Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14

It is officially the last week of the 2023 fantasy football regular season, so let’s finish strong! The fantasy football playoffs are almost close to being set as there are sure to be teams that are fighting for the last playoff spot. As a result, this is the most important week of the regular season. Injuries that occurred in week 13 include Derek Carr (back, shoulder, wrist, concussion), Kenny Pickett (right ankle, underwent tight rope surgery), Trevor Lawrence (ankle), Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), Derrick Henry (concussion), Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring), Tank Dell (fractured fibula), Puka Nacua (shoulder, ribs), Amari Cooper (concussion), Marquise Brown (heel), and Tyler Higbee (concussion). Unfortunately, with the plethora of injuries that occurred in week 13, fantasy team owners will have to once again rely on their bench and free agency to give them the best chance of earning a spot in the playoffs. Good luck to both fantasy teams that have made the playoffs and the teams that have the potential to make the playoffs!

Here are my recommendations for Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14.

Brock Purdy

Seahawks @ 49ers | 4:05 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 56.1%

I’m going to start the quarterback section with the quarterback who has led the team that I believe is the best team in the National Football League at the moment. Purdy has been impressive the last four weeks, averaging 22.62 fantasy points for team owners. In his most recent outing, he scored 29.46 fantasy points which ranked the second highest in the quarterback position in the San Francisco 49ers win over the Philadelphia Eagles 42-19. Purdy is on absolute fire right now, and there is no way of benching him now, especially against the Seattle Seahawks defense that on average allows 17.6 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in the league. In last Thursday’s game, the Seahawks defense allowed Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to score 28.26 fantasy points which ranked the third highest in the quarterback position. I’m confident Purdy will have a great game against the Seahawks defense and should be considered a high-end QB1 in fantasy football in week 14.

Dak Prescott

Eagles @ Cowboys | 8:20 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 83.0%

Prescott has led the Dallas Cowboys to a few exciting victories over the past few weeks. Along with the remarkable season the Cowboys are having, Prescott has been a solid QB1 for fantasy team owners. From week 6 on, after the Cowboys embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Prescott has averaged 27.97 fantasy points per game in a seven-game span. I’m in favor of starting Prescott once again this week as he faces the Cowboys to take on division rival the Philadelphia Eagles for the lead of the NFC East. The Eagles defense has been lackluster against the pass and on average allows 24.9 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, thus starting Prescott is a no-brainer in this situation. He should be considered a high-end QB1 in fantasy football in week 14.

Alvin Kamara

Panthers @ Saints | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 87.4%

Starting Kamara might seem like a no-brainer, but in hindsight, he hasn’t had the most productive fantasy season for team owners. However, he has caught “fire” the past three weeks averaging 21.1 fantasy points in PPR leagues. In his latest outing, Kamara scored 28.9 fantasy points in PPR leagues (highest in the running back position) in the New Orleans Saints loss to the Detroit Lions 33-28 this past Sunday. This matchup is favorable as Kamara is going against one of the worst run defenses in the league along with the “attractiveness” that he brings with his pass-catching ability. To be honest, I prefer that “Famous” Jameis Winston command the offense at the quarterback position due to his “gunslinging” style of play. I expect Kamara to receive a handful of targets out of the backfield which is premium in PPR leagues. Kamara should have no issue becoming a top-10 fantasy football running back once again against the Panthers defense that on average allows 22.1 fantasy points to opposing running backs. In conclusion, Kamara should be considered a high-end RB1 in fantasy football in week 14.

A.J. Dillon

Packers @ Giants | 8:15 pm EST Monday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 26.9%

The Green Bay Packers showed life in the running game in their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs 27-19 with Dillon rushing the ball. In that game, Dillon scored 9.7 fantasy points for team owners. I understand the end number is not pretty, but unfortunately, Dillon did not find the endzone. I’m sure that will change against the New York Giants next Monday night. The New York Giants defense on average allows 18.8 fantasy points to opposing running backs, thus signaling a great matchup for the veteran. As the season progresses, Dillon is showing that he can carry the Packers running game without starter Aaron Jones who suffered an MCL sprain against the Los Angeles Chargers a couple of weeks back. Expect Dillon to put up a decent amount of fantasy points against a “weak” Giants rushing defense and perform as a high-end RB2 in fantasy football in week 14.

Michael Pittman Jr.

Colts @ Bengals | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 74.2%

The connection that Pittman Jr. and Minshew have is unbelievable. I knew as soon as the Indianapolis Colts stopped playing “quarterback carousel” that Pittman Jr. would start to come into his own. I understand that Minshew is the backup quarterback to rookie Anthony Richardson that is currently on injured reserve for the rest of the season, however, Minshew was signed to the Colts roster in March, a little less than two months before the 2023 NFL draft. Pittman Jr. has been having the best season of his career, especially in fantasy football, averaging 16.8 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues and the season is not even over yet. I fully believe that Pittman Jr. will continue his path of becoming one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League while fantasy football team owners reap the benefits. This week, he faces the Cincinnati Bengals defense that on average allows 20.8 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Pittman Jr. should be considered a low-end to mid-end WR1 in fantasy football in week 14.

D.J. Moore

Lions @ Bears | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 14.4 %

I’m going to ride the D.J. Moore train this week against the Detroit Lions. First, because I fully believe in Justin Fields and his ability to get the ball to his number one receiver. Two, because Moore is a great player. Three, Moore has an excellent matchup. Let’s take a look at the matchup. The Detroit Lions defense has been giving up over 20 points to their opponents in nine games this season with the highest being against the Los Angeles Chargers who scored 38 in week 10. In that game, Keenan Allen secured 11 receptions for 175 yards and recorded 2 touchdowns, scoring 40.5 fantasy points (highest ranked in the wide receiver position) in PPR leagues. On top of that, Moore has played well since Justin Fields returned from his shoulder injury a few weeks ago. In week 11, Moore scored 22.6 fantasy points (PPR) and scored 22.4 (PPR) in week 12. Now that the Bears are coming off a bye in which they have had a week to prepare and rest in preparation for this game, I expect Moore to have a great game. Moore should be considered a mid-end WR1 in fantasy football in week 14 against Detroit who allowed him to score 22.6 fantasy points in PPR leagues three weeks ago.

Jake Ferguson

Eagles @ Cowboys | 8:20 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 59.3%

Ferguson has filled the starting tight end position nicely this season, recording almost 500 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns thus far this season. Plus, quarterback Dak Prescott has targeted the second-year tight end 66 times which is the second highest on the team behind wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (121). Ferguson has become one of the best receiving tight ends in the National Football League, most of it stems from his college career playing for the University of Wisconsin where he earned First-Team All-Big Ten in 2021. Ferguson has a fantastic matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles defense that on average allows 7.3 fantasy points to opposing tight ends and he should be considered a mid-end TE1 in fantasy football in week 14.

Matthew Stafford

Rams @ Ravens | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 12.5%

Stafford and company played relatively well against the Cleveland Browns, defeating the AFC North team 36-19. In Sunday’s game Stafford scored 22.96 fantasy points for fantasy team owners. Unfortunately, in the crucial victory, wide receiver Puka Nacua suffered an AC sprain in his shoulder and suffered a rib injury. Head coach Sean McVay did not seem concerned about his availability for this upcoming Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Along with Nacua’s injury, tight end Tyler Higbee is currently in the concussion protocol and may not be cleared for action on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens defense is one of the best passing defenses in the league, only allowing on average 12.8 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Stafford does not have a completely healthy offense around him to validate starting him this week. My recommendation is to sit him in an extremely tough matchup in fantasy football in week 14.

Rachaad White

Buccaneers @ Falcons | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 83.0%

White performed as a top-10 running back on Sunday, scoring 19.6 fantasy points in PPR leagues in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win over the Carolina Panthers 21-18. Unfortunately, I don’t expect White to have such a good game against the Atlanta Falcons defense that did not allow the New York Jets rushing game to score. The Atlanta Falcons rushing defense has been excellent this season only allowing on average 10.7 fantasy points to opposing running backs. Just like last week, I expect this game to trend towards focusing on the passing game in a crucial NFC South division matchup. My recommendation is to sit White in fantasy football in week 14.

Nico Collins

Texans @ Jets | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 62.6%

Collins was magnificent on Sunday scoring 34.6 fantasy points in PPR leagues for fantasy team owners. Unfortunately, in the Houston Texans win over the Denver Broncos, rookie wide receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell suffered a fractured fibula on a block in the first quarter. To be honest, the Texans should not have had their stud wide receiver out there on a block. It was a risk they took, and now they are paying for it royally. Now, the Houston Texans play the New York Jets defense that have two of the best cornerbacks in the league with Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and D.J. Reed. I fully expect Gardner and Reed to lock down the Texans wide receivers, especially now that Dell is out. Starting Collins is too risky this close to the finish line of the fantasy football regular season. My recommendation is to sit Collins in fantasy football in week 14.

Evan Engram

Jaguars @ Browns | 1:00 pm EST Sunday

ESPN Starting Percentage: 75.0%

The talk of the town Monday night was quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s ankle sprain that occurred late in the third quarter as his left tackle stepped on his ankle. Unfortunately, Lawrence’s injury caused the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose to the Cincinnati Bengals 34-31 in overtime. Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard could not get the ball rolling down the field thus causing the team to collapse. It was only when Lawrence was the quarterback that Engram was able to put up the majority of his 23.2 fantasy points in PPR leagues for fantasy team owners. Now that Lawrence is out for the remainder of the NFL regular season, none of the pass-catchers for the Jaguars should be considered to start in fantasy football. My recommendation is to sit Engram in fantasy football in week 14.