Authors: Heath McKeown, Andrew Bennett
Start: Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving will be a strong performer for your fantasy team in week 14 as the Buccaneers are set to face the Raiders. Bucky has found his stride, especially over the last three games, scoring a touchdown in each of the past three games, and recording over 70 rush yards in each, showing his recent dominant performance. Irving is averaging 61 rushing yards through 12 games, and 5.5 yards per carry, making him a very productive running back even with an average of 11 carries per game. Irving can also catch the ball averaging 24 receiving yards per game and 8.1 yards per reception. Coming off a dominant 24.5 PPR fantasy performance, Irving is ranked the 12th best running back for week 14. We believe that with these stats and the Buccaneers 10th ranked rushing offense, that Bucky will deliver for your team.
Sit: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert should be on your bench for Week 14 as the Chargers face the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert has been underwhelming in recent weeks, failing to capitalize on matchups against weak pass defenses. In Week 13, he threw for just 147 scoreless yards against the Falcons, who rank near the bottom of the league in pass defense. Despite his talent, Herbert has struggled to produce consistent fantasy results, with only one game above 20 points in his last four outings. While Herbert is rostered in 85% of leagues, he’s only started in 46%, and for good reason. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s offensive scheme heavily favors the run game, limiting Herbert’s passing opportunities and upside. Additionally, Kansas City’s defense, while slumping, still ranks 11th in passing yards allowed, creating another challenging scenario for Herbert. Herbert’s recent struggles, combined with Harbaugh’s run-heavy game plan, make him too risky to start this week. He’s projected for 17.09 points but offers a low floor given his lack of touchdowns and big plays recently. Look for more reliable quarterback options in Week 14.
Start: Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers is a must-start for Week 14 as the Raiders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since the departure of Davante Adams, Meyers has seen a significant increase in target share, becoming the leading wide receiver of the Raiders’ passing game. Over the last four games, he has averaged 10 targets per game and has maintained a strong connection with quarterback Aidan O’Connell. This includes his recent 6-catch, 97-yard performance against the Chiefs in Week 13. Despite being rostered in 77% of leagues, Meyers is only started in 52%, meaning many managers are overlooking his high floor and consistent involvement. The Buccaneers rank 25th against wide receivers and struggle to contain secondary receiving options, making this a prime matchup for Meyers to capitalize on his increased workload. With at least six catches in five of his last six games, Meyers offers a solid floor, and his red-zone usage gives him touchdown upside. Projected for 13.75 points in PPR formats, Meyers is a reliable WR2 or flex option in Week 14 and should be locked into starting lineups.
Sit: Travis Etienne Jr.
Travis Eitenne Jr should not see your starting lineup in week 14 as the Jaguars are going up against the Titans. Etienne Jr was supposed to play well this season, but has significantly underperformed, averaging just 37.1 rushing yards through 10 games. Even though Etienne Jr is averaging 12 carries through his last three games, he has not been able to gain big yards with an average of 39 yards through the three games, and he has not seen the end zone since week 2 against the Browns. With a season average of 3.9 yards per carry and only 2 touchdowns, his production has been very disappointing for his fantasy owners. Tank Bigsby, who is splitting carries with Etienne Jr, has been able to outperform him with an average of 49.7 yards per game with only one more game played. Facing a tough Titans defense who is ranked 9th against the run, Etienne Jr is unlikely to get anything going. As Etienne Jr is ranked RB25 for week 14, we believe he is best on your bench.
Start: Jonnu Smith
Jonnu Smith is a must-start for Week 14 as the Dolphins take on the Jets. Smith has been on fire recently, emerging as the go-to option in Miami’s offense with three consecutive games leading the team in targets. In Week 13, he set season highs with 10 receptions and 113 yards, commanding a 24% target share. The Dolphins have shifted their focus to a shorter, underneath passing game, which heavily benefits Smith's skill set as a yards-after-catch (YAC) specialist.
Despite his recent surge, Smith is only started in 64% of leagues. This is likely due to his lack of name recognition compared to bigger stars in the tight end position. However, his consistent usage and production make him one of the most reliable options in fantasy right now. Smith has averaged 9 targets and over 20 PPR points per game over the last two weeks, firmly establishing himself as a top-tier fantasy tight end. With Miami’s offense leaning on him in key situations, Smith has both a safe floor and high upside. Fantasy managers who stillunderestimate him based on his name are missing out—plug him into your lineup as a locked-in TE1 for Week 14.
Sit: Deebo Samuel
Another sit for week 14 will be Deebo Sameul as the 49ers are set to face the Bears and Deebo has not had a great year so far. Samuel is averaging 48 receiving yards per game this season and has only scored 2 touchdowns (1 receiving and 1 rushing). Over his last three games, he has not been able to get above 30 receiving yards, and in his most recent game against the Bills he only had 20 yards on 5 targets and 4 receptions. Now you could argue that the conditions played a factor into this but against the Packers he had 1 reception and 21 yards, and against the Seahawks, Deebo had 4 receptions for 22 yards. Deebo has not found the end zone since week 5 and is averaging 3 receptions per game, failing to get solid fantasy points. The Bears rank 11th in passing defense and are very good in the red zone, only allowing teams to convert 40.9% of the time, which is 2nd best in the league. Deebo is ranked WR25 for week 14 with a projected 9.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. Therefore, we believe Deebo should not see your starting lineup for week 14.
Good luck in the final week of fantasy!