Fantasy Football: Week 14 quarterback rankings

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- You might be in trouble if you are still looking to fill the quarterback position on your fantasy football team's roster.

Nevertheless, here are my top 20 options for Week 14, with most leagues entering the playoffs.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leads this crew into the weekend. New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees, Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Detroit Lions veteran Matthew Stafford round out my top five options at the position.

If your league allows for free agent pickups in the postseason, go get Aaron Rodgers immediately. Even though he won't play this week, he is expected to make his return in Week 15 and could give your team a ridiculous jolt.

You can read about some of my favorite options this week in the descriptions below. A full list of my top 20 rankings is below the descriptions.

Here are my Top 20 options at the position this week.

TOP 20 WEEK 14 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees now has a good defense and a fantastic running game to go with his All-World talent. While he hasn't had to throw more than 45 pass attempts in a game this season (for the first time in his Saints career), Brees still owns a 104.8 quarterback rating. This week the Saints get the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South road matchup. The Falcons rank in the middle of the league when it comes to allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, but I have a hunch Brees goes off in this must-win conference battle. He is a high-end QB1 here, per usual.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hasn't managed to throw for 300 yards yet this year, but he did end a bad spell of three consecutive games without a touchdown pass in last week's win against the Washington Redskins. I'm taking a leap here in saying Prescott produces like a QB1 again in Week 14. He is my No. 8 option at the position with a matchup against the New York Giants, a unit allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game, third-most touchdown passes and fourth-most passing yards to opposing quarterbacks.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was without star wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree in Week 13. He still managed to throw for 287 yards and a touchdown. This week, Carr faces the Kansas City Chiefs, a unit allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game and fifth-most passing yards to opposing gunslingers. I have Carr ranked as a QB1 as my No. 9 option for Week 14. Crabtree is back and I expect multiple touchdowns from Carr in this AFC West skirmish.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota battles the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14 and comes in as my No. 12 option at the position. The Cardinals are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game and passing scores to opposing quarterbacks. Mariota has thrown a touchdown pass in five consecutive games and has scored on the ground in two of his last three starts. He is a fringe QB1 here.

LONGSHOTS

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith impressed the doubters in Week 13, putting up huge numbers against the New York Jets. Smith completed 57.6 percent of his throws for 366 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a 70 yard run. This week, Smith faces the Oakland Raiders, a unit allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game, 10th-most passing yards and sixth-most touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. Smith is my No. 14 option this week.

Week 14 Quarterback Rankings.

Jimmy Garoppolo now owns the quarterback job for the San Francisco 49ers. In his first start for the franchise, Garoppolo carved up the Chicago Bears for 293 yards, while completing 70.3 percent of his throws. He also managed to find the speedy Marquise Goodwin, which is huge for his fantasy football upside. This week, Garoppolo faces the Houston Texans, a unit allowing the second-most fantasy points per game and third-most passing scores to opposing passers. Garoppolo is a little risky for the first weekend of the fantasy football playoffs, but you could do much worse if you are desperate at the position.