Week 14 Waiver Wire Quarterback Priority List | Choosing Between Jake Browning, Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco, Will Levis, Desmond Ridder, Matthew Stafford and Mitch Trubisky

As I have for the past several weeks, it’s time to take a look at some waiver wire options going into week 14. 

After fantasy owners saw Kenny Pickett, Derek Carr and Trevor Lawrence all get injured in week 13, a new batch of quarterbacks might be needed to get you through the upcoming week. We know that Pickett is out for the upcoming week, so we’ll include his backup in this discussion, but the outlook for Carr and Lawrence isn’t known yet, so we’ll exclude their backups from the discussion. If it turns out either quarterback is going to miss week 14, check back to FantasySP, as we'll cover it.

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Available Quarterbacks

Going into week 14, let’s discuss Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning, Indianapolis Colts’ Gardner Minshew, Cleveland Browns’ Joe Flacco, Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis, Atlanta Falcons’ Desmond Ridder, Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mitch Trubisky.

Stafford is the biggest name of the group, so let’s start with him. I was surprised to see him available in nearly 50% of leagues still, so I had to include him.

Stafford was fantastic in week 13, completing 22-of-37 attempts for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was his first game without an interception in the past five contests. Stafford now has seven touchdown passes over the past two weeks.

The Rams’ quarterback has only failed to reach 200 passing yards in two games this season, and he’s topped 300 yards three times. He’s got at least one touchdown pass in all but one contest, but only has gone without an interception four times.

Browning turned in a great performance on Monday, completing 32-of-37 passing attempts for 354 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown.

In his first two starts for Cincy, Browning has hit at least 225 passing yards and one passing score. He also threw a touchdown in the game he replaced Burrow in, so he’s up to four total touchdowns and just one interception this season.

Minshew helped the Colts to an overtime win in week 13. He completed 26-of-42 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. 

He’s now topped 300 passing yards three times this season, and has multiple touchdown passes in three games as well. Interceptions have been a problem, but he didn’t throw one on Sunday.

Flacco was solid for the Browns in his first start with the team. He completed 23-of-44 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw a costly interception.

Cleveland hasn’t named their starter for week 14, so keep an eye out for that news as you get your waiver wire guys lined up. I believe Flacco played well enough to earn another start.

Levis struggled completing passes on Sunday, but still had a decent fantasy showing. He was 16-of-33 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Levis didn’t throw an interception.

Levis has now reached 200 passing yards in three of the six games he’s appeared in - and has 185 or more yards in all but one game. Outside of his four-touchdown game, he’s only thrown three other touchdowns. 

Ridder continues to make this discussion, probably because he continues to underwhelm with his numbers. He completed 12-of-27 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in week 13. He avoided any turnovers though.

Ridder only has topped 200 passing yards in five of his 11 games this season. He’s only thrown multiple touchdowns in one game. Ridder has as many touchdowns as interceptions for the season.

Trubisky should start in place of Pickett this coming week. So far this season, Trubisky has appeared in three games. The backup has completed 29-of-49 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

He isn’t the typical backup, as he’s made 55 starts in his NFL career, including five last season for the Steelers. Turnovers have always been his biggest flaw, but like most backups, he’s got enough offensive weapons around him to be at least an average fantasy quarterback.

The Priority List

We’ll break this section down into two parts like always - first, listing the best streaming options for week 14, and then deciding on the best options for the rest of the season.

Stafford has the toughest matchup of any of the quarterbacks, taking on the Baltimore Ravens. Stafford did just dominate a tough Browns’ defense though, and that’s enough for me to be confident in him and take him over all the other quarterbacks in this discussion.

Minshew will take on the Bengals, who are below average in slowing down opposing quarterbacks. For that reason, and Minshew’s recent play, I’m taking Minshew second. If Flacco were to start, he’d face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who Browning just shredded. I’d take Flacco third.

Give me Browning next in his matchup against the Colts, followed by Levis against the Miami Dolphins. I’d wrap things up with Trubisky against the New England Patriots on Thursday night and finally Ridder against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ridder’s matchup is one of the easiest of this group of QB, but he hasn’t shown me enough to take him over anyone else.

As for the best long-term fantasy options, you’re going to want guys who are going to be starting the rest of the way. Stafford’s job is easily the safest, and I’d take him even though he’s got just an OK strength of schedule ahead.

Minshew’s job is probably the next more secure, and he’s got a little better schedule than Stafford, but I’d still take Minshew second. I like Browning’s upside in his offense a touch more than Levis in his, but would take Levis over Browning next because of their strength of schedule ahead.

The three QBs remaining (Flacco, Ridder, Trubisky) definitely are not locked into their starting roles. I’d take Ridder next, even though he’s the worst fantasy option when all three are playing on a given week - he’s simply got the best chance to play the rest of the season. I’d say Flacco has a better chance of starting more games the rest of the way - unless Pickett’s injury is worse than anticipated - so give me Flacco over Trubisky to cap this section off.

I say this just about every week to finish these quarterback priority list stories, but it bears repeating.

These quarterbacks (outside Stafford) are not the sexiest names, but given the overall play of fantasy QBs this season, and then adding in all the injuries, these guys are needed to get through the season. If you have a solid enough fantasy team, you can get by with an average fantasy showing from a quarterback. Two teams - Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders - are on a bye in week 14, so there’s two more quarterbacks you can’t utilize. 

If there’s another QB on your league’s waiver wire that you believe is better than all these guys, then by all means grab them. This is simply the state of the waiver wire in some leagues, so I’m focused on helping them out. They’ve likely already endured a rough season if they need to heavily consider a few of these guys as possible starters.

Best of luck in your decision!