Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14

The 2021 fantasy playoffs are just around the corner.  Benjamin (@FFRabbitDad) and Brendan (@obryanbren) are back with more players to take a look at when setting your fantasy football lineups. Check it all out here in our unique Start or Sit Faceoff, for this week with Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14.

Benjamin: I hope you were paying attention last week. Aside from Devonta Freeman having a good day, my picks were on point – I’m especially happy with Hunter Renfrow and his second consecutive 100+ yard game. Now, with the final bye week arriving, many of us have some really tough situations to deal with. No Jonathan Taylor. No Jaylen Waddle. No Dallas Goedert. Then there are so many teams needing to find some magic and earn a playoff spot or even avoid elimination in the playoffs. I’m going to throw in a couple of boom/bust players this week for those of you in need of a big performance, especially if you’re up against the outstanding performances by Dalvin Cook or Najee Harris on Thursday night.

Brendan: Great work last week Benjamin! I don’t think I was too far off point last week as well. Other than that Boston Scott reach… I believe most leagues are heading into the playoffs over the next few weeks, which makes these byes, this late in the season, such a bitter pill to swallow. Especially your mention of Jonathan Taylor. Most Taylor owners should be in pretty good shape heading into the playoffs, but seeding in play, it could affect the outcome of the playoffs.

Quarterbacks

Start: Russell Wilson – Taysom Hill

Brendan: Since coming back from injury, I do believe all Wilson owners have to be saying “This week is the week!” Last week against the 49ers, Wilson showed a glimpse of his prior self and appeared to be fully recovered going 30-of-37 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The one interception wasn’t even his fault as Gerald Everett miss played the ball that should have been another score. I expect him to continue to improve against this Texans defense giving up the third-most points per game to opposing offenses this season.

Benjamin: Taysom Hill is the equivalent of a double-edged sword you can use against your opponent in Week 14. In his first start of 2021, Hill threw for 264 yards and ran for another 101 on 11 attempts. Having one of the “cheat code” quarterbacks gives you an immediate advantage in fantasy as they typically have safer floors with very high upside. Going up against the Jets this week is an extra bonus as they have the third-best D-PAC score, have surrendered the third-most rushing yards and most rushing touchdowns this season. Just pick this guy up and start him for Pete’s sake! I like Hill over Derek Carr and Patrick Mahomes (yeah, I said that) this week.

Sit: Joe Burrow – Matt Ryan

Benjamin: Joe Burrow started the 2021 campaign so hot and made so many fantasy managers so happy. After throwing for multiple touchdowns in each of the Bengals’ first eight games, Burrow has three total touchdown passes in the last four games. He also threw for less than 200 passing yards in two of those four games. The matchup for Burrow doesn’t get better this week, as the visiting 49ers haven’t allowed a quarterback to reach 250 passing yards since Week 3, a list that includes Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson twice. Call me crazy, but I’ll give the nod to Cam Newton or Taylor Heinicke over Burrow in Week 14.

Brendan: It has been very ugly for Matt Ryan the last few weeks. He’s had one touchdown and five interceptions in his last four games. The last time Ryan faced the Panthers, was the first game after losing Calvin Ridley and Ryan struggled to throw for 146 yards, one touchdown, and 2 interceptions. The Panthers have been solid all season against the pass, only allowing 15 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and I expect that trend to continue. Benjamin started a good list of quarterbacks to start over Burrow. I would start that same list over Ryan and add Matthew Stafford and Ryan Tannehill to that list.

Running Backs

Start: Dontrell Hilliard – Saquon Barkley

Benjamin: The simple fact behind this choice is that the Titans are still a run-first team, even without Derrick Henry. It may be a split backfield between Dontrell Hilliard and D’Onta Foreman, but they are both making the most of their chances. Before the bye week, Hilliard ran for 131 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown against a stout New England defense while Foreman tallied 109 yards on 19 carries. In the previous matchup with Jacksonville this year, Henry ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Three different players ran for over 100 yards against the Jaguars in the last four games. Hilliard is a deeper pick for teams in serious need this week but I’d start him over Darrel Williams or Kareem Hunt.

Brendan: The Giants have seemed to be hesitant to give Barkley a full workload since returning from injury. Not really sure if that is a statement on his health or their confidence in Devontae Booker. Last week, Barkley had a semi-productive week if you are in a PPR league, but without those receptions, you have to be disappointed if you started him. This week he faces the Chargers that have been giving up just over 25 points per game and is second in the league in rushing yards allowed. They have also allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns this season with 15. Barkley hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 4, so something has to give! Put some faith back in Barkley.

Sit: James Robinson – Jamaal Williams

Brendan: It appears like James Robinson might have been put in the Urban Meyer dog house after fumbles in two consecutive games. That has to be the explanation for his usage because the Jaguars really should be leaning on Robinson in their current situation. Robinson showed last year that he could be a dependable workhorse, and with a rookie quarterback and not a ton of talent around that rookie, Robinson seems like the obvious choice. However, against the Rams last week, Robinson only saw 44% of the snaps and had nine touches. So the only obvious conclusions are either, Meyer has no clue on what to do, or Robinson is in the dog house. Until there is some clarity on the Jaguars backfield, I think you need to sit Robinson and maybe look to start a Rashaad Penny or Chuba Hubbard.

Benjamin: Jamaal Williams has the majority of work coming to him again should D’Andre Swift sit out again. Even with the extra work, he has only averaged 4.29 yards per touch in the previous two games with no scores since Week 3. Denver will host Detroit in Week 14 and they’ve been a tough outing for running backs this year. Opposing running backs in the last two weeks averaged only 3.42 rushing YPC against the Broncos. Williams will see the bench for me, behind players like J.D. McKissic or Devonta Freeman this week.

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Wide Receivers

Start: Van Jefferson – Jarvis Landry

Benjamin: It was widely believed that the addition of Odell Beckham to the Rams’ offense may have spelled the end of fantasy relevance for Van Jefferson. That has not been true. With two scores and 134 total receiving yards in the last two games, Jefferson has been a great play as a WR3 or flex-start. I see that trend continuing against the Cardinals in Week 14, who have a D-PAC score of 16.55 and nearly 33 fantasy points surrendered to wide receivers per game. He probably won’t outscore Cooper Kupp but there’s still plenty of meat on the plate for a good fantasy day from Jefferson. I would bench players like Russell Gage and Mike Williams in favor of starting Jefferson.

Brendan: The Browns have quite the odd situation of playing the same opponent twice in a row. They played the Ravens two weeks ago, had a bye last week, and then this week they play the Ravens again. Jarvis Landy had his best performance of the season against the Ravens two weeks ago with six catches for 111 yards on 10 targets. This was also before the news of the Ravens losing their best cornerback, Marlon Humphrey for the season. This only makes this matchup look better for Landry. 

Sit: Ja’Marr Chase – Brandin Cooks

Benjamin: After starting the season on fire and, seemingly, running away in the Rookie of the Year race, Ja’Marr Chase has been quite pedestrian in recent weeks. He hasn’t surpassed 52 receiving yards since Week 7 and has eclipsed five catches once since then, as well. Even going up against the 49ers’ unimpressive passing defense, I have concerns for Chase. Tee Higgins’ recent success with over 110 yards and a score in each of the last two games hints that the rookie may be wearing out at this point in 2021. Tyler Lockett and Brandin Cooks, among others, will get the nod for me above Chase in Week 14.

Brendan: This is one area we might disagree a little with Benjamin. I would probably start Chase over Brandin Cooks this week. Much like Chase, Cooks started off the season well and was probably the only Texan worth starting for the bulk of the season. However, he has been targetted six or fewer times in the last three games, being held to 45 yards or less in the same three-game span.  He has also only had one touchdown in his past four games. He also is going up against a Seattle secondary that has been playing really well lately. They have not given up a touchdown in the last four games and only seven the entire season. This week I would look for other options and try to sit Cooks.

Tight Ends

Start: Dawson Knox – Austin Hooper

Brendan: Much like the Buffalo Bills season, when Knox is hot he’s really hot. However, when he’s cold, he’s really cold. Last week his fingers must have been very cold, as he dropped a few passes, one of which would have been a touchdown. This week’s matchup looks much better for Knox. For starters, the weather should be much better, as they are playing in Tampa. Secondly, Tampa Bay has been giving up the 9th most fantasy points with 14.58 per game to tight ends. Josh Allen is due for a bounce-back game, and Knox looks to be a primary beneficiary.

Benjamin: First, let’s just ignore that zero catch performance that Austin Hooper had two weeks ago in Baltimore. Before that, Hooper had four catches in each of the two prior games – once with a touchdown. With Odell Beckham out in L.A. and Jarvis Landry still nursing a knee injury, there are still targets and catches to be had for the tight end. On top of that, David Njoku likely misses the contest due to being on the COVID-IR. Baltimore has been a prime opponent for opposing tight ends this year, allowing more than 16 fantasy points to the position in 2021. Hooper gets the start for me over guys like Noah Fant and Kyle Pitts.

Sit: Tyler Higbee – Foster Moreau

Benjamin: I promise, I don’t hate Tyler Higbee. He is just in a tough spot. When a team has as many receiving weapons as the Rams do, someone is going to suffer in the opportunity category. Higbee hasn’t achieved more than 36 receiving yards in any of his six road games this season. He and the Rams will face an Arizona defense that is sporting the fourth toughest D-PAC score this season at just 2.91. I’d start players like Ricky Seals-Jones or Gerald Everett over Higbee.

Brendan: Well, the Raiders miss Darren Waller! Waller missed last week and it looks like he might be out again this week. Many thought Foster Moreau would step right in and get all the same targets that Waller receivers each week, but that simply was not the case. In Week 13 against Washington, Moreau had one reception for 34 yards on three targets. That simply won’t cut it as a starter in any league. With that usage, Moreau would be very touchdown dependent and the Cheifs have been good, as of late, at keeping tight ends out of the end zone not allowing a single touchdown over the last four games. I would look at other options like Cole Kmet or Gerald Everett.

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