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

Another week in the books, another pile of fantasy shrapnel to sort through. Injuries, breakouts, letdowns, and depth-chart chaos — it’s all part of the weekly cleanup. Here’s the fallout going into Week 14…

Packers 31 @ Lions 24

Dontayvion Wicks(6-94-2)had his best game yet this season, leading the Pack in receiving. With so many viable receiving options in Green Bay though and Jayden Reed on the verge of returning to action, I’m wary of buying in on Wicks in my flex this week. He should be owned though.

Christian Watson(4-80-1) wasn’t far behind Wicks and led the team in targets. I don’t know how he’s still owned in only 53% of leagues, but he needs to be owned and started in all formats. 

Amon-Ra St Brown suffered a low ankle sprain on Thanksgiving, putting up a goose egg in the process. He’ll likely miss 1-2 games, really opening things up for Jameson Williams(7-144-1) and perhaps Isaac Teslaa(2-35-1) and Tom Kennedy(4-36). Kalif Raymond could benefit if he returns from his own ankle injury. 

Chiefs 28 @ Cowboys 31

What to do with Xavier Worthy(4-61; 2-13) and Hollywood Brown(2-20-1). Put them together you have a high-end WR2, but separately they are low upside flex plays on any given week. Neither will be viable options against Houston’s swarming defense this week, so I guess that makes things easier in a way. 

Isiah Pacheco(3-16; 2-17) did squat against the Cowboys, a matchup any RB should expose. Kareem Hunt(14-58; 1-22) is firmly ahead of him in the depth chart, and though the Texans are only vulnerable in the run, Pacheco isn’t worth flexing this week. 

The ascendance of George Pickens has negatively correlated with Jake Ferguson’s fantasy output over the last month. Ferguson, who averaged over 15 FPG weeks 2-7 has averaged just over 8 FPG since WK10 the bye. It can partially be blamed by his schedule, as he’s faced only top 10 TE defenses since, but Ferguson has been 3rd in the totem pole for a minute now. The TE landscape is bad enough that he’s still a better option than most though. His matchups from here on out lighten up considerably, so we could see a slight boost starting this week. 

Bengals 32 @ Ravens 14

Samaje Perine(14-39; 2-15) had just one fewer carry than Chase Brown(15-78; 7-35), though Brown was much more effective with his touches. In any case, 16 total touches can’t be ignored, as they didn’t only come when the Bengals had the game well in hand. With Buffalo’s run-funnel defense up next, Perine could see significant touches again this week. He’s worth a look, if you need help at RB or in your flex. 

Isaiah Likely(5-95) led the Ravens in all receiving categories, coming just short of a TD that ended up becoming a turnover. Mark Andrews was right there with in targets(6), but Likely is the more dynamic player at this point in their careers. With a top 5 TE matchup with the Steelers on deck, and the Bengals again the following week, Likely makes for a decent streamer. 

Andre Iosivas(1-29-1) made the most of his limited targets(2), with Tee Higgins(concussion) sidelined. Higgins could return this week though, and even if he doesn’t, Iosivas isn’t getting enough targets to rely on him in fantasy this week. 

Bears 24 @ Eagles 15

The Bears did almost all of their damage on the ground with Kyle Monangai(22-130-1) and D’Andrew Swift(18-125–1; 2-17) both going over 100+ yards. It seems unlikely that that will be the gamescript this week, as Green Bay has a top 5 run defense, but both backs warrant flex consideration. 

Cole Kmet(3-36-1) led the Bears in receiving, but 4 players, including fellow TE Colston Loveland(3-28) had more targets than he did on the day. Kmet is a streaming option this week. 

Dallas Goedert has fallen off of a cliff, from a fantasy perspective. He’s entirely TD dependent this week in a tough matchup with the Chargers.

49ers 26 @ Browns 8

Brian Robinson(8-26) got his usual 8 carries, but he’s too TD dependent to rely on in fantasy. He’s a hold purely as a high-end handcuff to CMC.

Ricky Pearsall’s(2-14) rotten run continues. He led all 49ers in pass routes, but he came up short once again. The 49ers have a bye this week and a string of WR friendly matchups to end the fantasy season, but he’s bench fodder at best until he shows otherwise. 

Harold Fannin Jr.(3-43-1) led the Browns in receiving, but that’s not saying much. Shedeur Sanders(16-149-1) played error free ball for the most part, but he couldn’t elevate his team to a win in the windy weather. Fannin and Shedeur are both boom or bust streaming options against a piss poor Titans squad this week though. 

Texans – 20  @ Colts – 16

Nick Chubb(9-34-1) had his highest touch total in 4 weeks on Sunday, punching in a score to boot. That being said, Woody Marks is still the lead back and preferred play against the Chiefs this week. You can flex Chubb if you like, but you’ll be praying for a TD. 

Jayden Higgins(5-65) was still involved, even with a “new” QB under center, but CJ Stroud threw Xavier Hutchison(2-39) just as many targets(5). Any Texans WR not named Collins will be a shaky play versus KC’s top 5 secondary this week. 

Alec Pierce(4-78-1) led the Colts in receiving, though Josh Downs(2-44) actually led the team in targets(6). The nature of the targets that Pierce is getting is more conducive to fantasy points though, so Pierce remains the better play.

Saints 17 @ Dolphins 21

Devin Neal(14-47; 3-22) saw the majority of touches in the backfield for the Saints, but the Saints are the Saints and so it amounted to little. I suppose if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Taysom Hill only ran the ball once – Evan Hull got 5 carries as well. If Neal gets the nod again this week, he’s a low upside play against the Bucs. 

Devaughn Vele(8-93-1) led the Saints in receiving, garnering more targets(8) than Chris Olave in the process. He’s got a good matchup with Tampa this week and would make for a decent flex option. He’s had 7+ targets in each of his last 2 games. 

Darren Waller(2-47) was 3rd in targets, but he led the Dolphins in receiving in his first game back from a 5 week injury. Waller should be added in most formats as he gets back up to speed. He could be a playoff boon.  

Falcons 24 @ Jets 27

Kirk Cousins(21-234-1) loves him some Kyle Pitts(7-82) and David Sills(2-15-1), at least in the redzone. Sills has scored in consecutive weeks, but he’s only averaged 15.5 yards. To be honest, I hate all available Falcons WRs for fantasy, especially against Seattle this week. 

Tyrod Taylor isn’t going to beat anybody with just his arm(19-172-1), but if you throw his legs(8-44-1) in there you might be onto something. With a winnable matchup with Miami this week, Taylor is a super-flex streamer. 

Adonai Mitchell(8-102-1) supplanted John Metchie(4-19) as Taylor’s go-to on Sunday, though Metchie did have 8 targets, putting up the best numbers he’s had in an NFL game. Mitchell is big-bodied and a sharp route-runner, so you could do worse on waivers this week. He’s boom or bust, but the upside is definitely there. 

Rams 28 @ Panthers 31

Blake Corum(7-81-1) finally got the score to go with the touches against the Panthers. Kyren Williams missed some plays with an ankle injury, but he asserted that it won’t be a problem this week. Corum should see his usual 7-9 carries this week against a Cardinals team that is middling against the run. 

Xavier Smith(3-82) led the Rams in receiving and could move ahead of Jordan Whittington in the 3rd WR role in LA. That still only means about 3 targets a week, so I wouldn’t run out to get him. 

The roles may be reversed in Carolina, with Chuba Hubbard(17-83; 2-41-1) looking like the better back in Carolina these days. The Panthers have a bye this week, but Hubbard needs to be owned, as this looks like a split backfield at worst for him moving forward.

My Shrine Bowl hero, Jalen Coker(4-74-1) led the Panthers in receiving on Sunday. Now fully healthy, I expect big things from the young man. He’s a nice speculative add out of the bye this week. 

Cardinals 17 @ Buccaneers 20

Michael Wilson fell back into fantasy obscurity on Sunday, with Marvin Harrison Jr. returning to the field. Though he still saw 7 targets, Wilson is a deep league flex at best with Harrison out there. 

Bam Knight(11-62; 3-36-1) stated his case for the lead back job, when Trey Benson inevitably returns, which could possibly be this week. Knight played well, despite nursing a knee injury that will need to be monitored this week. If he practices this week, and Benson stays sidelined, Knight makes for an iffy start against a top rated Rams front that surprisingly just gave up major yardage to Carolina’s backs.

Bucky Irving(17-61-1; 2-20) returned on Sunday rendering Sean Tucker(2-0) and Rachaad White(2-7; 3-22) virtually useless in fantasy, though White did have a TD called back. 

Vikings 0 @ Seahawks 26

Yikes, you would’ve been better off not fielding a QB than playing Max Brosmer(19-126-0-4) on Sunday, as he got negative fantasy points on the day. JJ McCarthy is no prize, but he’ll at least offer some fantasy value this week, should he clear concussion protocol. 

Aaron Jones(6-3; 4-22) is day-to-day with a shoulder injury, leaving Jordan Mason(6-47; 1-1) and Zavier Scott(3-17; 1-4), in a passing down role, to man the backfield if Jones can’t go. 

AJ Barner(4-35) led the Seahawks in receiving, on a day where no other Seattle pass-catcher topped 25 yards. There’s not much to glean here, but Barner has been playing well enough as of late to play him in the deepest of leagues. 

Raiders 14 @ Chargers 31

The Raiders were abysmal from a passing perspective outside of Brock Bowers(4-63-2), who led the team per usual. “No.1” WR Tre Tucker faces Denver this week, so you can’t play him. 

Kimani Vidal(25-126-1; 1-11) made a case for keeping him well within the mix, even if Omarion Hampton(ankle) returns from IR this week. Running hard between the tackles, Vidal makes for a flex no matter is he shares the backfield this week against a middling Philly run defense. 

Don’t get drawn in by Jaret Patterson’s(11-54-1) fine line, as 5 of his carries and his score came on the last drive of the game. 

Bills 26 @ Steelers 7

The Bills were all ground and pound on Sunday night, and don’t expect much to change this week against Cincy’s league worst run defense. It’s not like you were depending on anyone other than Khalil Shakir(1-5) in that department anyway. Ray Davis(9-62) could be worth a look, as the Bills could take an early lead and run with it. 

Dalton Kincaid could return this week though, and it’d be a perfect spot for him, as the Bengals are the league’s worst TE defense as well. 

Aaron Rodgers has been trash in his last 3 starts, broken left wrist or not. He’s really sucked the air out of the Steelers passing game, though he does get a good matchup with Baltimore this week. That being said, DK Metcalf(3-32) is the only Steelers pass-catcher you can roll with.