Fantasy Football Today – Week 14 Tiers & Rankings Breakdown (12/04/2025)

Overview

In this episode, Jamie Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cauthen dissect the fantasy football landscape for the pivotal Week 14—the last week before playoffs for most leagues. With four teams on bye and notable injuries, they provide updated positional tiers, tough start/sit decisions, and must-start sleepers at QB, RB, WR, and TE to help you solidify your lineups and make those final pushes into the postseason.

Quarterbacks: Ranks, Risks, and Sleepers

Theme: Not as deep a week as usual, with serious FOMO (fear of missing out) on high-upside players, but also palpable risk among typical studs.

Key Points & Insights

• Elite Tier Confidence is limited: Only Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, and Matthew Stafford are slam dunks for Jamie.
• Patrick Mahomes is a risky top option this week. Dave expresses apprehension due to O-line issues and the tough Texans defense:

  “I am nervous about what’s going to happen to Patrick Mahomes, but I’m nervous about 20 quarterbacks this week.” (03:18)

• Lamar Jackson polarizes the panel: Dave is out after weeks of disappointment and cites the Steelers’ shut-down track record, while Heath focuses on Jackson’s boom potential for underdog managers:

  “If you’re a huge underdog…Lamar Jackson is exactly the type of guy you throw in your lineup because you need 30…he can give you 30 any given week.” – Heath (07:11)

• Daniel Jones is a start despite concerns, but Jamie cautions about his lack of mobility and difficult matchup in Jacksonville (08:00).
• Jordan Love is highlighted as a strong start: Efficient, low-risk matchup vs. Bears and benefits from clean pockets (09:11).

  “He’s awesome when he’s not pressured. The Bears have the second lowest pass rush pressure rate in the National Football League.” – Dave (09:45)

• Other Fringe QBs: Baker Mayfield and Jacoby Brissett are both considered viable top-12 options in plus matchups.
• Caution Flags: Justin Herbert (uncertain health, poor efficiency without top weapons) and Caleb Williams (struggling recent form and expected low volume) are sits for Jamie and Heath.

Notable Quotes

• “There aren't enough running backs that you can look at and say, oh yeah, definitely start him...” – Dave on the week’s RB depth, which also applies to QBs this week. (18:10)

Timestamps

• Mahomes worries: 03:18–04:00
• Jackson debate: 04:22–07:38
• Daniel Jones concern: 08:00–09:11
• Jordan Love optimism: 09:11–09:58

Running Backs: Starts, Sits & Flex Plays

Theme: Injuries, bye weeks, and split backfields create lineup headaches, but a few strong plays stand out.

Key Points & Insights

• Saquon Barkley moves outside Jamie’s top-12 RBs:

  “He’s still a starter…but he’s been very tough to trust as the guy that we drafted.” – Jamie (16:18)

  • Heath adds, “He’s going to be somewhere in that 12 to 14 point range most likely.”
• Jaylen Warren (PIT): Splitting time and with a tough matchup; viewed as a low-end RB2.
• Devin Neal (NO): Usage-based flex; poor rushing efficiency expected but could catch enough passes to have PPR value (19:30).
• Quinshawn Judkins: Workhorse for CLE; faces sneaky tough run D in TEN but expected to get volume. Good RB2.
• Donovan ‘Bam’ Knight: Strong recent production as Arizona’s lead back; safe RB2 floor.
• DeAndre Swift: Trust in Bears run game resurgence for a good week (22:13).
• Sits:
  • Kareem Hunt: “It’s the matchup and it’s the offensive line.” – Dave, noting Houston’s run defense (23:14).
  • David Montgomery: Jamie calls him "touchdown dependent flex, I don't even want to flex him" (23:57).
  • Woody Marks: Jamie advises avoidance despite the workload, viewing him only as a risky flex (24:30).

Timestamps

• Barkley discourse: 16:18–17:42
• Warren/Neal/Judkins/Knight/Swift analysis: 18:10–23:14
• RB sits: 23:14–24:30

Wide Receivers: Consistency vs. Upside

Theme: With top-tier WRs mostly stable, the WR2/3 conversation is rife with risk/reward considerations.

Key Points & Insights

• Zay Flowers: Reliable floor, major touchdown drought. Heath sees him as “about the most consistent wide receiver in fantasy football…11 and 14 points every week” but lacking upside (27:48).
• Deebo Samuel: Dave’s trust is shaken due to volume and QB questions, especially with Mariota at QB (29:54).
• Justin Jefferson: Heath maintains a cautious optimism, saying, “I’m just going to go with the guy that's named Justin Jefferson” (32:15), despite poor QB play.
• Christian Watson: Panel consensus top-3 start: “When Love has time to throw, what does he do? He goes downfield…and it’s Christian Watson.” – Dave (33:32)
• Terry McLaurin: Has reasserted himself post-injury; a starter if healthy.
• Jacoby Myers: Solid WR2 with increased targets, especially if Parker Washington sits.
• Sits:
  • Troy Franklin: Denver’s shifting WR2 pecking order makes him volatile, “at risk of just a 50–60% snap share” – Heath (35:46).
  • Zay Flowers: Dave would sit him for higher-upside options.
  • Roman Dunes: Jamie notes a worrisome trend of low production, suggesting a sit in two-WR leagues (37:19).

Timestamps

• Flowers/Flex range: 27:48–29:21
• Deebo concerns: 29:54–31:00
• Jefferson dilemma: 32:15–32:54
• Christian Watson narrative: 33:32
• Franklin/Bryant situation: 35:46–37:19

Tight Ends: Finding Safe Floors

Theme: TE is (relatively) deep, but you’re still looking for TD equity and reliable target shares amidst mediocre weekly floors.

Key Points & Insights

• Kyle Pitts: “Whenever Kirk Cousins plays, Drake London doesn’t play. So when you have that combination, just start Kyle Pitts.” – Heath (40:59). Dave is generally more cautious but places Pitts as a low-end starter (40:26).
• Harold Fannin: Elite usage but extreme risk of game script limiting overall volume. “I've got him like fifth or sixth in the projections. I've lowered him to 10th in the rankings because of that risk…” – Heath (42:06)
• Dalton Schultz: Low-end starter—a big part of Houston’s offense, but Jamie is worried about the matchup vs. KC (42:39).
• Juwan Johnson (NO): Dave likes the steady targets and red-zone looks, especially with Vele not seen as a high-target threat (43:35).
• Bretton Strange: Safe double-digit PPR floor over his recent stretch.
• Sits:
  • Dallas Goddard: “Five or fewer targets each of his last three games. Only three tight ends have scored over 9.2 half-PPR against the Chargers.” – Dave (44:46)
  • Mark Andrews: Heath points to volume and role cut into by Isaiah Likely. “It’s entirely can Andrews score a touchdown?” (45:17)
  • Colston Loveland: Game script, matchup, and Bears likely to lean on run game lead Jamie to a sit call.

Timestamps

• Pitts: 40:10–41:27
• Fannin: 42:06–42:39
• Schultz: 42:39–43:35
• Sits: 44:46–45:46

Key Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "I've had enough. Heath said that he looked better last week. I didn't see a lot of it. And I'm very worried about what the Steelers are going to do…” – Dave on Lamar Jackson (06:14)
• "You just kind of have to start Daniel Jones.” – Jamie (08:00)
• "Quarterback stinks. Running back questions. Wide receivers: okay. To me, tight end is the best position in fantasy right now." – Jamie (41:37)
• “When Love has time to throw…he goes downfield. And usually it’s Christian Watson.” – Dave (33:32)

Important Timestamps: Segment Guide

• 02:05 — QB Tiers & Mahomes/Jackson debate
• 13:44 — Running Backs start/sit
• 26:43 — Wide Receivers rankings talk
• 39:25 — Tight Ends rankings
• 46:57 — Listener rapid-fire Q&A

Listener Q&A Highlights

• Burrow vs Mahomes vs Brissett: "I'm going with Joe Burrow and Mahomes is third on this list for me." – Dave (47:14)
• Wilson vs Flowers vs Dortch: Heath likes Michael Wilson most if Harrison is out (47:26).
• Lawrence vs Tyrod: All consensus for Trevor Lawrence (47:43).
• Burrow or Goff: Jared Goff preferred, especially given Thursday matchup (47:58).

Final Takeaways

• Play "known commodity" studs in close lineup decisions, unless you desperately need an upside swing.
• Prioritize RBs and TEs with safe floors and pass-game roles in this tough week.
• WR rankings are volatile after the first tier; play the usage and matchup trends.
• Flexibility is key—pivot to upside if trailing in projections, but trust your RB/WR usage leaders if you're favored.
• Monitor injury reports, especially for stars like Lamar Jackson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

For complete rankings, nuanced matchup notes, and interactive start/sit help, listen to the full episode or check the FFT site for consensus rankings and articles.