Week 14 Start Em Sit Em: DeSean Jackson and Others You Must Bench

Every week, fantasy GMs end up starting a player who doesn't perform well. Perhaps it's caused by a bad matchup or perhaps the player is just in a slump.

Whatever the reason, there's nothing less satisfying than checking in on your team and seeing that one of your starters have provided your team with just three points. With the fantasy playoffs rapidly approaching, one wrong decision could cost you a shot at the championship.

With that in mind, here are four players I recommend you keep on your bench in Week 14.

WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (at Miami Dolphins)

In recent weeks, it's become clearer and clearer that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is unhappy about his role on his team. Benched repeatedly for playing poorly, Jackson is nowhere near the powerhouse receiver he's been in recent years.

Problems with the entire Eagles offense have hit Jackson especially hard this season, but the fact that he has apparently given up on his team is far more damaging than anything that's been done to him. Similarly, he's likely done little to help your fantasy team, and now, he's simply not worth starting.

On the year, Jackson has 43 receptions for 698 yards and two touchdowns and has also rushed five times for 14 yards. That's simply not enough production for a starting fantasy wide receiver, and unless you're very hard up for starters, he should sit on your bench this week.

The Eagles face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, a surging team that fields the NFL's 15th-ranked defense.

Though Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick is likely to play after missing the last three games with broken ribs, giving Jackson's potential production a small boost, Jackson's inconsistent play and propensity to give up on his team doesn't bode well for his ability to help you much this week.

RB Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Houston Texans)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson has been a fairly reliable fantasy performer this year, consistently getting 15 or more carries a game. However, his yards-per-carry average has been low, and as such, he isn't producing as many yards as his fantasy owners would like.

Considering that this week the Bengals face the Houston Texans and their top-five defense, Benson's numbers are likely to be low, with the team needing to take to the air more often in hopes of gaining major yards.

On the season, Benson has rushed 201 times for 792 yards and five touchdowns and has caught 10 passes for 53 yards. Though he's had three 100-plus yard rushing games this season, don't expect anywhere near that this Sunday against the Texans.

If you have depth on your bench, consider plugging in another running back in place of Benson this week.

RB Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints (at Tennessee Titans)

The New Orleans Saints seem to treat the running game as an afterthought this season, and it's easy to see why. They're the league leader when it comes to passing yards and, as such, don't abandon the pass even after establishing a significant lead.

When the Saints do run, Pierre Thomas is still at a disadvantage; though New Orleans averages 123.3 rushing yards per game, those yards come from three different backs, making starting any of them (perhaps aside from Darren Sproles) a fantasy gamble.

For example, in last week's win over the Detroit Lions, Thomas was on the field for just 14 of the team's 61 offensive snaps and had just two carries and two catches on the day. With the Tennessee Titans and their top-10 run defense ahead, it's just not a good matchup for Thomas, making him a must-bench this week.

On the year, Thomas has rushed 82 times for 413 yards and three scores and has caught 37 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown. He's never had more than 66 yards on the ground and never more than 68 receiving yards in a single game this week.

Though Thomas should factor into the Saints' passing game a bit this week, his total production just doesn't project to be enough to warrant starting him.

RB Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

The San Francisco 49ers boast the best run defense in the NFL, and as such, I don't recommend starting any fantasy running back who is scheduled to face them. Such is the case for the Arizona Cardinals' Beanie Wells, who has the displeasure of facing that squad this Sunday.

Wells, whose season has been up-and-down and marred by injury, has 201 carries on the year, for 916 yards and nine touchdowns and has caught seven passes for 31 yards.

While he's had a number of successful outings, including a 228-yard rushing day in Week 12 against the St. Louis Rams, he's also had down days, most notably in his team's Week 11 meeting with the Niners that saw him carry the ball just eight times for 33 yards.

The Niners haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher or a touchdown on the ground all season long. That's not about to change this week. Just as the Rams' Steven Jackson managed just 19 yards on the ground against San Francisco last week, expect a similar showing for Wells this Sunday. Keep him on your bench.