Phinsider Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings

Upsets, injuries, and suspensions. Those are the key words summarizing last week’s slate of NFL games, the latter two of which were especially pertinent in Monday night’s bout between the Bengals and Steelers. Where does that leave us heading into the fantasy playoffs? Who jumps up and who slides down as a result of all the chaos? Find out below!

Each week of the NFL season, I’ll be giving an updated look at where the top players at each fantasy position stand, with matchups and injury concerns taken into account. For the sake of continuity, I’ll only be using standard scoring when constructing the rankings, so be sure to consider that when setting your lineups.

Quarterback

1. Tom Brady - @ Mia
2. Carson Wentz - @ LAR
3. Russell Wilson - @ Jax
4. Drew Brees - @ Atl
5. Matt Ryan - vs NO
6. Philip Rivers - vs Was
7. Kirk Cousins - @ LAC
8. Jared Goff - vs Phi
9. Derek Carr - @ KC
10. Alex Smith - vs Oak
11. Case Keenum - @ Car
12. Ben Roethlisberger - vs Bal
13. Matthew Stafford - @ TB
14. Jameis Winston - vs Det
15. Cam Newton - vs Min
16. Josh McCown - @ Den
17. Andy Dalton - vs Chi
18. Dak Prescott - @ NYG
19. Blake Bortles - vs Sea
20. Jay Cutler - vs NE

Philip Rivers has been on fire as of late, carrying Los Angeles to a 6-6 record after an 0-4 start to the season. He remains a top-shelf play this week against a mediocre Washington defense. On the injury front, Matthew Stafford would be an excellent start this week if not for a severely bruised throwing hand, and his status is one to monitor as the week progresses. Looking for a quarterback with a favorable matchup? Aim for Derek Carr. Kansas City’s defense has been horrendous defending the pass and just gave up 38 points to the New York Jets.

Running Back

1. Le’Veon Bell - vs Bal
2. Todd Gurley - vs Phi
3. Alvin Kamara - @ Atl
4. Mark Ingram - @ Atl
5. Melvin Gordon - vs Was
6. Kareem Hunt - vs Oak
7. LeSean McCoy - vs Ind
8. Leonard Fournette - vs Sea
9. Carlos Hyde - @ Hou
10. Lamar Miller - vs SF
11. Devonta Freeman - vs NO
12. Christian McCaffrey - vs Min
13. Kenyan Drake - vs NE
14. Rex Burkhead - @ Mia
15. Jamaal Williams - @ Cle
16. Latavius Murray - @ Car
17. Marshawn Lynch - @ KC
18. Jordan Howard - @ Cin
19. Alex Collins - @ Pit
20. Dion Lewis - @ Mia

Kenyan Drake solidified his role as Miami’s lead runner this week and should be in line for a heavy workload regardless of Damien Williams’ health. Drake will be an even higher upside play if Williams can’t go. Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis have been a two-headed monster for New England over the past few weeks, but I like Burkhead as the more rewarding play given his increased role in the red zone. The health of Mark Ingram (toe) and Alex Collins (migraines) need to be kept track of this week, with Ingram’s status being of paramount importance given the fact that he’s playing on Thursday night.

Wide Receiver

1. Antonio Brown - vs Bal
2. DeAndre Hopkins - vs SF
3. Julio Jones - vs NO
4. Keenan Allen - vs Was
5. A.J. Green - vs Chi
6. Larry Fitzgerald - vs Ten
7. Adam Thielen - @ Car
8. Tyreek Hill - vs Oak
9. Michael Thomas - @ Atl
10. Mike Evans - vs Det
11. Brandin Cooks - @ Mia
12. Jarvis Landry - vs NE
13. Doug Baldwin - @ Jax
14. Alshon Jeffery - @ LAR
15. Davante Adams - @ Cle
16. Michael Crabtree - @ KC
17. Marvin Jones Jr. - @ TB
18. Robby Anderson - @ Den
19. Golden Tate - @ TB
20. Dez Bryant - @ NYG

Antonio Brown is the unquestioned #1 receiver each and every week. His importance in Pittsburgh’s offense and tremendous upside make it impossible to list him at any other spot, regardless of his matchup. Michael Crabtree and Marvin Jones are in favorable spots this week, with Crabtree possibly being Oakland’s primary option in the passing game if Amari Cooper sits. Jones’ value could fluctuate depending on the health of Matthew Stafford.

Tight End

1. Travis Kelce - vs Oak
2. Zach Ertz - @ LAR
3. Jimmy Graham - @ Jax
4. Delanie Walker - @ Ari
5. Kyle Rudolph - @ Car
6. Evan Engram - vs Dal
7. Cameron Brate - vs Det
8. Hunter Henry - vs Was
9. Jack Doyle - @ Buf
10. Jason Witten - @ NYG
11. Jared Cook - @ KC
12. Stephen Anderson - vs SF
13. Austin Hooper - vs NO
14. Benjamin Watson - @ Pit
15. Tyler Kroft - vs Chi
16. Vernon Davis - @ LAC
17. Julius Thomas - vs NE
18. Charles Clay - vs Ind
19. Austin Seferian-Jenkins - @ Den
20. David Njoku - vs GB

Much like with the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver positions, we have an injury concern at tight end. It’s just the nature of the NFL at this point in the season. This week, we have Zach Ertz’s health to monitor. The talented Eagles tight end suffered a concussion in Sunday’s game against Seattle and is very questionable for this week’s contest against the Rams. If Ertz can’t play, Trey Burton would be a last-ditch streaming option.

Defense/Special Teams

1. Pittsburgh - vs Bal
2. New England - @ Mia
3. Jacksonville - vs Sea
4. Baltimore - @ Pit
5. Los Angeles (Chargers) - vs Was
6. Seattle - @ Jax
7. Los Angeles (Rams) - vs Phi
8. Philadelphia - @ LAR
9. Cincinnati - vs Chi
10. New York (Jets) - @ Den
11. New Orleans - @ Atl
12. Minnesota - @ Car
13. Chicago - @ Cin
14. Green Bay - @ Cle
15. Carolina - vs Min
16. Denver - vs NYJ
17. Detroit - @ TB
18. Houston - vs SF
19. Arizona - vs Ten
20. Dallas - @ NYG

Most of the top defensive units have difficult matchups this week, which means many fantasy owners will be in search of streaming options. If those in your league have neglected to pick up the Chargers’ defense, or are dropping them now that Los Angeles has concluded its matchup with Cleveland, swoop in and pick the Chargers right up. Washington has given plenty of fantasy points to team defenses and should continue to do so against Los Angeles’ underrated defense. Cincinnati and New York are two more D/ST options to keep an eye on given their favorable matchups.

Kicker

1. Greg Zurlein - vs Phi
2. Stephen Gostkowski - @ Mia
3. Will Lutz - @ Atl
4. Justin Tucker - @ Pit
5. Matt Bryant - vs NO
6. Jake Elliot - @ LAR
7. Chris Boswell - vs Bal
8. Matt Prater - @ TB
9. Harrison Butker - vs Oak
10. Ryan Succop - @ Ari
11. Chandler Catanzaro - @ Den
12. Kai Fortbath - @ Car
13. Adam Vinatieri - @ Buf
14. Robbie Gould - @ Hou
15. Mason Crosby - @ Cle
16. Graham Gano - vs Min
17. Stephen Hauschka - vs Ind
18. Ka’imi Fairbairn - vs SF
19. Blair Walsh - @ Jax
20. Phil Dawson - vs Ten

Will Lutz and Matt Bryant are two kickers to target this week. New Orleans and Atlanta are likely to engage in one of the week’s highest scoring contests, a situation that is favorable for both teams’ respective kickers. Mason Crosby is a good streaming option to take advantage of ahead of this week’s bout with Cleveland, one in which Green Bay should score a large number of points.