Scott Engel is in his 12^th  year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis at  The Game Day and fantasy football rankings  at RotoBaller.com.

The Fantasy Football playoffs are a week away in most leagues, and many fantasy players are facing must-win situations in Week 14. We provide optimal starting options to consider, while also helping you build good roster depth for the upcoming fantasy postseason with our waiver wire recommendations and rankings.

Running Backs

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Zack Moss

Jonathan Taylor is out with a thumb injury, and Moss has been mostly very productive as a starter in his place this season. Tennessee limited Moss to 51 yards on 19 carries in Week 13, but in five previous starts this year, the Colts RB averaged 93.2 rushing yards per game and totaled five touchdowns from scrimmage. Indianapolis is making a serious push for an AFC playoff berth and Moss should help the cause in Week 14.

Over the past four weeks, the Bengals rank 24^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to opposing running backs.  The Colts also have the fifth-best run blocking advantage grade for Week 14 on Pro Football Focus. If you get into a tight lineup call involving Moss and another RB this week, lean to starting him. Moss can also function as a very good flex option if you have two other higher-quality RB options.

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James Cook

In their past two games, the Bills have scored 66 points, as the offense has apparently regained its best form under coordinator Joe Brady. Cook has been seeing a significant amount of touches recently, and the high usage should continue in a big matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14.

Before Buffalo's last two games, Cook had not carried the ball more than 14 times in his past seven games. Over the past two games, he has 33 rushing attempts, with 16 in his most recent outing. He also has 11 receiving targets in the last two games.  We can expect a higher-scoring affair between the Bills and Chiefs, so Cook will be busy again as a runner and receiver, and he should be started as an RB2 or flex option in Week 14.

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Ezekiel Elliott

Rhamondre Stevenson will be out for a while with an ankle injury, so the former Cowboys superstar is set to function as the Patriots' clear lead RB for the next few weeks. Elliott is ticketed for a heavy workload, which makes him a priority fantasy football waiver wire pickup at this time of year. He is still capable of producing respectable fantasy totals with a good amount of volume.

In Week 13 after Stevenson left the game against the Chargers, Elliott had 22 touches and finished with 92 scrimmage yards. In two of his three previous games, the 28-year-old averaged 5.1 yards per carry. In Week 14, Elliott faces the Steelers, who rank 24^th in rushing yards allowed to RBs this season. The Patriots also have the sixth-best run blocking advantage grade for Week 14 on PFF. You can pop Elliott into your lineup as a viable streamer if needed.

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Roschon Johnson

The Chicago rookie can emerge as a late-season fantasy riser at the RB position. While the Bears might continue to utilize a committee at RB, Johnson may be featured more as the team looks to the future on offense. Johnson finished with 75 scrimmage yards on 15 touches and caught all five of his targets in the Bears' last game before the bye week. Add him as a potentially promising fantasy depth RB for the playoff run.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs – Week 14 Rankings

1. Ezekiel Elliott
2. Roschon Johnson
3. Antonio Gibson
4. Chase Brown
5. Ty Chandler
6. Kenneth Gainwell
7. Tyjae Spears
8. Leonard Fournette
9. Rico Dowdle
10. Kenny McIntosh – At least keep the Seahawks rookie on your watch list for possible contributions at any time during the rest of the season.

Wide Receivers

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Jaylen Waddle

While Waddle remains a very important part of the Miami passing game in real life, his fantasy production has fluctuated in recent weeks. In Week 12, Waddle finished with 114 receiving yards, and he had 52 yards in Week 13. Some fantasy players may be thinking about streaming other WRs in his place, but Waddle has still been targeted eight times in each of his past three games.

Tennessee ranks 27^th in yardage allowed to WRs. Waddle also has the fourth-best WR matchup grade against opposing cornerbacks on PFF for Week 14. If you are considering reserving Waddle this week because you have other good options at WR, lean toward keeping him in the lineup as an upside play.

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Brandin Cooks

Starting Cooks can not only be a good lineup choice as a fantasy football WR3 or flex play, he also gives you a fantasy investment in the biggest game of the week, between the Cowboys and Eagles on Sunday night. Watching your key fantasy performers contribute to Week 14 success while viewing the marquee matchup of the week certainly makes the overall experience more fun and compelling.

Over the past four games, Dallas has averaged an outrageous 42 points per game. Cooks has started to settle in well as the No. 2 WR for the Cowboys, as he has caught all five of his TD passes for the season in the past seven games. The Eagles have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to WRs in 2023.

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Noah Brown

Tank Dell is out for the season, and now Brown will have to step forward again and play a prominent role in the potent Houston passing game. The former Cowboy is a big target with downfield playmaking ability, and Brown displayed his considerable upside in Weeks 9 and 10 when he totaled 325 receiving yards on 13 receptions. Brown might be the biggest difference-maker on the fantasy football waiver wire this week, so he should be a top priority pickup.

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Jonathan Mingo

The Carolina rookie finished with his best numbers in a game so far this season in Week 13. Mingo was targeted a season-high 10 times and caught six passes for 69 yards. The former Ole Miss star should continue to be targeted frequently in the weeks ahead and he is a quality fantasy football depth add at WR for the final weeks of your regular season and the playoffs.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Wide Receivers – Week 14 Rankings

1. Noah Brown
2. Romeo Doubs
3. Odell Beckham Jr.
4. Jalin Hyatt
5. Jonathan Mingo
6. Curtis Samuel
7. Quentin Johnston
8. Elijah Moore
9. Khalil Shakir
10. Alec Pierce

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends

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Jameis Winston

To put proper context behind this recommendation, this is a featured starting option for those who are desperate for a fill-in QB in Week 14 because of injury or bye week situations. Some fantasy players are running to the waiver wire out of desperation and there just isn't much available in deeper leagues, where guys like Matthew Stafford and Gardner Minshew are already rostered. Winston should start for the injured Derek Carr in Week 14, and he is an established aggressive passer who will throw the ball enough to ensure you get at least adequate fantasy production from him.

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Geno Smith

We cover all sizes of leagues in this weekly column, and in some leagues, Smith is actually available and should be claimed for the fantasy playoff push. On the Sleeper platform, the Seahawks QB is available in 40 percent of leagues.

Smith is coming off a 31-point fantasy performance in Week 14, his best fantasy performance of the 2023 season. In weeks 15 through 17, he gets matchups against the Eagles, who have allowed the most FFPG to QBs this season, the Titans (22^nd in passing yards allowed to QBs), and the Steelers (19^th in passing yards allowed).

The return of Abe Lucas has further stabilized the Seahawks' offensive line and will boost the outlook of Smith as a streaming option for the fantasy football playoffs. In more shallow leagues, check to see if he is available.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Quarterbacks – Week 14 Rankings

1. Matthew Stafford
2. Jake Browning
3. Joshua Dobbs
4. Jameis Winston
5. Will Levis

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Gerald Everett

If you must stream TEs because of injuries or having a top TE like Trey McBride on a bye, consider starting the former Seahawk and current Charger for Week 14. Everett has registered all three of his TD receptions for the season in the past six games, and the Broncos have allowed the most FFPG to TEs in 2023. Everett has the fifth-best matchup advantage grade for any TE on PFF for Week 14.

For more fantasy football analysis from Scott Engel, visit  The Game Day  during the 2023 fantasy football season.