FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast – Episode 1879

Week 14 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sits, Player Debates, and TD Calls
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Ryan Warmley
Guests: Jake Seeley (The Athletic), Pat Fitzmaurice

Overview

This episode dives into critical Week 14 fantasy football decisions as playoffs loom large. The crew tackles start/sit conundrums, dives into player debates at WR, RB, and QB, and calls their shots for likely touchdown scorers. With four teams on bye and key injuries everywhere, the hosts provide actionable, nuanced advice to help listeners survive and advance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Waiver Wire Priorities & Analysis

• Adonai Mitchell (Jets, WR)
  • Why He’s a Top Add:
    • Huge air yard share (59.9%), 29% target rate over the past three games, even if the conversion rate’s shaky.
    • Playable upside WR3/flex with lots of teams on bye ("If I’m chasing ceiling, I’m chasing Mitchell. If I don’t want the risk, he’s still risky.” – Jake, 05:55)
  • Long-term Outlook:
    • Both Jake and Pat see his value hinging heavily on the WR room and future QB play; likely a volatile WR4 next season.
• Jayden Higgins (Texans, WR)
  • Snaps/Workload Issue:
    • “Wish he was playing more than 60% of snaps, because he looks like a star in the making.” – Pat, 09:26
    • Not as strong a start due to limited routes and playing time.
  • Jake: “I would almost prefer Davis Mills be back at QB, at least he looked to Higgins more than Stroud.”
• Chris Rodriguez (Commanders, RB)
  • Consistent but uninspiring, strictly touchdown-dependent.
  • “If he gets a TD he’s RB24, if not, he’s still in that RB24 range… he doesn’t seem to do both at once.” – Jake, 11:55
    • Only an option if desperate or in standard scoring.

2. Plant-Your-Flag Players

• Jake: Chris Godwin (Bucs, WR)
  • “Suddenly, he looked explosive, separating like we remember. I’m locking him back as a WR2, maybe inside my top 20 this week.” – 14:28
  • A huge rank leap, despite consensus being much lower (ECR WR31).
• Pat: Jacoby Myers (Jaguars, WR)
  • “He and Trevor Lawrence have clicked instantly... he’s scored in two straight and is averaging almost 70 yards per game recently.” – 17:44
  • Feels safe if Parker Washington is inactive.

3. Running Back & Wide Receiver Debates

• Travis Etienne (Jaguars) vs. Kenneth Walker (Seahawks)

  • Pat leans Etienne: “He’s had a higher ceiling and hasn’t slipped below double-digit points as much.” – 23:25
  • Jake leans Walker: “I think the fear about Charbonnet overtaking Walker is overblown. It’s a close call, but I’m on the Walker side.” – 24:13

• Woody Marks (Texans) vs. Devin Neal (Patriots)

  • Marks: Pure grinder on the ground, little passing game work.
  • Neal: More value in passing formats—Tampa has given up 120 more RB receiving yards than any other team, boosting Neal’s floor (Pat, 29:24).

• Odunze (Bears) vs. DK Metcalf (Jets)

  • Both viewed as low-end WR3 plays due to poor QB play and/or target competition.
  • Fitz prefers Odunze due to being less mismatched with his QB (49:12).

4. Start/Sit Rapid Fire Calls

• Kareem Hunt (Chiefs) vs. Chris Rodriguez (Commanders)
  • Both are unexciting, but Hunt gets a slight edge for volume and minimal receiving (44:18).
• Zay Flowers (Ravens) vs. Kyle Manangai (Bears)
  • Mixed. Manangai slightly preferred by Jake for TD upside and weather/game script, but Pat favors Zay in half PPR due to catch floor.
  • “Zay’s a WR3 who just hovers in that range...I’ll lean to Manangai in a cold, run-heavy game.” – Jake, 49:44

5. Quarterback Dilemmas

• Lamar Jackson (Ravens) vs. Baker Mayfield (Bucs)
  • Lamar’s in a deep slump but still preferred by both:
  • “I’m taking the chance that Lamar’s anywhere near 100%. He’s still my start, even if he’s let people down lately.” – Jake, 60:32

6. Deep League/Desperation Plays

• Christian Watson (Packers, WR) vs. Ladd McConkey (Chargers, WR)
  • Watson preferred thanks to target surge and red zone looks. McConkey downgraded due to QB uncertainty, OL injuries, and tough matchup.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Adonai Mitchell’s upside:
  “I’m not calling Adonai Mitchell a top-20 wide receiver. But if I’m chasing ceiling, I’m chasing Mitchell. If I don’t want the risk, he still falls in that risk bucket.”—Jake (05:55)
• Chris Godwin’s resurgence:
  “From the jump last week, I’m watching...and—oh my God—he looks explosive!”—Jake (14:28)
• Co-host banter on cold weather:
  Jake: “It’s supposed to be a high of twelve at game time—single digits. That’s a little chilly.”
  Pat: “We just call that a light windbreaker.” (52:07)
• On Lamar Jackson’s struggles:
  “The last three games: QB29, QB25, QB27. For me, it’s not even about running—it’s about his ability to evade pressure in the pocket.”—Ryan (61:32)
• Chris Rodriguez’s profile:
  “He gets the yards or the touchdown, but he doesn’t seem to be able to put both together.”—Jake (11:55)
• On Metcalf vs. Odunze:
  “I would be utterly shocked if Metcalf got hot again with [Aaron Rodgers]. But Odunze, he could get hot.”—Pat (49:12)
• Woody Marks profile:
  “Feels like empty calories, because the passing game work hasn’t been there and the goal-line work hasn’t been there.” – Ryan (31:28)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:43 – Show begins, hosts catch up post-Thanksgiving
• 04:55 – Adonai Mitchell: Waiver add & week 14 start/sit breakdown
• 09:04 – Jayden Higgins discussed
• 11:55 – Chris Rodriguez analyzed
• 14:28 – Plant-Your-Flag: Chris Godwin
• 17:44 – Plant-Your-Flag: Jacoby Myers
• 23:25 – Etienne vs. Walker RB debate
• 29:24 – Woody Marks vs. Devin Neal debate
• 39:24 – Christian Watson vs. Ladd McConkey debate
• 44:18 – Kareem Hunt vs. Chris Rodriguez rapid start/sit
• 49:44 – Zay Flowers vs. Kyle Manangai
• 60:32 – QB dilemma: Lamar or Baker?
• 66:11 – Touchdown calls

Summary Table: Lightning Start/Sit Recommendations

| Player 1 | Player 2 | Preferred | Notes | |---------------------|------------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | Adonai Mitchell | Jayden Higgins | Mitchell | Ceiling; both low-end starters this week | | Chris Godwin | Emeka Egbuka | Godwin | If healthy, WR2 upside for Godwin | | Travis Etienne | Kenneth Walker | Split | Pat-ETN, Jake-Walker; both flex range | | Chris Rodriguez | Kareem Hunt | Hunt | Slight edge for touches/receiving | | Odunze | Metcalf | Split | Pat- Odunze, Jake- Metcalf; both deep WR3 territory | | Zay Flowers | Kyle Manangai | Split | Pat-Zay (half PPR), Jake-Manangai (TD upside) | | Ladd McConkey | Christian Watson | Watson | Target leader, red zone presence | | Lamar Jackson | Baker Mayfield | Lamar | Still highest ceiling despite struggles |

Closing Touchdown Calls (66:11)

• Jake: James Cook
  “Feels like a layup this week—cooked Bengals D.”
• Pat: Courtland Sutton
  “Reasserts himself as Broncos’ alpha—scores in back-to-back.”
• Ryan: Mark Andrews
  “Fresh extension—feels like a ‘get him going’ touchdown spot.”

Tone & Banter

Lighthearted and knowledgeable; the hosts keep things fast-paced, self-effacing (“when I get this passionate, it always goes the other way”—Jake, 16:26), and honest about the uncertainty of fantasy football in December with injuries and byes everywhere.

Bottom Line

• The hosts agree: Week 14 is one of the most challenging lineups of the season.
• Lean volatile ceiling plays (Adonai Mitchell, Chris Godwin) if you need to make up ground or swing your matchup.
• Don’t overreact to slumps from elite options like Lamar—unless you’ve got an obvious top-10 alternative.
• RBs getting volume and TD equity—even if uninspiring (Hunt, Rodriguez)—have value with limited options.
• QB uncertainty crushes WR floors (Ladd McConkey, Justin Jefferson), be wary.
• Lean on established volume, especially at WR and RB, with formats dictating final start/sit calls.

“At this time of year, sometimes you just need six points—so you start Chris Rodriguez.” —Jake, 11:55

For more detailed ranks & tools, check out FantasyPros.com/rankings and use the Start/Sit Assistant for personalized lineup help. Good luck in Week 14!