Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 14 of the 2024 NFL Season

Make all the right moves as we slide into the fantasy playoffs. This is the fallout going into Week 14…

 

Bears- 20 @ Lions – 23

• Rome Odunze(2/25) is getting targets(6), but as the 3rd read in the Bears offense, there is relatively rarely enough time to get him the ball, especially in the red zone. DJ Moore(8/97/1) and Keenan Allen(5/73/2) are safe for the playoffs, but Odunze is a wildcard, despite having an easy schedule ahead. 

 

• Yardage isn’t coming easily for Sam LaPorta(3/6), but he’s being targeted in the end zone. Averaging 6 targets in his last 3 games, LaPorta is the best fantasy bet he’s been all season, and it couldn’t come at a better time. 

 

Giants – 20 @ Cowboys – 27

• Drew Lock(21/178/0/1) didn’t do NY pass catchers any favors on Thanksgiving, but he did manage to have a decent fantasy day himself, by means of his legs(4/57/1). If Tommy Devito can’t go this week, Lock has a decent floor, but he’ll also have a tougher opponent in the Saints. He’s not an option in 1 QB leagues. 

 

• Brandin Cooks(3/16/1) saw his first action since WK4 and was able to salvage a fantasy line by getting into the end zone. His 7 targets led the team, so that’s a harbinger of good things moving forward. He’s worth adding if you need WR help, especially since CeeDee Lamb is nursing a shoulder injury. 

 

• KaVontae Turpin(5/54) has had 3 productive weeks in a row, to coincide with Cooper Rush going under center for the Cowboys. He’s a longshot every week, but Turpin has some juice in deeper formats, on account of him being utilized in myriad ways. 

 

Dolphins – 17 @ Packers – 30

• Jonnu Smith(10/113) is capitalizing on the short passing game that Miami has implemented in recent weeks. He’s still available in 25% of leagues and looks like a league winner. 

 

• Jaylen Waddle(4/53) faded back into relative obscurity after blowing up in WK12. With the Jets on board, he’s not an advised play this week.  

 

• Raheem Mostert(7/34) led the Dolphins on the ground with 19 yards on a day where Miami couldn’t get anything going in the running game. Mostert has been unusable in fantasy for the last 4 weeks and I don’t see things changing going into the playoffs. 

 

Raiders – 17 @ Chiefs – 19

• Sincere McCormick(14/65) actually led the Raiders backfield in yardage but has been reverted back to the practice squad as of Saturday. If Zamir White and Alexander Mattison are both unavailable this week, McCormick could reprise his role against a beatable Tampa run defense. In that case, Ameer Abdullah(12/55) would still technically be the starter. 

 

• Tre Tucker turned his single catch into a 58-yard score, but his lack of targets makes him an impossible play in fantasy. 

 

• Isaiah Pacheco(8/49) and Kareem Hunt(9/15) had the same number of carries(7) on Saturday. We’ve seen 2 backs be productive in Andy Reid’s offense before, and that could very well be the case here, though Pacheco is definitely the preferential play. 

 

• Noah Gray(4/58) didn’t score twice, as he had in each of the past 2 weeks, but he had a respectable 6 targets on the day. He remains a streamer going into WK14.  

 

Titans – 19 @ Commanders – 42

• Is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine(3/62/1) the no.1 WR for the Titans? It doesn’t really matter, as he’s fantasy viable on a weekly basis either way. Still owned in only 18% of leagues, it’s past time to be sleeping on him. 

 

• Chris Rodriguez(13/94/1) racked up yardage during the Commanders’ drubbing of the Titans. It’s possible that he’ll be the backup to Brian Robinson(17/109) over Jeremy McNichols(6/32) out of the bye. 

 

• Noah Brown(3/27) left the game with a rib injury, but he has the bye week to heal up. Highly targeted, but lacking upside, Brown isn’t worth adding for the playoffs. 

 

Seahawks – 26 @ Jets – 21

• Tyler Lockett(3/16) is an afterthought in Seattle’s current offensive scheme. He can’t be relied upon in the playoffs. 

 

• Zach Charbonnet(5/41/1) had his best outing since WK3, but he’s still well behind Ken Walker(18/46) in touches and snaps. He’s not an advised play in any format. 

 

• Garrett Wilson(5/41) has had 3 straight subpar games, even though he’s averaging 8 targets over that time. With Miami’s highly ranked secondary on deck, he’s a risky play this week.

 

Colts – 25 @ Patriots – 24

• Alec Pierce(2/16/1) has scored or gone over 70 yards in 3 of his last 4 games, and he’s done well despite tough matchups. The Colts have a bye this week, but Pierce is a nice deep league flex option in the playoffs. 

 

• Antonio Gibson(7/62/1) had his best game of the season, from a fantasy if not volume perspective. The Pats have a bye this week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if New England angles to get him the ball more coming out of it. 

 

• Austin Hooper(4/42/1) has caught 4 of 4 targets for 3 straight weeks, finding the end zone the last 2 weeks. He’s a deep league streamer when the Pats come off bye.

 

Cardinals – 22 @Vikings – 23

• Michael Wilson(5/55) runs in 2 wide sets for Arizona but rarely manages to supply us with a decent fantasy line. This is about as good as it gets right now for him, and he’s only an option in deep PPR formats.

 

• Dear Vikings, I know Cam Akers(4/22) looks like a real NFL back, but he’s not and I hope you’ll stop treating him as such. Seriously, Minnesota isn’t doing anyone any favors by putting this guy in. All he does is sap Aaron Jones’ fantasy value.

 

Texans – 23 @Jaguars – 20

• It’s only fitting that Dalton Schultz(5/61/1) had his best game of the season on the same week I lambasted him on the radio show. With only 2 games over 60 yards this season, and 1 TD, Schultz is a middling option for the playoff run, and he’s not playing this week. 

 

• With Gabe Davis now joining Christian Kirk on IR, Parker Washington(6/103/1) is probably worth an add in 12 team formats. His schedule is dicey, but the targets should be there. 

 

• Mac Jones(20/235/2) looked decent on Sunday, in relief of Trevor Lawrence(concussion), though he could turn back into a pumpkin at a moment’s notice. I’m staying away from him outside of the deepest 2 QB formats. 

 

Cardinals – 6 @ Seahawks – 16

• Calvin Austin(2/29/1) managed another nice line again, though he suffered what may turn out to be a concussion. If he can’t go, it doesn’t really affect any backup WR in particular. Perhaps Pat Preiermuth(6/68/1) gets a slight bump. 

 

• Khalil Herbert(1/14) finally got some game action, but it was for literally 1 single carry. He’s not an option in any format right now. 

 

Chargers – 17 @ Falcons – 13

• Gus Edwards(7/33) split the backfield, mostly with Kimani Vidal(4/20). The matchup wasn’t ideal, but it’ll only get worse this week when LA plays the Chiefs, who boast the league’s best run defense. Neither back is an advised start this week, though Vidal should be owned. 

 

• Ray- Ray McCloud(4/95) led the Falcons in receiving, though Drake London(9/86) had 10 more targets than him. Kirk Cousins continues to struggle under center, but the matchup with Minnesota this week should at least allow him to open up the passing game more. The Vikings are terrible against the pass but stout against the run. 

 

• Kyle Pitts(0/0) has caught one ball in his last 2 games. There are too many other middling TEs with decent floors to put up with clunkers like this. 

 

Rams – 21 @ Saints – 14

• Blake Corum(8/42) put up his best numbers this season, playing a third of Rams’ snaps. Kyren Williams(16/113/1) has been dealing with fumbling issues, so maybe this was a response to that. In any case, Williams had his best game in weeks too, so Corum probably won’t see a bump in touches this week. 

 

• Demarcus Robinson(2/49/1) found the end zone once again, but his dearth of targets(3) makes him an impossible playoff play. 

 

• Marquez Valdes-Scantling(2/36/1) scored yet again, though he did little else. MVS has scored 4 TDs in his last 3 games and is worth flexing until he flops. He’s the Saints best WR going right now. 

 

Buccaneers – 26 @ Panthers – 23

• Bucky Irving(28/185/1) out touched Rachaad White(14/78) 28 to 14 on the day. Irving is the lead back now, and though White had a decent game, he’ll be tough to trust in WK14 and beyond. He’s no longer an optimal member of starting rosters. 

 

• Adam Thielen(8/99/1) cemented himself as Bryce Young’s favorite target in his 2nd game back from injury. Owned in only 32% of leagues, he needs to be a top waiver wire priority this week. 

 

• Tommy Tremble(5/77) started in place of an injured Ja’Tavion Sanders. Sanders will likely miss this week, so Tremble is worth streaming consideration against Philly.

 

Eagles – 24 @ Ravens – 19

• No one new stepped up in place of Devonta Smith on Sunday. Dallas Goedert(3/35/1) is the biggest beneficiary of his absence, but now he’s injured too. 

 

• Rashod Bateman left early with a knee injury but gets the bye to rest up . It was Tylan Wallace(2/14), not Diontae Johnson, who replaced Bateman on Sunday. 

 

49ers – 10 @ Bills – 35

• Jordan Mason and Christian McCaffrey are both on IR now, making Isaac Guerendo(4/19/1) a must add in all formats. Patrick Taylor will be the backup to Guerendo. 

 

• Ray Davis (12/67/1) saw significant action in the blowout blizzard that occurred on Sunday night. He’s unlikely to see similar action out on the west coast this week, but he’s worth adding in most formats, if you have the room. 

 

• Amari Cooper(3/12) has been useless thus far as a Bill, though only 1 Buffalo pass catcher had more than 30 yards on the day. That man, Dawson Knox(2/56) will be worth a look this week if Dalton Kincaid continues to sit.