Fantasy Football News & Views posts twice weekly: Warmup kick-starts your fantasy football planning, and Last Looks makes sure you’re ready to roll out your rosters.
Where do I even begin? Week 14 football was filled with down-to-the-wire, season-altering matchups that did not disappoint in terms of excitement.
And then there was fantasy football. Whether you were disappointed or excited is a whole different story.
I would be remiss in my duties if I did not acknowledge that many of the player predictions for Week 14 went stupendously sideways. We’re talking epic fail here.
I don’t enjoy harping on the negatives, but I had to know just how bad it really was. Kind of like a car wreck. So I did it. I looked back at the predictions from last week. It was like entering Bizarro World. Let’s just say Drew Brees (40.1 points), Jimmy Garoppolo (28.1 points) and Emmanuel Sanders (34.1 points) were all on the Sit list. Oh, yes. And it goes on (and on), but I just can’t bring myself to revisit every polar opposite prediction that was presented.
Ultimately, I am confident that we have the capacity to learn from our misfortunes. Thus, let’s see what lessons we can take away from the debacle that was Week 14 and move on, enlightened, to Week 15.
Thursday Night Football
Week 15 kicks off with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the New York Jets on Thursday night. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. EST, so be sure to set your lineups.
A few players appeared on the injury report earlier in the week, so keep an eye on the status of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (quad), who was limited in practice but is expected to play, and Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (thigh), listed as questionable. Jets running back Le’Veon Bell (illness) is expected to be back for Week 15.
Week 14 Studs
Quarterbacks: Drew Brees, Saints (40.1 points); Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (37.7 points); Mitch Trubiski, Bears (33.1 points); Deshaun Watson, Texans (30.1 points); Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (28.1 points).
Running backs: Austin Ekeler, Chargers (29.3 points); Aaron Jones, Packers (28.2 points); Joe Mixon, Bengals (26.1 points); Raheem Mostert, 49ers (23.9 points); Derrick Henry, Titans (23.4 points).
Wide receivers: A.J. Brown, Titans (28.6 points); Darius Slayton, Giants (27.4 points); Emmanuel Sanders, 49ers (27.1 points); Diontae Johnson, Steelers (19.6 points); Michael Thomas, Saints (19.4 points).
Tight ends: Zach Ertz, Eagles (21.1 points); Jared Cook, Saints (18.4 points); Noah Fant, Broncos (17.3 points); Hayden Hurst, Ravens (13.3 points); George Kittle, 49ers (12.7 points).
Kickers: Jason Sanders, Dolphins (24.0 points); Younghoe Koo, Falcons (18.0 points); Randy Bullock, Bengals (15.0 points); Robbie Gould, 49ers (13.0 points); Harrison Butker, Chiefs (13.0 points).
Defense: Denver Broncos (15.0 points); Atlanta Falcons (14.0 points); Los Angeles Rams (14.0 points); Minnesota Vikings (13.0 points); Pittsburgh Steelers (12.0 points).
Injury Update
There are quite a few key players who sustained injuries during the Week 14 matchups and their absences will impact the fantasy championship landscape for many fantasy owners. Some are out for the rest of the season, so be sure to take them out of your lineups and consult the waiver wire to find replacements.
Out
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) came up lame after a touchdown reception in Sunday’s win against the Panthers. Evans was described as “highly doubtful” for Week 15 and likely will be out for the rest of the season. Breshad Perriman, Justin Watson and Scott Miller could be in line for increased touches behind Chris Godwin.
Redskins running back Derrius Guice (knee) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the season after he sprained his MCL during Sunday’s game against the Packers. Adrian Peterson is expected to lead the backfield for the remainder of the season.
Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny (knee) tore his ACL on Sunday night in a loss to the Rams and will be out for the remainder of the season. Chris Carson will head the ground game moving forward.
Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (abdomen) has been placed on injured reserve after he left Week 14’s game against the Panthers with an abdominal injury. Recovery is normally three to four weeks for this type of injury, but landing on IR confirms Ridley’s season is over.
Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (ankle) has been placed on injured reserve after he injured his ankle on the final possession of Week 14’s loss to the Vikings. Kenny Golladay will have an even bigger role in the passing attack in Jones’s absence.
Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (foot) is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a foot injury he suffered during Monday night’s match against the Giants.
Questionable
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (shoulder) is expected to return to the practice field this week after sitting out Week 14 due to a shoulder injury. DeAndre Washington owners should monitor this situation.
Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (ankle) is listed as questionable and could be either day-to-day or week-to-week, so it is not known whether or not he is done for the season.
Titans running back Derrick Henry (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Week 15 against the Texans. Henry has been playing through the injury, meaning that barring any setbacks, he will suit up for Sunday’s game.
Chiefs running back Damien Williams (ribs) is listed as questionable for Week 15.
Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (concussion) left Sunday’s game against the Jets in the second quarter. He now is in the five-step concussion protocol and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Waiver Targets
Players to pick up: Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill; 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel; Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton; Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown; Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller; 49ers running back Raheem Mostert; Redskins running back Adrian Peterson; Rams tight end Tyler Higbee.
Players to drop: Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (injury); Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (injury); Redskins running back Derrius Guice (injury); Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (injury); Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny (injury); 49ers running back Tevin Coleman; Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy; Jets running back Bilal Powell.
Be sure to check back later in the week for the latest fantasy updates in Last Looks. And buckle up, as we may be in for another wild week. Have fun.
