Week 14 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: Running Backs

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Running Backs

1. Christian McCaffrey at Seahawks
2. Alvin Kamara vs. Panthers
3. Austin Ekeler vs. Broncos
4. De’Von Achane vs. Titans (Mon.)
5. Saquon Barkley vs. Packers
6. Travis Etienne at Browns
7. Josh Jacobs vs. Vikings
8. Rachaad White at Falcons
9. Joe Mixon vs. Colts
10. Kyren Williams at Ravens

Week 14 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Byes: Cardinals, Commanders

Week 14 Start ’Em: Running Backs

Start of the Week

Zack Moss at Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Moss was a disappointment last week, scoring just 7.7 points despite playing 67 snaps and seeing 43% of the touches with Jonathan Taylor out. I’d keep the faith in him, however, as Moss has a plus matchup against the Bengals next on the schedule. Over the last four weeks, their defense has allowed five touchdowns and more than 24 points per game to backs.

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Start ’Em

Rachaad White at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS): White has become a virtual must start in fantasy leagues, even when the matchup is bad on paper. That’s the case this week, as he’ll face a Falcons defense that’s allowed the second-fewest points to running backs since Week 10. Still, White did beat them for almost 16 points in Week 9 and he’s scored at least 17 PPR points in five of his last six contests.

Isiah Pacheco vs. Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Pacheco has been on fire in the last two weeks, scoring 47.2 combined points while seeing more than 42% of the touch share in Kansas City’s backfield. I’d continue to roll with him against the Bills, who have allowed 13-plus points to backs nine times including four who have scored more than 18 points. This unit is also allowing 4.6 yards per rush to enemy backs.

David Montgomery at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Revenge! Montgomery has scored a combined 27.6 points over the last two games, and he saw more snaps than his teammate, Jahmyr Gibbs, last week. I’d start him against his former NFL team, the Bears, even though their defense has allowed the sixth-fewest points to backs on runs. Remember, Montgomery beat them for 17.8 fantasy points in Week 11.

Javonte Williams at Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Williams hasn’t been great in the stat sheets lately, scoring a combined 27.4 points in his last three games. Still, I’d start the Broncos back in a plus matchup against the Chargers. Their defense has allowed 16 or more points to backs seven times including two with 26-plus points, and runners have averaged almost five yards per rush for the season.

More Starts

Ezekiel Elliott at Steelers (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Breece Hall vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
James Cook at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Joe Mixon vs. Colts ($6,100)
Zack Moss at Bengals ($5,900)
Javonte Williams at Chargers ($5,800)

Week 14 Sit ’Em: Running Backs

Sit of the Week

D'Andre Swift at Cowboys (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Swift has, well, swiftly fallen out of favor in fantasy land. He’s scored fewer than 9.5 points in three of his last four games, including last week’s four-point stinker against the 49ers. Next up is a bad matchup in Dallas against a Cowboys team that’s allowed the fourth-fewest points per game to backs since Week 10 and held Swift to single digits in Week 9.

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Sit ’Em

Alexander Mattison at Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Mattison has a plus matchup next on the schedule, facing a Raiders defense that’s allowed the sixth-most points per game to backs. This unit has been tougher against the position lately, though, allowing 3.4 yards per rush since Week 10. What’s more, Mattison has been held to single digits in all but one of his last six games regardless of the opponent.

Chuba Hubbard at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Hubbard has been on absolute fire in his last two games, scoring a combined 42.6 fantasy points. That will make it tough to sit him, but I’d temper expectations against the Saints. Their tough defense has allowed just two backs to beat them for more than 14.4 fantasy points, and it’s surrendered just six rushing touchdowns. Hubbard will be a risky flex option.

Gus Edwards vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Edwards has gone a bit cold in the last three weeks, scoring single digits in two of his last three games. His struggles could continue against the Rams, who have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to backs this season. Their defense has also given up just 11 points per game to the position on runs alone, which is telling since Edwards is mostly one dimensional.

Devin Singletary at Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Well, it was fun while it lasted! After seemingly taking over the Texans backfield, Singletary lost snaps and touches to Dameon Pierce in a win over the Broncos. In fact, the latter saw six more touches and three more red-zone looks in the contest. So, while this week’s matchup in New York is favorable on paper, Singletary is suddenly a risk in fantasy lineups.

More Sits

Najee Harris vs. Patriots (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Kenneth Walker III vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Khalil Herbert vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Kenneth Walker III vs. 49ers ($6,300)
Gus Edwards vs. Rams ($5,900)
Devin Singletary at Jets ($5,700)