NFL Week 14 Winners, Losers, and Takeaways

By Corbin Young | December 13, 2021

Week 14 NFL Recap

Hopefully, fantasy managers made the playoffs during the pivotal Week 14 matchups. Thankfully, we didn’t have too many fantasy-relevant injuries, although several players missed Week 14. We witnessed two overtime games with the 49ers-Bengals and Buccaneers-Bills in the late window, including game-winning endings. Then a 75-point total in the Sunday Night Football game where Aaron Rodgers dominated the Bears and Justin Fields helped fantasy managers. We’ll note the injuries to monitor, plus the Week 14 highlights, wonders, and disappointments.

Injuries to Monitor:

  • Kareem Hunt (ankle) left early on Sunday with an ankle injury. They labeled him questionable to return, but given the lead, Hunt didn’t touch the ball for the rest of the game. Hunt will undergo an MRI on Monday. It’s safe to wonder if Hunt could’ve returned if they needed him. 

  • Lamar Jackson (foot) left Sunday’s game, and they carted him to the locker room. Jackson didn’t return, and Tyler Huntley almost led them to a comeback. The Ravens confirmed that Jackson suffered an ankle injury, and they’ll monitor it during the week. It’s worth adding Huntley, but only in Superflex formats.
  • Taylor Heinicke took a hard hit. Kyle Allen came into the game briefly, then Heinicke re-entered. Later reports indicated Heinicke has a knee injury.
  • Terry McLaurin (concussion) landed on the ground hard, and the team evaluated McLaurin for a concussion. Hopefully, he’s alright because he’s one of the lone bright spots on the struggling offense.
  • Austin Ekeler (ankle) left briefly with an ankle injury. The Chargers taped up Ekeler’s ankle, but it doesn’t sound like a serious issue. 
  • Emmanuel Sanders (knee) injured his knee, and the Bills ruled him out of Sunday’s game. Sanders finished with a 25-yard reception against Tampa Bay. 
  • D.J. Moore (knee) looks to be dealing with a knee issue late in Sunday’s game. Hopefully, Moore doesn’t miss time, but the Panthers have some tough matchups coming up with Buffalo and Tampa Bay. 

Week 14 Highlights

Dalvin Cook Brush That Dirt Off Your Shoulder

With concerns surrounding Dalvin Cook’s shoulder injury, Cook smashed against a friendly matchup versus the Steelers. Cook looked explosive with 205 rushing yards on 27 attempts with two rushing touchdowns. He added one reception for 17 receiving yards for a week-winning game on Thursday night. The last time Cook rushed for over 200 yards – Week 8 of the 2020 season. Although we had concerns about a Darrell Henderson or Boston Scott scenario from Week 13, Cook showed why he’s one of the best backs in the league.

Ben Roethlisberger Helps the Steelers Fantasy Players

The Vikings held a 23-0 lead in the first half as they dominated the game with Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. Then in the second half, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers players in Najee Harris and Chase Claypool came alive. Harris finished with 94 rushing yards on 20 attempts with ten receiving yards on three catches. However, the two total touchdowns boosted his fantasy production in Week 14. 

Claypool hauled in eight receptions on nine targets for 93 receiving yards. It’s rare to see that efficiency for Claypool with a 35.7% (No. 17) Air Yards Share and 12.7 (No. 22) aDOT. Claypool hadn’t caught more than five catches since Week 3 against the Bengals. Although it looked ugly early in Week 14, Claypool and the Steelers receivers have fantasy-friendly matchups upcoming, so plug them into lineups as must-start options.  

Robby Anderson Reached a Season-High In Receiving

Against the Falcons, Robby Anderson led the Panthers with seven receptions on 12 targets for 84 receiving yards and one touchdown. Over the previous six games, Anderson totaled 84 receiving yards with a former season-high of 57 in Week 1. Not great. Although it’s nice to see Anderson produce, it’s likely hard to expect and rely on Anderson moving forward, especially with Buffalo and Tampa Bay upcoming. Late in the game, D.J. Moore dealt with a knee issue, which could vault Anderson into the Panthers’ No. 1 receiver if Moore misses time. 

The Broncos Run Game

As expected, the Broncos dominated the ground game with 111 rushing yards and two scores for Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams with 73 yards and one touchdown. Williams added a 10-yard reception for a touchdown too. After a breakout game last week for Williams, Gordon led the backfield with 24 carries compared to 15 for Williams.

The Broncos have a relatively friendly schedule upcoming for their backs with the Bengals (15th), Raiders (6th), Chargers (5th), and Chiefs (14th) in fantasy points allowed. Hopefully, each back can contribute healthy yardage, although it’s unlikely for both to fall into the endzone multiple times each game. 

49ers – Bengals Game

After trailing 20-6, the Bengals turned it on in the fourth quarter the put it into overtime. Joe Burrow struggled out the gate, then finished with 348 passing yards, 10.2 yards per attempt, and two passing touchdowns. Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase feasted in their respects. Higgins finished with five catches for 114 receiving yards on seven targets to compile a third-straight 100-yard game in a row. 

Meanwhile, Chase reeled in Burrow’s touchdowns with five receptions and 77 receiving yards on eight targets. Thankfully, Chase boomed via touchdowns in a crucial Week 14 matchup after five-straight games finishing WR27 or worse. The Bengals have Denver in Week 15, which presents a tough matchup, but Chase and Higgins remain must-start WR2s with upside. 

On the other side, George Kittle dominated once again with 13 receptions on 15 targets for 151 receiving yards and one touchdown. It came after Week 13, where Kittle totaled 181 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Kittle has provided fantasy managers with week-winning performances in back-to-back games. The 49ers used Deebo Samuel as a rusher with nine carries for 37 rushing yards and one touchdown. 

However, Brandon Aiyuk‘s stock kept rising with six receptions on 11 targets for 62 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown. Since Week 8, Aiyuk ranks second on the team with a 0.554 Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR) behind Kittle at 0.559. He produced efficiently with a 1.091 Receiver Air Yard Conversion Rate (RACR) right behind Kittle at 1.307. After seven straight unplayable weeks, Aiyuk jumps back into the WR2/3 group with upside, especially with the opportunity and productivity. However, there’s a chance when all the 49ers’ backs return healthy that Samuel, not Aiyuk, garners most of the receiver opportunities. 

Aaron Rodgers Dominated the Bears Again

Aaron Rodgers dominated the Bears with 341 passing yards, 9.2 yards per attempt, and four passing touchdowns with zero picks. Rodgers fed Davante Adams for ten receptions, 121 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, a Week 14 sleeper in Marquez Valdes-Scantling barely produced with three receptions and 20 receiving yards. On the flip side, Allen Lazard hauled in six of seven targets for 75 receiving yards and one touchdown. Rodgers and the Packers should feast down the stretch with a full complement of weapons. Their next four matchups include the Ravens, Browns, Vikings, and Lions. 

Week 14 Wonders

Hunter Renfrow Feasts In Blowout

The lone bright spot on the Raiders included Hunter Renfrow, who hauled in 13 of 14 targets for 117 receiving yards and a touchdown. That’s three straight 100-yard games for Renfrow as the top pass-catcher without Darren Waller. Renfrow produced efficiently with 30 receptions on 33 targets for 353 receiving yards. Before Week 14, Renfrow ranked fifth with 2.17 Target Separation, which gives Derek Carr an easy and open target. Value Renfrow as a mid-range WR2 in PPR leagues. 

Rashaad Penny & Tyler Lockett Lead the Seahawks Offense

Against the Texans, Rashaad Penny broke off two explosive touchdown runs of 32 and 47 yards. Penny finished with 137 rushing yards on 16 attempts and set career highs in carries and rushing yards. The Texans allowed the most rushing yards per game to the position. So, it’s positive to see the Seahawks capitalize on the matchup. Penny accounted for 55.2% of the team’s rushing share, with Alex Collins looking ineffective and taking a backseat. Although Penny may keep sharing with other backs, there’s a chance the Seahawks give Penny more touches, assuming health. 

In typical Tyler Lockett fashion, he gave fantasy managers a potential week-winning type game with five catches, 142 receiving yards, and one touchdown. It’s a reminder why we should continue plugging Lockett into lineups, especially when it’s a friendly matchup. D.K. Metcalf garnered eight targets and only hauled in four receptions for 43 receiving yards to finish second on the team. We observed some consistency lately with Lockett, evidenced by 112.6 receiving yards in four out of the past five games. Keep valuing Lockett as a WR2 with upside. D.K. Metcalf garnered eight targets and only hauled in four receptions for 43 receiving yards to finish second on the team. 

Tyler Huntley Filled In Nicely

With Lamar Jackson injured, Tyler Huntley filled in nicely. Huntley threw for 270 passing yards and one touchdown. He also added 45 rushing yards as the team’s second-leading rusher. Huntley boosted the receiving value for Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman, who both posted over 100 receiving yards. Andrews hauled in all 11 targets for 115 receiving yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Bateman helped the late-game surge with seven receptions on eight targets for 103 receiving yards. 

Andrews posted his third 100-yard receiving game and matched a season-high 11 receptions. Outside of Week 1, Andrews never posted a performance lower than TE18. He’s one of the most consistent options in 2021 and should maintain that way for the rest of the season. After three games where Bateman averaged 70.7 receiving yards and 4.7 receptions, Bateman averaged 2.3 receptions and 20 receiving yards, including a zero. After Bateman’s stock trended down, he exploded for a season-best in receiving yards (103) and receptions (7). Bateman still serves as a risky WR4, especially in Week 14 against the Packers. 

Who is Craig Reynolds?

Craig Reynolds led the Lions with 83 rushing yards on 11 carries. If you asked yourself, who is Craig Reynolds, you’re not alone. Godwin Igwebuike finished second with 25 rushing yards on eight carries. Reynolds caught both targets for 16 receiving yards. With some hype surrounding the underrated rookie in Jermar Jefferson, he didn’t garner a single touch. It sounds like Jefferson dealt with the flu outbreak going around on the team but remained active on Sunday. It’s worth speculating on Reynolds in deeper leagues with speculation that D’Andre Swift could land on injured reserve. 

Justin Fields On Sunday Night

After missing Week 12 and 13, Justin Fields balled out for fantasy with 224 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns and interceptions. Also, Fields rushed for a team lead 74 yards on nine attempts. The 74 rushing yards ranked second to the 103 rushing yards in Week 8. Although the touchdowns went to random receivers like Damiere Byrd and Jakeem Grant, Fields looked the part. Assuming Darnell Mooney and Allen Robinson connect with Fields, that only adds to the passing upside. However, for fantasy purposes, fantasy managers should love the rushing upside for Fields with the Vikings in Week 15. Heading into Week 14, the Vikings allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the quarterback position, which means he’ll possess QB1 upside. 

Week 14 Disappointments

The Jaguars Offense

As expected, the Jaguars’ offense stunk outside of Marvin Jones and Laquon Treadwell to an extent. In the 20-0 loss to the Titans, Trevor Lawrence threw four picks with 221 passing yards. It’s hard to run against the Titans since they allow the 6th-fewest rushing yards heading into Week 14. Add in the negative game script and low possession time, and the Jaguars totaled eight rushing yards against the Titans. Unfortunately, in a pivotal Week 14 matchup, Robinson reached a season-low in yardage for zero fantasy points. 

In the Week 14 sleeper recommendations, the Jaguars’ receivers looked risky but faced a friendly matchup. We highlighted Laquon Treadwell and Laviska Shenault since they provided a low upside floor. Jones served as a deep-ball threat with a 12.6 aDOT over the past two games and then led the team with 70 receiving yards on Sunday. Robinson remains the only fantasy-relevant option, but it’s risky against a tough matchup. 

The Bills Running Backs

At this point, we can’t trust any Bills running backs. Zack Moss didn’t play on Sunday against Tampa Bay, and Josh Allen led the team with 109 rushing yards and one touchdown. Devin Singletary led the running backs with 52 rushing yards on four carries, with Matt Breida attempting three rushes for 12 yards.

Interestingly, Singletary helped his day via the receiving game with six receptions on seven targets for 37 receiving yards. Singletary only caught five or more receptions twice before Sunday, but we’ve seen a healthy target share in past seasons. Overall, it’s hard to trust the Bills’ backs, especially since they split the touches, and they’ll need to rely on touchdowns to make them relevant. 

Corbin Young
Corbin is passionate about fantasy baseball and football. He loves diving into and learning about advanced metrics. Corbin is a Mariners and Seahawks fan living in the Pacific Northwest. Corbin's other hobbies are lifting weights, cooking, and listening to fantasy sports podcasts.
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