NFL Week 14 Takeaways

I made my debut on Razzball’s Fantasy Football Start or Sit Show for Week 14 and I hope you tuned in! Unfortunately, I was mistaken about Joe Flacco’s performance. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the incredible Joe Flacco, who could potentially lead you to a Fantasy Championship with his recent performances. Let’s have a look at my Week 14 Takeaways as we head into the Fantasy Playoffs.

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Jaguars at Browns

Why not start with Flacco as he proved me wrong, throwing for 311 yards with three touchdowns, one interception, and a fumble.  David Njoku was his favorite target, finishing with six receptions for 91 and two TDs. Njoku was TE2 for Week 14. Amari Cooper saw a Week 14-high 14 targets, securing seven passes for 77 yards. Jerome Ford rushed 12 times for 51 yards and caught five passes for 31 yards. However, Kareem Hunt had the rushing score, posting 10 carries for 27 yards. Hunt appeared to be injured late in the fourth, so something to monitor that would increase Ford’s value heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Somehow Trevor Lawrence was able to return to the field on six days rest, finishing with 257 passing yards with three TDs and three picks. Evan Engram was the TE1 in Week 14, tallying 11 receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets. With the Jags playing catch up, the starting WRs each drew double-digit targets as Zay Jones saw a Week 14-high 14 and Calvin Ridley had 13 targets. Travis Etienne Jr rushed 14 times for 35 yards and one score. 

Takeaway:

• Jacksonville will host the Ravens in Week 15. Baltimore allows the second-fewest points to QBs, the second-fewest to WRs, the seventh-fewest to TEs, and the eighth-fewest to RBs. Lawrence enters this game playing his best football, scoring at least 20 fantasy points in four consecutive games. Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense had success against Baltimore, which gives me confidence in this Jaguars group.   
• Flacco will turn his sights on the Bears, who allow the 13th-most points to QBs. Flacco makes a great stream start, as Uncle Joe is averaging 282 passing yards and 2.5 TDs in two games. Browns RBs also have a decent matchup as the Bears allow the 12th most points. Ford makes a very intriguing flex option as the Bears allow the most receiving yards and third-most receptions to RBs.

Rams at Ravens  

We all thought weather was going to be a factor, and it was not, as this game featured the most points scored in Week 14. Lamar Jackson was the QB1 in Week 14 as he passed for 316 yards with three touchdowns and one pick and led the Ravens in rushing with 70 yards. Odell Beckham Jr. caught four passes for 97 yards and one TD on 10 targets. Isaiah Likely caught five passes for 83 yards and one score. Zay Flowers drew 10 targets, finishing with six grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown. Surprisingly, the Ravens running backs combined for only 15 carries.

Matthew Stafford threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns against the top-rated defense against QBs. Kyren Williams rushed 25 times for 114 yards. Cooper Kupp caught eight passes for 115 yards and one TD on 10 targets, and Puka Nacua tallied five catches for 84 yards on eight targets. Demarcus Robinson saw a season-high 10 targets, finishing with three catches for 46 yards and one score.

Takeaway:

• Ravens travel to Duval County for Sunday Night Football. The Jags allow the ninth-fewest points and third-fewest rushing yards to RBs; however, they give up the most receptions and third-most receiving yards to RBs. The Jags’ secondary is in shambles with injuries and allows the third-most points to QBs and seventh-most points to WRs.
• The Rams host the Commanders, who are coming off their Bye Week. Stafford, Kupp, and Nacua have dream matchups, as Washington allows the second most fantasy points to QBs and WRs. Williams should have good fortunes against the eight-friendliest defense to RBs.

Lions at Bears

Justin Fields led the Bears over the Lions, completing 19/33 for 223 yards for one passing TD. Fields rushed for a team-high 58 rushing yards with one rushing score against the Lions, who allow the most rushing yards to QBs this season. DJ Moore posted six receptions for 68 yards with one score on a team-high 10 targets and added a rushing touchdown. Cole Kmet tallied give grabs for 66 yards on seven targets. D’Onta Foreman led the Bears RBs with 11 carries for 50 yards and two catches for 22 yards.

Jared Goff struggled away from Ford Field, completing 20/35 for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 11 times for 66 yards with one TD, adding three catches for 16 yards. David Montgomery rushed 10 times for 66 yards and three grabs for 19 yards. Josh Reynolds caught the lone touchdown. Amon-Ra St. Brown saw a team-high nine targets but only caught three passes for 21 yards and had two costly drops in the fourth.

Takeaway:  

• Justin Fields and the Bears passing offense will have a tougher test against the Browns, who allow the fourth-fewest points to QBs and the fourth-fewest to WRs this season. The Browns have been vulnerable on the ground allowing 129.75 rushing yards over their last four games I am leery about starting Chicago players in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
• The Lions look to get right with a home matchup against the Broncos. TE’s average the second-most points against Denver, so look for Sam LaPorta to bounce back in a big way. Denver allows 179.6 rushing yards per game on the road, which is the most the NFL, but has held their last two opponents (LAC and Houston) under 100 rushing yards. Detroit averages 142 rushing yards at home, so I’d lean toward Gibbs and Montgomery having solid games. Denver allows the eighth-fewest points to WRs but the 12th-most to QBs. Goff is much better at home, so the WR corps should rebound.

Buccaneers at Falcons

Desmond Ridder threw for a career-high and Week 14-high 347 yards with one passing TD and added a rushing TD. Drake London was WR2 for Week 14, finishing with a career-high and Week 14-high 172 receiving yards with 10 receptions on 11 targets. Bijon Robinson rushed 10 times for 34 yards with one TD and five receptions for 54 yards, but just missed a first-quarter receiving TD as Ridder overthrew him. Kyle Pitts caught a touchdown out of his three catches, posting 57 yards on six targets. Pitts has averaged seven targets and 54 yards over his last two games and could be a sign of things to come.

Rachaad White rushed 25 times for 102 yards and caught two passes for 33 yards with one TD. White was TD poached by Baker Mayfield, which kept the Falcon’s streak alive of not allowing rushing TD by an RB. Chris Godwin drew a team-high 11 targets, posting five catches for 53 yards. Mike Evans had just one catch for eight yards.

Takeaway:  

• Robinson’s friendly playoff schedule is finally here as the Falcons travel to Carolina. The Panthers allow the third-most points to RBs and the most rushing TDs with 18. The game script has allowed Carolina to give up the fifth-fewest points to QBs, seventh-fewest to WRs, and ninth-fewest to TEs.
• Next up for the Bucs is a road trip to Lambeau Field, who face the NY Giants tonight on Monday Night Football. Green Bay allows the 10th-most points to RBs, so be sure to start White, who has seen back-to-back games with at least 20 carries and has been a top-three RB over the past month. The Packers’ strength on defense is against WRs, who score at the sixth-fewest rate this season. It’s tough to sit Mike Evans, but I would recommend it if you have better options.

Seahawks at 49ers

What else can be said about San Francisco? If you have a piece of the offense, you’re feeling pretty good about it going into the playoffs. Brock Purdy, who is putting together an MVP-caliber season, completed 19/27 for 368 yards with two TDs and one INT. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 145 yards on 16 attempts but was goal-line poached by Jordan Mason. Deebo Samuel also poached a one-yard rushing touchdown and caught seven passes for 149 yards with a receiving score. Brandon Aiyuk caught six balls for 126 yards. Lastly, George Kittle caught three passes for 76 yards and one TD.

Drew Lock got the start with Geno Smith injured and was serviceable with 269 passing yards with two TDs and two INTs. Tyler Lockett caught a team-high 89 yards, and DK Metcalf posted 52 receiving yards and one score. Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker shared the backfield duties.

Takeaway:  

• San Francisco travels to the desert against the Cardinals, who are coming off their Bye Week. Don’t think it matters who they play, so get all your Niners in the lineup.
• The Seahawks have a home matchup against the Eagles on Monday Night Football, who allow the most points to QBs and WRs this season. I would feel confident starting the Seahawks WRs (Lockett and Metcalf) with Lock starting. If Smith returns, JSN makes for a boom or bust WR3/flex play.

Bills at Chiefs

James Cook finally broke out with 141 all-purpose yards, rushing 10 times for 58 yards while catching five passes for 83 yards and a TD. Cook finished as RB2 in Week 14 and if he continues to see the volume under his new OC, Cook could have a huge impact in the fantasy playoffs. Josh Allen outlasted Patrick Mahomes as he threw for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding 32 rushing yards and a ground score.  Stefon Diggs drew a team-high 11 targets, tallying four catches for 24 yards.

Mahomes finished with 271 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. Travis Kelce paced KC pass catchers with six receptions for 83 yards on 10 targets. Rashee Rice continued to impress, drawing 10 targets and securing seven balls for 72 yards with a score. Isiah Pacheco was out with injury, and it was RB committee for KC as Jerick McKinnon got the rushing score. Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed 11 times for 39 yards and caught two passes for 29 yards. Kadarius Toney did see an uptick in usage in different formations, so there could be something here in deeper leagues.

Takeaway:  

• Next up for the Bills is a matchup with the red-hot Cowboys. The Bills’ postseason hopes are on the line, so regardless of the difficult matchup, you’re starting Allen, Cook, and Diggs. 
• The Chiefs are on the road in Gillette Stadium in an unfavorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs. The Pats allow the eighth-fewest points to QBs and third-fewest to TEs. New England hasn’t allowed 300 passing yards or 100 yards rushing over their last four games. You cannot bench Mahomes or Kelce, but this game could get worrisome. If Pacheco is out, McKinnon has flex consideration as the Pats allow the 10-most receptions to RBs.

Notables:

• Cincinati’s RBs carried the Bengals as Joe Mixon rushed 21 times for 79 yards with one TD and caught three passes for 46 yards. Chase Brown ran eight times for 25 yards and led the Bengals in receiving yards with 80 yards and one score. Mixon and Brown each caught passes of at least 45 yards. Yards will be harder to come by against Minnesota who’s allowed the fourth fewest rushing yards over their last three games. 
• Michael Pittman Jr. drew another 11 targets, securing eight catches for 95 yards. He’s averaging 13 targets over his last four games, which is fourth among WRs.
• The Texans lost Nico Collins early in the first quarter with an ankle injury, then C.J. Stroud in the fourth quarter with a concussion. It’s a shame to see, and for fantasy purposes, it occurs at the worst possible time.
• Zach Wilson threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Are the Jets finally taking off?
• Garrett Wilson caught nine passes for 108 yards on a Week 14-high 14 targets.
• Breece Hall tallied 40 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, and a score. Over the last four weeks, Hall leads all RBs with 26 receptions. He faces Miami next week and caught seven passes his last time out against the Dolphins.
• Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Jimmy Graham tallied TDs for the Saints.
• Justin Herbert fractured his right index finger, leaving next week and the rest of his season in doubt. Tough blow for Chargers’ shareholders.
• Austin Ekeler made the most of his 15 touches (10 rushing and five receptions), totaling 100 yards and adding a rushing score. I can see his targets increasing if Easton Stick is under center for the Chargers.
• Javonte Williams posted 91 all-purpose yards on 20 touches while adding a rushing score. He’s starting to get volume in Sean Payton’s offense with 20 touches in four out of his last six games entering the fantasy postseason.
• Courtland Sutton caught his 10th TD of the season and has seven TDs over his last eight games. Sutton is one of three WRs with double-digit TDs this season and faces the Lions who allow the fourth-most TDs to WRs.
• For the first time since 1988, there were two scoreless games at halftime: Houston at New York and Minnesota at Las Vegas.
• Justin Jefferson made his return but was ruled out in the second quarter after sustaining a chest injury. It’s unclear what the severity of his injury is, so hopefully he’s okay.  
• Dak Prescott threw for 271 yards and two TDs, connecting with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup in a rout against Philadelphia.
• Tony Pollard rushed for 59 yards and tied a season-high with seven receptions for 37 yards but ended his rushing TD streak at three games.

 

Bye Week Update

• Week 14 bye schedule includes Cardinals and Commanders.

 

🚨 Red Zone TD Scoring Percentage Update 🚨 

• Miami leads the NFL with 75%. Rounding out the top 10 are Buffalo (67%), San Franciso (66%), Arizona (63%),  LA Chargers (63%), Baltimore (63%), LA Rams (63%), Cincinnati (62%), Washington (61%), and Philadelphia (60%).
• The bottom five teams in red zone TD scoring percentages are the NY Jets (35%), NY Giants (40%), Tennessee (41%), Pittsburgh (43%), and Las Vegas (46%).  

Thanks for your time checking out Week 14 takeaways. While you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Jefferson__21. 

If I did not mention your favorite team or players, please leave some comments or questions! I am here to answer any questions you may have. Cheers!