Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Quarterbacks - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains
Week 14 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Start of the Week
Justin Herbert vs. Falcons (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX): Herbert had become a virtual must-start in fantasy land, but he's come crashing back to earth. Over the last two weeks, he's the QB31 averaging a gross 10.4 fantasy points per game. Here's the good news: Herbert has a get-right game next on the schedule. The Falcons defense has allowed 20-plus fantasy points to quarterbacks eight times, and no team has given up more points to the position overall. Stick with Herbert.
Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
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Start 'Em
Ryan Tannehill at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Tannehill has been on a recent hot streak, averaging nearly 24 fantasy points over his last two games. His success will continue in the first week of the fantasy postseason, as a road matchup against the Jaguars awaits. Their defense has struggled against quarterbacks, surrendering 26 touchdown passes and an average of nearly 22 fantasy points per game. Also, the position has averaged the second-best passer rating.
Taysom Hill at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX): Hill has been a waiver-wire star for many fantasy fans, scoring more than 24 points in two of his three games as the starter in New Orleans. His skills as a runner make him a valuable asset, and he'll be a top-10 option once again this week when the Saints visit the Eagles. Their defense has surrendered 20-plus points to quarterbacks seven times this season, including two such games from Daniel Jones and one from Jared Goff.
Tom Brady vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Brady's fantasy numbers have been up and down this season, but he's in a good spot to produce in a plus matchup against the Vikings. Their defense has allowed 19-plus fantasy points to quarterbacks in five of their last seven games where the enemy quarterback started and finished the contest. Our friends at DK Sportsbook have this game listed with an over/under total of 52.5, so it'll be a scoreboard scorcher.
Ben Roethlisberger at Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Roethlisberger has thrown the football a ton in recent weeks, finishing with no fewer than 42 pass attempts in his last five games. That includes 50-plus attempts in each of his last two contests. Next up is a date with the Bills, who have surrendered an average of more than 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. This could be a high-scoring affair, so consider Roethlisberger a low-end No. 1 signal-caller this weekend.
More Starts
- Philip Rivers at Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Mitch Trubisky vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Andy Dalton at Bengals (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
DFS Bargains
- Mitch Trubisky vs. Texans (DraftKings: $5,600)
- Andy Dalton at Bengals (DraftKings: $5,500)
- Mike Glennon vs. Titans (DraftKings: $5,100)
Week 14 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Sit of the Week
Baker Mayfield vs. Ravens (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Mayfield is coming off a huge game, throwing four touchdown passes and scoring nearly 30 fantasy points. Unfortunately, he's a tough sell this week when Baltimore comes to town. Heading into Week 13, their defense has allowed an average of fewer than 18 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. What's more, Mayfield has failed to score more than 18 points in all but one of his five career games against the Ravens.
Sit 'Em
Kyler Murray at Giants (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Murray will remain active in most leagues, but those who have an alternative like Ryan Tannehill, Justin Herbert, Taysom Hill or Tom Brady might consider benching him. Murray hasn't looked great in recent weeks, and he's had far less success as a runner (61 yards since Week 11). The Giants have also been playing at a high level, holding Russell Wilson to 15 points last week while allowing 15.6 points a game to quarterbacks.
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Tagovailoa has been mediocre at best since his 21-point performance in Week 3. In fact, he's failed to score even 15 fantasy points in two of his last three games and hasn't scored more than 16.1. in that time. Next up is a date with the Chiefs, who have held opposing quarterbacks to 232.3 passing yards and fewer than 17 fantasy points per game this season. Unless you're in a league that starts multiple quarterbacks, Tagovailoa is a fade.
Derek Carr vs. Colts (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Carr, listed as a start 'em in this space last week, had three touchdowns and nearly 32 fantasy points against the Jets. I wouldn't chase the points though, as a much tougher matchup against the Colts is up next. Their defense has surrendered just 15 touchdown passes and the fourth-fewest points to enemy signal-callers this season. Carr is clearly an option in those multi-quarterback leagues, but I'd fade him in traditional fantasy formats.
Jalen Hurts vs. Saints (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX): Hurts has been named the starter in Philadelphia, replacing the struggling Carson Wentz. Regardless, the exciting rookie still shouldn't be in fantasy lineups with a brutal matchup against the Saints next on the schedule. Their defense has not allowed a quarterback to score more than 17 fantasy points in a game since Week 7, including a Week 9 game where Tom Brady scored 2.4 points. Hurts might be fun to watch, but not to start.
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More Sits
- Teddy Bridgewater vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Daniel Jones vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Nick Mullens vs. Football Team (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX)
DFS Fades
- Deshaun Watson at Bears (DraftKings: $7,600)
- Kyler Murray at Giants (DraftKings: $7,200)
- Derek Carr vs. Colts (DraftKings: $6,000)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all of the latest breaking fantasy football news and the best analysis in the business!
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