If you go by the letter of the law, last week was a rough one for me. I base my weekly sneaky starts on 12-team leagues using Half-PPR scoring. So, the goal is to find a potential top 12 quarterback, top 24 running back, top 36 wide receiver, etc. Last week, Sam Darnold finished 13th, less than one point out of 10th. Jaylen Warren finished 28th among running backs, Xavier Worthy finished 43rd among wideouts, and the Indianapolis defense/special teams finished 14th. I don’t think any fantasy managers are crying themselves to sleep if they started any of those players at my suggestion, but I was hoping for better results. This week presents some unique challenges with six teams on a bye. That means bargain hunting could be the name of the game for many fantasy managers. With that in mind, here are my Week 14 sneaky starts.
Week 14 Sneaky Starts for Fantasy Football
Quarterback
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (15th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 14 Rank: QB8
Though I have Brock Purdy inside my personal top-10 this week, I do not want to sugarcoat it. He is not exactly a no-brainer start this week. The San Francisco 49ers are a mess due to injuries, and Purdy is still dealing with a shoulder issue. He has only thrown 13 touchdown passes this season. For reference, Joe Burrow has thrown 15 in his last four games. Purdy bottomed out with 94 passing yards last week, although a snowstorm in Buffalo certainly did not help matters. This week the 49ers host the Chicago Bears. The matchup is not ideal, as Chicago has been a run-funnel defensively. But with San Francisco losing their top two running backs last week, I believe we see more volume from the passing attack in this game. That should allow Purdy to sneak into QB1 range in a week where six signal-callers are idle.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (13th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: QB14
Running Backs
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
Current Start Percentage: 43 Percent (30th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 14 Rank: RB13
Did I mention that the San Francisco 49ers lost their top two running backs this week? The team placed both Chrisitan McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on Injured Reserve following Sunday night’s loss. That should leave rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo as the last man standing in San Francisco’s backfield. Mason found success in that role during the first half of the season. And it would stand to reason that Guerendo will follow suit. Guerendo was this week’s priority waiver add and with good reason. He has earned double-digit carries in a game twice this season and has averaged 92 rushing yards in those games. Of course, the absence of left tackle Trent Williams is less than ideal. But in a Week 14 outing versus the Chicago Bears, Guerendo should get plenty of work. The Bears have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (27th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 14 Rank: RB28
Things get ugly quickly at the running back position this week after the first 15-20 options. That tends to happen when players like Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, and Jonathan Taylor are out on byes. Kareem Hunt had just nine touches for 15 yards in last week’s narrow win versus Las Vegas. Fellow Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco returned in that game after missing two months due to injury. He looked much better than Hunt, to the surprise of no one. Hunt’s touches could be limited going forward once Pacheco gets fully acclimated back into the offense. Kareem Hunt has a low floor this week but could be serviceable in a pinch.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
- Current Start Percentage: 24 Percent (42nd among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: RB30
- Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
- Current Start Percentage: 24 Percent (41st among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: RB33
Check out all of our Week 14 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Wide Receivers
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (39th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 14 Rank: WR32
DeVonta Smith has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury. However, he began this week by getting in a limited practice on Wednesday. That could put him on track to return in Week 14. Philadelphia will face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. While the Panthers have continually been beaten on the ground, they are not exactly a stout pass defense either. Carolina ranks 29th in both DVOA and EPA versus the pass. The Eagles are not throwing the ball a ton, and may not need to this week either. But Smith is always a threat to score, so I would not hesitate to start him in this matchup despite the layoff.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 39 Percent (42nd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 14 Rank: WR38
Quentin Johnston fell short of expectations last week, but I am willing to give him a Mulligan based on the circumstances. With Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins turning the ball over left and right, the Chargers only ran 46 offensive plays last week. Only half of those were pass attempts from Justin Herbert. The Chargers are likely to be forced into a more aggressive game plan in Week 14 when they face the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City has struggled to defend the pass in recent weeks. They have ranked 29th in DVOA versus the pass over the past six weeks. However, they remain a top-10 run defense. Chargers rookie standout wide receiver Ladd McConkey is dealing with an injury that may affect his status for Sunday’s game. All of these factors could lead to some extra work for Johnston.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
Current Start Percentage: 34 Percent (51st among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 14 Rank: WR39
Few players in recent memory have had a more random path to fantasy relevancy than Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Through his first four NFL seasons, Westbrook-Ikhine had never had more than 38 receptions, 476 receiving yards, or four receiving touchdowns in a single season. He still has not surpassed the reception or yardage numbers in 2024. However, he does have eight touchdowns in his last eight games. All of this production has come after not even earning a single target through Tennessee’s first four games this year. Though Westbrook-Ikhine is a prime candidate for negative touchdown regression, it may not happen in Week 14. Tennessee faces the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Jacksonville ranks last in the league in EPA against the pass by a wide margin. Westbrook-Ikhine is not the safest pick, but he could continue to provide value in this matchup.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
- Current Start Percentage: 32 Percent (52nd among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: WR43
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints
- Current Start Percentage: 30 Percent (53rd among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: WR44
- Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
- Current Start Percentage: 20 Percent (60th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: WR45
Tight End
Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 34 Percent (17th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 14 Rank: TE11
Will Dissly was another Chargers pass catcher who fell victim to last week’s low volume. Dissly failed to record a catch, but that should not be the case this week. Dissly is second on Los Angeles in both receptions and targets this year. Los Angeles is already without its top running back and may be missing its top wide receiver as well for Sunday’s contest. The Kansas City Chiefs have allowed the most receptions and receiving yards to opposing tight ends this season. Dissly does not have a ton of touchdown upside, having caught just one touchdown pass this year. But he has at least four catches in six of his last eight games and could get there again this week.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 43 Percent (14th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: TE12
Kicker
John Parker Romo, Minnesota Vikings
Current Start Percentage: 39 Percent (14th among Kickers)
My Current Week 14 Rank: K9
The Minnesota Vikings signed John Parker Romo to replace the injured Will Reichard last month. And they have not been shy about testing out their new kicker. Romo has made 11 of 12 field goals in just four games with the Vikings. He has finished as a top-five fantasy kicker in three of those four games. Romo should continue to rack up the points in Week 14 when Minnesota faces the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has allowed the second-most field goals and fantasy points to opposing kickers this year. This game will be played indoors, so there are no weather conditions to worry about. I expect John Parker Romo to flirt with double-digit fantasy points in this matchup. He is one of my favorite Week 14 sneaky starts.
Other Kicker to Consider
- Matthew Wright, Kansas City Chiefs
- Current Start Percentage: 8 Percent (27th among Kickers)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: K11
Defense/Special Teams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 16 Percent (25th among D/STs)
My Current Week 13 Rank: D/ST9
With six teams on a bye, fantasy managers may have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find suitable D/ST units. May I interest you in Sunday’s meeting pitting the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Tennessee Titans? This game features two bad offenses against two bad defenses. Tennessee’s D/ST ranks 26th in fantasy points per game this year, while Jacksonville ranks 30th. But the Titans have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing defenses, while the Jaguars rank 18th in that category. Because of that, I am giving the edge to Jacksonville. Will Levis has turned the ball over 10 times in nine games, and Jacksonville does have a capable pass rush. I expect them to make things difficult for Levis while holding the Titans to a low point total this week.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Tennessee Titans
- Current Start Percentage: 27 Percent (21st among D/STs)
- My Current Week 14 Rank: D/ST10
Make sure to check out all of our Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!