At last, we're at the final week of byes. Soon, we'll have the healthy options from all 32 teams at our disposal. However, we're still looking to pick up the pieces from wide receivers out of action this week, and our Week 14 fantasy WR rankings can help you make the right start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
The most notable wideouts on bye are Michael Pittman Jr., Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Kendrick Bourne. Luckily, none have teammates that dramatically affect rosters, so we're in the clear. Welcome back Davante Adams (vs. Bears) and D.J. Moore (vs. Falcons), who immediately draw juicy matchups. It's worth noting Julio Jones (vs. Jaguars) can return from IR this week after dealing with a hamstring issue, and he'll be a very risky start, but with A.J. Brown (chest) on IR, it would be tough to resist starting him against Jacksonville.
WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Chris Godwin (vs. Bills), Mike Evans (vs. Bills), and Cooper Kupp (@ Cardinals) have daunting matchups ahead of them, but you're not taking those guys out of your lineups. One of Evans or Godwin could bust, but the upside is way too great.
WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
If you're deciding between players on the start-or-sit bubble, we're high on Elijah Moore (vs. Saints), Chase Claypool (@ Vikings), Emmanuel Sanders (vs. Buccaneers), and the aforementioned Julio Jones (vs. Jaguars). New Orleans and Minnesota are among the bottom-three defenses against fantasy WRs. Jacksonville is the 11th-worst. Those three WRs all rank as top-24 players for us this week.
WEEK 14 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Lower down the list, Corey Davis (vs. Saints), Robby Anderson (vs. Falcons), Tre'Quan Smith (@ Jets), Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton (vs. Lions), Michael Gallup (@ Washington), and Cole Beasley (vs. Buccaneers) all have favorable matchups, too. They all carry risk and bust potential, which is why they aren't ranked higher, but each WR is in a position to have a productive week. The next tier of players with solid matchups is Marquez Valdes-Scantling (@ Bears), Marquez Callaway and Lil'Jordan Humphrey (@ Jets), Curtis Samuel (vs. Cowboys), Nico Collins (vs. Seahawks), Marvin Jones, Laquon Treadwell, and Laviska Shenault (@ Titans), and Jamison Crowder (vs. Saints). Those are all boom-or-bust players, but if you're in deep leagues, you might need to consider one.
MORE WEEK 14 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
On the other side of the start-sit line, Rashod Bateman (@ Browns), A.J. Green (vs. Rams), Allen Robinson (@ Packers), and Josh Reynolds and Amon-Ra St. Brown (@ Broncos) are in real danger this week. Some may never consider starting these guys to begin with, but all have been productive in spurts this year, so beware in deeper leagues. Also, beware of constant injury worries Kadarius Toney and Sterling Shepard (@ Chargers). They have plenty of upside if they play -- even in a tough matchup with a backup QB throwing to them -- but they shouldn't be counted on until we see them on the final active list.
WEEK 14 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
The matchup numbers can tell us a lot at this point in the year, but we know wide receivers only need one big play to pay off. There are plenty of potential sleepers available this week based on the stats, but you shouldn't ignore target trends either. Balance the two out and you'll find your starters.
Note: We'll be updating these WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Fantasy WR Rankings Week 14: Who to start at wide receiver
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Cooper Kupp, LAR @ ARI |
| 2 | Davante Adams, GB vs. CHI |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill, KC vs. LV |
| 4 | Stefon Diggs, BUF @ TB |
| 5 | Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. PIT |
| 6 | CeeDee Lamb, DAL @ WAS |
| 7 | Diontae Johnson, PIT @ MIN |
| 8 | D.J. Moore, CAR vs. ATL |
| 9 | Marquise Brown, BAL @ CLE |
| 10 | Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. DAL |
| 11 | Amari Cooper, DAL @ WAS |
| 12 | Brandin Cooks, HOU vs. SEA |
| 13 | DK Metcalf, SEA @ HOU. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett showed signs of life against the 49ers, as did the Seattle offense as a whole. Russell Wilson probably should've ended the day with four passing touchdowns, so perhaps he's finally turned the corner from his finger injury, which would obviously be great news for Seahawks' pass-catchers. Houston gives up the 11th-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to wide receivers, and since Seattle's rushing attack is weak, Wilson could attempt a ton of passes, even in a blowout. That said, Metcalf and Lockett are back to "must-start" options. |
| 14 | Tyler Lockett, SEA @ HOU. See DK Metcalf. |
| 15 | Mike Evans, TB vs. BUF. This matchup with Buffalo is an interesting one for Evans and Chris Godwin. Statistically, the Bills are the best defense in the league against fantasy WRs, but if Buffalo's offense scores with relative ease, this has major shootout potential. Also, the loss of Tre'Davious White (knee) could have a big effect on Buffalo's secondary. With Tom Brady and all his weapons, matchups are sometimes irrelevant, and the game conditions matter more. If Brady is forced to pass 50 times, several Buccaneers' weapons will inevitably have great fantasy days. Ultimately, this is a long-winded way of saying Evans' and Godwin's floors are probably lowered, but their ceilings remain sky high and you can't reasonably bench them. |
| 16 | Chris Godwin, TB vs. BUF. See Mike Evans. |
| 17 | Mike Williams, LAC vs. NYG |
| 18 | Ja'Marr Chase, CIN vs. SF. Before Seattle's WRs had solid success against the Niners, they ranked as the 11th-best defense against fantasy WRs, so we still view this as a tough matchup for Bengals' WRs. Additionally, Chase has been quiet over the past five games, as he hasn't exceeded 52 yards any of those weeks. We still think Chase's upside is higher than Tee Higgins', and as long as Joe Burrow (finger) is healthy for this game, it's tough to ever contemplate benching either of them. |
| 19 | Julio Jones, TEN vs. JAX. If Jones (hamstring) returns from IR this week, it will be tough to resist the urge to start him. We already know A.J. Brown (chest) is out for another few weeks since he's on IR, and the top Titans' WRs are Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers, and Dez Fitzpatrick right now. Golden Tate might also be activated for this game, but surely Jones will command the most targets against the lackluster Jags' defense. Tennessee won't play him if he's not healthy, so this is a gamble we're willing to take if he's on the field come Sunday. |
| 20 | DeAndre Hopkins, ARI vs. LAR. Hopkins caught both of his targets for 32 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, and while the target numbers might cause concern, it's important to note Kyler Murray attempted just 15 passes at the Cardinals' dominated the game on the ground and on defense. Murray and Hopkins were eased back into action after a month's absence, so we're not worried about Hopkin's injury as of now. However, it's time to start viewing him as more of a fantasy WR2, even though the Rams are in the top half of the league against fantasy WRs. Arizona has plenty of playmakers, so Hopkins isn't drawing the insane target figures as we've seen in years past. Christian Kirk and A.J. Green should be viewed as risky standard-league starts, but the big-play potential of this offense keeps them on the start-or-sit bubble. |
| 21 | Hunter Renfrow, LV @ KC. As surprising as it might be, Renfrow is the Raiders' No. 1 WR, and he's totaled 17 catches for 236 yards over the past two weeks in favorable matchups. Kansas City actually came into Week 13 as a top-12 defense against fantasy WRs, and they shut down Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick and limited Jerry Jeudy. However, Renfrow's stellar number of late makes him a must-start. In the last meeting with KC, Renfrow totaled seven catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. |
| 22 | Chase Claypool, PIT @ MIN. Put simply, Minnesota can't stop wideouts, and they were the second-worst defense against fantasy WRs before giving up a monster game to Amon-Ra St. Brown. This season, Rondale Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jauan Jennings, and Cedrick Wilson all had solid-to-stellar fantasy success against that struggling secondary, so Claypool has every opportunity to have his best game of the season here. Big Ben's lack of arm strength has obviously limited Claypool's ceiling, but he could feast in the red zone on Thursday night, and the matchup is too favorable to bench him unless you're loaded at WR. |
| 23 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN vs. DET. Detroit is statistically OK against wideouts, but that has mostly been due to blowouts. That said, we could see Denver simply run Detroit into submission, so Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have ultra-low floors. However, the upside should also be high given the lack of talent on the Detroit defense, and hopefully, Jeudy and/or Sutton are able to cash in a TD in the red zone. Given that this probably won't be a pass-heavy game script for Denver, they are more attractive in standard leagues vs. PPR leagues. |
| 24 | Brandon Aiyuk, SF @ CIN. Aiyuk was disappointing in his first game without Deebo Samuel (groin) in the lineup, but George Kittle drew a 40-percent target share and there was little left on the bone as he had his monster game. Still, we like Aiyuk as a low-end WR2, even in a tough matchup with the Bengals' solid secondary. After Jauan Jennings did next to nothing against Seattle, he's tough to trust here. |
| 25 | Emmanuel Sanders, BUF @ TB. As mentioned with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, this game sets up to be a shootout and will likely be the key game for DFS lineups with the highest over/under total this week. Tampa Bay was beginning to turn the corner on defense, but the Colts and Falcons had relative success against them at wideout. That said, Sanders has a high upside in this one as a boom-or-bust standard league play. Cole Beasley is an OK standard option but should have a higher floor in PPR leagues given the potential pass-heavy game script. |
| 26 | Tee Higgins, CIN vs. SF. See Ja'Marr Chase. |
| 27 | Darnell Mooney, CHI @ GB. Mooney had a quiet day in a tough matchup with the Cardinals, but still drew seven targets and is averaging 10-plus targets over the past three weeks. Even if Allen Robinson (hamstring) is back, Mooney should continue to get a decent number of looks, and he's always due for a big play touchdown. Consider him a boom-or-bust option against a Green Bay defense that was torched by the Rams' and Vikings' WRs in their past two games. |
| 28 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. NO |
| 29 | Michael Gallup, DAL @ WAS. Gallup caught five-of-nine targets for 36 yards and a touchdown against the Saints, but we should note Amari Cooper was on a limited snap count. Even if Cooper is back to full strength, though, Gallup is a solid flex option moving forward in favorable matchups. Washington has given up the fourth-most FPPG to WRs this season, so this counts as one of those good matchups. Of course, Gallup could have a quiet day if CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper dominate targets and have nuclear performances, but that's a risk worth taking if you're in need of a solid flex piece. |
| 30 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ NYJ. Smith could certainly bust with Taysom Hill at QB, but the Jets have surrendered plenty of fantasy points in competitive games? Either way, Smith received seven targets in his first game with Hill this season and looks to be the most attractive New Orleans wideout. We don't blame you if you chase the upside of guys ranked lower than Smith, but he warrants WR3 consideration here. If you're looking for a major touchdown-or-bust option, Lil'Jordan Humphrey might be your guy. Marquez Callaway could have another day for two-to-three catches and a touchdown. |
| 31 | Courtland Sutton, DEN vs. DET. See Jerry Jeudy. |
| 32 | Sterling Shepard, NYG @ LAC. |
| 33 | Robby Anderson, CAR vs. ATL |
| 34 | Van Jefferson, LAR @ ARI. You can begin to view Jefferson as a boom-or-bust standard option, but it's worth noting Arizona is one of the better defenses against WRs. This could be a shootout, though, so he and Odell Beckham Jr. are enticing but risky options in Week 14. |
| 35 | Cole Beasley, BUF @ TB. See Emmanuel Sanders. |
| 36 | Russell Gage, ATL @ CAR |
| 37 | Odell Beckham Jr., LAR @ ARI. See Van Jefferson. |
| 38 | Christian Kirk, ARI vs. LAR. See DeAndre Hopkins. |
| 39 | Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. BAL |
| 40 | Marvin Jones, JAX @ TEN |
| 41 | Josh Reynolds, DET @ DEN |
| 42 | K.J. Osborn, MIN vs. PIT |
| 43 | Jalen Guyton, LAC vs. NYG |
| 44 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. CHI |
| 45 | Rashod Bateman, BAL @ CLE |
| 46 | Braxton Berrios, NYJ vs. NO |
| 47 | Keelan Cole, NYJ vs. NO |
| 48 | Lil'Jordan Humphrey, NO @ NYJ. See Tre'Quan Smith. |
| 49 | A.J. Green, ARI vs. LAR. See DeAndre Hopkins. |
| 50 | Laquon Treadwell, JAX @ TEN |
| 51 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET @ DEN |
| 52 | Curtis Samuel, WAS vs. DAL |
| 53 | Marquez Callaway, NO @ NYJ. See Tre'Quan Smith. |
| 54 | Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX @ TEN |
| 55 | Tim Patrick, DEN vs. DET |
| 56 | DeSean Jackson, LV @ KC |
| 57 | Allen Robinson, CHI @ GB |
| 58 | Gabriel Davis, BUF @ TB |
| 59 | Mecole Hardman, KC vs. LV |
| 60 | Nico Collins, HOU vs. SEA |
| 61 | Kenny Golladay, NYG @ LAC. |
| 62 | DeAndre Carter, WAS vs. DAL |
| 63 | Jauan Jennings, SF @ CIN. |
| 64 | Bryan Edwards, LV @ KC |
| 65 | Tyler Johnson, TB vs. BUF |
| 66 | Rondale Moore, ARI vs. LAR |
| 67 | Allen Lazard, GB vs. CHI |
| 68 | Kalif Raymond, DET @ DEN |
| 69 | Tyler Boyd, CIN vs. SF |
| 70 | Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE vs. BAL |
| 71 | Dee Eskridge, SEA @ HOU |
| 72 | Zay Jones, LV @ KC |
| 73 | Sammy Watkins, BAL @ CLE |
| 74 | Darius Slayton, NYG @ LAC |
| 75 | Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL @ CAR |
| 76 | Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. LV |
| 77 | Rashard Higgins, CLE vs. BAL |
| 78 | Byron Pringle, KC vs. LV |
| 79 | Adam Humphries, WAS vs. DAL |
| 80 | Freddie Swain, SEA @ HOU |