5 matchups to watch (week 14)

Featuring Justin Jefferson, Darren Waller, and more.

December 05, 2025

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Yooo!

Happy Friday to all who celebrate. Got a poll in tonight’s newsletter that I’m interested in getting everyone’s opinion on. Expecting some strong takes from both sides…

Tonight, we’ve covering 5 matchups to watch in week 14.

Giddy up.

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WR - Justin Jefferson (MIN)

  • Justin Jefferson is framed as a player to bench if possible, with the hosts noting that in the last four weeks, 45 wide receivers have outscored him, which they describe as an alarming decline.

  • The discussion attributes Justin Jefferson's fantasy struggles primarily to his quarterback situation rather than his own talent, stressing that this is not a problem with Jefferson as a player but with how the Vikings passing game is functioning.

  • Even though the upcoming matchup against the Commanders is considered at least decent, the hosts say they cannot trust Justin Jefferson right now and view him as a risky start relative to several other available wide receivers.

  • They highlight that managers may be forced to use Justin Jefferson in some leagues due to roster construction, but they repeatedly suggest that there is a growing list of wide receivers who are better Week 14 plays than Jefferson.

Our take: This is one of the longer takes I’m ever going to share in here so I’m going to break it down into digestible bullets for you:

  • (1) I don’t cherry-pick summaries to include in the newsletter based on what I agree with. I built Dynasty Pulse to eliminate confirmation bias from my research routine and challenge my assumptions about players.

  • (2) I disagree with this take that you should bench Justin Jefferson. It’s not because I think this is bad analysis. I love this podcast (it’s one of my favorites). But that doesn’t mean I blindly follow everything they say. The same way you should never blindly follow anything you read in this newsletter.

  • (3) We have him ranked WR14 in our weekly consensus rankings. If you’re in the fortunate position to have 3-4 players ranked in the top 13 WR or 15 RBs ranked ahead of him this week, go ahead and bench JJ. But I’m guessing most people don’t.

  • (4) Yes, he has probably burned you this year. But he’s still Justin Jefferson and will always have more upside than 95% of the other options out there.

  • (5) Final point, overmanaging is not fun. I can sleep at night if I start JJ, he sucks again, and someone on my bench does better. I won’t be able to sleep if I start Khalil Shakir over him, he flops, and JJ has a good game.

  • But that’s just me. What do you think? Vote below 👇️ 

If you had Justin Jefferson, are you starting him over a low-end WR2?

(Vote to see live results)

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RB - Josh Jacobs (GB)

  • Josh Jacobs has an impressive historical performance against the Chicago Bears, having scored five touchdowns in five career games against them, highlighting his consistent scoring ability against this opponent.

  • The article specifically recommends a bet on Jacobs achieving 50+ rushing yards and scoring an anytime touchdown, noting his current season trend of averaging exactly one touchdown per game and his impressive 16 touchdowns in 17 games last year.

  • Jacobs is positioned to potentially exploit the Bears' weakened defensive line, which is currently missing four starters across their defensive line and linebacking group and ranks poorly in run stop win rate (27th) and pass rush win rate (30th).

  • Our take: We have Jacobs as our RB4 this week projected for 19.20 ppr points.

TE - Darren Waller (MIA)

  • Darren Waller has been a high-end producer for the Dolphins when on the field, scoring 4 touchdowns in four games this season, including two against the Jets. The article predicts Waller will finish as a top-5 tight end in Week 14, facing the Jets once again.

  • Tua Tagovailoa is expected to target Waller heavily, with the tight end becoming a prominent part of the Dolphins' passing attack alongside Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane. Waller currently ranks as TE10 in points per game and has recorded two 30+ yard catches in his four games of action.

  • The Dolphins' recent season turnaround and expected control of the game against the Jets suggest Waller will have multiple red zone opportunities. His big-play potential and consistent touchdown scoring make him a recommended start for fantasy managers looking for tight end production in Week 14.

  • Our take: We have Waller as our TE16 this week and projected for 8.90 points, so this top-5 prediction is bold. If you don’t have one of the elite TEs, this is the type of upside play I’d be looking for in my TE slot.

QB - Tyrod Taylor (NYJ)

  • Tyrod Taylor has emerged as a surprisingly effective fantasy quarterback in 2025, finishing as a top-10 fantasy QB in two of his three starts this year. His recent performance in Week 13 saw him score 21.3 fantasy points and finish as the QB6, showcasing his unexpected fantasy value.

  • The article suggests Taylor could be a strategic start in deeper leagues, particularly in 14-plus team formats, due to his favorable matchup against the Dolphins. The Dolphins' secondary has allowed a top-12 fantasy QB finish in four straight weeks, making Taylor an intriguing option.

  • Taylor's recent consistency and the promising matchup make him a potential sleeper quarterback for fantasy managers looking for a streaming option in Week 14, with the analysis indicating he could provide solid fantasy production.

  • Our take: Tyrod comes in at QB16 this week in our rankings with a projection of 17.10 points. The floor is always low for any Jets QB, but I don’t hate this play.

RB - Quinshon Judkins (CLE)

  • Since the Browns' bye in Week 9, Judkins has been consistently involved in the offense, averaging nearly 20 carries per game despite various game scripts.

  • In the upcoming Week 14 game against the Titans, Judkins is positioned to excel as the Browns are four-point home favorites, with the Titans allowing 136 rushing yards per game on the road and 4.6 yards per carry.

  • With Dylan Sampson likely out due to a calf injury and Judkins' recent strong performances, he is on track to have a significant impact and is even being considered for Pro Bowl recognition.

  • Our take: Judkins is our RB10 this week with a 15.40 projection. There aren’t many games where CLE is favored, so this is as good as it gets for QJ.

That’s all for tonight!

See ya pizza,

Joe

P.S. In case you missed it, catch up on our most recent newsletters and other helpful resources below: