December 10, 2016

Ben Ruppert's 2016 Week 14 quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings analysis and tiered ranks. His rankings and start/sit advice for your Week 14 quarterback matchups.

Below you will find our Week 14 quarterback rankings, to help determine your QB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Featured writer Ben Ruppert also highlights some QB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 14, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 14. You can also check out RotoBaller's overall player rankings.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

Week 14 Quarterbacks - Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Matthew Stafford should have a solid game against the Bears, but the potential is there for him to disappoint on Sunday. Even though they have lost a ton of key pieces throughout the season, the Bears defense has put up respectable numbers this season. They have given up the 10^th fewest fantasy points to opposing QB this season, and since their Week 9 bye have held their opponents to under 230 yards passing in three of four games. Stafford has been playing excellent football this season, and only has one interception over his past eight games played. He only has one game this season with multiple interceptions; Week 4 against these Bears. It was his worst performance of the season, a 213-yard no TD performance in a Lions loss. Divisional games like this one can go either way when two teams know each other so well. Four of Stafford’s five interceptions have come in his four divisional games played, and only one in eight games out of the division. He will need to be on his A-game to put up a good fantasy performance.

On the season, the Philadelphia Eagles have been good at limiting opposing QB play. They have given up the 12^th fewest fantasy points to the position, with a big part of this being their ability to create turnovers; through their first nine games, the Eagles had nine interceptions. Since Week 10 they have not intercepted a pass, and they have allowed three good fantasy performances to Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Andy Dalton. This week they get Kirk Cousins, who has been playing the best football of his career this season. Though the Redskins are third in their division, Cousins has helped this team to the top-10 in scoring, with the second most yards gained in the league. Cousins gives you a high floor and a high ceiling, making him an ideal play against a slipping defense.

The LA Rams defense was already going to give Matt Ryan enough trouble, but now it looks like Julio Jones will be a decoy on the field at best. He has been dealing with a toe injury that has limited him in practice all week. While he is expected to play, his role will be lessened at the very least. Ryan is an excellent QB, but Jones is a difference maker that makes a huge impact on this offense. Ryan will now need to rely on Taylor Gabriel for solid production against a good Rams defense, who has allowed the 11^th fewest fantasy points to the QB position, and the eighth fewest passing yards. The Falcons offense has been great all season, but is a risky offense to invest in in the first week of the fantasy playoffs.

My sincerest apologies for anyone I may have advised to start Colin Kaepernick last week, but if it makes you feel any better I started and lost with him last week too. The Bears defense is better than many assume it is, given the team’s poor record. The Jets are up this week, and present a little more favorable of a matchup. They have given up the 10^th most passing yards and the eighth most passing touchdowns. Kaepernick had three straight QB1 weeks before last week’s disaster, so the potential is there for a good game. However, last week showed us the leash is very short for him and if he struggles he could get pulled early again. He could be a good start if you have the cajones to play him after last week.

Carson Palmer showed some signs of life last week against the Redskins, completing 65% of his passes for 300 yards and three TD. He did not throw an interception for the first time since Week 7. He completed passes to seven different receivers, and has been utilizing his TE more over the past two weeks. This week Palmer heads to Miami to face to Dolphins, who have given up the fourth most fantasy points to the QB position. They have allowed back-to-back huge games from Colin Kaepernick (who also ran for over 100 on the day) and Joe Flacco. In five games since their bye week they do have eight interceptions (four from Philip Rives alone), but have allowed three passing touchdowns or more in three of those five games. Palmer should be a great option this week, with potential top-10 QB production.

Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings - Quarterbacks