Browns TE David Njoku recorded his first career multi-TD game in Week 14 vs. the Jaguars. The veteran ended the contest with 6 receptions on 8 targets for a team-high 91 receiving yards. Though he flopped last Sunday vs. the Rams, Njoku has been on a roll of late and has seen at least 6 catches and 50 receiving yards in four of his last five games. He should be locked into fantasy lineups as a TE1 next week going up against the Bears (fifth-best TE matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed).
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White again shined as the focal point of Tampa Bay's offense, totaling 25 carries for 102 rushing yards in Week 14 vs. the Falcons. The second-year back also roped in 2 catches for 33 yards and a TD in the contest. White has now seen at least 20 carries in three of his last five games and sets up fantasy managers well with a true workhorse role. He'll look to continue his fantasy dominance again in Week 15 vs. the Packers, a defense that's surrendered the third-most rushing yards (1,635) and yards per game (136.3) in the NFL this season. We'll see how they fare on Monday night vs. the Giants, but it's worth noting that Green Bay has allowed four straight games with at least 140 yards to opposing offenses. You're in excellent shape if you're rolling into the fantasy playoffs with White on your roster.
Falcons WR Drake London hauled in 10 of 12 targets for 172 receiving yards in Week 14 vs. the Buccaneers. Each of those statistical marks set new career highs for the second-year wideout. Fantasy managers have been on a roller coaster ride all season with London. Still, Sunday’s performance highlights the impact he’s capable of having when he’s prominently featured in the Falcons’ offense. There have been eight games in 2023 in which London has received 7 or more targets; he’s averaged 16.5 PPR points per game in those instances. In the four other games where he’s seen less involvement than that, London’s average dips to 3.4 points per game. It’ll be intriguing to see whether or not he’ll be able to capitalize on this success in Week 15, going up against a Panthers defense that ranks as the second-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed this season.
We wouldn't say that Jets QB Zach Wilson has been good for WR Garrett Wilson this season. But the QB's return to the lineup for Sunday's win over the Texans certainly looks like good news vs. the team's other options at the position. Garrett Wilson posted game highs in targets (14), receptions (9), and yards (108). The yardage also marked a season high, while the targets and catches matched his previous bests. In nine games now that Zach Wilson has started and finished, Garrett Wilson has averaged 11.3 targets, 6.3 receptions, 76 yards, 12.2 yards per catch and 6.76 yards per target. In the other four games, those numbers have been: 7.5 targets, 4.25 receptions, 34.3 yards, 8.1 per catch, and 4.57 per target. Zach Wilson hasn't become a trustworthy QB yet. But he's better for the team's lead wideout than Tim Boyle or Trevor Siemian. Garrett Wilson looks like a solid-to-good play for matchups with the Dolphins and Commanders the next two weeks. We'll see about a Week 17 visit to Cleveland.
Jets QB Zach Wilson returned to the lineup Sunday with probably the best performance of his career. The 301 yards marked the third time in his career that Wilson reached 300. But the 75% completion rate marked a career high, and his 117.9 passer rating beat his previous best by a wide margin. Wilson found RB Breece Hall and WR Xavier Gipson for TDs. He now gets positive matchups with the Dolphins and Commanders the next two weeks, before a tough Week 17 spot at Cleveland. It's too late in the year to consider trusting Wilson outside of superflex leagues (if there, even). But maybe Hall and WR Garrett Wilson will help our lineups in the fantasy football playoffs.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw for a season-low 161 yards in Sunday's loss to the Bears. That came a week after he threw for 213 against the Saints, in what was his second-lowest yardage output of the year to that point. The issue then was a season-low 25 pass attempts. Goff's performance was otherwise good (2 TDs, 8.5 yards per attempt). Goff's primary issue Sunday might have been the matchup. His worst Pro Football Focus passing grade of the season entering Week 14 came in the Week 11 meeting with the Bears. You might want to blame playing on the road as well, but that hasn't been an issue for Goff this season. He entered Sunday averaging 273.7 passing yards per game at home vs. 274.3 on the road (7.75 YPA home, 7.55 road). His final three fantasy weeks find matchups that have been fairly neutral for QB scoring, and all in places that won't have weather issues (home, at Minnesota, at Dallas). Expect to find Goff around the bottom of QB1 territory in our weekly rankings the rest of the way.
RB D'Onta Foreman led the Bears' backfield in Sunday's win over the Lions, coming off the team's Week 13 bye. Foreman handled 11 of 15 RB carries (73.3%) and all 3 of the HB targets. He doubled both Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert in routes and played 55% of the offensive snaps. Foreman should be considered the leader heading into Week 15's visit to Cleveland. HC Matt Eberflus said ahead of the Detroit game that he'd be willing to ride the hot hand, so we'll see if the usage changes at all before projecting beyond Week 15. If Foreman does lead again, he could be a difference maker for a high-upside matchup with the Cardinals in Week 16. Johnson and Herbert are mere bench stashes for now.
Bears TE Cole Kmet tallied 5 receptions for 66 yards in Sunday's win over the Lions. His 7 targets tied for second on the team, behind only WR D.J. Moore. That also marked his second straight 7-target game and fifth such outing among the past six games. That span has covered multiple games with both QBs, Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent. Kmet has averaged 6 receptions per game over that six-week span, making him an easy weekly starter at a position that's been tough for many fantasy teams all season. The Bears do get tough TE matchups the next two weeks in Cleveland and Arizona. But Jacksonville's Evan Engram had a good outing vs. the Browns on Sunday. And the Cardinals aren't scary against anyone. A Week 17 matchup with the Falcons has been positive for TE scoring.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison injured his right ankle in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders and did not return. We should get an update on his status on Monday. If Mattison misses more time, Ty Chandler will take over as Minnesota's lead back. Week 15 brings a plus matchup vs. the Bengals.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson was knocked out in the second quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders with what HC Kevin O’Connell called a "chest internal injury." Jefferson was taken to the hospital as a precaution but will travel with the team back to Minnesota. "Feel pretty encouraged" about the early news, O’Connell added. We should learn more about Jefferson’s status tomorrow. The Vikings get the Bengals at 1 pm ET on Saturday.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert fractured his right index finger in Sunday's loss to the Broncos, HC Brandon Staley said afterward. "Given where we are in the season, a fracture could mean his season is over," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted. We should get more details on Herbert's status on Monday, but the 5-8 Chargers have no reason to rush Herbert back. QB Easton Stick will take over for however long Herbert is out. The 2019 fifth-round pick had one regular-season pass attempt before going 13-of-24 for 179 yards in relief of Herbert today. Stick is obviously a significant downgrade for this Chargers offense.
The box score says RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery split work evenly in Sunday's Lions loss at Chicago. Gibbs carried 11 times (for 66 yards and a TD) to 10 for Montgomery (66 yards). His 4 targets led Montgomery by just one, while the pair each caught three passes. But Gibbs played 41 snaps to Montgomery's 23, according to Pro Football Focus. Nearly all of that edge came in the passing game, with Gibbs running 24 routes to Montgomery's 8. What's that mean? You shouldn't trust those 3 Montgomery receptions. It marked the first time this season that Montgomery has caught more than two passes and just the second time he has drawn more than 2 targets. You should also expect Gibbs to get more playing time when Detroit plays from behind. That game script wasn't predictable for a contest the Lions entered as 3-point favorites Sunday. We also wouldn't bet on Denver jumping well ahead of Detroit in Week 15 or Minnesota doing so in Week 16. But a Week 17 visit to Dallas will likely find the Lions as underdogs. Both RBs should be solid fantasy options for the next two weeks. Week 17 figures to find Gibbs well ahead of Montgomery in our rankings.
Cowboys Edge Micah Parsons is active for tonight's game against the Eagles. Dallas added him to the injury report Sunday morning as questionable with an illness. But all reports have indicated that the team doesn't expect the illness to alter his playing time.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs hurt his right knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Vikings. He's officially questionable to return. We'll update Jacobs' status when we know more. His absence leaves Vegas' backfield to Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah.
Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs was benched early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. He completed just 10 of 23 passes for 63 scoreless yards -- definitely a benchable offense. QB Nick Mullens is in for Dobbs. We'll see how he fares and who Minnesota rolls with going forward.
Ravens WR Odell Beckham led the Ravens with 97 yards in Week 14. He set a season-high with 10 targets while finding the end zone on a deep ball. Baltimore went pass-heavy in this one, with Lamar Jackson attempting 43 passes in a high-scoring, OT win. Still, you have to be encouraged by OBJ’s 23.2% target share. Week 15 brings a banged up Jacksonville secondary, followed by a pair of tougher matchups (49ers, Dolphins).
Rams WR Cooper Kupp posted a throwback game in Week 14. Handling 10 targets, he racked up 8 catches, 115 yards, and 1 score. Kupp’s performance came on the road against a tough Ravens secondary – and in wet and windy conditions. Matt Stafford’s recent form suggests Kupp can continue rolling, assuming his health cooperates. He couldn't ask for a better Week 15 matchup with the Commanders coming to town.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert injured his right index finger in the second quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. He's officially questionable to return. We'll update Herbert's status when we know more. He's been replaced by QB Easton Stick.
Update: Herbert has been ruled out.
Texans HC Demeco Ryans confirmed after Sunday's loss to the Jets that QB C.J. Stroud is in the concussion protocol. It's Stroud's first documented concussion. We'll track his progress through the protocol this coming week, but Stroud is more likely than not to miss Sunday's game vs. the Titans. His absence would leave QB Davis Mills under center for Houston -- a huge downgrade for the offense.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski named QB Joe Flacco the starter for the rest of the season after Sunday's win over the Jaguars. No surprise. Flacco has given the Browns their best QB play of the season the past two weeks (and that includes Deshaun Watson). He followed a 254-2-1 passing line last week with 311 yards, three TDs, and one INT in the Week 14 win. Flacco gets doable matchups the next two weeks vs. the Bears and Texans but is really only in play in 2-QB and superflex leagues. Flacco's solid play is good news for Cleveland's skill-position players, though.
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