Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Debating Difficult Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions

Week 14 isn't an opportune time for there to be six NFL teams on a bye. After all, this will be the final week of the regular season in most fantasy leagues, so managers could be without some of the key players who got them to this point.

The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders will all be out of action. So there will be 11 games on Sunday, followed by a Monday night matchup between the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals.

Plenty of difficult start/sit decisions remain for fantasy managers. And with some needing a win to get into their league's playoffs, it's crucial to get those right.

Here's some fantasy lineup advice for this weekend's action.

DJ Moore's inconsistent play throughout the 2022 season seems to be tied to the Panthers' quarterback situation. When Baker Mayfield was under center, Moore wasn't worthy of fantasy consideration. But he's fared much better when working with other QBs.

For example, Moore thrived in Week 12, even with a difficult matchup against the Denver Broncos. The 25-year-old wide receiver had four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in a win while catching passes from Sam Darnold.

In Week 14, Darnold will again start at quarterback for Carolina, which is coming off a bye and has a less challenging matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. It should also be a competitive game, so the Panthers may rely on their passing attack a good bit to move the ball against a beatable Seahawks defense.

With Mayfield no longer in Carolina, Moore is again emerging as a must-start fantasy wide receiver on a weekly basis. So as long as he continues to be heavily involved and delivers at least solid production, keep him in lineups moving forward.

Dameon Pierce's impressive rookie season hit a lull in Weeks 11 and 12, when he totaled only 16 yards on 15 carries. But the Texans running back ran for 73 yards on 18 carries against the Cleveland Browns last time out, finishing with 95 total yards.

However, Pierce still hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 8. And given the Browns have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, it's actually a bit surprising that Pierce didn't have more success against them.

That's why it doesn't seem encouraging that Pierce is going to start putting up big numbers again. Houston continues to struggle, typically falling behind and abandoning the run game. It also has a challenging Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who are giving up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, per NFL.com.

The Cowboys will likely build a big lead early, and then the Texans will pass the ball a lot to try to get back into it. That's not a great game script for Pierce. So if you have other options, it would be wise to leave him on the bench this week.

Like many tight ends, Gerald Everett's fantasy numbers have been up and down throughout the season. He's capable of having strong showings, but there are some weeks when he doesn't get too involved in the Chargers' offense.

Everett hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 4, so he's due to get into the end zone. And this week could be a great opportunity for him to do so. Los Angeles is taking on the Miami Dolphins, who are giving up the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, per NFL.com.

Last week, Everett had a solid showing in the Chargers' loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, as he had five catches for a season-high 80 yards. So he has positive momentum heading into an even more favorable matchup for him.

So if you've been unsure whether to start Everett, this is a great week to put him in your lineup. It could even mark the end of his touchdown drought.