Fantasy Football Week 14 Quarterback Who Should I Start? Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, and More

Jayden Daniels makes his return this week after missing the last three games and four of the past five. Washington's season is over, but they would surely like to see their franchise quarterback healthy and productive to carry some good vibes into 2026.

At his best, Daniels is a top-five fantasy quarterback, but there are real questions about what to expect as he faces an inconsistent defense with an underachieving offense (which is partly the case because Daniels has missed time). As fantasy owners try to find his place in the fantasy hierarchy, Daniels has been showing up all over our FantasySP start/sit tool.

Let's look at Daniels and four quarterbacks who he has been compared to often on the start/sit tool. We'll do a head-to-head quick-hit exercise to determine the best starter in each situation. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's Who Should I Start? tool to compare players and help make your toughest lineup decisions each week!

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders @ Minnesota Vikings

Here's something fun: Even after missing seven weeks (including Washington's bye), Daniels is still QB30. That's low, but it isn't completely in the basement, showing how productive Daniels has been when on the field. He has scored the 10th-most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks.

Minnesota has allowed the 13th-most yards per pass attempt but the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. A big part of that good fantasy performance has to do with a lack of volume, as the Vikings have faced the third-fewest pass attempts (just six more than the last-place Bills).

That has led to fewer than 200 passing yards per game, though 14 touchdowns to just three interceptions work in the QBs' favor. Mobile quarterbacks have been able to find success, on the ground, as Caleb Williams had 58 and 26 yards in his two games, Lamar Jackson had 36, and Justin Herbert had 62 against Minnesota.

Daniels has a super-high ceiling, but there are also a few questions. The matchup here is probably somewhere in the middle, leaving Daniels as a good fantasy option.

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jackson has dealt with his own injury issues, missing three games early. It looked like Baltimore's season might be over, but a poor division and an easier schedule have pushed them into a tie with Pittsburgh at the top of the AFC North.

Jackson hasn't put up his usual volume when on the field. He is still doing well from an efficiency standpoint, but Jackson has been under 200 passing yards in four of nine games and under 20 rushing yards in four of nine also.

The Steelers have given up the 13th-fewest yards per pass attempt but the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. They are the opposite of the Vikings in that Pittsburgh has faced the second-most pass attempts, just two fewer than the top team.

Advice: Start Lamar Jackson over Jayden Daniels. Both players have high ceilings, and I would like both of them in my lineup, but Jackson might have the little better matchup, so I'll give him the slight advantage.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

It was reported last week that Jones was playing with a fractured femur, something that is likely to limit his mobility. He had 201 passing yards on 7.4 per attempt against a tough Houston defense after that report, and he did look limited in his movement.

The Jaguars have allowed the fifth-fewest yards per pass attempt but the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Jacksonville is tied with Pittsburgh for the second-most attempts faced, a victim of volume rather than poor play.

Advice: Start Jayden Daniels over Daniel Jones. There is risk with Jones' injury status, and he also has a tougher matchup here, leaving Daniels with the better outlook.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

Opposing Jones is Lawrence, who isn't a weekly fantasy starter but does rank as QB12, showing fantasy usability. He is averaging around 220 passing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and he has done some of his best fantasy work by running for almost 20 yards per game with five scores.

The Colts are the team that has faced more pass attempts than anyone else, over 38 per game. They are right in the middle in both yards per pass attempt allowed and fantasy points given up to QBs.

Advice: Start Jayden Daniels over Trevor Lawrence. Daniels has a much higher ceiling, and the matchup here is middling.

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

Mayfield hasn't been up to his standard of the past two years, when he was over 4,000 passing yards and had 69 touchdowns to 26 interceptions. Mayfield is on pace for less than 3,700 yards this season, and while his 19 TDs to five INTs are fine, Mayfield's rushing is also down.

The Saints have given up the eighth-most yards per pass attempt but are just a little better than average in fantasy points allowed the QBs. As with the other teams we have talked about, New Orleans' fantasy performance is driven by volume, as they have faced the second-fewest pass attempts.

Advice: Start Jayden Daniels over Baker Mayfield. The Tampa Bay passer has been down this season, and he's also dealing with a left shoulder injury, something that could hurt both his passing and rushing production.