantasy season didn’t ruin it.

On Sunday, Brees was 31-of-44 for 326 yards—so far, so good!—to go along with three interceptions against the Detroit Lions.

Brees will continue to be slightly boom/bust, especially against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks from now, but his booms will far outweigh the busts. Frankly, his ceiling is too high to ever sit him. Brees will be a top-three play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week.

Colin Kaepernick

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Yes, this is high for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick—you know, the guy who completed one pass for four yards in three quarters against the Chicago Bears.

Was the snow a factor? Sure. But Matt Barkley tossed for 192 yards on 11-of-18 passing under the same conditions.

Just to be clear, that was Matt Barkley who threw for 188 more yards than Kaepernick.

Put bluntly, it was an embarrassing performance that resulted in both emotional and pileous damage for owners who were daring enough to start him.

But before you cut ties with Kap altogether, keep in mind that according to FantasyPros, he was the No. 7 quarterback from Week 6 to Week 12. In Week 14, he hosts the New York Jets in snow-free California. It’s a real possibility Kaepernick goes from the QB29 to a top-12 play.

Running Back 

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	David Johnson	Cardinals	Dolphins
2	Le’Veon Bell	Steelers	Bills
3	LeSean McCoy	Bills	Steelers
4	Ezekiel Elliott	Cowboys	Giants
5	DeMarco Murray	Titans	Broncos
6	Thomas Rawls	Seahawks	Packers
7	Devonta Freeman	Falcons	Rams
8	Spencer Ware	Chiefs	Raiders
9	Melvin Gordon	Chargers	Panthers
10	Matt Forte	Jets	49ers

Player focus

Thomas Rawls

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Thomas Rawls is back.

Arguably the angriest runner in the NFL rumbled for two scores and 106 yards on 15 carries in the Seattle Seahawks’ 40-7 prime-time beatdown of the Carolina Panthers. If the game was closer, Rawls could’ve stat-padded even more. He and the rest of the starters were yanked in the fourth quarter.

Rawls was also evaluated for a concussion in the first half but was cleared to keep playing.

His matchups the rest of the way aren’t exactly appetizing, but the featured runner in a (usually) elite offense deserves RB1 treatment. Start him with confidence going forward.

Matt Forte

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Jets play the 49ers. That’s all that needs to be said.

Bears rookie Jordan Howard torched the Niners for 117 yards and three scores last week. Performances like that have become commonplace. San Francisco has given up a touchdown to opposing running backs in all but three weeks this year. Opposing teams have rushed for over 130 yards eight times, too.

Matt Forte is a no-brainer must-start. Second-string running back Bilal Powell is also in the flex conversation thanks to the juicy matchup.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Mike Evans	Buccaneers	Saints
2	Antonio Brown	Steelers	Dolphins
3	Odell Beckham Jr.	Giants	Cowboys
4	Julio Jones	Falcons	Rams
5	Amari Cooper	Raiders	Chiefs
6	Dez Bryant	Cowboys	Giants
7	Jordy Nelson	Packers	Seahawks
8	T.Y. Hilton	Colts	Texans
9	Golden Tate	Lions	Bears
10	Doug Baldwin	Seahawks	Packers

Player focus

Mike Evans

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans, the NFL’s target leader, gave owners a dud on Sunday. He was due for one after dominating for six straight weeks.

Against the San Diego Chargers, Evans caught just three balls for 38 yards but salvaged an otherwise forgettable day with a two-point conversion. Expect Jameis Winston to target Evans early and often against the Saints’ cotton candy defense in Week 14. Multiple touchdowns are possible.

Amari Cooper

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

The last time the Oakland Raiders played the Kansas City Chiefs, in Week 6, they lost for only the second time all year. It was an ugly, muddy game in the pouring rain, but Amari Cooper still racked up 10 catches on 13 targets for 129 yards.

Andy Benoit of The MMQB took notice of the second-year man’s patience:

Here’s some film that shows Marcus Peters neglecting to shadow Cooper. He busted up anyone else who tried to stick with him:

Cooper always has the potential to disappoint, but he also has week-winning upside. You'd have to be wielding some truly elite options to sit him.

Golden Tate

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Golden Tate was terrible for the first five weeks of the season. It’s likely he was dropped at least once in your league.

But according to FantasyPros, Tate has been the No. 12 standard wide receiver from Week 6 through Week 13. In points-per-reception leagues, he’s been No. 8.

In his most recent outing, the pint-sized (5'10", 197 lbs) big-play threat hauled in eight balls for 145 yards and a touchdown. Forget Marvin Jones—Tate is the receiver to own in Detroit.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Jordan Reed	Redskins	Eagles
2	Jimmy Graham	Seahawks	Packers
3	Travis Kelce	Chiefs	Raiders
4	Ladarius Green	Steelers	Bills
5	Tyler Eifert	Bengals	Browns
6	Cameron Brate	Buccaneers	Saints
7	Eric Ebron	Lions	Bears
8	Zach Ertz	Eagles	Redskins
9	Coby Fleener	Saints	Buccaneers
10	Greg Olsen	Panthers	Chargers

Player focus

Jordan Reed

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

The qualifier with Washington tight end Jordan Reed is, as always, health.

No. 86 injured his left shoulder during a 10-catch, 95-yard, two-touchdown eruption against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. He missed a whole week of practice and remained sidelined for Sunday’s loss to Arizona.

If Reed plays, you start him. But it’s definitely a situation to monitor.

Ladarius Green

Jared Wickerham/Associated Press

Ladarius Green got drafted with Week 13’s performance in mind.

Finally free from the shadow of Antonio Gates in San Diego, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason signing missed nine weeks (eight games plus the Week 8 bye) before suiting up three weeks ago.

He essentially did nothing until Sunday’s win over the Giants. That’s when he did everything.

Green racked up a career- and team-high 110 yards and one touchdown on six catches. New York made sure Antonio Brown didn’t run wild, leaving Green open seemingly every time Ben Roethlisberger looked his way.

"He’s getting up to speed," head coach Mike Tomlin said, per Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He’s finding a comfortable seat on a moving train."

The same could be said for your fantasy team. With Green—who played nearly 50 percent of snaps Sunday, per Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus—due for more playing time, he’s a top-five option at a barren position.

D/ST

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Minnesota Vikings	Jacksonville Jaguars
2	San Diego Chargers	Carolina Panthers
3	Cincinnati Bengals	Cleveland Browns
4	Denver Broncos	Tennessee Titans
5	New York Jets	San Francisco 49ers
6	Seattle Seahawks	Green Bay Packers
7	Arizona Cardinals	Miami Dolphins
8	Miami Dolphins	Arizona Cardinals
9	Carolina Panthers	San Diego Chargers

Team focus

Minnesota Vikings

Andy Clayton-King/Associated Press

The Jacksonville Jaguars are tied for first in giveaways. Minnesota is tied for fourth in takeaways.

Just saying.

Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

The Miami Dolphins got clobbered by the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, 38-6. It was a disaster for those who started the Miami defense/special teams. This week, though, the Dolphins get the Cardinals, who are tied for ninth in giveaways and tied for third in sacks allowed.

Following that type of embarrassment against Baltimore, Miami should at least be serviceable against Carson Palmer and Co.

Kicker

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Matt Prater	Lions	Bears
2	Justin Tucker	Ravens	Patriots
3	Adam Vinatieri	Colts	Texans
4	Dustin Hopkins	Redskins	Eagles
5	Dan Bailey	Cowboys	Giants
6	Sebastian Janikowski	Raiders	Chiefs
7	Steven Hauschka	Seahawks	Packers
8	Matt Bryant	Falcons	Rams
9	Cairo Santos	Chiefs	Raiders
10	Josh Lambo	Chargers	Panthers

Player focus

Matt Prater

Matt Prater hasn’t scored fewer than nine fantasy points since Week 8. He’s put up 12 and 18 points for the typically high-scoring Lions the last two weeks, respectively, vaulting him into consideration for the top overall kicker.

Sebastian Janikowski

Ben Margot/Associated Press

An oldie but goodie.

Even at 38 years old, Sebastian Janikowski is a crucial piece of the Raiders’ offensive attack. He has three games of double-digit fantasy points (17, 18, 12, 15) and just two under five.

In Oakland’s past six games, Seabass has been an elite option:

• Week 7: 18
• Week 8: 6
• Week 9: 12
• Week 10: Bye
• Week 11: 9
• Week 12: 9
• Week 13: 15

The sure-footed future Hall of Famer, owned in just 23 percent of Yahoo leagues, is well worth starting in a high-floor offense.

Fantasy stats courtesy of Yahoo and ESPN.com.