Scott Engel is in his 10th season as the official Fantasy writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. Scott is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. He is a four-time FSWA award winner and 10-time nominee, including being named a finalist for the 2020 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year award. You can also find more of his Fantasy analysis on RotoBaller.com, SportsLine.com, the Athletic and SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. Scott won two Fantasy Football dynasty league titles in 2020, including one in the prestigious Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) and he previously pulled off a three-peat in a highly competitive New York City league.

We are entering the final week of the regular season in most Fantasy Football leagues. Thankfully, the extra week on the NFL season schedule in 2021 has also given us an additional week of Fantasy Football play. Yet the bye weeks have also extended to the 14th game on the Fantasy schedule, so prevailing in what may be a must-win matchup is going to be very challenging. The Colts, Dolphins, Patriots and Eagles will all be off in Week 14. Fantasy players will not be able to count on superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, and other important guys such as Jaylen Waddle, Damien Harris and Dallas Goedert.

Injuries certainly aren't making lineup construction any easier in a week when Fantasy teams are trying to clinch playoff berths, improve postseason seedings or wrap up first-round byes. The waiver wire is also thinner in terms of available players that you can consider for starting lineups. It is important to be aggressive and clever on free agency, and lineup decisions may come down to safer vs. upside plays depending on your record and outlook.

If Week 14 lineup reinforcements are needed on free agency, and your league uses a Free Agent Budget, don't hesitate to unload a heavy chunk of what's remaining on needed waiver pickups if it's a situation where you need to win to get in or clinch a first round bye. Clinching a playoff berth is the most important goal right now and do whatever it takes on waivers to sew up that spot. Nailing down a bye essentially means you have advanced past the first round of the playoffs and are one game away from the Fantasy Super Bowl in many formats. Do everything possible in free agency to earn a bye.

In leagues where players are awarded in waiver order, always put in claims for any potential impact players, because one can never be sure who will fall to your claim spot. Don't try to predict who may drop to your claim spot, as there are always pleasant surprises when the transaction reports run.

Those who have already clinched top playoff spots can begin looking ahead to building quality depth for the postseason. Make sure to roster the top NFL backups of starting Fantasy running backs, and the bench should now be comprised of options that can at least provide adequate production if needed to start. We are past the point of stashing players, and the postseason focus should be to head into the playoffs with proper depth at every position. The guys on your bench should be "next man up" types who can be plugged in effectively in case of injuries to any starters or can be streamed because of good matchups. In deeper leagues, focus on players who get enough volume to score needed points.

For most of the regular season, it's important to focus on your own rosters, and not worry about who the other team starts. But if you are in a win or head to the offseason scenario in Week 14, see if it's possible to block an opponent on waivers. If an opponent has a tight end need because Goedert is on a bye, use your FAB money or a primary waiver claim to land the best available tight end.

Many players who we recommend on waivers this week can be important streamers or complementary pieces to regular starters. Once they help Fantasy teams reach the playoffs, they could also be quality depth options when needed.

Week 14 Fantasy Football Waiver Recommendations

Players listed in order of preference for free agent bids or additions.

Running Backs

Rashaad Penny, Seahawks: Penny was a key performer in the Seahawks' Week 13 win over the 49ers. He totaled 62 yards from scrimmage, and two significant plays illustrated his importance to the team in the win and during the remainder of the season. His 27-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter was one of the highlights of the day. In the third quarter, Penny also made a great block that allowed Russell Wilson additional time to find D'Wayne Eskridge on a 17-completion for a first down. Those types of feats will keep Penny in the RB mix for the Seahawks and give him opportunities to contribute to Fantasy teams looking for late-season RB help. Penny is versatile and capable of sparking an offense at any time.

Kenneth Ga*inwell, Eagles*: Injuries pressed the rookie into extra action in Week 13, and he responded well. Gainwell totaled 87 yards from scrimmage and scored on an 18-yard run. He caught five passes and carried 12 times. Philadelphia has a bye in Week 14, so Gainwell is more of an add for those Fantasy players already looking ahead to the playoffs. It is possible he could be in line for a significant workload in Week 15, so add Gainwell now and monitor the health of the other Eagles RBs.

Tevin Coleman, Jets: Coleman can be utilized as a deeper streamer if you are without Taylor, Harris or Myles Gaskin this week. He can also fill in for any injured running backs and may be useful as a flex option in larger leagues. The matchup against the Saints' fifth-ranked rushing defense is not a friendly one, but Coleman has carried 27 times in the past two games and volume may be important when searching for RB lineup choices in Week 14. It is possible Coleman will still see a good amount of touches after this upcoming game.

Zack Moss, Bills: Moss had 10 touches on Monday night, and he is worth taking a flier on because he may be working his way back into the Buffalo RB picture. Weather did not allow Buffalo to see much running room against the Patriots, who loaded up against the run on defense, but the Bills may be seeking to establish more of a running game in the near future. Moss could re-emerge as an inside runner and short-yardage option during the Fantasy playoffs.

Wide Receivers

K.J. Osborn, Vikings: Osborn should be a primary add this week for those Fantasy players who need a WR or flex option. Adam Thielen is dealing with an ankle injury and Osborn appears likely to start on a short week. Minnesota plays Pittsburgh on Thursday and Osborn stepped forward to catch his third TD pass in Week 13. Osborn was targeted seven times on Sunday and he opened the 2021 season with 12 receptions on 15 targets for 167 yards and a TD in the first two games. He should produce well in an expanded role while Thielen is out. 

Russell Gage, Falcons: Whether Gage is available or not will depend on the depth of your league, and if he is, Gage is an immediate add. He has been coming on recently as the top WR for the Falcons, most notably with 40.2 total Fantasy points in his last two games. Gage had a career-high 11 receptions for a career-best 130 yards in Week 13 and is the ideal pickup for Fantasy Football postseason depth and possible lineup consideration.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions: The rookie caught the game-winning TD pass for Detroit in Week 13 and finished as Fantasy WR6 on NFL.com with 24.8 points. St. Brown had the best day of his career so far, catching 10 of 12 targets for 86 yards. St. Brown had three seven-target games in October and his Week 13 outing could boost him to a good finish to his rookie year. He certainly is a viable add for possible quality production and depth during the Fantasy playoffs.

DeVante Parker, Dolphins: Parker returned to action last week for Miami and caught five passes for 62 yards. Parker is definitely a good depth add for the Fantasy playoffs as we have outlined. In six games played this season Parker has logged four double-figure PPR performances.

Tight End

Tyler Conklin, Vikings: Conklin can also see more targets this week and possibly beyond the upcoming game. He caught seven of nine targets for 56 yards in Week 13. Conklin has drawn seven-plus targets in three of his last six games and should be ticketed for more possible receptions with the Vikings needing other pass-catchers to contribute more frequently.

Quarterback Considerations

At this point of the season, most Fantasy players in one-QB formats should be set with their roster options. For those who need streamers in Week 14, though, options include Cam Newton vs. Atlanta (31st in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to QBs, plus Newton always has rushing TD promise), Taylor Heinicke vs. Dallas (29th in passing yards allowed to QBs in 2021), Ryan Tannehill vs. Jacksonville (23rd vs. QBs in the last two weeks), and Jimmy Garoppolo vs. the Bengals (580 passing yards allowed in the last two games).

Week 14 Lineup Tips

The Texans have allowed the most rushing yards to opposing RBs this season, so if you can add Penny off waivers, he can be considered for flex usage. Houston has also allowed 13 rushing TDs, so Adrian Peterson may find the end zone for the second consecutive week as a Seahawk. … Chuba Hubbard faces the Falcons, 28th in FFPG allowed to RBs. He can be started as a Fantasy RB2. … The Jaguars have allowed 12 rushing TDs this season. Tennessee's Dontrell Hilliard has the look of a RB who can score from anywhere on the field. … Washington is 29th in receiving yards allowed to RBs over the past four weeks. Dallas may try to get the ball to Tony Pollard as both a runner and receiver. … The Vikings are 31st in FFPG allowed to WRs. Chase Claypool can be a streamer if needed. … The Lions are 24th in receiving yards allowed to WRs. Jerry Jeudy can be started as a WR3. … The Packers are second-worst in average Fantasy points allowed to WRs over the past month, so start Darnell Mooney with confidence. … Mike Williams has much upside against the Giants, 29th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks. … Houston is 24th in FFPG allowed to TEs this season, so Gerald Everett can be used as a streamer. … Dawson Knox should bounce back vs. Tampa Bay, 23rd in receiving yards allowed to TEs. … Week 14 defensive streaming options include the Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Packers and Chargers.

Check out more of Scott Engel's 2021 Fantasy Football analysis and his full Week 14 rankingsat RotoBaller.com. Enter promo code "seahawks" at checkout for an additional discount on the RotoBaller Fantasy Football season pass.