Fantasy football advice, Week 14: Who to start/sit for Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

The playoffs continue on Monday night for many fantasy leagues, and those owners don’t have any more room for error. Luckily, fantasy owners will have more than a few options to choose from in a showdown between two teams who are trying to cement spots in the AFC playoffs. Let’s take a look:

If Joe Flacco continues to perform as he did during Week 13’s carving-up of the Miami Dolphins’ defense, then good things are in store for Steve Smith, Dennis Pitta and their fantasy owners. With the tight end position being nothing more than a dumpster fire, Pitta is a justifiable TE1 with upside as long as the Ravens’ offense shows signs of life. Against a middling Patriots defense, opportunities should be there for him and Smith to cash in on fantasy points, making both start-worthy.

Terrance West and Kenneth Dixon have been serviceable if not spectacular for fantasy owners, but may face tough sledding against the Patriots’ top-10 run defense. It’s a unit that has allowed just six rushing touchdowns all season, which doesn’t make either anything more than middling flex options in standard formats. West is likely to garner more usage, but not to the point of a significantly elevated fantasy status.

Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and Flacco are all capable of splash plays, but would be risky options in a week with no teams on bye.

Tom Brady obviously doesn’t offer the same upside as he did with Rob Gronkowski in the lineup, and Martellus Bennett being less than 100 percent doesn’t help his case as well. However, with Dion Lewis back in the fold as well as rookie Malcolm Mitchell stepping up, Brady still offers high QB1 upside. He can be started in any matchup, as can Julian Edelman, who remains atop the totem pole in Gronk’s absence. Mitchell continues to be a force near the goal line and offers fine flex value in standard formats.

LeGarrette Blount will face the NFL’s No. 1 run defense on Monday night, one that allows just 3.4 yards per carry as well as an NFL-best four rushing touchdowns allowed. Blount will need a goal-line conversion to justify his usual RB2 value, which has been a rarity against the Ravens in 2016. Fantasy owners wouldn’t be faulted for looking into other backfield options.

Bennett’s owners likely have a better option to go to at tight end while he continues to deal with shoulder and ankle injuries. The backfield pass catchers of Lewis and James White would be an ideal RB1 if they were the same person, but unfortunately, they have cannibalized each other’s snaps and chances to put up fantasy points. They can remain on benches along with Chris Hogan.