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

Week 14 is underway, which means you may already find yourself with a fantasy lead or in a fantasy hole.

Seeing as how we're also in fantasy playoff season, this week is probably important for you. Regardless of how this week has started, you'll be looking to make the best possible roster decisions for the final 15 games.

We're here to help with our picks of the top 10 players remaining at each position. We'll also make point projections for the top players and identify some guys worthy of leaving on the bench or the waiver wire. All decisions are based on factors like past performances, player health, projected role and matchups. All point projections are for points-per-reception formats.

Good luck!

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Drew Brees, NO	26	Start
2	Philip Rivers, SD	24.5	Start
3	Jameis Winston, TB	24	Start
4	Cam Newton, CAR	23.5	Start
5	Matthew Stafford, DET	23.5	Start
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	23	Start
7	Aaron Rodgers, GB	23	Start
8	Eli Manning, NYG	23	Start
9	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	22.5	Start
10	Kirk Cousins, WAS	22.5	Start
*	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	16.5	Sit
*	Jared Goff, LA	15	Sit
*	Matt Barkley, CHI	14.5	Sit

Start 'Em: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has been up-and-down as a fantasy quarterback during his almost two seasons in the NFL. He has 23 touchdowns so far this year, but he also has 16 turnovers.

This week, though, looks to be one of those up weeks for Winston and the Buccaneers, who host the New Orleans Saints. They are rated 28th in pass coverage and allow an average of 276.8 yards passing per game.

If you're looking to stream a quarterback or avoid a bad matchup this week, Winston should provide a solid start.

Sit 'Em: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Last week's blowout loss aside, the Miami Dolphins have been playing solid football this season, and so has quarterback Ryan Tannehill. In the two games before last week's, he passed for 457 combined yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

For the year, though, Tannehill has just 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This means he averages one turnover and right around one touchdown per game outside of Weeks 11 and 12. This week, Tannehill also faces a stiff challenge in the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals are rated fourth in overall defense, allowing an average of just 199.3 yards passing per game. Arizona has surrendered just 10 passing touchdowns this season.

If you're looking to stream a quarterback, look elsewhere.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	26.5	Start
2	David Johnson, ARI	25.5	Start
3	Melvin Gordon, SD	22	Start
4	DeMarco Murray, TEN	21	Start
5	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	20	Start
6	Matt Forte, NYJ	19.5	Start
7	LeSean McCoy, BUF	19	Start
8	Jay Ajayi, MIA	19	Start
9	Jeremy Hill, CIN	17.5	Start
10	Devonta Freeman, ATL	17	Start
*	Kenneth Dixon, BAL	8	Sit
*	James White, NE	8	Sit
*	T.J. Yeldon, JAX	7.5	Sit

Start 'Em: Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has been a terrific fantasy producer this season because he regularly receives a large volume of work. Despite averaging a pedestrian four yards per carry, Gordon has managed to amass 992 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

He's also added 41 receptions, 419 receiving yards and two more scores.

This week, Gordon and the Chargers battle the Carolina Panthers. Last year, we might not have been inclined to recommend a volume back against the Panthers defense. This year's Panthers defense is much more susceptible to the run, however.

Carolina is rated 15th in run defense.

Expect Gordon to have a solid day.

Sit 'Em: T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

When Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon has produced fantasy points this season, it's often come from a volume of work too. However, he's been splitting carries with Chris Ivory and Denard Robinson, so the volume hasn't always been there.

For the season, Yeldon has just 373 yards, one touchdown and an average of 3.6 yards per carry.

"I feel like it hasn’t gotten on track, and we’ve been trying to get it going all year,” Yeldon said this week, per Phillip Heilman of Jacksonville.com.

This week, Yeldon will be up against a Minnesota Vikings team that is rated 10th in overall defense.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Mike Evans, TB	22	Start
2	Antonio Brown, PIT	21	Start
3	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	20.5	Start
4	Julio Jones, ATL*	19.5	Start
5	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	19.5	Start
6	Jordy Nelson, GB	18.5	Start
7	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	18	Start
8	Julian Edelman, NE	17.5	Start
9	T.Y. Hilton, IND	17.5	Start
10	Stefon Diggs, MIN	17	Start
*	Ty Montgomery, GB	7	Sit
*	Terrance Williams, DAL	7	Sit
*	Kendall Wright, TEN	6	Sit

Start 'Em: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

The New York Giants may not take down the division-leading Dallas Cowboys this week, but if they do, they're likely to do their damage through the air.

Dallas has played defense efficiently enough to string together 11 wins, but they have given up yardage through the air. Though the team is rated second in pass coverage, the Cowboys have given up the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL, an average of 276.2 per game.

This should bode well for Beckham, who is averaging just over six catches and 85 yards per game.

Sit 'Em: Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers

For a brief stretch, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery was one of the hottest players in fantasy. He had 20 receptions between Weeks 6 and 7 and temporarily filled in as the Packers running back.

Unfortunately, Montgomery appears to have returned to his role as an offensive afterthought. He has just seven receptions and 55 receiving yards over the past three weeks to go with 59 yards rushing.

This week, the Packers host the Seattle Seahawks. While Seattle will be at less than 100 percent on defense due to the loss of safety Earl Thomas, this doesn't appear to be a good matchup for Montgomery.

As a team, the Seahawks are rated second in overall defense, allowing an average of 231 yards passing per game.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Jimmy Graham, SEA	15	Start
2	Greg Olsen, CAR	14.5	Start
3	Antonio Gates, SD	14	Start
4	Jordan Reed, WAS	13.5	Start
5	Tyler Eifert, CIN	12.5	Start
6	Jason Witten, DAL	12	Start
7	Zach Ertz, PHI	12	Start
8	Delanie Walker, TEN	11	Start
9	Eric Ebron, DET	10.5	Start
10	Ladarius Green, PIT	10.5	Start
*	Richard Rodgers, GB	4.5	Sit
*	Garrett Celek, SF	4.5	Sit
*	Jesse James, PIT	4	Sit

Start 'Em: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins Jordan Reed is a must-start in fantasy when he is healthy enough to take the field. While it remains unclear whether he will play through his shoulder injury this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, signs are pointing to his playing.

According to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, Reed has been showing positive signs in practice:

It appears that the Redskins will leave the decision to play in Reed's hands. If that's the case, we expect him to suit up against the Eagles.

“It’s painful but something I can deal with,” Reed said, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

It would be wise to have a backup plan in case Reed can't go, of course. If he isn't on Washington's bench Sunday, though, he shouldn't be on yours either.

Sit 'Em: Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight end Ladarius Green finally emerged as a legitimate pass-catching threat for the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, racking up six receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

With that performance, Green solidified his role as Pittsburgh's receiving tight end and one of Ben Roethlisberger's most capable targets. Naturally, this also hurts the value of fellow Steelers tight end Jesse James.

James was a touchdown-dependent option to begin with, and now he seems to be worth leaving alone. He has just four receptions for 37 yards over his last three games combined.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Dustin Hopkins, WAS	12	Start
2	Matt Prater, DET	11.5	Start
3	Dan Bailey, DAL	11	Start
4	Matt Bryant, ATL	11	Start
5	Adam Vinatieri, IND	11	Start
6	Caleb Sturgis, PHI	10.5	Start
7	Graham Gano, CAR	10.5	Start
8	Steven Hauschka, SEA	10	Start
9	Josh Lambo, SD	10	Start
10	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	10	Start
*	Cody Parkey, CLE	6.5	Sit
*	Kai Forbath, MIN	6	Sit
*	Mike Nugent, CIN	6	Sit

Rankings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.