On The Bubble: Who To Sit & Start Week Fourteen

Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire

Welcome to Week Fourteen, dear reader, I am Brennen Gorman and I am in charge of our On the Bubble column. These articles will focus on bubble and bench players that could make an impact this week, even if they might not make an impact every week, and on bubble and bench players that might not make an impact this week.

Start: Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns [ESPN Own: 48% / Start: 14%]: Baker Mayfield is on the heels of his second-worst fantasy start this season, despite throwing a career 397 yards. Mayfield’s day was highlighted by three interceptions and a Week Fourteen matchup against Carolina should right the ship as Carolina’s defensive line has been suspect and its secondary ineffective and inconsistent, particularly to the long ball.

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ESPN Own: 69% / Start: 45%]: Jameis Winston has not thrown an interception in back-to-back weeks and faces a league-worst New Orlean’s pass defense in a game that is expected to be a shootout. Tampa Bay has been aggressive all season and Winston should be one of the higher scoring quarterbacks in Week Fourteen.

Sit: Quarterbacks

Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears [ESPN Own: 73% / Start: 17%]: Back after a two-week absence stemming from an AC joint sprain, Mitch Trubisky is up against the Los Angeles Rams defense that has forced 11 interceptions this season. Trubisky has been hit-or-miss this season and he presents too much risk in Week Fourteen to warrant streaming.

Start: Running Backs

Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers [ESPN Own: 70% / Start: 41%]: Injuries have given Jeff Wilson Jr. the opportunity take over as the premiere back in San Francisco, he’ll get the carries and that alone will him FLEX worthy in Week Fourteen.

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens [ESPN Own: 69% / Start: 33%]: See Jeff Wilson Jr, but against an even weaker Kansas City run defense. 

Sit: Running Backs

Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs [ESPN Own: 90% / Start: 48%]: Spencer Ware is not Kareem Hunt and Baltimore still has the top run defense this season. Kansas City will continue to rely on its stellar passing game, leaving Ware’s in-game usage in question.

Start: Wide Receivers 

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ESPN Own: 66% / Start: 37%]: Chris Godwin has competed with DeSean Jackson for down the field looks all season, in Week Thirteen Godwin triumphed with five receptions, 101 yards, and a touchdown. With Jackson likely to miss Week Fourteen, Godwin has a tasty matchup against a league-worst New Orlean’s unit.

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos [ESPN Own: 70% / Start: 33%]: Emmanuel Sanders is out for the remainder of the season, leaving only Courtland Sutton as the top receiver. He will not have much competition for targets and should have plenty of opportunities to score in Week Fourteen.

Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints [ESPN Own: 40% / Start: 8%]: Despite having his health, Tre’Quan Smith failed to bring in a reception in Week Thirteen. In Week Fourteen he plays a porous Tampa Bay defense, a bounce-back performance is brewing for Smith who became Drew Brees‘ second look behind Michael Thomas before injuring himself in the same gae.

Sit: Wide Receivers 

DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers [ESPN Own: 77% / Start: 40%]: DJ Moore is a star in the making, but he is not there quite yet. Opportunity is there with an injury to Greg Olson, but Moore has failed to be fantasy relevant outside of a breakout game in Detroit.

Start: Tight Ends

Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers [ESPN Own: 57% / Start: 28%]: Vance McDonald is facing an Oakland defense that has allowed nine touchdowns to tight ends this year. As far as boom-or-bust tight ends go, McDonald is poised to be open in Week Fourteen.

Sit: Tight Ends

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons [ESPN Ownership: 86% / Start: 58%]: On the opposite side of the spectrum, Austin Hooper is a boom-or-bust tight end that has a poor matchup against a stout Green Bay unit. Hooper has had four double-digit weeks, each with a touchdown.

Start: D/ST

Detroit Lions D/ST [ESPN Own: 19% / Start: 14%]: Detroit is about to face an Arizona team that has put up a total 2,872 offensive yards this season. Detroit is a dumpster fire as a team, but should do enough to be fantasy relevant in Week Fourteen in stopping Arizona’s offense.

Sit: D/ST

Green Bay Packers D/ST [ESPN Own: 48% / Start: 21%]: Green Bay’s ownership has been in a freefall and rightfully so. The team is in a flux following the firing of Mike McCarthy, Green Bay couldn’t stop rookie Josh Rosen, and now faces a high-octane Atlanta defense. Avoid.