Thanks for joining me for Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 14! I’m looking at guys with favorable match ups who might be on the fringe of your starting lineups. Also, digging up players to avoid if you’re in need of a home run this week as we hit the gas pedal into the playoffs. You got in, now we gotta make a run!

Start Em: QBs

Ryan Tannehill @ Jax

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill torched the Jaguars for 4 TD passes in their Week 2 showdown. This week he will lead the Titans into Jacksonville to face the Jaguars defense who haven’t improved much since then. The Jags have allowed the 2nd most passing yards(1155), and most passing TDs (9) over the last four weeks of the season. Tannehill is a great option for your playoff match up in Week 14.

Andy Dalton @ Cin

Andy Dalton revenge game! Dalton is coming off his best passing performance of the year last week in Baltimore, 285 yard and 2 TDs, and gets to see his former squad just in time! The Bengals have allowed the 4th most passing yards in the league over the last month, Dalton should shred them. If you’re in a pinch at QB, Dalton is in a prime spot to lead you into the next round of your fantasy playoffs.

Start Em: RBs

David Montgomery vs Hou

Montgomery has been playing his best football as of late, racking up 100+ total yards in three of his last four contests. This week he gets to feast on the Texans run defense who is the league’s 2nd worst run defense, and have allowed the most receiving yards to opposing RBs over the last four games. The Bears RB has scored three TDs in his last two games. The way Houston allows RBs to score, Montgomery should add to his TD total at home against the Texans this week. You drafted him & rostered him all this time. Hopefully, his success continues to repay your investment in the fantasy playoffs.

Jonathan Taylor @ LV

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has racked up 249 total yards on 35 carries and 7 receptions over the last two games. His 39 yard receiving TD last week allowed him to showcase his speed in the open field. Visiting the Raiders in Week 14, he has another opportunity to redeem his early-season woes. The Raiders have allowed 457 rushing yards and 5 TDs to opposing RBs over the last month. Taylor should see plenty of carries against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, making him a high upside RB2 in this match up.

Start Em: WRs

Brandin Cooks @ Chi

Brandin Cooks has been a favorite target of QB Deshaun Watson throughout the season, only once has Cooks been targeted fewer than 5 times. The Bears defense has allowed 6 receiving TDs to opposing WRs over their last four outings, tied for most in the league. Houston is playing for pride, and this team has no quit. A late red-zone fumble prevented them from possibly beating their division rival Indianapolis Colts last week. I expect the Texans to jump on the reeling Bears, who have lost 6 straight games.

T.Y. Hilton @ LV

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton has posted his best performances of the season over the last two games. He has snagged 12 balls for 191 yards and 2 TDs on 16 targets over that span. Hilton and the Colts travel to Las Vegas for their Week 14 matchup. The Raiders have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing WRs over the last month, and are tied for the most receiving TDs by opposing WRs over that stretch. The emergence of rookie WR Michael Pittman Jr. has made it more difficult for teams to key on Hilton. I expect The Ghost to continue his hot streak in a match up full of playoff implications.

Start Em: TEs

Mike Gesicki vs KC

Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki started 2020 as hot as any TE in the NFL before having a seven-week scoring drought. Gesicki has now reached pay-dirt in consecutive weeks and faces off against the Kansas City Chiefs who have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing TEs over their last four games. The Chiefs have allowed 25 receptions to TEs over that span, most in the NFL. With the Chiefs being tough against opposing WRs, I expect Gesicki to be the apple of rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa’s eye once again in this one. 

Noah Fant @ Car

The Panthers defense has been among the league’s worst against opposing TEs all season. Fant led the Broncos in receiving yards and targets in last week’s game against division rival Kansas City. The Panthers are allowing the 5th most fantasy points to opposing TEs over the last four weeks of the season. QB Drew Lock healthy and under center gives Fant a much higher ceiling on a weekly basis. I expect Fant to have a solid outing in Carolina this weekend. Start him where ya got him.

Sit Em: QBs

Matt Ryan @ LAC

Falcons QB Matt Ryan has three consecutive games completing less than 60% of his passes and has only thrown 3 TD passes over that span. The Falcons offense will be without WR Julio Jones once again this week, and Ryan hasn’t posted a 20 point fantasy day in and of Julio’s three absences this season. The inconsistency alone would have me sweating with Ryan in my lineup for the start of the fantasy playoffs. I am leaving him on my bench this week. It’s just way too much risk to roll him out there, especially without his main receiving threat in Julio Jones

Tua Tagovailoa vs KC

There’s no question that Tua’s development has been noticeable down the stretch, but he hasn’t yet thrown for 300 yards or 3TDs in a game. This week the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs are visiting the Dolphins with home-field advantage on their mind. The Chiefs have allowed under 200 yards passing on average over their last four outings and have intercepted five passes over that span. I don’t expect Tua to have a top 12 fantasy day for the QB position, I’m looking elsewhere for my QB services in my playoff match ups.

Sit Em: RBs

Miles Sanders vs NO

Miles Sanders may be the most frustrating of all the late 1st, early 2nd round fantasy draft choices coming into 2020. He hasn’t scored a TD since Week 5, has only posted 1 game of 100+ rushing yards, and hasn’t had more than 4 receptions in a game. This week he gets a very unfavorable match up against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have allowed the 3rd fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this season, and have allowed the fewest over the last month. The New Orleans defense is the real deal. Offensive line woes in Philly make it almost impossible to find a silver lining in starting Sanders this week. In a win or go home scenario, I just can’t see starting Miles Sanders unless you literally don’t have another option.

Raheem Mostert vs WFT

49ers RB Raheem Mostert was a fantasy darling early in 2020 before missing time with an injury. He returned Week 12 to post 43 yards and a TD on 16 carries, and then 42 yards on 9 carries in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills. Mostert faces a much more formidable run defense in the Washington Football Team. Washington hasn’t allowed a rushing TD in over a month, and has only allowed 207 rushing yards over that span. This is a rough spot to be leaning on Mostert to lead you deep into the fantasy playoffs, I am avoiding this match up in my lineups.

Sit Em: WRs

Christian Kirk @ NYG

Cardinals WR Christian Kirk hasn’t scored a TD or surpass 50 yards receiving in four consecutive games. This week the Cardinals travel to the NFC East leading New York Giants whose defense has allowed just 302 yards to opposing receivers over the last month, fewest in the NFL. The Giants have also only surrendered a single receiving TD over those four games as well. The Cardinals are reeling, and so is Kirk’s upside. I am avoiding Christian Kirk in my lineups in a win or go home scenario.

Tyler Boyd vs Dal

Tyler Boyd’s appeal really took a hit when rookie QB Joe Burrow went down for the season with a knee injury. Boyd did have a single reception for a 72-yard score last week, but 1 reception just doesn’t cut it. Boyd logged 3 receptions for 15 yards the week before. The Cowboys defense has only allowed 28 receptions to opposing WRs over the last four weeks, the fewest in the NFL. With QB Brandon Allen under center, I just cannot trust Tyler Boyd to provide the high-end WR2 production we’ve come to love him for. I am definitely looking for a more favorable match up from my WRs heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Sit Em: TEs

Robert Tonyan @ Det

Green Bay Packers TE Robert Tonyan comes into the week having scored in three consecutive games. His match up against the Detroit Lions defense isn’t a favorable one to say the least. The Lions have allowed the 9th fewest points to opposing TEs in 2020, and 3rd fewest over the last four weeks. The Lions struggle against the WR and RB positions, leaving Tonyan a likely decoy in this week’s game in Detroit. The Packers will likely ride RB Aaron Jones to victory in this one.

Logan Thomas vs SF

Washington Football Team TE Logan Thomas has had his ups and downs this season. This week he faces the San Francisco 49ers who have allowed just 7 receptions for 49 yards over the last four weeks of the season. He has been targeted heavily throughout the season, but in this match up I don’t expect much fantasy production. I am looking for a more favorable match up heading into the playoffs from my TE.

Thanks again for checkin’ out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 14! It’s Playoff time!! You can follow me on Twitter @bwhitt24, and the rest of the fantasy crew @bellyupfantasy. Join us live on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM CST for Belly Up Fantasy Live! Take a moment to like our new pages for our podcast, on Twitter @BUFantasyLive and find us on Facebook at Belly Up Fantasy Live. The crew will be breaking down the upcoming week’s fantasy outlook, and as always answering your questions in the comments! We have several talented writers joining the Belly Up team, be sure to check out their content coming soon! Enjoy 20% off of your www.manscaped.com purchase by using our promo code BELLYUPFANTASY. You’re Welcome!