What You Need to Know From Week 14

Photo: Douglas DeFelice, USA Today Sports

NE @ LAR

1. Cam Akers time has arrived. He ran over, through, and around the Patriots. Even with Sean McVay not committing to him publicly, he has to be in lineups against the Jets.
2. The Patriots offense is non-existent against good defenses. Do Miami and Buffalo - their next two opponents qualify? Either way, we aren’t trusting anyone from this team in playoff lineups.
3. This was a bad matchup for Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Even though they are slumping for fantasy, they should be in lineups against the Jets and Seahawks the next two weeks.

TEN @ JAX

1. We’re not worthy of Derrick Henry in the fantasy playoffs. Investing in him in the first round is paying dividends.
2. A.J. Brown is heating up and could be an unfair advantage for fantasy teams in his Week 15 matchup vs. Detroit.
3. Gardner Minshew replaced Mike Glennon mid-game and invigorated the offense, getting Keelan Cole into play for Week 15 lineups with a matchup against a banged up Ravens secondary, presenting a 2QB/Superflex option. D.J. Chark was calling out Minshew for poor play before he was demoted, but his prospects are still probably helped by Minshew’s resurrection.
4. Ryan Tannehill and Corey Davis are tougher calls with the low volume vs. easy opponent tension. Davis had a fumble in this one and Tannehill didn’t need to do the heavy lifting. He probably won’t vs. Detroit if Matthew Stafford can’t play.

MIN @ TB

1. Leonard Fournette was a healthy scratch, giving Ronald Jones II the aura of a safe play. He delivered with a score while handling more than ¾ of the backfield touches, but also broke his pinkie, which required surgery and put his Week 15 status in doubt. LeSean McCoy was the backup to Jones last week and it’s unclear whether he or Fournette would be the better play against the Falcons if Jones is out.
2. Kirk Cousins was merely adequate for fantasy after coming in with high expectations on the back of his top two receivers, who both came up small. He looks less attractive as a playoff option against the Bears and Saints the next two weeks.
3. Dalvin Cook was successful early against a tough matchup, which is reassuring given his opponents in Weeks 15-16.
4. Tampa Bay’s offense had more balance, which lowered Tom Brady’s ceiling and didn’t fully fill any of his targets’ cups for fantasy. It’s hard to feel strongly positive about Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, or Rob Gronkowski in the matchups against Atlanta and Detroit, but there’s still the potential for payoff.
5. Irv Smith wasn’t a full time player, but he caught all four of his targets and he’s a viable play for the remainder of the fantasy playoffs as long as Kyle Rudolph is out.

KC @ MIA

1. Travis Kelce is an unfair advantage at tight end in PPR leagues this year.
2. Patrick Mahomes II took a 30-yard sack and threw two picks in the first quarter (he had thrown two all year coming in) and he was still one of the best fantasy quarterbacks of Week 14.
3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was more involved in the passing game, giving more reason to take a chance on him against the Saints this week.
4. Tua Tagovailoa had a huge fantasy game in the comeback effort, but lost his top two receivers and tight end and is a bad play against New England this week.
5. Myles Gaskin missed this one on the covid list and might miss next week too, but don’t drop him so you can play him in Week 16 against the Raiders.

ARI @ NYG

1. Daniel Jones isn’t healthy and the Giants offense is a wasteland. Even Wayne Gallman is losing his RB2 luster heading into a matchup with a weary Browns run defense.
2. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins both rebounded in a tough matchups and erased any doubts about using them in the fantasy playoffs.
3. Kenyan Drake set a season high in carries and scored for the fourth straight game, he’s a solid RB2 against the Eagles.
4. Dan Arnold caught his third score in two weeks and could be a what the heck tight end if you’re hard up at the position.

DEN @ CAR

1. Mike Davis was excellent in the red zone and in the passing game and should be in lineups no question against the Packers if Christian McCaffrey is out, which he likely is.
2. Drew Lock was able to wheel and deal against the Panthers defense, which should make us very excited to have Packers in our lineup this week, while Lock will have a stiffer test against the Bills.
3. K.J. Hamler’s speed accounted for two long scores and brought him into upside what the heck flex range this week.
4. Noah Fant left with an illness but should be ok for Week 15 and still deserves consideration if you don’t have a sure thing option.
5. Teddy Bridgewater was fine for fantasy but it’s clear he’s not the long term answer so you wonder if we’ll see PJ Walker before the season is out.
6. D.J. Moore should be back this week. In his absence both Curtis Samuel and Robby Anderson were good plays.

HOU @ CHI

1. Deshaun Watson had none of his top four receivers or a running game and only a rushing touchdown overturned by replay kept him from having a strong fantasy day. He’s still in lineups against the Colts with Brandin Cooks likely coming back this week.
2. David Montgomery is balling and has turned his 2020 into a success story.
3. Chad Hansen had more volume, but Keke Coutee scored and this week he gets his favorite opponent this week, the Colts. Both are WR3/Flex considerations on Watson’s coattails.
4. Mitchell Trubisky is playing well enough to make his tight ends, Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham, considerations for this week against Minnesota, along with putting his name into streamer consideration. But mainly play everyone against the Texans - this week that’s the Colts.

DAL @ CIN

1. Ezekiel Elliott split the work with Tony Pollard, but his bruised thigh should be better this week, so he’s probably still a start against the Bengals.
2. Even Brandon Allen moved the ball consistently against the Cowboys, so give a bump to 49ers this week and Eagles next week.
3. Giovani Bernard fumbled for the first time in over 800 touches and got benched. We won’t make the mistake of trusting him again this year, even with the Texans still on the schedule in Week 16.
4. Amari Cooper is still the only Cowboys receiver you can trust with Andy Dalton at quarterback.

IND @ LV

1. Josh Jacobs joked about not playing and threw fantasy teams into disarray. He played but underwhelmed as the Raiders trailed for most of the game.
2. The Raiders will be one we pick on in the rest of the fantasy playoffs. The Chargers and Dolphins are up the next two weeks. Both the passing and running games were productive for the Colts.
3. Jonathan Taylor has been the #1 back in fantasy over the last two weeks and he gets Houston in Week 15.
4. T.Y. Hilton is on fire and he gets his favorite opponent this week.
5. Nelson Agholor has emerged as the #1 receiver with at least nine targets in three of the last four games. He’s worth a look in a potentially high scoring game against the Chargers on Thursday.
6. Derek Carr had another good game, but didn’t exactly play well. He’s a boom/bust play against Chargers this week.

NYJ @ SEA

1. The Jets offense is a wasteland and we should be playing the D/ST going against them. The Rams and Cleveland are the next two opponents.
2. The Jets defense is one that we’ll be targeting. Both the running and passing games were strong for Seattle with high efficiency.

GB @ DET

1. Aaron Rodgers is playing as well as he has in his career and should be considered an elite play for the remainder of the season.
2. Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught all six of his targets and he’s the hotter complementary receiver to Davante Adams over Allen Lazard going into the Saturday matchup with Carolina.

ATL @ LAC

1. Mike Williams left with a back injury. Tyron Johnson was the #2 wide receiver target and he could surprise on Thursday vs. the Raiders if Williams is out.
2. Matt Ryan’s play is eroding without Julio Jones. He’s not a viable option in 1QB leagues.
3. Russell Gage threw a score and emerged as the #2 option with Jones out. He has some WR3/Flex appeal against the Bucs this week.

WAS @ SF

1. Deebo Samuel left the game on the first play and Brandon Aiyuk took over the passing game from there. No matter who starts at quarterback for the 49ers this week, Aiyuk should be in your lineup
2. Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert split the work, with Wilson getting the goal line work. Mostert had to have an MRI on his ankle, so Wilson is the better play for Week 15 against the porous Dallas defense.
3. Alex Smith had a calf strain in his surgically repaired leg that sidelined him. We might see Dwayne Haskins in Week 15.
4. Kyle Shanahan wouldn’t commit to Nick Mullens as the Week 15 starter after a poor game, so we might see CJ Beathard start this week.

NO @ PHI

1. Miles Sanders busted an 82-yard touchdown to reward anyone who trusted him in Jalen Hurts first start despite his recent slump. He’ll be in Week 15 lineups across the board.
2. Jalen Hurts had a quick alarm on the clock while he was in the pocket and became only the second quarterback to have 100 rushing yards in his debut. He’ll be a streamer and solid QB2/Superflex for the game against the Cardinals.
3. Taysom Hill continues to evolve as a passer (although he needs to do better with pass rush awareness and ball security). Michael Thomas is a safe play in Week 15 even if Hill starts, and Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook both have upside after scoring on passes from Hill in Week 14.
4. Alvin Kamara caught seven balls from Hill to give fantasy teams reassurance that he’ll be a strong RB1 in PPR leagues for Week 15 no matter who starts at quarterback.

PIT @ BUF

1. Diontae Johnson had two drops early and saw the bench for a good part of the game after that. He’ll be a boom/bust WR3/Flex against Cincinnati.
2. Ben Roethlisberger is looking limited and predictable, which is bad for his Week 16 matchup against the Colts, but he should still be ok against the Bengals. Juju Smith-Schuster is the only sure play from this pass offense.
3. James Conner was ineffective and suffered a quad injury. The best case scenario for fantasy in the Steelers backfield is that Conner sits and Benny Snell gets the start this week.
4. Josh Allen was under a ton of pressure early, but found his way in the second half when the blitzes weren’t getting home. He’s matchup proof now.

BAL @ CLE

1. Lamar Jackson found his running form and was an elite fantasy quarterback making plays with his arm and his legs despite missing a chunk of the fourth quarter with cramps.
2. Baker Mayfield had one of his best games as a pro, but is still a boom/bust play with the offense likely running through the backfield against weaker upcoming opponents the Giants and Jets. That goes for Rashard Higgins too, although Jarvis Landry might be in our PPR circle of trust.
3. Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins were both good plays as Mark Ingram wasn’t heard from and the Ravens running game built momentum as the game went on.
4. Kareem Hunt had a huge game after a fantasy scoring lull, easing any concerns that he might be wearing down a little. He’s a no brainer RB2 for the rest of the season.
5. Marquise Brown scored for the third straight week and should be in lineups against the Jaguars this weekend.