The Ringer Fantasy Football Show – Week 14 Start-Sit Dilemmas

Episode Date: December 5, 2025 | Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, Craig Horlbeck

Episode Overview

Week 14 marks the last week of the fantasy football regular season. The hosts tackle start/sit decisions, break down the real-life NFL playoff implications, and debate high-stakes games—particularly for teams on the edge of the playoffs or with fantasy-relevant roster uncertainties. There's also plenty of fantasy therapy, friendly trash talk, and a look at both personal and collective Spotify Wrapped results. The episode is packed with positional guidance, deep statistical context, and emotional rants about football coaching, quarterback performance, and the existential agony of benching Justin Jefferson.

Key Themes and Major Games

1. The Bears-Packers Showdown: Illusion or Arrival?

[03:32–14:29]

• Context: Historically, Packers have dominated the matchup—Bears are 1-16 in their last 17 vs. the Packers. Now, the Bears finally lead the division.
• Implications: "If either team wins both these games, that team basically will win the division." – Danny Heifetz (04:38)
• Bears' Legitimacy: The hosts debate whether the Bears are "for real" despite a modest point differential and a dominant rushing attack masking passing game issues.
  • “The Bears have six more points than their opponents and six more wins than losses. That doesn’t make any sense.” – Danny Kelly (06:14)
  • Ben Johnson (Bears coach) is praised for creativity but criticized for public honesty about the passing game's struggles.
• Fantasy Dilemmas: Start/sit discussions around DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Christian Watson.
  • Rome Odunze Conversation: High opportunity, poor production; some health concerns. "There’s a lot of plays like that left on the field." – Danny Kelly (13:24)
  • Lean: Play Watson, maybe Odunze (if healthy), but with trepidation.

2. Steelers vs. Ravens – Coaching on the Hot Seat and Fantasy Despair

[14:39–27:47]

• Vibes: Dubbed the “Bad Vibes Bowl.” Winner has a 75%+ shot at the postseason, loser is in trouble.
• Coaching Hot Seat: Mike Tomlin’s future discussed at length; Steelers fans may be ready for change if they lose.
  • “This is the first time I've ever believed he might [be fired].” – Danny Heifetz (19:32)
• Fantasy Angle:
  • Lamar Jackson is a risky start: injuries, lack of rushing, diminishing ceiling. Consider other options.
    • “If the goal is just to get to 17 fantasy points, I kind of think Sam Darnold can get you that much easier.” – Craig (16:33)
  • Steelers RBs (Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren) and Zay Flowers are possible starts, but all come with disappointment risk.
  • Start/sit conundrum: “Zay Flowers had negative points last week.” – Danny Kelly (26:43)
• Memorable Rant: On emotional fallout of benching Lamar: “If you bench Lamar and you're wrong, it's your fault. But if you play Lamar and he sucks, be mad at Lamar instead of yourself.” – Danny Kelly (18:36)

3. Burrow vs. Allen: Bengals at Bills

[27:50–32:02]

• Rivalry & Stakes: Game is less relevant due to Bengals’ record, but the return of Burrow draws attention.
• Fantasy Read: Both defenses struggle against the run—expect both offenses to lean on ground games.
  • “It’s going to be billed as Burrow versus Allen, but it’s just going to be running.” – Danny Heifetz (29:46)
  • Start Joe Mixon, James Cook, keep an eye on Chase Brown and Dalton Kincaid, who benefits from Bengals' struggles vs. TEs.

4. Colts at Jaguars: Who's for Real?

[32:02–39:05]

• Parallel Narratives: Colts and Jaguars are “pass funnel” defenses, winning on takeaways, both with questionable offensive identities.
  • “No matter how many times the Colts lose, I still believe in them. No matter how many times the Jags win, I still don’t believe in them.” – Craig (35:52)
• Jonathan Taylor: Faces a tough matchup; Jaguars allow the fewest rushing yards per game.
• Name Game: Extensive debates about low-end WR options (Brian Thomas Jr., Troy Franklin, AD Mitchell, Rome Odunze).

5. Key Start/Sit Debates and Injury Updates

(Interspersed; main timestamps: 39:10–75:56)

• Mike Evans: If practicing fully, start over Zay Flowers. Be careful of startup hype vs. real health.
• Kyle Pitts: The hosts repeat their eternal caution: “He could be good this week because I hate him. So that's usually how it goes.” – Danny Kelly (45:28)
• Washington at Vikings: Jaden Daniels injury drama—questionable willingness to run, risky but high upside.
• Justin Jefferson: Start him, but with dread. If eliminated, he’s a “do I trust talent or recent reality” test.
  • “You’re on your own. We’re not coming to save you...you probably should (bench him)…but you won’t.” – Danny Kelly (53:52)
• Jaguars/Colts WR Mess: Alec Pierce, Michael Wilson, and other desperation plays ranked. Emotional, slightly fatalistic guidance provided.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On the meaning of Bears-Packers:
  “Whether they win or lose, it will weigh much heavier than all the other games they've won or lost this year.” – Danny Heifetz (04:31)
• On fantasy football agony:
  “The Steelers have won this exact game in this moment 10 times.” – Danny Kelly (26:02)
• Iconic self-deprecation:
  “I cut [Kyle Pitts]. ...I decided I can live and sleep at night if I lose ...because Kyle Pitts was really good. But I could never live with myself if I lose...because I trusted Kyle Pitts.” – Danny Kelly (45:01)
• On coaching hot seats:
  “I think with all this Tomlin heat...if the Ravens come in and get right versus you...I do think Tomlin should go.” – Danny Heifetz (23:19)

Segment Timestamps for Key Discussions

• Opening & Week 14 Stakes – 01:26–03:32
• Bears-Packers Analysis – 03:32–14:29
• Steelers-Ravens, Tomlin Hot Seat & Fantasy – 14:39–27:47
• Bengals-Bills, Burrow’s Return – 27:50–32:02
• Colts-Jaguars & RB Debate – 32:02–39:05
• Other Primetime Matchups, Injury Rundowns – 39:10–75:56
• Start/Sit “Name Game” (WR & RB Scrubs Edition) – 37:05–39:39, 47:10–56:50
• Personalities, Rants, and Therapy – Throughout, but especially 53:00–57:00
• Spotify Wrapped Discussion – 86:35–90:04

Quick Hits and Fantasy Calls

• RBs to Add: Bam Knight (Cardinals), monitor Trey Benson activation.
• Key WR Streamers: Michael Wilson is a must start if Marvin Harrison Jr. is out.
• QBs on the Fence: Playing injuries (Jaden Daniels, Justin Herbert); downgrade Lamar, consider streaming Darnold, Jacoby Brissett if desperate.
• Rams/Cardinals: Start all Rams, Michael Wilson a strong flex. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a downgrade if limited Friday.
• Monday Night Football (Eagles at Chargers): Likely ugly—be cautious with fringe players like Lad McConkey, and given Herbert’s hand, RB split (Amari Hampton/Vidal) could be unpredictable.

Memorable Moments

• Agreement That Smells of Disaster:
  “This is a nightmare week of fantasy.” – Craig (58:49)
• Lamar Jackson Existential Crisis:
  “He doesn't have the ceiling that he usually has, so you might as well start a healthy [option].” – Danny Kelly (18:22)
• On Jefferson’s Dilemma:
  “You probably fucking should [bench him], but I don't think you should. And I'm too scared to do it. You probably won't do it, but you're gonna go down because you didn't do it.” – Danny Kelly (53:52)
• Spotify Wrapped Segment:
  A tangent on Gordon Lightfoot, genre-aging, and shameful music stats (86:35–90:04).

General Advice & Closing Thoughts

• Week 14 is full of high-variance, low-certainty fantasy decisions.
• Trust health and volume; recency bias has some value, but don’t bench superstar talents unless you have a rock-solid case.
• For playoff tiebreakers, expect chaos—in lineup decisions and in real football outcomes.
• Fun, music, and the agony of choosing between Alec Pierce and Justin Jefferson go hand in hand.

For more start/sit updates and injury developments, visit fantasyfootball.theringer.com and check for late-breaking updates on Sunday.