Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 14
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 14 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 14 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
StartTom Brady, Buccaneersvs. Vikings
Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile the Buccaneers' offense remains a work in progress, Brady has still averaged the 11th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks this season, and he should be rested and ready coming off the team's Week 13 bye.
Now the 43-year-old enters his easiest stretch of the campaign with matchups against the Vikings, Falcons, and Lions. The weather forecast is ideal for this week's date with Minnesota in Tampa, and then the Bucs hit the road for a pair of dome games in Atlanta and Detroit.
Even if Mike Evans - who's dealing with a hamstring issue - is sidelined or limited against the Vikings, there's still plenty of skill-position talent for Brady to utilize in a contest with the third-highest projected point total on the Week 14 slate at 52.5.
Brady is a locked-in QB1 with top-five upside if Kirk Cousins can help turn this game into a shootout.
Boone's projection: 321 passing yards, 3 TDs
Other QBs to start
- Ryan Tannehill at Jaguars
- Taysom Hill at Eagles
- Andy Dalton at Bengals
vs. Texans
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMontgomery has gone from being a volume-based RB2 in fantasy to a full-blown top-10 option following some favorable matchups since the Bears' Week 11 bye.
He put up 143 total yards and a touchdown on the Packers, who've allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs in 2020. The second-year pro racked up 111 yards and two scores against a Lions unit last week that's been the easiest opponent for players at his position. Now Montgomery will face a Texans squad that slots right in between as the second-softest adversary for ball carriers this season.
Don't hesitate to deploy him as a high-end fantasy option in Week 14 and beyond, with games against the Vikings and Jaguars on the horizon.
Boone's projection: 89 rushing yards, TD, 37 receiving yards
Other RBs to start
- D'Andre Swift vs. Packers
- Jonathan Taylor at Raiders
- Giovani Bernard vs. Cowboys
vs. Broncos
Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyDJ Moore tested positive for COVID-19 and Curtis Samuel is trying to get cleared after being a close contact, making Anderson the undisputed No. 1 option for Teddy Bridgewater this week.
He's comfortable with that role after occupying it for the first month of the season and averaging 10 targets per game while delivering three outings with 99-plus yards. Moore is also fresh off his best contest since that stretch - a four-catch, 94-yard, one-touchdown performance versus the Vikings.
Though the Broncos have been a tough test for wideouts this year, Denver losing top corner A.J. Bouye to a suspension gives Anderson an opportunity to capitalize on the increased target volume coming his way. Consider him a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside until Moore returns.
Boone's projection: 101 receiving yards, TD
Other WRs to start
- Corey Davis at Jaguars
- Brandon Aiyuk vs. Washington
- Antonio Brown vs. Vikings
vs. Vikings
Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter a slow start to his first season with the Bucs, Gronkowski has recaptured some of his old form as one of the more reliable options at his position.
Gronk is averaging the fourth-most fantasy points among tight ends since Week 5, with 50-plus receiving yards and/or a touchdown in six of his last eight appearances.
The Vikings' defense offers a middle-of-the-pack matchup for fantasy tight ends, though top players like Jonnu Smith (5-61-0), Hayden Hurst (4-57-1), Robert Tonyan (5-79-0), and T.J. Hockenson (5-39-1) have hit Minnesota hard.
With Evans banged up, Gronk could get even more work around the goal line, solidifying him as a top-half TE1 play this week.
Boone's projection: 76 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Noah Fant at Panthers
- Jordan Reed vs. Washington
- Jordan Akins at Bears
vs. Ravens
Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyFantasy managers might feel compelled to use Mayfield following his two strong performances, but remember to take matchups into account.
Mayfield beat up on the Jaguars and Titans, teams that field two of the five most-generous defenses to opposing passers. Baltimore won't be nearly as kind.
Mayfield has been held under 200 passing yards in each of his last two encounters with the Ravens, and he hasn't scored over 16 fantasy points against them since 2018.
It's hard to trust him as anything more than a low-end QB2 this week.
Boone's projection: 234 passing yards, TD, INT, fumble, 4 rushing yards
Other QBs to sit
- Teddy Bridgewater vs. Broncos
- Derek Carr vs. Colts
- Tua Tagovailoa vs. Chiefs
vs. Saints
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySanders' production has trailed off the last few weeks, as he's failed to top 31 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games.
And Jordan Howard's arrival led to Sanders' lowest snap count of the season - not including Week 6 when he was injured.
Add in the uncertainty of second-round rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts getting his first start and the miserable matchup against the Saints' top-ranked run defense, and Sanders should be on your bench for the first week of the fantasy playoffs.
Boone's projection: 37 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards
Other RBs to sit
- Raheem Mostert vs. Washington
- Todd Gurley at Chargers
- Kareem Hunt vs. Ravens
vs. Packers
Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / GettyFollowing their Week 13 victory, there's some hope the firing of Matt Patricia could lead to the Lions attacking aggressively downfield more often. Matthew Stafford threw for a season-high 402 yards last week while also producing his best yards per attempt this campaign (9.6).
So perhaps you're willing to take your chances on Jones as a volume-fueled WR3. Just know that he's struggled over his past three meetings with the Packers, resulting in yardage totals of eight, 17, and 23 - the latter coming in a similar spot back in Week 2 with Kenny Golladay sidelined.
Jones comes with a very low floor against the Packers, who present a bottom-10 matchup for fantasy receivers.
Boone's projection: 47 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
- Tyler Boyd/Tee Higgins vs. Cowboys
- Sammy Watkins at Dolphins
- Jalen Reagor vs. Saints
at Eagles
Harry Aaron / Getty Images Sport / GettyCook scored a touchdown and finished as the TE12 in Week 13, but don't be fooled.
The 33-year-old entered that game with just one catch for six yards over his previous three contests, and he hasn't played over 40% of the Saints' snaps since Week 8.
You can't be confident starting him regardless of the format, even in a positive matchup against the Eagles' defense.
Boone's projection: 26 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
- Austin Hooper vs. Ravens
- Zach Ertz vs. Saints
- Jimmy Graham vs. Texans
Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyWilson (10% rostered) played 46% of the 49ers' snaps in Week 13 while splitting touches with Raheem Mostert.
That resulted in 47 yards on seven carries and 12 yards on a pair of catches. Wilson has now recorded 40-plus rushing yards in two straight games since returning from an injury.
While it's possible Kyle Shanahan maintains a backfield committee the rest of the season, Mostert has said his high ankle sprain continues to bother him.
If Mostert misses time again, that would thrust Wilson into a more significant role during the fantasy playoffs.
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / GettyHere's one last reminder that Penny (4% rostered) could be a factor over the final weeks of the fantasy season. The third-year back returned to practice this week after being activated from the injured reserve.
Russell Wilson on RB Rashaad Penny, who's returned to practice: He's been electric out at practice. Just watching him run, he looks like Penny again. He's physical, quick, catches the ball well, he picks up his protections. I'm excited for him. He's worked really hard for this."
- Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 11, 2020
While there's no guarantee Penny will be effective a year removed from tearing his ACL, he might be the healthiest member of the Seahawks' backfield right now.
Chris Carson is dealing with a foot issue, and Carlos Hyde is nursing a toe injury. If either is sidelined, we could see a fresh Penny get work down the stretch.
QuitJoe Mixon, Bengals
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMixon (86% rostered) hasn't played since Week 6, and the odds of him returning in 2020 diminish with each passing game.
When announcing that his star running back would miss this week's contest, head coach Zac Taylor said there's a "possibility" Mixon plays again this season. Not exactly a confident stance with four weeks remaining.
Fantasy managers who've held Mixon this long will likely keep him on their roster the rest of the way. But if you need that spot for a strong waiver-wire pickup, feel free to drop Mixon.
Jerick McKinnon, 49ers
Michael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith the 49ers' running backs at full health, McKinnon played just two snaps while failing to register a touch in a loss to the Bills last week.
Even if Mostert were sidelined, the team would likely lean on Wilson or Tevin Coleman before handing the reins to McKinnon.
We always recommend rostering members of San Francisco's backfield, but McKinnon would need multiple injuries before receiving a fantasy-worthy workload.
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