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The fantasy season is a grind. For many managers, it all comes down to Week 14 of the NFL season, especially those with championship aspirations. Once you punch that ticket to the postseason dance, anything can happen, but first, you have to win to get in.
Heading into Week 14, many managers will be looking to replace Lamar Jackson, Bo Nix, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, who have been slotted in those starting lineups in recent weeks as they're all on bye.
With that in mind, We are here to help fantasy managers with those difficult start and sit questions at the quarterback position with our Week 14 starts and sits.
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Week 14 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms
Baker Mayfield - QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Over the last four weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders have allowed 10 touchdown passes, tied with the New England Patriots for the most. Thanks to the inability to defend the end zone, Vegas has allowed the third-most fantasy points over that period, allowing nearly 24 fantasy points (23.99) per contest to the quarterback position.
Mayfield started last week off slowly, completing 10 of 21 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers were concerned, but concern likely turned into disgust after that second interception. However, in the fourth quarter and overtime, Mayfield would throw for 114 yards on 11 of 12 passing ( +17.4% CPOE).
Only Lamar Jackson (32) and Joe Burrow (31) have more total touchdowns this season than Mayfield's 28. Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Mayfield has accounted for 53 passing touchdowns (57 total). Those 53 passing touchdowns are more than any other quarterback since Mayfield's Buc debut.
Only Lamar Jackson (32) & Joe Burrow (31) have more total touchdowns this season than Mayfield’s 28.
Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Mayfield has accounted for 53 passing TDs (57 total). Those 53 passing TDs are more than any other QB since Mayfield’s Buc debut. pic.twitter.com/rJA2r0w07p
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnellyFF) December 2, 2024
Sam Darnold - QB, Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
I get it; we have a numbers-driven obsession. Last week, Atlanta held Justin Herbert to 147 passing yards and no passing touchdowns. Looking at that, you'd assume this would be a matchup to fade. As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend." Los Angeles ran a mere 46 offensive plays in their victory over the Falcons, but this is more of an outlier compared to other contests.
Despite a solid performance against Herbert and the Chargers, Atlanta has allowed 18.26 fantasy points per game this season (eighth-most), having allowed 21 touchdown passes along with 2,704 passing yards. Over the last four weeks, eight of those 21 touchdown passes have occurred, and the Falcon's 24.19 fantasy points per game trail on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Over the last three games, Sam Darnold and the Vikings are 3-0. Over that period, Darnold averaged 21.4 fantasy points per game thanks to 811 passing yards and eight total touchdowns. Even Johnny Mundt is catching touchdown passes in Minnesota these days.
Don't look now, but Darnold has developed a clutch gene. After going down 19-6 to the Cardinals last Sunday, Darnold threw for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the final 4:43 to lead the Vikings' comeback.
"Sam Darnold has been at his very best when it's mattered most this season. For the second straight week, he threw them to victory." - @pschrags
The @vikings QB's numbers over the last three games:
• 811 passing yards🎯
• 7 TDs (1 rush), 0 Interceptions💪
• 3 wins💜 pic.twitter.com/nUFnz2Nj8D— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) December 2, 2024
Cooper Rush - QB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Look, we have six teams on a bye this week. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, it's not like I'm asking you to start Kirk Cousins this week. In two of Cooper Rush's last three games, the Cowboys quarterback has finished with more than 17 fantasy points. Last week, Rush finished with 195 passing yards, completing 21 of 36 passing attempts.
Rush and the Cowboys welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to Jerry's World this week, and this may be one of the best fantasy matchups you will see.
During the season, the Bengals' 21.30 fantasy points per game allowed are the third-most. They have also been the victim of 22 passing touchdowns this season, along with 3,011 yards. In the last four weeks, they have yielded 21.80 fantasy points per contest (sixth-most).
Last week, Russell Wilson picked apart this Bengals secondary, completing 29 of 38 passing attempts and racking up 414 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 32 fantasy points.
Week 14 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts
Patrick Mahomes - QB, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers
I'm not recommending Cooper Rush over Patrick Mahomes, but I am warning fantasy managers to temper their expectations this week. Mahomes is unlikely to toss four interceptions, but he's also unlikely to "go off" against this Chargers defense.
Earlier this season, the Chiefs escaped Los Angeles with a 17-10 victory. In that contest, Mahomes completed 65.5% of his passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, leading 14 fantasy points. During the season, the Chargers allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game.
We know all bets are off in the AFC West. Kansas City has allowed teams to hang with them all season, and this game project is much the same.
Jordan Love - QB, Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
For a quarterback who has been prone to turning the ball over as often as Jordan Love has been this season, a rematch against the Lions is not what fantasy managers want to see. During the year, Love has thrown 11 interceptions; however, his last two contests have been clean. Detroit has forced 14 interceptions this season, trailing only the Texans and the Vikings in that category.
When these teams met in early November, the Lions walked out victorious, limiting Love to a 58.9% completion percentage and 273 passing yards. In that contest, Love did not throw a touchdown pass and was responsible for a Packers turnover.
Love has been held to fewer than 15 fantasy points in three of his last five contests, suggesting that if you have other options available, you should strongly consider them. I'm not a fan of the matchup, and I prefer to fade players on Thursday Night Football whenever possible.
Kirk Cousins - QB, Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
Talk about your ultimate Jekyll and Hyde performance. Last week, Cousins threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers—that's not good.
In his last three contests, Cousins has thrown six interceptions and put the ball on the turf on four occasions. The Falcons' signal-caller interception rate is 3.3% after posting back-to-back clean weeks in the previous two contests, during which he tossed seven touchdown passes.
With Week 14 determining the fate of many fantasy aspirations, you can't trust Cousins to be that guy to put you over the top, not right now. For a quarterback that has been struggling, as we are talking some Anthony Richardson/ Will Levis caliber inaccuracy, facing a team like the Vikings, who bring the blitz more than any other, is not a recipe for positive fantasy production.
On the season, Minnesota has allowed the 11th fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and over the last four weeks, the 12.70 fantasy points per game surrendered is the sixth-fewest. The Vikings have allowed just three touchdowns over that period while forcing four interceptions of their own, which should have fantasy managers giving Cousins a rest this week.
Kirk Cousins over his last 3 games:
• 29th in EPA/play
• 27th in CPOE
• 34th in PFF gradeWut??? pic.twitter.com/QXlKbQ05A6
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) December 2, 2024
Revenge is a dish best served cold, but if Cousins isn't careful with the ball this week, the only thing that may be getting served is a healthy helping of pine for the Falcons quarterback.
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