Fantasy Football Make or Break: Chasing the top in must-win Week 14

We took a bit of a break in Week 13, but I’m back with five “pivotal” players for Week 14. Six teams have a bye this week and top talent is out, leaving fantasy managers to make important decisions at every position.

We’re attacking every single offensive position this week with risky options with high potential that could pay off in the short term.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

Will Levis has risen up the rankings to become a borderline QB1 and is a very streamable option in Week 14. Of all the players on byes this week, the quarterback position is perhaps the most impacted, with four typical top-12 quarterbacks – Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and CJ Stroud – goodbye, plus strong streaming options like Anthony Richardson and Drake Maye. Add in terrible matchups with normally trustworthy options like Matthew Stafford and Geno Smith, and you have the perfect storm that has carried Levis into potential QB1 territory.

There are more interesting streaming options this week. Cooper Rush had an excellent match against Cincinnati, and Aidan O’Connell looked fantastic last week and had a great match against Tampa Bay. Oddly enough, Levis is the most trustworthy option among the less reliable quarterbacks with excellent matchups.

Yes, I said it: Will Levis is trustworthy. Since returning from injury and despite several strong defensive duels, Levis has shown a surprisingly solid record with at least 16 fantasy points and a top-10 finish against the LA Chargers.

Will Levis make or break Your lineup in Week 14?

Levis is chaotic and will turn the ball over, but he has thrown two touchdowns in three of the last four games. He tends to throw for volume, and when he doesn’t, he’s strangely accurate. Regardless of whether he throws fewer than 25 or more than 30 attempts, he completes almost exactly 18 passes every game. It’s not much, but it’s reliable. In a week where fantasy managers are looking for streaming quarterbacks with a combination of solid floor and QB1 advantage, Levis offers both, especially in a matchup against a Jacksonville defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks .

Gus Edwards, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

With JK Dobbins out for the season, the Chargers’ backfield remains a mystery that seems impossible to solve. Last week, Gus Edwards, Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins combined for just 52 rushing yards on 11 carries and one reception. To be fair, the Falcons defense has been tougher against the run than the pass lately, and the overall flow of the game has been very strange.

Unfortunately, this week’s matchup against Kansas City isn’t any better and likely won’t provide much clarity. Edwards should lead the way, but he has never scored double-digit fantasy points in a game this season. The somewhat good news is that Edwards appears to be taking the lead and efficiency wasn’t the issue last week; The Chargers had limited performance overall offensively.

Will Edwards make or break Your lineup in Week 14?

Edwards offers no receiving upside and the Chiefs allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs. However, a leadback is a leadback and with so many options with a bye or dealing with injuries, Edwards is rated as a high-end RB3 or flex option. Edwards’ best-case scenario is a goal-line touchdown set up by Justin Herbert, taking advantage of Kansas City’s vulnerable secondary. Without a touchdown, expect another performance under five points. However, if he can capitalize at the goal line, 10-15 fantasy points is a realistic expectation.

Will Dissly, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

Edwards isn’t the only Charger we care about this week. When I initially selected the players for this article, things weren’t looking great for Ladd McConkey, but he’s training so he could play this week. We’ll have to keep an eye on the injury news because if McConkey is out or potentially limited, the Chargers’ roster is dismal and there’s no real trustworthy option. Instead of forcing 10-15 targets on Quentin Johnston, we could see an increased reliance on Will Dissly.

Dissly battled an injury last week and played a normal snap count but had just one score and no balls — a shocking performance for a tight end that many fantasy managers have relied on as a streaming option. Dissly operated as a TE1 for most of the season, but really came to prominence in Week 7 with eight receptions on 11 targets for 81 yards. From Week 7 to Week 12, Dissly was a borderline TE1, averaging eight fantasy points per game. While that may seem disappointing, it’s enough to make it a reliable streaming option.

Will Dissly make or break Your lineup in Week 14?

While Dissly’s lack of touchdown equity limits his potential in non-PPR leagues, his previous volume was reliable prior to last week. If the targets shift back to Dissly, this is the perfect matchup to play him. Kansas City was incredibly strong on the run and more vulnerable on the pass, especially to its tight ends, who allowed the fourth-most fantasy points this season. Monitor McConkey’s status and play Dissly accordingly.

Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin, WRs, Dallas Cowboys

Cooper Rush moves up slightly in the rankings as a streaming option this week given their matchup against Cincinnati, but it’s still incredibly difficult to trust him knowing his floor could yield negative points. Rush is more of a desperate option for Superflex. In typical leagues, however, his pass catchers are the more interesting options.

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The Cowboys have relied heavily on Rico Dowdle lately, and that should continue given the matchup. However, if Cincinnati dominates Dallas’ defense, the Cowboys could be forced to make more passes. CeeDee Lamb clearly remains the main target, but secondary options are potentially viable this week.

Cooks returned to the lineup last week, and while his snap count was limited (likely because he brought him back into the game), the team was single-minded in its targets. We have also seen an increase in Turpin usage. Turpin was electrifying on special teams and it makes sense to integrate such a dynamic weapon into the offense. It may be scary to turn to Rush’s second and third options, but if you’re struggling to find viable replacements, the matchup presents an excellent opportunity for speculative plays.

Will Cooks or Turpin make or break Your lineup in Week 14?

The Cowboys tried to acquire Jonathan Mingo happen – But we all see that this is a failed attempt – and Jalen Tolbert remains a presence as well, but Cooks and Turpin are the only options with real potential. In most leagues, Cooks is the safer player, as his limited snaps last week were likely due to his return from injury. He is likely to be used more this week and his track record speaks for itself.

In deeper leagues, Turpin is a risky but intriguing option. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where he has significant touches, but four to five of them is enough for a player like Turpin to create a flex-worthy advantage.

Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

For fantasy managers looking for deeper options, Washington is a realistic pivot. I promise this isn’t reactionary. Washington’s breakout performance in Week 13 was directly related to Gabe Davis being sidelined and Houston’s secondary becoming more vulnerable following the departure of Texas linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. When Davis is out, Washington sees an increase in snap count. The opportunity is there, it just depends on whether Mac Jones can deliver a solid game and provide enough volume to his receiving corps.

This week’s matchup against Tennessee is intriguing. The Titans were generous with opposing quarterbacks and receivers in the second half of the season. While the quarterback volume wasn’t always particularly high against Tennessee, it was enough to produce several fantasy-relevant receivers.

Will Washington make or break Your lineup in Week 14?

Despite the defensive issues on both sides, Vegas doesn’t expect this to be a high-scoring matchup, with an over/under of just 40.5. However, a close matchup is expected and this dynamic should allow the Jags to put together a balanced attack. For Mac Jones to be successful, we want him to have a tight, comfortable game where he can distribute the ball effectively.

Given the volatility of the Jags’ offense, you’ll need a strong stomach to play against Washington. However, as the second option behind Brian Thomas Jr., Washington offers potential volume in a week where volume could be king.