Brenton Strange or Juwan Johnson: Who should I start in fantasy football? (Week 14, 2025 season)

It's do-or-die time. The playoffs are on the line, and you may have to choose between Brenton Strange or Juwan Johnson to make it in. Which player would Basement Brewed Fantasy Football recommend you start? Let's go through the details to find out.

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Game Scripts

The Jaguars are entering this game as slim 1-point home underdogs with a decent projected team total of 23.5 points, the 11th highest among all 28 teams on the week 14 slate. The narrow spread suggests a balanced offensive approach while the decent projected team total suggests serviceable touchdown opportunities. With a strong over/under of 48.5 points and both teams sporting top 11 projected team totals above 23 points, Colts @ Jaguars projects as a possible shootout chock full of touchdowns and fantasy football fireworks. This is a game you want exposure to in your week 14 fantasy football lineups.

The Saints are entering this game as desperate 8-point road underdogs with a dangerously low projected team total of 17.0 points, the 3rd fewest among all 28 teams on the week 14 slate. The desperate spread suggests a potentially pass-heavy approach while the dangerously low projected team total suggests touchdown opportunities will be severely limited. This is a strong spot to fire up the Buccaneers D/ST.

Positional Matchups

After 12 games, the Colts present a terrific matchup for TEs, allowing the 4th most catches, 2nd most yards, 15th most touchdowns and 5th most PPR points per game. 7 TEs in 12 games — Adam Trautman, Chig Okonkwo, Trey McBride, Oronde Gadsden, Gunnar Helm, Pat Freiermuth, Dalton Schultz — scored 10+ PPR points against the Colts.

After 12 games, the Buccaneers present a mediocre matchup for TEs, allowing the 16th most catches and 8th most touchdowns but holding them to the 13th fewest yards and 16th fewest PPR points per game. 7 TEs in 12 games — including Juwan Johnson himself — have scored 10+ PPR points against the Bucs.

Brenton Strange: Bottom Line

I expect Brenton Strange to finish, on average, around 10–13 PPR points on ~5–7 targets, 4–6 catches, ~45–60 yards and modest TD odds in this possible shootout and mouthwatering matchup. He's a back-end TE 1 with upside for more.

Juwan Johnson: Bottom Line

I expect Juwan Johnson to finish, on average, around 11–15 PPR points on ~6–8 targets, 4–6 catches, ~45–60 yards, and 0–1 TD as a back-end TE1 riding strong chemistry with Tyler Shough (12.7 PPR in 4 games together).

Should you start Brenton Strange or Juwan Johnson?

The matchup clearly appears better for Brenton Strange on paper, and he's been the hot pickup this week on the waiver wire. But Juwan Johnson has been showing this for weeks now, and the matchup against the Bucs doesn't necessarily scare me. I'd be betting on the chemistry - which, according to our resident Saints fan in the Discord server, has been brewing going back to college - continuing this week and for the rest of the season.

Week Winners + Discord = Winning your league in 2025

Portions of this article come directly from our Week Winner tool (formerly Heat Map), designed to help you make more confident decisions on your way to a championship. And our private Discord server features a specific Start/Sit channel where any questions you have can get answered in real time - plus our community of hardcore fantasy football players talking DFS, sports betting, dynasty, best ball, and more. From draft to trophy, we have you covered with every decision along the way.

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