Week 14 brings fantasy football owners to the brink of ]the playoffs in seasonal leagues, and just like any other week, you should be considering making some key waiver pickups or spending some of your FAAB budget to improve your rosters.
Even if you don't have glaring lineup issues, you should still think of the best stashes and backup plans for the closing stretch. Based on recent trends and looming matchups, there are plenty of upgrade options, including two backup running backs ready to be thrust into key roles, the Titans' Tyjae Spears and the Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott.
Whether you're thinking short- or long-term, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 14 FANTASY: Full waiver list
Week 14 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Josh Dobbs, Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 55%). Dobbs crashed in the favorable matchup at home against the Bears before the bye, but he was consistent with passing and rushing production before then and will get a boost from a returning Justin Jefferson (hamstring) for what is a manageable road matchup with the Raiders. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
2. Aaron Rodgers, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 77%). Tim Boyle didn't last long as Zach Wilson's replacement, as he was benched for Trevor Siemian late against the Falcons. The Jets' wild-card hopes are all but toast, but Rodgers (Achilles) might feel like he needs to try to be the desperate savior in a dramatic return from his Achilles' injury. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
3. Will Levis, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 81%). Levis looked more confident at home against the Colts in Week 13 despite his stats not popping (224 yards, TD). He has a shot to put up some nicer garbage numbers in a negative game script against Miami. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
4. Desmond Ridder, Falcons (Yahoo league availability: 93%). Ridder isn't reliable at all on the road, but now he gets to come back to Atlanta to face a giving Buccaneers defense in a critical NFC South divisional game. You're hoping he can manufacture two scores along 250-plus combined yards, which is within reach. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
5. Gardner Minshew, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 77%). Minshew was sharp passing his team past Levis' Titans with 312 yards and two TDs. He stood and threw well all over the field, using more of his weapons. He will hope to fare well again in a winnable spot against a Bengals' defense being dragged down by its offense. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
6. Joe Flacco, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 81%). Flacco is an old-school gunslinger, and despite the rust, he dropped 252 yards and two TDs on the Rams in his first start for an AFC North team not named the Ravens. He got it done, too, mostly without a healthy Amari Cooper (concussion). He can be superflexed vs. the Jaguars. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 14 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Tyjae Spears, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 65%). Derrick Henry suffered a nasty head/neck hit against the Colts and was ruled out with a concussion. As expected, Spears took over and looked awesome, turning 20 touches into 88 total yards against the Colts after Henry had scored twice. Should Henry not be cleared for the Dolphins, Spears simply can be played as a borderline RB2 based on scrimmage work, bumped up further by the negative game script. Projected FAAB bid: 12-14% of total budget
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 60%). Rhamondre Stevenson also exited Week 13 early, as he went down with an ankle sprain after running to a hot start at home. Elliott immediately got the volume with 21 touches for 92 yards. Stevenson is sure to miss some time, starting with Thursday night at the Steelers. Elliott would be the plug-and-play starter for Week 13 and maybe beyond. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
3. Roschon Johnson, Bears (Yahoo league availability: 79%). Before the bye, Johnson received 15 touches for 75 yards against the Vikings, looking sharp in the passing game. His usage can be fickle based on the health of Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman (ankle), but there's good reason to get the rookie more involved overall in the final few games. Projected FAAB bid: 9-10% of total budget
4. Antonio Gibson, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 44%). Gibson and Chris Rodriguez Jr. would be the adjusted committee should Brian Robinson Jr's hamstring injury linger after Washington's Week 14 bye. Gibson turned 14 touches into 72 yards in the blowout loss to Miami. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
5. Dalvin Cook, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Much to the chagrin of Breece Hall managers, Cook resurfaced into a significant role against the Falcons ahead of the Texans matchup with 10 touches for 46 yards, including nine carries. Cook looked healthy as the Jets tried to find an offensive skill spark, but for fantasy purposes, he's the premium insurance for Hall for the final few games Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
6. DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks (Yahoo league availability: 99%). There's a chance Kenneth Walker returns from his oblique injury in the 49ers rematch, but watch this backfield with rookie backup Zach Charbonnet having a knee bruise, too. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 14 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 61%). Beckham will be rejuvenated a bit after the bye and remains their top veteran option playing off Zay Flowers with no Mark Andrews (leg). The Rams and Jaguars give him some big-play juice coming up. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
2. Curtis Samuel, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 61%). Samuel cooled off from his Thanksgiving hundy in Dallas but still was a viable WR3 vs. the Dolphins with four catches for 65 yards on five targets, falling just short of a TD. After the Week 13 bye, the matchups get harder with the Jets and 49ers, but remember, when the other wideouts are contained, that's when Samuel becomes the "go-to guy." Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
3. Elijah Moore, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 58%). Once Amari Cooper (concussion) was out, Flacco wasted no time trying to rev up connections with the fellow former Jet. They were inefficient, with Moore catching only four-of-12 targets, but he made them count with big plays for a total of 82 yards. Should Cooper miss the Jaguars, Moore is playable. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
4. Jonathan Mingo, Panthers (Yahoo league availability: 94%). Mingo was unlocked in a fine matchup outside in Tampa Bay with 10 targets, catching six for 69 yards, revving up the rookie connection with Bryce Young downfield. As Adam Thielen fades, Mingo should continue to see key looks vs. the banged-up Saints and Falcons' corners. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
5. Jalin Hyatt, Giants (Yahoo league availability: 96%). Before the bye, Hyatt caught five-of-six targets for 109 yards against the Patriots. He should get more opportunities to stretch the field as a speedy rookie vs. the Packers. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
6. DeVante Parker, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 97%). This passing game still stinks with Bailey Zappe, but with Demario Douglas battling a concussion, Parker had to be the default No. 1, catching four-of-nine targets for 64 yards vs. the Chargers. Given the short week, Parker can remain in the No. 1 role should Douglas not clear protocol. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
7. Jameson Williams, Lions (Yahoo league availability: 76%). Williams is capped around three opportunities per game, but he turned his two touches against the Saints into 30 yards a TD. A bigger role has been suggested, as the Lions like him as a situational big-play guy. The upside is definitely there with a little more volume. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
8. Alec Pierce, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 99%). Pierce came out of hibernation as a big-play threat with three catches, 100 yards, and a TD on six targets vs. the Titans, as he established himself more as the complementary No. 2 to Michael Pittman Jr. Pierce is volatile, but the matchup downfield is decent vs. the Bengals this week. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
9. Noah Brown, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 60%). Brown got a tough spot and put up nothing on Denver while Tank Dell (leg) got hurt and Nico Collins went off. With Dell expected to be on the shelf for a while, Brown will be needed more as a second option. The Jets' spot isn't so inspiring next, but the Titans loom in Week 14. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
Week 14 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Gerald Everett, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 61%). Everett draws the nice downfield matchup for tight ends vs. the Broncos in Week 14. That times well with his return to solid usage, catching four of his five targets for 44 yards in the offense-less Patriots game. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
2. Isaiah Likely, Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 65%). Let's see if they ramp up Likely's fill-in role for Mark Andrews after the bye given their wideout depth and the presence of Charlie Kolar, but Likely did look pretty good making plays with his athleticism vs. the Chargers. He gets a sweet spot vs. the Rams coverage next. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
3. Brevin Jordan, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 85%). Jordan, filling in for an injured Dalton Schultz (hamstring), stretched the field for C.J. Stroud for three catches and 64 yards on four targets. Should Schultz miss another game, Jordan has another nice spot vs. the Jets to keep producing. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
4. Tyler Conklin, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Conklin caught three-of-nine targets in Week 13, resulting in a meh 35 yards. He's still involved underneath enough in the passing game to consider as a streamer vs. the Texans' zone D. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
5. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 51%). Otton can go up-and-down with his usage, but he did have five catches for 43 yards on six targets in the first meeting with the Falcons, so he's a potential sneaky streamer in a favorable matchup. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
6. Tanner Hudson, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 97%). Hudson is getting used more with Jake Browning, but keep in mind the Bengals throw to Drew Sample at times in the red zone, too. Hudson is more of a low-end, PPR streamer in relation to the rest above. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
Week 14 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Minnesota Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 86%). The Vikings' defense has come together well and overachieved with its playmaking under Brian Flores. It can be sneaky valuable when Kevin O'Connell's team builds a lead on Aidan O'Connell's team and tees off on the rookie.
2. New Orleans Saints (Yahoo league availability: 57%). They've been battling through injuries and aren't the same solid group from recent seasons under Dennis Allen, but they can have plenty of pop at home against the Panthers.
3. Detroit Lions (Yahoo league availability: 69%). The Lions were more active against the Saints despite giving up good yards and points again. They get the Bears in Chicago next in what can be some old-school, black-and-blue football in the NFC North.
4. Houston Texans (Yahoo league availability: 87%). The Texans are the next team to get the Jets with a shaky, uncertain QB situation behind a crumbling line, and they can build off their Will Anderson Jr.-fueled turnover-fest vs. the Broncos.
5. Indianapolis Colts (Yahoo league availability: 69%). The Colts' defense had some issues, but its special teams came up huge vs. the Titans. It can keep up that juice vs. the Joe Burrow-less Bengals on the road, too.
6. Green Bay Packers (Yahoo league availability: 83%). The Packers are back in prime time for a date with the Giants on Monday night, where there can be some sacks and takeaways to be had vs. Tommy DeVito.
