12 players to start or sit in fantasy football for Week 14

Team: New Orleans Saints

Week 14 opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Why you should sit him: Brees isn't a bad start, but like many QBs this week, he doesn't have a great matchup. The 49ers are allowing an average of 169 passing yards over their last five games. Brees is QB15 since Week 8 and has had two games where he's finished outside the top 20 among QBs in fantasy scoring. The 49ers run defense is somewhat vulnerable, and it seems unlikely that the Saints will rely on Brees throwing the ball a ton, even with the extra time they've had to prepare for San Francisco.

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Week 14 opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers

Why you should start him: It's been an underwhelming season for Freeman, but the Panthers may be the juiciest matchup in the league for running backs right now. The Panthers just allowed 228 yards and 3 touchdowns on 23 carries to Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson last week. Freeman has had a long break after playing on Thursday last week, and he remains involved in the Falcons offense, with 21 touches last week.

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Week 14 opponent: at New Orleans Saints

Why you should sit him: Coleman has been ineffective of late, topping 70 total yards just once in his last five games, while rushing for just 2.6 yards per carry. Last week, he gained 6 yards on 5 carries, a big worry on a 49ers team that has a backfield-by-committee approach. With Raheem Mostert running well lately and the Niners facing the Saints' sixth-ranked run defense, Coleman looks like a clear "sit."

Team: Cleveland Browns

Week 14 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Why you should start him: Since returning from suspension, Kareem Hunt has seen 10-13 touches every game, has compiled nearly 250 total yards, and is RB21 in standard fantasy scoring. That volume and efficiency put him firmly in the flex conversation. The Bengals defense did shut down the Jets last week, but the Browns are home, and their running backs have produced all season. Even with Nick Chubb maintaining a solid workload, Hunt is playable.

Team: Washington Redskins

Week 14 opponent: at Green Bay Packers

Why you should sit him: Guice had his breakout last week, running for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 10 carries vs. the Panthers. However, that might have been more about the Panthers defense than Guice. Before Week 13, Guice had only 56 yards on 17 carries over his previous two games. The Packers run defense isn't one to fear, but Washington going into Green Bay means it's unlikely Washington will lean on the run game quite so much. With Washington also limiting Guice's carries thus far, it isn't shaping up to be a promising matchup for the second-year back.

Team: Miami Dolphins

Week 14 opponent: at New York Jets

Why you should start him: We've said it in these columns before — Parker is having one of the best fantasy seasons among WRs this year. After posting 7 catches for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns last week against the Eagles, he is now WR15 on the year. He's topped 100 yards in two of his last three games and now gets a Jets defense that has given up the ninth-most fantasy points to WRs this season.

Team: Carolina Panthers

Week 14 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons

Why you should sit him: Samuel is liable to post a big week at any given time, given his speed and knack for finding the end zone. However, while his six touchdowns this season are nice, he's yet to top 100 yards in a game and has topped 70 yards just twice. He's too dependent on touchdowns to comfortably start, especially against a Falcons defense that's been unpredictable lately.

Team: Denver Broncos

Week 14 opponent: at Houston Texans

Why you should start him: Sutton is becoming nearly matchup- and QB-proof. Even with the Broncos quarterback turnstile, Sutton has posted 70 yards or more or scored a touchdown in 10 games this season. The Texans' pass defense is ranked 25th, and they've allowed 13 wide receivers to go for over 80 yards this season, with six going for over 100.

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Week 14 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Why you should sit him: While Kirk remains heavily targeted in the Cardinals offense, his connection with Kyler Murray isn't consistent. Kirk has caught 17 of his last 31 targets and finished with fewer than 50 yards in three of the last four games. Of course, the one game in between there, he went off for 138 yards and 3 touchdowns, but that was against the Bucs. The Steelers present a tougher matchup, especially since acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Week 14 opponent: vs. Detroit Lions

Why you should start him: Rudolph has benefited from Adam Thielen's absence, as over the last six weeks, he's topped 50 yards three times and scored six touchdowns. He's a bit reliant on touchdowns, but he's TE3 over the last six weeks. With a solid matchup against the Lions, if Thielen is out, you almost have no choice but to roll with him.

Team: Green Bay Packers

Week 14 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins

Why you should sit him: Graham has still been used in emergency situations in fantasy, but he's not one to rely on in the playoffs. Washington is a decent matchup, but Graham has been almost nonexistent in the Packers' passing game recently. Over the last five games, Graham has 11 catches for 119 yards, and over the last two, just 2 catches for 23 yards.