Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: 5 Must-Start Fantasy Players

We've reached a critical point in the fantasy season, where a loss this weekend could mean the end of your season.

If Week 14 marks the beginning of your playoffs, you're likely agonizing over who to start this week. Hopefully, I can help get the anxiety out of your weekend and help you pick the right player to start.

Here is a list of five players who I think are must-starts in Week 14. If you don't have any of these players, send me your fantasy questions by commenting below.

5. DeMarco Murray, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys

Murray has been a frustrating fantasy start recently, but this week he's expected to get fullback Tony Fiammetta back.

Fiammetta has been out the last three games and Murray's numbers have suffered. 

In four games with Fiammetta blocking for him, Murray averaged more than 150 yards rushing per game.

In the past three games, with Fiammetta out with an illness, he averaged just 66 yards rushing. 

Dallas' opponent in Week 14, the New York Giants, have given up the 10th most rushing yards in the league this season and have allowed 13 rushing touchdowns.

4. Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

Crabtree says he's 100 percent healthy, finally.

Crabtree has quietly put together a solid three game stretch where he's had 17 catches for 270 yards and a touchdown. 

In Week 14, he faces an Arizona Cardinals team, against whom in Week 11 he had seven catches for 120 yards.

Arizona, surprisingly, doesn't allow many passing touchdowns. This year they've only given up 13, good enough for the fourth-fewest in the NFL. However, they have surrendered the eighth-most passing yards.   

3. Seattle Seahawks D/ST

The Seahawks D/ST have been a sneaky start for the last two weeks, but this week they're a must-start.

Seattle welcomes the second-worst NFL team, the St. Louis Rams, to CenturyLink Field on Monday night. And there's a strong likelihood that the Rams will start third-string quarterback Tom Brandstater.

Brandstater has never played in an NFL game and will lead the 2-10 Rams into one of the most difficult stadiums for opposing teams.

Seattle has won three out of their last four games and their defense is a big reason why.

In those four games, they've forced 12 turnovers, tallied nine sacks and scored a defensive touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Rams were shutout in Week 13 by the San Francisco 49ers. And in Week 11, they lost to the Seahawks 24-7 in St. Louis.     

2. Santana Moss, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins

There are two big reasons to like Moss this week. First, he's facing New England's 32nd-ranked pass defense and second, Fred Davis is out for the Redskins. Davis was suspended four games for a league drug violation.

Davis' suspension could be exactly what Moss needs to get going again.

Moss hasn't much of an impact since returning from a broken hand two weeks ago. In those two games, Moss has nine catches for 71 yards.

Despite the lack of production, Moss is still getting plenty of targets. In Week 13, he was targeted 12 times against the New York Jets.

New England ranks last in the leagues against the pass and in Week 13, Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver Pierre Garcon torched the Patriots secondary for nine catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

In Week 12, New England yielded eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown to Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver Jason Avant.  

1. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Detroit Lions

Stafford has thrown multiple touchdowns in eight games this season.

However, in his last four games, he's done it just once. That was a five-touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 11.

Since that five-touchdown game, Stafford has just two touchdown passes in two games.

Before you consider putting Stafford on your bench Week 14, remember that he faces a Minnesota Vikings defense that gave up more than 200 yards passing and two touchdowns to Tim Tebow in Week 13.

Minnesota's defense has given up the sixth-most passing yards this year and their 24 passing touchdowns allowed is the worst in the league.