For most fantasy owners, playing a meaningful game in week 14 of the NFL regular season is the first step toward the ultimate goal — winning a league championship.

That first step now has arrived for those fantasy owners who qualified for the postseason. And now, more than ever, it is oh-so crucial to make the right roster decisions in order to progress toward that elusive league title.

Week 14 technically began with last night’s San Diego - Oakland game on Thursday Night Football. Hopefully, fantasy owners made the right decisions regarding their Chargers and/or Raiders and started the week off on the right foot.

If not, there still is time to play catch up. Fantasy owners who find themselves in a big hole after last night, albeit doubtful, may need to take some risks this weekend in order to overcome the deficit. Others in closer matchups can play it safe with the dependable, consistent fantasy players.

My advice? Pay close attention to injury statuses, inactive lists and weather updates on Sunday morning. Then go with your gut.

Start ‘em

Quarterbacks

  • Matt Cassel @ Seahawks: Cassel put up a stinker last weekend against a great defense. His fortunes should improve against a suspect pass defense in Seattle. I would not expect another 40+ point performance out of Cassel, but something around 20 points is possible.
  • Matt Ryan @ Saints: Alirght, I am on the band wagon. This kid is playing out of his mind as a rookie quarterback, but will need all he has done to date and more to keep up with the Saints’ offense in the Superdome.

Runningbacks

  • Peyton Hillis v. Chiefs: The former fullback is flourishing as Denver’s lead running back. Denver went on the road to beat a tough Jets team last weekend, but has a tendency to be inconsistent on offense. However, Hillis’ great matchup against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league is too hard to ignmore.
  • Tim Hightower v. Rams: One of Hightower’s best games of the season came back in week 9 at St. Louis when he was named the Rams starting running back for the rest of the season. The results since that game have been poor for Hightower, but there are few things better for fantasy woes than the Rams defense.

Wide receivers

  • Amani Toomer @ Eagles: While everyone else is on the Domenik Hixon train, I think the under-the-radar gem in New York is the old vet Toomer. He knows the offense as well as any Giant and serves as Eli Manning’s safety valve in crucial passing situations. Manning will rely on Toomer as a possession receiver, so he should catch anywhere from five-to-eight passes this weekend.
  • Bernard Berrian @ Lions: Berrian may be entering another hot stretch after a midseason fantasy lull. He torched the Bears defense with the help of that 99-yard touchdown reception. That performance could get the Vikings passing game back on track, and this weekend’s matchup will help even more.

Tight end

  • John Carlson v. Patriots: Marc tipped my hand by putting Carlson in his Sleeper Watch yesterday, but he was on the money. If an offense is going to attack the Pats’ D, it is going to be across the middle. Carlson will make his living across the middle this weekend.

Sit ‘em

Quarterbacks

  • David Garrard @ Bears: Chicago has been getting lit up through the air, but playing at home in the cold could remedy some of the issues on defense for at least one week. Late last year, Brett Favre and the Packers came to Chicago against a poorly performing Bears D and got run out of town. The same thing could be in store for Garrard and the struggling Jags.
  • Donovan McNabb @ Giants: McNabb bounced back from getting benching with superb performance against the Cardinals in week 13. The Cardinals defense, however, is not the Giants defense. And the warm desert is no match for the cold, blustery conditions due to beset McNabb in the Meadowlands.

Runningbacks

  • Willie Parker v. Cowboys: FWP is struggling to stay healthy. The emergence of Mewelde Moore has taken some pressure off Parker, but also is stealing some of his carries. I expect a near-equal split between these two against the Cowboys this weekend, and I would not be surprised if Parker gets knicked up again.
  • Le’Ron McClain v. Redskins: Do not be fooled by the siren-esqu running game of the Ravens. While McClain garnered a ton of carries last weekend, the Ravens tend to play the hot hand. This week’s top rusher easily could be Ray Rice or even Willis McGahee if healthy. Stay away from Baltimore’s running game during the fantasy playoffs because it is a crapshoot.

Wide receivers

  • Santana Moss @ Ravens: The Redskins are struggling a little bit on offense these days, starting with quarterback Jason Campbell. And he will have little time to make decisions in this one, which means fewer downfield passes to Moss.
  • Braylon Edwards @ Titans: As if. No Brady Quinn and now no Derek Anderson means no go for Edwards. Ken Dorsey gets the reigns at quarterback, but he is no threat as a downfield passer which is where Edwards does most of his damage.

Tight end

  • Heath Miller v. Cowboys: Try not to be fooled by Miller’s recent resurgence in the Steelers’ offense. I would not trust the guy to be consistent enough for a playoff-bound fantasy team. Besides, he likely will be relied on to help keep some of the heat off his banged up quarterback this weekend.

For more great fantasy roster advice this week, including a plethora of Start & Sit links and consensus rankings, head over to the Fantasy Football Librarian. Don’t forget to grab your library card.

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