One more week! We can taste the fantasy playoffs.

If you’re here right now, it means you’re still playing for something. Or you’re a good sport.

Either way, it’s commendable.

This is the final slate of bye weeks, and the NFL isn’t shy about letting us know. We’ve got six teams on byes in week 14. Hopefully, this list, cultivated immediately following today’s early slate, can help you patch next week and beyond.

Quarterbacks

Taylor Heinicke (QB – WAS): 17% rostered

Despite losing a fumble, Heinicke finished today’s game against the Giants with his second-highest fantasy score of the season (24). Heinicke and the Commanders get a week of rest and preparation, then take on the Giants again in two weeks. If I’m streaming quarterbacks or reeling after an injury, I’ll happily start Heinicke in two weeks.

Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT): 10% rostered

Pickett is meshing with the Steelers offense, and while the Falcons’ defense is capable of making any quarterback look like a fantasy gem, Pickett is also running the football more. Through his first four games, Pickett averaged 15 rushing yards per game. In his last five, he’s over 33 per game. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks another touchdown run.

Running Backs

James Cook (RB – BUF): 25% rostered

Cook is probably rostered in your league, but if he’s not, snatch him up. The Bills are finally trusting him as the lead back. Devin Singletary will continue to factor in, but if Thursday’s game was any indication, Cook is the ascending RB1 in Buffalo. Plus, as the year closes, temperatures go down, which is a good thing for Buffalo running backs. Throwing the ball in the snow and freezing cold doesn’t usually bode well for offenses.

Matt Breida (RB – NYG): 1% rostered

Breida is one of the least-rostered handcuffs in the NFL right now. It’s pretty clear he’s the Giants’ backup. If Saquon were to miss a game for any reason, Breida is your guy.

Zamir White (RB – LV): 2% rostered

White’s name was very much involved in the yearly rookie RB hype this preseason. The fourth-round pick out of Georgia has since disappointed fantasy players who bought into that hype. However, after some healthy scratches, he ripped off a couple of nice runs last weekend against the Seahawks. At the time I’m writing this, his game hasn’t started, but if you’re looking for a deep league dart throw, I wouldn’t be surprised to see White factor into the backfield as the Raiders’ season from the underworld winds down.

Wide Receivers

Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS): 27% rostered

The first-round pick has disappointed since his warm start to the season. He bounced back today, catching five of nine targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. He could be worth an add, considering both his draft stock and we finally saw some rapport with Taylor Heinicke.

DJ Chark (WR – DET): 19% rostered

Normally, the WR2 in a Jared Goff-led offense doesn’t carry much fantasy juice. However, it seems as though Amon-Ra St. Brown leaves every game for at least a few series with an injury, leaving the door wide open for Chark to see targets. Plus, T.J. Hockenson is no longer in town. Chark had a solid day today against the Jaguars and isn’t a bad flex option going forward.

Demarcus Robinson (WR – BAL): 8% rostered

Robinson was targeted a ton by Tyler Huntley today. If Lamar Jackson misses any time, I’m happy to roll out Robinson if need be and hope this connection sticks.

Tight Ends

Daniel Bellinger (TE – NYG): 2% rostered

Bellinger returned from a four-game absence quietly but provided enough to entice needy fantasy managers. Given the dearth of effective TE play in fantasy, Bellinger is worth a look. He caught all five of his targets today… for 24 yards, but five targets are five targets. Before his injury, he was on a four-game stretch averaging nearly four receptions per game.

Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN): 0% rostered

Okonkwo is a super deep league add, as he’s hardly rostered anywhere. The 2022 fourth-round pick is climbing up the ranks of Tennessee receiving weapons, though. He has five targets in each of his last two games. Before that, he’s shown he’s a big play waiting to happen, ripping off receptions of 31, 41, and 48 yards, respectively.

Defense/Special Teams

Arizona Cardinals: 10% rostered

The Cardinals are coming off a bye week and playing on Monday night, giving them even more time to prepare for *checks notes* the New England Patriots. The Patriots turn the ball over nearly 1.5 times per game and are in the bottom half of the league in terms of average points per game, making the Cardinals a solid play.

Las Vegas Raiders: 7% rostered

The Raiders take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. All three of those things bode well for the Raiders’ D/ST fantasy prospects. Matthew Stafford is on IR, meaning the Raiders will see either John Wolford or Bryce Perkins on a short week.

Kickers

Matthew Wright (K – PIT): 11% rostered)

The Steelers are displaying some Red Zone impotence, which is turning into opportunities to score (real-life and) fantasy points for Wright. I’m not trying to convince you he’s some generational talent, but he’s on the field and widely available on waiver wires.

Greg Zuerlein (K – NYJ): 8% rostered

Greg The Leg is BACK! Vintage Greg booted a 60-yarder today and made all five of his attempts. The Jets aren’t shy about trotting him out from deep, and he’s proving them wise so far. He’s missed just four of his 27 field goal attempts this season.