Fantasy Football Week 14 Quarterback Start/Sit: Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, and More
Three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 14 of the NFL season.
It is the last week of the fantasy regular season in many leagues. Some owners know their fate, whether that's making the playoffs or playing for the consolation trophy. Others are still fighting for position, either for seeding or even the last playoff spot.
Every decision matters at this point, so those who need to find a quarterback this week could be making the choice that will push them into the postseason; no pressure. There are guys with strong matchups who fit the bill, so even in a deep league, you might have an appealing option.
Let's look at three quarterbacks to start and three to sit in Week 14 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names below, like Josh Allen. Instead, we have six guys who are good fantasy starters some weeks but better left on the bench other times. Most stats are from NFL.com.
Use FantasySP's weekly projections to find the players expected to perform best and help make your toughest lineup decisions!
Start
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Commanders
How scary do you want to get? McCarthy has looked inept at times, and he missed last week with a concussion. He is set to return for this one, but how can we have any confidence in his performance?
Well, the matchup is one reason. Washington has allowed the most yards per pass attempt and the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Four of their past five opponents have reached at least 299 passing yards, and the Commanders have given up 23 passing touchdowns with just six interceptions on the season.
They don't allow rushing production to QBs, something that has helped McCarthy find fantasy success in a few games. Just five out of 12 players have reached double-digit rushing yards against Washington, and they have given up just one touchdown.
McCarthy is a low-level streamer. The matchup is great, but there's still a low floor given his struggles. McCarthy is a guy to consider if you're in a deep league and lost Drake Maye to the bye this week, for instance.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rookie Shough has started four games and looked functional if below average. He has averaged 235 passing yards per game on 7.1 per attempt with five touchdowns and three interceptions; that is very average work.
Throw in about 10 rushing yards per game, and Shough has been a guy who can be considered as a low-level streamer in the right matchups. He was QB12 in both Week 10 and Week 13; he threw for 239 yards with two touchdowns, and interception, and 18 rushing yards against Miami last week.
That was a good matchup, and this one is even better against Tampa Bay. The Bucs have given up the fifth-most yards per pass attempt and the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Four teams threw for over 300 yards against Tampa, and four others went for more than 250; they have regularly been beaten for big numbers.
QBs have been able to find a little running room, averaging 22.6 yards per game and scoring four touchdowns. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Shough approach 20 rushing yards, which he has in each of the past two games.
There is a low floor here due to a lack of playmakers and maybe the league's worst offensive line, but Shough has at least looked like an NFL quarterback, if not a future star. With the matchup heavily in his favor, he has a chance at another top-12 fantasy week.
Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
Taylor is coming off a QB7 fantasy finish, a product of 44 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Taylor threw for just 172 yards on 5.2 per attempt with a touchdown, but his work in the run game put him among the fantasy starters.
While he obviously has some rushing ability, Taylor isn't going to consistently put up stats like that. He ran for 48 yards in a game earlier this season but otherwise averaged 17 yards per game, a decent total, but not the type of production that will carry low passing stats in fantasy.
The matchup is again the biggest positive here, as the Dolphins have allowed the seventh-most yards per pass attempt and the ninth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Miami just let Shough have a top-12 day in Week 13, and Taylor has some of that same upside here.
Taylor has also found a connection with two new receivers, former second-round picks John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell, who were both acquired near the trade deadline. With a few weapons, some rushing production, and a great matchup, Taylor is a decent streamer in Week 14.
Sit
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
Mahomes' numbers are fairly in line with the past two seasons, with a lower completion percentage but slightly higher yards-per-attempt mark. He is on pace for more yards (4,587) and touchdowns (31) than the previous two years, currently ranked as fantasy QB2.
That would seem to put him in must-start territory, but the matchup here is absolutely brutal. Houston has given up the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, looking like maybe the best defense in football.
Quarterbacks are averaging less than 200 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions against the Texans. They are also running for less than 20 yards per game, and no QB has scored a rushing touchdown against Houston. Fantasy points are scarce.
Some owners will continue starting Mahomes because of his name and his performance so far, but there is a good chance that Mahomes finishes outside the fantasy starters. Nothing is going to come easy, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a turnover or two to go with multiple sacks.
Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
Smith was listed here last week also against the Chargers. He ended up with 165 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, a modest fantasy day. The matchup here is just as bad, as the Broncos have given up the third-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
It has been a trying year for both Smith and the Raiders. Popular thought pegged Las Vegas as a team that could be decent on offense after the additions of Smith, Ashton Jeanty, and a new coaching staff, but that has been far from the case. The Raiders have instead scored the second-fewest points per game, and Smith ranks as QB19 despite barely missing a snap.
With a guy who is struggling on a team that is struggling, the outlook won't be positive often. When the matchup is about as bad as can be, it makes Smith a must-bench player, along with most other Raiders.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
The Bears are THE surprise team of the league right now, sitting in first place in the NFC at 9-3 after beating the Eagles in the Black Friday game. There are plenty of reasons to believe that Chicago will regress to the mean, but they only need about one more win to lock in a playoff spot.
Williams is on pace for over 3,850 passing yards at a very average 6.9 yards per attempt. He is also on track for close to 435 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, all coming together to put Williams at QB9.
The matchup is again the biggest problem here, as the Packers have allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt and the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Quarterbacks are averaging just over 200 passing yards and 10.3 rushing yards per game against Green Bay, not able to find volume or efficiency.
Williams has been a good fantasy player, but this is likely to be a slower week. These teams play again in two weeks, so this one may give us a clue of what to expect in that rematch (which will come during the fantasy playoffs).
