Renee Miiler answers your fantasy football lineup questions leading up to kickoff.
Renee Miller
December 10, 2023 at 12:50 PM EST
(Photo: Mike Carlson / Getty Images)
Week 14! Let's answer your questions.
Good morning fantasy footballers! We’ve got a bunch of divisional matchups today, which are often tough, not to mention iffy weather in New York and potentially other East Coast stadiums. I’ve tried to prioritize the win and get in questions – you know I love some context in my questions.
As I wrote earlier this week, this is the time of year to throw out all preconceived notions and make decisions like a beginner. If you knew nothing about ADP or years of player history, what would you do? That might mean sitting a highly drafted, big-name player in a terrible spot today. No offense, Tony Pollard. Take a fresh look at your options without the baggage of ownership biases, unmet expectations or pressure to somehow win in the least likely most exciting way. It’s just about doing the things that give you the highest odds of a win.
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Week 14 fantasy football lineup decisions: Benching Nico Collins vs. the Jets and more tough calls
Cooper or Cooks?
Q: Amari Cooper (assuming he plays) or Brandin Cooks?? - Sean P.
Cooks.
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Start Evan Engram
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today
Q: Should I start Evan Engram or pick up Brevin Jordan and start him? - Kevin S. W.
Engram.
Who has the better chance to pop off big?
Q: If I get down big, who would have the better chance to pop off big: Pollard, Nacua, or McKinnon? - Aaron S.
Pollard has the toughest route to a huge game, but either McKinnon or Nacua could post huge numbers. Both have their drawbacks too (Baltimore's D for Nacua and CEH for McKinnon).
Generally, I’ll take the WR if I need a monster stat line.
Dalton Kincaid or Dallas Goedert?
(Gregory Fisher / USA Today)
Q: Dalton Kincaid or Dallas Goedert? PPR - Chandler M.
Kincaid.
Who for my second RB spot?
Q: T. Spears or CEH as a second with Kyren? Oh, and as of right now, Jet McKinnon is a FA option, too. Full PPR. Thanks! - Chris M.
CEH arguably has the highest floor, but I like Spears a lot this week. As noted earlier, Tennessee’s best bet this week is to run, run, run and keep the ball out of Hill’s hands as much as possible.
Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields?
(Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
Q: Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields? - Nick M.
Jackson.
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For DST, Niners or Packers?
Q: Defenses count for a bit more in my league’s scoring, which do include tackles for loss in addition to the standard INT/FUM/Pts allowed stuff.
So: Niners at home vs Seattle…or…Packers at NYG?
Many thanks…. - Josh E.
I’d stick with SF, even if Geno Smith plays this afternoon. They’ve been so dominant. The Packers are tempting, but in a tie break situation, I go with the home team.
Who to start at flex?
Q: Flex options are Mostert, Zay Jones or A Cooper?
Current lineup: QB Prescott. RB McCaffrey, Swift. WR Lamb, Allen. TE Kincaid. D SF. K Moody. Flex ? - Wayne M.
It’s a solid team with enough upside. I’d go with Mostert for a bit of security given that it wouldn’t surprise anyone if either Jones or Cooper had a one-catch week.
Which 2 should I start?
Kirby Lee / USA Today
Q: Start 2 out of 3 RB: Bijan, Kyren or Zach Moss? - James L.
Kyren and Robinson.
Jonathan Mingo or Tyjae Spears?
Q: Jonathan Mingo or Tyjae Spears? - Berkinshaw C.
This one’s interesting. I predict a run-heavy game plan for the Titans, which should mean at least a few additional opportunities for Spears, but Carolina’s new coaching regime looks interested in finding out what Mingo can do.
Unfortunately, against New Orleans, that might not be much. I’d go with Spears.
Gus or McKinnon?
Q: Gus Bus or McKinnon with Pacheco out? - Kevin J.
McKinnon.
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Wealth of riches, who do I bench?
(Eric Hartline / USA Today)
Q: I have a good problem. D. Samuel, A Brown, M Evans and J Jefferson rostered. I can only play 3. Who do I bench? - David S.
This live blog is meant to help people with actual problems. And your only problem is the confines of your league’s starting lineup.
Two flex spots are always better than one. Anyway, forcing me to pick which of these guys will put up a dud isn’t fair, but I’ll go with AJ Brown vs. the Cowboys.
Advice on receivers, DST
Q: Need two from Nacua, Hall, Sutton, Hopkins and Javonte. Std scoring. Also, ride with Dallas DST at home against Philly or stream the Vikings @ Vegas? - T D.
I think you have to stick with Dallas here. They’re by far the more talented unit. Frankly, it’s hard to trust the Vikings to take advantage of the Raiders’ mistakes.
I’d go with Puka and Hopkins among the skill players.
Weather be damned, start Stroud
Q: Stroud in the pouring rain against the Jets pass D or Ridder, in a dome, against Tampa? Win and in the playoffs…. - Jacob G.
This is the kind of question I was anticipating when I said throw out your preconceived notions, and if your alternate option was anyone else I might say bench Stroud.
Like Minshew, or even Jake Browning. But I can’t recommend sitting Stroud for Ridder, weather be damned. Good luck!
Decisions, decisions
(Appleton Post-Crescent / USA Today)
Q: Half PPR: Romeo Doubs or Jordan Addison? And streaming QB: Josh Dobbs, Jake Browning or Gardner Minshew? - Almendra L.
Minshew’s the QB and those are about the two most equal WR options I’ve seen in today’s questions. Whew.
You should be set either way, but I guess I’d start Doubs in the easier matchup with his role being elevated sans Christian Watson while Addison’s role will take a hit with Jefferson back.
Need a streaming defense suggestion
(Thomas Shea / USA Today)
Q: I have Texans now but Packers, Saints, Vikings, Chargers, Raiders, Colts are available. - Leonard T.
Stick with Houston today. The Jets are almost as low-scoring as the Giants and they’re playing in a downpour.
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Guillotine league advice
Q: I’m in a guillotine league that’s down to six teams. Full PPR. Would you consider sitting Etienne with the Jags uncertainty and Browns D, for Chubba Hubbard? What about Courtland Sutton or Rashee Rice in the flex? - Michael P.
Yes, I’d have no issue starting Hubbard today over Etienne for your exact reasons. The WR is trickier, both are appealing today.
I think Sutton is the safer play for volume and matchup, but it could be a much lower-scoring game.
TD only league, who should I go with?
(Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Q: Please help, need three out of these six in a TD only league. D. Henry, T. Pollard, Keaton Mitchell, DK Metcalf, Brandon Cooks, Jake Ferguson. Help! - Mark L.
Fun format! I like Henry, Cooks and Mitchell.
Cooks is three-for-three in red zone scoring opportunities, and he has four of his five touchdowns in the last six games since the Cowboys’ bye week. I’d be more comfortable with Metcalf if we knew Geno Smith was a full go, but you won’t.
I’d start Mitchell to be on the safe side because SF is going to make things extra tricky for Drew Lock if he’s the starter today.
Which 2 should I go with in Half-PPR?
Q: Half-PPR, need two of Garrett Wilson, Calvin Ridley, Noah Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Brandon Cooks, Christian Watson. - Greig W.
Happily, we can eliminate Watson from contention. I’m also fine with sitting Ridley with a less mobile Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Beathard against the Browns.
You’re starting Cooks and probably DeAndre Hopkins.
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