From an entertainment standpoint, Week 14 of the NFL season was… a bit lacking. Favorites went 12-1 straight up during Week 14. And aside from some dramatic finishes in Tampa Bay and Cincinnati, the slate was rather anti-climactic.
From a fantasy perspective, it was also a rather unexciting week, as only one non-quarterback put up at least 30 points in standard formats.
Here are some key takeaways to file away as the fantasy playoffs get underway in most leagues.
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The Surprises
Dalvin Cook comes back and delivers
The only non-quarterback to put up 30 fantasy points in Week 14 was Dalvin Cook. Hopefully, you started him. Cook surprisingly returned to action Thursday night against Pittsburgh after separating his shoulder a couple of weeks ago. He looked like… well, Dalvin Cook, rushing for 209 yards and two scores.
What should we do from here? This one’s pretty simple. Trust Cook as your bell cow running back.
Where did Rashaad Penny come from?
Right behind Dalvin Cook as the RB2 from Week 14 was Rashaad Penny. The oft-injured back rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns against the Houston Texans.
What should we do from here? Penny will likely be the most sought-after player on the waiver wire in Week 15, as he could be the team’s full-time starter with Chris Carson on injured reserve and Alex Collins being ineffective. It’s important not to overreact too much to a big game against Houston, but Penny could be someone who puts your fantasy team over the top in the playoffs.
Josh Allen and Tom Brady duel in Tampa
The top two quarterbacks from Week 14 played in the same game, as Josh Allen and Tom Brady finished first and second, respectively. It was Brady who got the victory, though, connecting with Breshad Perriman (yes, he’s on Tampa now) for a walk-off touchdown in overtime.
What should we do from here? Both of these guys are weekly fixtures in your lineups, but it was especially encouraging to see Allen put up a big statistical day after a sluggish start. The Bills offense isn’t 100% safe, but you should start Allen with more confidence going forward.
The Disappointments
The Cowboys offense
The Dallas offense continues to be disappointing. Dak Prescott finished as the QB21, threw a terrible interception that was returned for a touchdown, and kept Washington alive. Ezekiel Elliott was the RB24. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb finished as the WR20 and WR31, respectively. Sunday’s win was more about the Dallas defense dominating Taylor Heinicke than a strong offensive effort.
What should we do from here? Hope things improve. Prescott and the Cowboys’ passing game still offers a ton of weekly upside, but the floor is a little lower than once anticipated. As for Elliott, it’s probably too hard to bench him. But if you’ve got viable options, I wouldn’t blame you for benching him.
Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs, and Antonio Gibson
Each of these four players was likely drafted within the first three rounds of your fantasy draft. They’re core players you need to show up during the fantasy playoffs. Yet, none of them finished as an RB2.
What should we do from here? Mixon and Chubb are still locks for starting spots, as they both faced tough matchups. I have much less trust in Jacobs and Gibson, however. Jacobs is stuck on a Raiders offense that’s often a dumpster fire that doesn’t prioritize him. Meanwhile, Gibson was benched again after a costly fumble in the second half. These latter two backs are low-end RB2s at best going forward.
Week 14 By the Numbers
13: Hunter Renfrow‘s receptions in Week 14. Of course, the game script forced Las Vegas to throw early and often. But I like Renfrow as a low-end WR2 or flex option because of his safe floor. He’s Derek Carr‘s favorite option right now.
111: Melvin Gordon‘s rushing yards in Week 14, compared to 73 yards from Javonte Williams. Despite Williams’ big day in Week 13, it’s clear that this will be a timeshare when both backs are healthy.
142: Tyler Lockett‘s receiving yardage in Week 14. Meanwhile, D.K. Metcalf had just 43 yards on four catches.
151: George Kittle‘s receiving yards against Cincinnati, the most among all receivers in Week 14. After an injury-plagued beginning of the year, Kittle delivers critical value when it matters most.
331: Davis Mills‘ passing yardage total in Week 14. Could Mills enter the streaming conversation?
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Matt Barbato is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matt, check out his archive and follow him @RealMattBarbato.
