NFL Fantasy 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Wide receivers for Week 14

A lot of you have asked if you can finally bench Jefferson. I get it -- he had 4 yards last week and hasn’t scored a dozen fantasy points in a game since Week 9. It is obviously not his fault, and his 66 percent catchable target rate (10th-lowest) shows that. He is frustrated, and so are fantasy managers who have been starting him weekly. There is a good chance many of you are fighting for your playoff lives this week. I would stick with your star against the Commanders, who have allowed the fourth-most yards and sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. They are top six in yards and passer rating allowed on deep passes (20-plus air yards) to WRs. A squeaky-wheel game is likely on tap; the Vikings should try to get Jefferson some easy ones early. I am taking the chance on his talent in this matchup.

Williams is an absolute MUST PLAY if Amon-Ra St. Brown is unable to suit up this week. He exploded for 144 yards and a touchdown last week, when the Sun God exited early with an ankle injury. Even if St. Brown plays, I would get Williams into your lineup. The Cowboys have allowed the most touchdowns and fantasy PPG to WRs and the third-most yards. They have given up the most yards and touchdowns on deep passes to receivers. This has very high potential to be a high-scoring game. It could be one like last week, too, where the Lions are chasing points. The upside is too high to get away from. Rookie Isaac TeSlaa is a streaming option if St. Brown is out. 

Watson has been heavily featured here as of late. Since tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a season-ending injury, Green Bay's passing attack has run through Watson. Over the past month, he leads the Packers in routes, targets, receiving yards and touchdowns. He has been highly effective against man coverage, and Chicago plays man at an above-average rate. The Bears have allowed the most yards to out-wide receivers since Week 9, and Watson runs 65 percent of his snaps from that alignment. Chicago has allowed the second-most yards on deep targets to out-wide receivers in that span. The upside is once again too high to get away from Watson in Week 14.

Last Sunday, I tweeted that Egbuka has scored single digits in six of his last seven games. The responses were filled with fantasy managers saying they were going to bench him. I was close to having him as a "sit" here myself ... but then I remembered how often I've been thinking about Baker Mayfield just missing him on a number of big plays. Consequently, I dug into it and found something interesting: Since his slump started in Week 6, Egbuka's had a 51 percent catchable target rate -- the lowest mark in the NFL during that span. The fall-off has not been his fault. I know fantasy managers do not care about that, but it feels like it's only a matter of time before he and Baker start connecting again. Plus, the Saints have allowed the fifth-highest passer rating and second-highest completion percentage on passes to out-wide receivers since Week 9. Egbuka runs 70 percent of his routes out wide. The rookie is more options-dependent than ever -- for instance, I would play the above receivers over him -- but he remains in play this week.

DK Metcalf is a big name, but names won’t get you into the fantasy playoffs. Metcalf has scored single-digit fantasy points in five of his last seven games. In that span since Week 7, he has averaged 6.3 targets per game with 9.3 air yards per target. His previous career low in the latter figure was 11.8. He has just one catch on deep targets in that span and three end-zone targets. All of that means he is not getting much volume, so you cannot rely on catches. He is not getting downfield opportunities -- which is what he does best -- so you cannot count on big plays. And you clearly cannot rely on touchdowns, as he has just two in his last seven games. That means you cannot count on him in fantasy. Especially since the Ravens have allowed the third-fewest yards to out-wide receivers since Week 9, and Metcalf runs 84 percent of his routes from that alignment. 

Moore is no stranger to this "sit" section. Odunze has more frequently seen himself as a "start," but he has seen a steady drop in production. Since the beginning of October, Odunze has averaged 6.9 targets, three catches and 46 yards per game. He has one touchdown in that span. Moore has fewer than 20 yards in two of his last three games. The Packers have been tough on receivers, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy PPG to the position in the last month. Given the matchup, the fact that the Bears have had the seventh-lowest pass rate since their Week 5 bye, and the recent usage and production, I would look to get away from both Chicago receivers this week.

Last week, Thomas scored 4.8 just more fantasy points than he did in the previous three weeks, when he was sidelined. He played behind Jakobi Meyers and was targeted just three times. It was his third straight game with single-digit fantasy points. Now, he faces the Colts, who have allowed the eighth-fewest yards and just one touchdown to receivers since Week 9. Perhaps last week was just a tune-up and he can finish strong -- but I need to see it first. Thomas hits the bench until he gives us a reason to start him.

I may be willing to risk it with Patrick Mahomes and Rashee Rice against the toughest defense in the NFL, but Worthy does not get the same benefit of the doubt. He has been held to fewer than 12 fantasy points in eight straight games. For a player who is supposed to be a home run hitter, the upside just has not been there. Now, he faces the Texans, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy PPG to WRs, including just seven touchdowns on the year. The risk just is not worth the reward here.