#Fantasy Week 14 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Myles Gaskin, Miles Sanders

Welcome to the fantasy football playoffs and congratulations to all teams who have made it this far.

The hardest weeks are yet to come, which means your start-sit decisions are even more consequential than usual.

For those who don’t have the luxury of a first-round bye, set your lineups for Week 14 and check out some good plays at each position below, as well as some other players you should consider avoiding.

If you need a streaming option, check out Week 14 waiver wire pickups here. 

Who to Start in Week 14

Justin Herbert (QB), Los Angeles Chargers vs. Atlanta Falcons

This bears repeating after Herbert disappointed fantasy managers in a big way in Week 13. He completed 26 of 53 attempts for 209 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions in an embarrassing blowout to the Patriots. Prior to Week 13, the rookie had finished as a top 14 quarterback in every start but one since taking over for Tyrod Taylor. You should be able to trust him again (if he didn’t ruin your playoff berth) this week against the Falcons, who are allowing the third-most passing yards per game. Slot him in as a mid-range QB1 with upside.

Myles Gaskin (RB), Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Gaskin returned with a bang in Week 13 after a four-game injury absence. He rushed 21 times for 90 yards and caught two targets for 51 yards. Patrick Laird saw just three carries for six yards in the contest. Salvon Ahmed and Matt Breida could return as soon as this week, but this was Gaskin’s backfield before his injury and should stay that way moving forward. He is a high-end RB2 with RB1 potential this week against the Chiefs.

Cam Akers (RB), Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots

Akers dominated the Rams’ backfield in Week 13 and saw a season-high 21 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also tacked on a 22-yard catch. His performance completely eclipsed that of Darrell Henderson, who was injured in the game, and Malcolm Brown. It’s safe to say that he has separated himself in this three-man committee, which has been a nightmare for fantasy managers all season. He has a number of solid matchups to finish out the year: the Patriots in Week 14, the Jets in Week 15 and the Seahawks in Week 16, none of whom instill fear defending the run. Akers should be a RB2 this week, and rest of season.

Robby Anderson (WR), Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos

The Panthers placed receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel on the COVID-19/reserve list on Monday, meaning the team could be without two of its top weapons. Anderson appears to have been spared (for now) from the outbreak at the Panthers’ facility and would take on a much bigger role if both Moore (who tested positive for the virus) and Samuel (deemed close contact) miss Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Anderson caught four of seven targets for 94 yards and a touchdown ahead of their bye. He is a solid WR2 for Week 14.

Marvin Jones Jr. (WR), Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Star receiver Kenny Golladay has missed the last five games and hasn’t been practicing at all, meaning there’s a strong chance he misses Week 14 as well. Jones has been the primary beneficiary of Golladay’s absence and posted a huge Week 13 stat line against the Bears. He reeled in eight of 12 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown. This week, the Lions face the Packers, who are middle-of-the-road against receivers, making Jones an intriguing WR3/flex option.

Eric Ebron (TE), Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills

Ebron posted another strong performance in Week 13 and caught seven of 11 targets for a season-high 68 yards. The veteran has seen 22 targets over the past two weeks in extremely challenging matchups opposite the Ravens and Washington Football Team. The Steelers face the Bills this week, who have struggled all season at defending tight ends and have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. Ebron is a solid TE1 for Week 14 based on the favorable matchup and his impressive target share of late.

Who to Sit in Week 14

Ben Roethlisberger (QB), Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills

Roethlisberger has finished as QB15, QB20 and QB16 over the last three games and has struggled with accuracy in that span. He completed 33 of 54 attempts for 305 yards, two touchdowns and one interception (his third in three games) in the team’s first loss of the year against Washington. He faces an easier opponent in Week 14 against the Bills, but the game will be played on the road in Buffalo, which currently has rain in the forecast for Sunday. Roethlisberger falls just shy of the QB1 tier this week.

Miles Sanders (RB), Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints

The Eagles’ wide receivers haven’t been the only victims of Carson Wentz’s decline this year. Sanders has finished inside the top 12 among running backs just twice all season and disappointed in a juicy Week 13 matchup against the Packers. He rushed ten times for 31 yards, and faces the Saints this week, whose defense is allowing just 76.1 rushing yards per game (second-fewest in the NFL behind the Buccaneers). The change at quarterback to Jalen Hurts could theoretically reignite this offense, but the matchup is terrible and does not lend itself to a run-heavy game script. Pencil Sanders in as a low-end RB2 with serious bust potential.

Raheem Mostert (RB), San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Football Team

Mostert has been unremarkable since returning from injury in Week 12. He had nine carries for 42 yards in the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Bills and has the Washington Football Team on deck this week. This much-improved front seven — led by first-rounder edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat — completely quelled the Steelers’ run game on Monday and allowed a total of 21 rushing yards. Temper expectations for Mostert entering this brutal matchup. He is a low-end RB2 with a near-zero floor.

DeVante Parker (WR), Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Parker’s fantasy value takes a significant hit when Tua Tagovailoa — not Ryan Fitzpatrick — is under center for the Dolphins. Last week, he caught four of eight targets for 35 yards in a soft matchup against the Bengals and can’t be relied on for much more than that against the Chiefs, who are allowing the eighth-fewest receiving yards in the NFL (234.7). Parker falls outside the WR2 conversation for Week 14 assuming Tagovailoa starts once again.

Jarvis Landry (WR), Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens

It will be tempting to start Landry on the heels of back-to-back fantastic performances for fantasy. He caught eight of 11 targets for 143 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 against the Jaguars, and caught eight of ten targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 against the Titans. The Browns face off against the Ravens this week, who have a much better secondary than Jacksonville or Tennessee, and will likely have All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey shadow Landry. Also worth noting that this game will be played in Cleveland, where weather has impacted multiple games this year (and there’s rain in the forecast for Sunday). Landry is a risky WR3/flex this week in a game that could be a slop fest.

Hayden Hurst (TE), Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers

Hurst disappointed fantasy managers in Week 13, reeling in one of four targets for nine yards. He has finished inside the top 12 among tight ends just three times all season (Weeks 2, 6 and 7), which is noteworthy given the overall lackluster state of the position. He cannot be trusted in the first round of the playoffs, even with the Chargers on deck, and falls outside the TE1 tier once again.