Week 14 Rankings For Fantasy Football: Matthew Stafford, Bucky Irving and More
Dwain McFarland highlights the biggest upgrades in his Week 14 rankings for fantasy football.
It is time to set our fantasy lineups for Week 14, and with that in mind, let's follow the data to analyze some of the biggest risers in the Week 14 rankings to help you make those start-sit decisions.
Risers In My Week 14 Rankings For Fantasy Football
See below for the biggest upgrades in my fantasy football rankings for Week 14.
Before we dive into the rankings upgrades, this article is brought to you by Fetch-A-Tech, Service that's a Breed Apart
And now, back to our regular scheduled programming ...
Matthew Stafford is a top-top three fantasy QB in Week 14.
Stafford is the QB7 with 19.5 points per game. He ranks first in passing TDs per game (2.7) and fifth in passing yards (256). The addition of Davante Adams has helped to elevate his game to an elite level.
The Rams score a touchdown on 34% of their drives, tied with the Colts for the NFL lead, with 40% of their drives reaching the red zone. They average the third-most plays inside the five-yard line with 1.8. They throw the ball inside the five 54% of the time, which ranks seventh.
Sean McVay and Stafford are in their bag. The veteran QB has tossed at least two TDs in 10 of 12 games. He has thrown three or more in six games.
The Rams carry the second-highest team total on the slate at 28.5 points, and the Cardinals have boosted opposing QB passing TDs by 0.5 per game over the last four outings—the third-most.
Dak Prescott | Cowboys: Prescott is the QB5 with 19.9 points per game. He has been on a heater over the last four games with 22.1 per contest—the third-best mark. The Cowboys' offense is vibing with three quality receiving weapons in CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson. They have been balanced over the last four games with a 1% dropback rate over expected (DBOE) and have leaned into the play-action passing game on 31% of their dropbacks (seventh). For the season, Dallas ranks fifth in percentage of drives to reach the red zone at 35%. They lead all teams with 2.4 passes per game inside the five-yard line. Dallas boasts the fifth-highest team total (25.3), and the Lions have boosted opposing passing TDs by 0.4 per game over their last three contests. Prescott is my QB3 and offers an Xfinity Best projection of 24.2.
Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals: Since taking over as the starter in Arizona in Week 6, Brissett is the QB5 with 20.7 fantasy points per game. The veteran signal caller has averaged 313 yards and 1.9 TDs per game in seven starts. Over that stretch, Arizona has been the most pass-heavy attack in the NFL with a 6% DBOE, dropping back to pass a league-leading 72% of plays. The Cardinals are 8.5-point dogs against the Rams this weekend in a neutral matchup for QBs. His passing yardage prop has been a printfest, and there is an opportunity once again this weekend. His early line is set at 246. He has beaten that number every start. I have him projected for 263. Brissett is a top-10 fantasy option with an Xfinity Best projection of 22.9.
Jayden Daniels | Commanders: Daniels is questionable for Week 14 with an elbow injury. While injuries have derailed his fantasy season, the second-year QB has still averaged a respectable 19.6 points in four full games. The Vikings have been the third-hardest matchup for QBs with a -4.2 fantasy boost per our DvP tool. When you pair that with unknowns about involvement in the rushing attack coming back from injury, it's challenging to push Daniels too high in the ranks. Still, even with deductions for the matchup and injury, he carries the No. 3 Xfinity Best ceiling at 24.4 points. Daniels is a boom-bust borderline QB1.
Bucky Irving rejoins the top-12 RBs against the Saints.
Irving returned to the lineup in Week 13 and rewarded fantasy managers with 16.1 points. The second-year back accounted for 79% of the team's rushing attempts, compiling 15 attempts and tacking on two targets.
Compared to his early-season role, Irving's role in the passing game was slightly reduced. Over the first three games, he posted a 63% route participation rate with a 15% target share. Those numbers clocked in at 37% and 8% against the Cardinals.
It remains to be seen whether Irving will eventually take back those passing-down reps, or if the team wants to lighten his workload in an attempt to keep him healthy.
Despite that unknown, we saw Irving smash fantasy box scores with a 45% route participation over the Bucs' final four games in 2024 (including the playoffs). He handled 71% of the rushing attempts and notched an 11% target share over that span, scoring 18.5 fantasy points per game.
Tampa Bay is an 8.5-point favorite over the Saints. That is the largest spread on the slate. Oddsmakers have their team total at 25.5 points—the fourth best. Big spreads with high team totals are historically good to RB1s, y'all.
James Cook | Bills: Cook was a steal in Round 4 of fantasy drafts this summer. He is the RB6 with 18.3 points per game (PPG). Despite not getting the passing-down work we know he is capable of dominating, Buffalo feeds him the rock. Cook has handled 72% of the team's designed rushing attempts—the fourth-highest mark in the NFL. His 19.2 totes per game ranks first. The Bills are six-point favorites over the Bengals, who have written a blank check to opposing RB rooms. Cincinnati has provided the No. 1 fantasy boost at 7.9 points per game. Cook is in a SMASH spot as my RB3. He offers a massive ceiling with an Xfinity Best projection of 30.9 points.
Josh Jacobs | Packers: Jacobs is the RB8 with 17.1 points per game and an 81 Utilization Score. The Packers are 6.5-point favorites over the first-place Bears. Green Bay owns the No. 3 team total (27.6) in Matthew Freedman's NFL Betting Game Model. That is the sort of combo we love for RB1s, and the Bears have boosted opposing rushing attacks by 3.5 points per game over the last four weeks. Jacobs projects for 18.4 points with a juicy 28-point Xfinity Best mark. He is a top-six RB in Week 14.
RJ Harvey | Broncos: In two games as Denver's RB1, Harvey has averaged 14.6 points with a 70 Utilization Score. He has accounted for 53% of the snaps, 62% of the attempts, and notched a 9% target share on a 38% route participation rate. The Broncos are 7.5-point favorites over the Raiders, with a healthy 24-point team total. While the rookie hasn't been efficient to this point, it's important to remember that previous volume is a much stronger indicator of future opportunities and fantasy points. Plus, efficiency isn't even predictive of future efficiency—it's a high-variance situation. The big takeaway is that Harvey has a solid role and has room to improve his fantasy output should his efficiency improve. Harvey is a mid-range RB2 with a 13.6-point projection and a 22.2-point Xfinity Best ceiling.
Travis Etienne | Jaguars: Etienne bombed in Week 13 with 5.1 fantasy points after delivering 15.7, 19.3 and 20.6 over his previous three outings. We do get random games where Bhayshul Tuten gets a little more work than others, but Etienne remains the RB1 in Jacksonville. Even last week, he led the way with 55% of the attempts. This weekend, Etienne faces a Colts defense that has been shredded over the last four outings, boosting opposing rushing attacks by an astounding 6.5 points per game. The Jaguars also have a healthy team total of 23.5 points. Etienne is a mid-range RB2 with a 21.3 Xfinity Best projection.
Omarion Hampton | Chargers: Hampton returned to practice last week but didn't suit up for the Week 13 game. I currently have him projected to play against Philadelphia. My outlook is tempered, assuming they could ease him back into action, given how well Kimani Vidal has played. I have the rookie projected for a 55% attempt share and a 9% target share—both below his pre-injury averages (69% and 11%). Hampton is a low-end RB2 if active. He projects for 10.8 points with a 17.6-point Xfinity Best ceiling. If Hampton can't go, Vidal upgrades to mid-range RB2 status.
Jordan Mason | Vikings: Aaron Jones was knocked out of the Week 13 contest due to a shoulder injury, putting his status against the Commanders in jeopardy. The Vikings offense is not an inspiring unit, but Mason could be in line for significant volume. From Week 3 to 7 with Jones out, he gobbled up 71% of the rushing attempts and a 67% snap share. He averaged 14 points with a 74 Utilization Score. The Commanders have allowed 26.1 points per game to rushing attacks over the last four contests—the most in the NFL. They have boosted ground games by 7.1 points on average. That is also the most. Mason is a borderline RB2 if Jones can't suit up. He projects for 10.3 points with a 16.7 Xfinity Best ceiling.
Devin Neal | Saints: In Week 13, Neal saw expanded work on the ground with a 58% rush share and led the backfield with a 71% route participation rate. He also handled 100% of the two-minute offense and short-yardage snaps. The rookie has a 14% target share over the last two games. With Alvin Kamara still recovering from an MCL injury, we could see a similar role for Neal in Week 14 against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay was a bad matchup for RBs early in the season, but they have mellowed into a neutral matchup (+1.1 fantasy boost). Neal is a borderline RB2 with a sneaky 16.9-point Xfinity Best ceiling.
Trey Benson | Cardinals: Benson suffered a setback in practice last week attempting to come back from a meniscus injury. I consider him on the doubtful side of things for Week 14 and have excluded him from the projections. However, if he makes a turnaround, Benson would move into the borderline RB2 conversation against the Rams. For now, Bam Knight is the primary ball carrier, with Michael Carter playing pass downs, and Emari Demercado recovering from a high ankle sprain. In a condensed two-person backfield, Knight has averaged 15 points, and Carter has managed 10.1 over the last two games. Knight is a low-end RB2, and Carter is a low-end RB3 if Benson is out.
Jameson Williams is a mid-range WR1 against the Cowboys.
Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury on Thanksgiving and is unlikely to play on Thursday night against Dallas. Against the Packers, Williams flipped the alpha switch with the Sun God injured.
The former first-round NFL Draft pick dominated with a 40% target share and 48% air yards share. He finished the day with a 90 Utilization Score and 26.9 fantasy points.
While the Dallas defense has improved in recent weeks and the Lions are hurting, oddsmakers don't seem to care. The Lions are three-point favorites and boast the third-highest team total (28.3) on the slate. The FantasyLife projection model usually projects Jared Goff higher than the prop market, but this week it is slightly lower (251 vs. 254).
Look for Williams to see a wide variety of routes that usually aren't available to him with ARSB dominating the underneath and intermediate looks. Williams is a threat to score from anywhere on the field in what projects as a shootout. We like that, y'all!
Chris Olave | Saints: In three games without Rashid Shaheed and catching passes from Tyler Shough, Olave has averaged 17.4 points with a 28% target share. He has compiled 130 air yards and 1.3 endzone targets per game. Those are elite WR1 numbers. The Saints have a gross team total of 17 points. However, the Buccaneers have been roasted by opposing pass catchers for 44 points per game over the last four, sanctioning a 7.1-point fantasy boost. Olave projects for 15 points with a 22.1 Xfinity Best ceiling—he is a low-end WR1.
Michael Wilson | Cardinals: Wilson's fantasy production cratered back through the atmosphere with Marvin Harrison back in the lineup in Week 13. However, Harrison suffered a heel injury in the third quarter and was eventually forced to exit the game. Harrison didn't practice on Wednesday. I am currently assuming Harrison won't play and have Wilson projected for 9.5 targets, 6.0 receptions, 68 yards, and 0.3 TDs. That gives him a projection of 14.7 points with a 21.6 Xfinity Best ceiling. Wilson averaged 16 targets and 186 air yards with 27.7 fantasy points in two games without MHJ. The Rams are a neutral matchup. Wilson is a mid-range WR2 with WR1 upside if Harrison can't play. If Harrison is active, he falls to WR3 status.
Adonai Mitchell | Jets: Mitchell has a 92% route participation rate over the last two games as a starter for New York. In those two games, he has elite marks in target share (32%) and air yards per game (174). He has averaged 15.2 points. The 2024 second-round NFL Draft pick has flashed big-time upside over his career, but consistency has been elusive. In five games as a starter over the last two years, he has averaged 11.3 points. I am on the bullish side of that outlook this weekend against a Dolphins defense that has boosted opposing pass catchers by 3.7 points over the last four weeks. Mitchell is a borderline WR2 with a 10.4 projection and 16.7 Xfinity Best ceiling.
Jakobi Meyers | Jaguars: In three games in a full-time role with Jacksonville, Meyers has averaged 15.9 points with a 71 Utilization Score. Over that span, he has a 25% target share with 56.7 air yards per game. His historical comps averaged 14 points per game with 50% finishing as WR2s and 31% as WR3s. Parker Washington (hip) is questionable for Week 14. The Jaguars carry a solid team total of 23.5 points as 1.5-point underdogs against the Colts. Indianapolis has endorsed the fifth-best fantasy boost to WR rooms at 4.2 points per game. Meyers projects for 11.4 points with a 17.5-point Xfinity Best ceiling.
John Metchie | Jets: Metchie only scored 5.7 points in Week 13, leading to many managers rage-cutting the veteran before waiver wires even opened. However, his underlying data was solid once again. He notched a 27% target share on a 98% route participation rate. In two games as a starter, Metchie has averaged 12.1 points with a 68 Utilization Score. It's a small sample, but his historical comparisons averaged 13.1 points with 44% finishing as WR3s. Metchie is a low-end WR3 option against the Dolphins in Week 14.
Devaughn Vele | Saints: Since the departure of Rashid Shaheed, Vele has taken over the WR2 role with a 91% route participation rate. Up until Week 13, the second-year WR hadn't done much with his opportunities. However, showed signs of life against the Dolphins, notching a 26% target share, 40% air yards share, and 33% endzone target share. I remain skeptical of Vele's talent profile based on his career-long underlying data, but he is still a young player. Based on his Utilization Score (60) in three games without Shaheed, his historical comparisons have averaged 11.3 points. The Bucs have been susceptible to passing attacks over the last four outings, boosting pass-catching units by 7.1 points per game. Vele is a low-end WR4 option with a 13.5-point Xfinity Best projection in Week 14.
Pat Bryant | Broncos: Bryant surpassed Troy Franklin for the WR2 role coming out of the Broncos' bye week. The rookie posted a 77% route participation rate and 17% target share versus 67% and 7% for Franklin. We don't know whether this data point will hold over the coming weeks, but the rookie has steadily earned more playing time throughout the season. Bryant was in the running for the SICKO WR start this week. He is a WR5 option against the Raiders (2.1 boost) for deep-league grinders.
TE Rapid Fire: Week 14 Rankings Upgrades & Pending News
Dalton Kincaid | Bills: Kincaid is questionable for Week 14. After getting in limited practice sessions last week and this Wednesday, he has a shot to play. While the former first-round pick has yet to secure a full-time role in the musical-chairs offense known as the Bills, he has been their best receiving weapon in 2025. Of TEs with at least 150 routes, he ranks first in targets per route run (TPRR) at 24% and yards per route run (YPRR) at 2.99. Buffalo possesses the No. 1 team total (28.8), and the Bengals have rolled out the red carpet for TEs. Cincinnati has boosted the position by 8.6 fantasy points per game—by far the highest mark in the NFL. Kincaid is a mid-range TE1 with high-end TE1 upside if he plays.
Brenton Strange | Jaguars: Strange returned to the lineup in Week 12. In the last two games, he has averaged 13.9 points with a 79 Utilization Score. The third-year former second-rounder has an 18% target share and 63.5 air yards per game. Strange's comps averaged 12.3 points, with most performing as mid-range TE1s to low-end TE1s. Indianapolis has boosted opposing TEs by 2.2 fantasy points per contest. Strange is a mid-range TE1 with four teams on bye.
Sicko Starts In The Week 14 Rankings
I want to throw in a few names for all my fellow fantasy managers who are in a SICKO league. If you are in a 12-team league with three starting WRs and two flexes, these are for you! Or you are in a more typical setup, but need a name to help get you through injuries; these are for you!
We are looking for players with a rostership under 50% who aren't in many starting lineups.
Let's go, you sickos.
Week 1: Daniel Jones (hit), Jerome Ford (miss), Rashod Bateman (miss), Hunter Henry (hit)
Week 2: Trevor Lawrence (hit), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (miss), Kayshon Boutte (hit), Juwan Johnson (hit)
Taylor is rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues and is in 6% of starting lineups.
Taylor scored 21.3 fantasy points in Week 13 against the Falcons. It was only his seventh game to play 90% of the snaps in the last three seasons. However, Taylor has been a decent fantasy option over that sample, averaging 16.9 points per game.
Passing yards per game: 240
Passing TDs per game: 1.14
Rushing yards per game: 34.0
Rushing TDs per game: 0.14
While Taylor isn't a high-end passer, he adds value with his legs. Over that six-game span, he has added 4.4 points of fantasy value with his legs alone. With Mitchell and Metchie giving the Jets' passing game life, Taylor has sneaky upside if he spikes through the air. In that seven-game sample, he has three such games: 279, 319, and 297.
Miami has given up 253 yards and 1.7 TDs per game over the last four outings via the air. They have boosted opponents by 20.9 yards and 0.3 TDs.
Taylor is a mid-range QB2 with QB1 upside in Week 14 against the Dolphins.
Blake Corum | RB | Rams
Corum is rostered in 25% of leagues and in less than 5% of lineups.
Kyren Williams suffered an ankle injury but was able to return to action in Week 13. Corum posted a season-high 14.1 fantasy points. The second-year back has averaged 10 rushing attempts per game since Week 7, when the team first made a concerted effort to improve his role.
While his attempts may look like they are trending in the wrong direction, that is due to play volume, not a change in role. His attempt share in Weeks 11 through 13 was 33%. Exactly the same as Weeks 7 to 10.
While finding projectable volume for backs rostered in under 50% of leagues is challenging, Corum is a potential pearl for Week 14. The Rams are 8.5-point favorites over the Cardinals and boast the No. 2 team total (28.5). Arizona has boosted rushing attacks by 3.6 points per contest over the last four games.
If Williams were to miss time, he is one of the top handcuffs in fantasy and would be the top waiver wire claim next week.
TeSlaa is rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues and is in only 2% of starting lineups.
With St. Brown trending towards an inactive status, along with Raymond and LaPorta missing, TeSlaa will get a chance to show what he has. The Lions swapped 2025 third-rounders and traded away two 2026 third-rounders to the Jaguars to secure his services.
To this point, the rookie hasn't shown much with a grotesque 6% TPRR. But to be fair, the Lions are one of the most loaded offenses in the NFL. That is a factor we have seen shroud our clarity on players in the past. Jauan Jennings is the most recent example.
This weekend, TeSlaa posted a 94% rote participation and 8% target share against the Packers in Week 13. He finished the day with 11.5 fantasy points.
The Cowboys have boosted opposing WR fantasy production more than any other defense at 7.8 points per game. The Lions are three-point favorites over Dallas and control the rights to the third-highest team total at 28.3.
TeSlaa grades out as a borderline WR3 in the projection model and is my WR40 because I am a coward.
Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Browns
Fannin is rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues and starts in 17% of lineups.
Fannin has emerged with a full-time role over the last two games with 81% and 93% route participation rates. He has 33% and 22% target shares in those contests.
There is no way to get around it—the Browns' offense is awful. However, Fannin is a rising star, and it looks like the team could be turning over a full-time role to their playmaker. Fannin's historical Utilization Score comparisons have been low-end TE1s, but he offers mid-range TE1 upside if Sheduer Sanders improves.
Matthew Stafford is a top-top three fantasy QB in Week 14.
Bucky Irving rejoins the top-12 RBs against the Saints.
Jameson Williams is a mid-range WR1 against the Cowboys.
Tyrod Taylor | QB | Jets
Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Browns
