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Fantasy football: Start-em, sit-em players for Week 14

By Jay Marsdale

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Sit-em: Kirk Cousins (WAS) @ Los Angeles Chargers

On the other side of the field from Rivers this weekend will be Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins. Rivers and Cousins have switched roles this year and now Cousin sits with nothing to play for in December.

The Washington Redskins have severely underperformed as a team this season. Not all of that is on Cousins, but he has to take some of the blame being the quarterback. He hasn’t done enough to win some of these games, but he was not put in a situation to succeed this season.

The Redskins offensive line has been destroyed by injury and that has left Cousins running for his life on a regular basis. The receiving group that was constructed by the front office this offseason has not played nearly well enough to stay competitive this season. The team did not add any true number one running back in the offseason. That has made this offense very predictable and one-dimensional.

Now Cousins has to play out the season with no long-term contract with the Redskins in place. These could be the final few games for him in the Washington area and they aren’t going to be impressive. The Chargers are his opponent this weekend and they boast one of the best defenses in the league. Cornerback Casey Hayward has turned into a top flight defender on the outside and is going up against a weak receiver group.

Cousins is going to have to be perfect this week and even then it might not be enough to get his team a win in Los Angeles. Cousins has thrown the ball over 30 times in eight straight games. The Chargers pass rush of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is going to tee-off on him here in Week 14. Avoid him for your fantasy football playoff lineups. Look for better options on your bench or on the waiver-wire this week.

Other options: Carson Wentz (PHI) @ Los Angeles Rams and Jacoby Brissett (IND) @ Buffalo.