Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em: Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert poised to rebound in Week 14

We've officially reached the final week of the 2023 fantasy football regular season, which may as well be the playoffs for those still fighting for a postseason spot. Here's what to do about a few players who you may be on the fence about locking into your starting lineup for Week 14. 

Quarterbacks

Start: Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Lions at Bears / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Despite a lackluster output in his last game, Fields continues to possess high-end fantasy upside, which has already been showcased against the Lions during their Week 11 thriller, amassing 273 total yards and scoring 21.16 fantasy points. We should probably expect a similar performance this week, considering Fields averages 21.75 fantasy points for his career against Detroit. His legs will likely be the key to his success. Although the Lions are allowing the sixth-fewest yards per carry this season (3.8), they've struggled defending quarterbacks and have allowed the most rushing yards to the position (341).

Other starts: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Sit: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Texans at Jets / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The rookie signal-caller has been a fantasy football sensation and legitimate NFL MVP Award candidate, but it may be time to temper expectations heading into an unfavorable matchup. The Jets have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season (13.3) and should be particularly motivated to snap their five-game losing streak against a young Texans team. Losing rookie WR Tank Dell (leg) for the season shouldn't be overlooked, either, as his absence will only help the Jets secondary keep the Texans passing attack in check. 

Other sits: Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota Vikings; Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Running backs

Start: Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins

Titans at Dolphins / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday

While Mostert, the RB2 overall this season, has his ceiling capped now that rookie De'Von Achane is fully healthy – evidenced by his season-low 38% snap share last week – he's still in one of the best situations imaginable. According to oddschecker, Miami is a 13-point favorite over Tennessee, signaling that there will be plenty of rushing attempts and scoring opportunities for Mostert to maintain his status as a low-end RB1. After all, no team has scored more rushing touchdowns than Miami (22), and only the Baltimore Ravens have racked up more rushing yards. 

Other starts: AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers; Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Sit: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Vikings at Raiders / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday

It appears backup Ty Chandler isn't as much of a threat to steal significant touches as some expected. Even though that development, coupled with WR Justin Jefferson's return, might make Mattison and his steady workload an intriguing FLEX play, leave him on the bench if you haven't clinched a playoff berth. Mattison hasn't posted double-digit fantasy points since Week 9 and Las Vegas isn't defending the run as poorly as its season-long stats suggest, having surrendered the eighth-fewest rushing yards in the league over the last three games (276). 

Other sits: Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens; Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Wide Receivers

Start: DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Titans at Dolphins / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday

Assuming the oddsmakers' prediction of a Miami blowout win holds true, such a scenario would imply Tennessee will be passing the ball for the majority of Monday's game, which would bode well for Hopkins. The five-time Pro Bowler has been QB Will Levis' favorite target despite the fact that they've had their differences. In six games with the rookie, Hopkins has averaged 66.3 yards on eight targets per game, ranking as the WR11 overall in PPR scoring formats during that span. 

Other starts: Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Sit: Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars at Browns / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Last week, Ridley once again proved that he's one of the most unreliable wideouts in fantasy football, as he accounted for 26 of Jacksonville's 321 receiving yards in a game in which Christian Kirk exited in the first quarter. With Kirk and possibly QB Trevor Lawrence out on Sunday, Ridley is set up to disappoint against a Browns defense that gives up 18.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest among teams. 

Other sits: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks 

Tight Ends

Start: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles at Cowboys / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday

The 28-year-old is expected to return to action after missing the last three games with a forearm fracture sustained in Philadelphia's Week 9 win over Dallas. While Goedert wasn't as productive as usual when healthy, he was off to one of his better performances of the season against Dallas, catching three passes for 50 yards before exiting in the third quarter. The Eagles offense struggled against San Francisco but is well-positioned to rebound in a matchup that boasts the highest implied point total of this week's slate (52), especially with Goedert returning to his prominent role.

Other starts: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears; David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Sit: Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Packers at Giants / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday

If you're streaming tight ends, it might be difficult to find a viable option on waivers this late in the season, but chances are Kraft is one of the top players available at the position. Although he received an encouraging six targets in last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Kraft isn't worth a dart throw against the Giants, even if QB Jordan Love is on a roll. New York has quietly been one of the toughest matchups for opposing tight ends this season, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position (4.8). 

Other sits: Tyler Conklin, New York Jets; Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars