Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 14 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Braelon Allen, Parker Washington, Isaac Guerendo, Noah Gray

December 7, 2024

Scott Engel supplies you with fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 14 (2024). He features key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 14 fantasy football lineup decisions.

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our Week 14 fantasy football lineup spotlights, where we discuss key starters and tough calls for Week 14 fantasy lineups. Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights are an essential weekly feature on RotoBaller.com for the 2024 fantasy football season. Every week, he focuses on players to choose as starting options when you are dealing with tight lineup decisions.

The lineup picks included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code "KING" at checkout for an additional discount and access his player rankings in all formats. Plus, you will gain access to a deep bucket of tools and analysis for in-season use.

When considering the players included here for lineup usage, also consult our staff fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is tied to Scott’s Week 14 PPR rankings.

Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 14

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

It appears that the Jets don’t have anything to play for at Miami this week. The Aaron Rodgers era is already a massive failure, and Breece Hall and Sauce Gardner are not expected to play, making another gloomy Jets season even darker.

But no matter their record or the situation at the time, Jets teams have often raised their levels of tenacity when facing their longest and fiercest rival, the Miami Dolphins. This week, the Jets can actually ruin the season of the 5-7 Dolphins, who likely need to win out to make the playoffs.

Appropriate that Braelon Allen scores his first NFL TD against the #Titans.

He had been intentionally training with Derrick Henry, learning from him this offseason as Allen looks a whole lot like him at ~6’2”, ~240 pounds. pic.twitter.com/zBdHbs6vEt

— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) September 15, 2024

Allen is capable of being a rare bright spot for the Jets this week. In the preseason and early in the regular season, the rookie showed some real signs of promise as a determined runner and tackle-breaker. In Week 2 against the Titans, he scored on a 20-yard TD run and caught a 12-yard TD pass. Now, he will get a chance to be the lead RB, and if he gets into a rhythm, a quality fantasy day is possible.

Jets fans actually wanted to see more of Allen earlier this season, and now they will get an extensive look at him in a prime spoiler spot. The 235-pounder can help his team control the clock, and Miami ranks 20^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. You can start Allen as an RB2 streamer or flex play.

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars present a favorable fantasy matchup for players at any position. This week, I am getting a lot of questions about whether to start Pollard or not, for various reasons. The most prominent ones are that some may want to start him over a guy who has been more reliable or outstanding, and others are hesitant and may not trust him to take advantage of the matchup.

In Week 12, Pollard finished as the fantasy RB5, boosting his outlook for a brief spell. But he was RB32 last week and has not finished as a top-10 RB any other time this season other than two weeks ago. He’s finished in the top 15 five times. Pollard has no apparent fantasy upside.

Still, the matchup is too tempting against the NFL’s worst defense, which also ranks 29^th in FFPG allowed to RBs. With Mac Jones at QB, that unit may spend a lot of time on the field, and Pollard can also finish off scoring drives with a TD run or two.

Overthinking can be more prevalent and dangerous at this time of the fantasy season. Just plug Pollard in and enjoy the results. I would not start him over a usual locked-in guy like James Cook or Chase Brown, but he is a top-end fantasy RB2 for NFL Week 14.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers always do a good job of identifying the right RBs to fit their system. Guerendo is the latest example. The rookie is a dual threat with his blend of power and open-field explosiveness. He is averaging 5.9 yards per carry on limited action so far and flashed significant potential with a 76-yard run in Week 5 at Seattle.

At 5-7 and coming off three deflating losses, the Niners are at home against a beatable Bears team in a must-win situation. Chicago ranks 26^th in rushing yards allowed to RBs. San Francisco still has enough playmakers to impose its offensive will on the Bears. Guerendo could be good for 100-plus rushing yards and a TD run, so start him with confidence as a streaming RB2.

Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 14

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

I am including Meyers here because I need to emphasize just how good he has been recently and who I am starting him over in NFL Week 14. He was a limited participant in practice on Friday and is expected to play against the highly vulnerable Tampa Bay pass defense. The ankle injury reportedly is not going to hold him back from performing well again.

Yes, Meyers has only two TD receptions this season, but he finished with 95-plus yards in three of his last four games. During that span, he caught 28 passes on 43 targets. Aidan O’Connell will not hesitate to sling the ball, and the Buccaneers rank 27^th in FFPG allowed to WRs.

This week, I rank Meyers in the top 15 at WR, ahead of Jerry Jeudy (I like him, yet I won’t be chasing last week, either), Jauan Jennings, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams and Marvin Harrison Jr., as examples. Lock Meyers in as a fantasy WR 3 this week.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

Yes, I fell for the hype on Marvin Harrison Jr. this preseason and drafted him early. Heck, he was supposed to be a rare rookie who would instantly make a significant fantasy impact more than most others. But it has become clear that he is just a boom-or-bust performer and needs a lot of refinement.

Harrison has just three top-15 fantasy WR finishes this season, and one of those was in Week 2. He’s only topped 70 receiving yards twice and caught more than five passes once. Harrison also doesn’t get enough help from the other Arizona WRs in terms of drawing away defensive coverage, and Kyler Murray sometimes doesn’t look his way downfield when a big play is possible.

#Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s said it was not his job to throw Marvin Harrison Jr. the ball.

I’d argue it absolutely is his job to throw him the ball when it looks like this.pic.twitter.com/MbdQifcDOS

— Rippe🎯 (@MichaelRippe) September 12, 2024

The seven TD receptions cannot be overlooked, but Harrison is an unreliable fantasy WR3. Against a Seahawks defense that has tightened up recently, he is not a top-25 fantasy WR this week. This is a big and pivotal game for the Cardinals in the NFC West, and a TD reception is possible. But Harrison can only complement your better players, not boost your team to a win.

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars

It is a natural inclination of many fantasy players to chase production from a previous game, and Washington is an ideal example of one such pursuit. Last week, he caught six passes for 103 yards and a TD. Last season, Washington also flashed in Week 13, catching all six of his targets for 61 yards and a TD.

During the remainder of the 2024 season, Washington never topped 30 yards and he finished with more than two catches just once. Now he will be trying to replicate last week’s performance with Mac Jones at QB. Tennessee ranks sixth in FFPG allowed to WRs. Going with Washington is just too risky yet, even in a week with six teams on byes and other injuries being factored in.

Quarterback and Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 14

Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

No team allows more FFPG to QBs, so it’s just a matter of being confident in Levis to take advantage of the matchup and who you should start him over. He has passed for two TDs in three of the past four games and 275-plus in two of the last four. If you need a replacement streamer for one week, Levis actually has more statistical upside than usual in this matchup.

This week, I rank Levis ahead of Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams, Matthew Stafford, and Derek Carr. He’s a top-15 fantasy QB for NFL Week 14. I feel more comfortable with Russell Wilson if George Pickens plays and Jameis Winston, who fears no defense, but I will not hesitate to stream Levis.

Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs

So many fantasy leaguers are struggling at TE, especially with six teams on a bye. Yet Gray is rostered in only 25 percent of Sleeper leagues, so check your free agent list to see if he is available. After catching two TD passes in two consecutive games, Gray finished with four receptions for 58 yards last week, and you will take those types of numbers from a streaming TE any time.

We're very much UNDER-reacting to the OTHER #Chiefs TE Noah Gray, whose connection with Patrick Mahomes has led to career numbers this season. 🙌😤

Last 3 weeks:
🔺 147 receiving yards
🔺 4 TOT TD
🔺 9 1st Down Receptions@heykayadams @Chiefs | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/EgUEJkWp0Y

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 4, 2024

Patrick Mahomes trusts Gray as a target on key passing downs and in scoring situations near the goal line. Respectable fantasy production will often be possible past this week. If you have been disappointed by Kyle Pitts, Gray is a viable replacement.

More Fantasy Football Analysis