Targets are paramount when it comes to evaluating pass-catchers for fantasy football. There are no receiving yards, touchdowns, or receptions without a target. We want the players on our rosters in fantasy football who will earn these targets because targets are the most important thing to look at when trying to separate one pass-catcher from another on a base level. Sure, the player that earned 160 targets may be a better fantasy option than the player who earned 110, but that doesn’t take into account the offenses these players are in, the target share percentages on their particular team, how deep down the field these targets were earned, and so on. Each week, we’ll take a weekly team-by-team look into these target earners and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

We're through 14 weeks of the NFL season and this edition is the last with bye weeks. From Week 15 to the end of the season, every team will be playing. For the Week 14 Target Report, we'll go through some team and player usage tendencies. Before we do that, let's dive into a legend of terms we'll be referencing:
 

Bye Weeks:

Week 8: Chiefs, Chargers

Week 9: Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, Giants, Steelers, 49ers

Week 10: Ravens, Bengals, Patriots, Jets

Week 11: Jaguars, Dolphins, Seahawks, Buccaneers

Week 12: No byes!

Week 13: Cardinals, Panthers

Week 14: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Colts, Saints, Commanders

NOTE:

Start Your Studs: Players you should be starting in all formats, regardless of matchup. Use your judgment in shallower leagues where players who are typically startable are plentiful.

Keep Them Rostered: Players that should be rostered in all formats assuming 12-team leagues with six-player benches. League size designations or other designations (bench stash, etc.) will be in parenthesis next to players for deeper leagues. As always, this is a general recommendation; depending on your league, use your best judgment.

Example: Quez Watkins (deeper 12 and 14 team), Samaje Perine (bench stash).

Dump ‘Em: Players that you should be dropping from your rosters. Use your judgment in deeper leagues where players with usefulness on waivers aren’t as plentiful.

NFL Week 14 Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

Well, all of the air was sucked out of State Farm Stadium when Kyler Murray went down with a non-contact knee injury that will end his season. Colt McCoy is likely the Cardinals’ quarterback for the rest of the season, and obviously, that’s going to be a big downgrade for the pass-catching weapons in Arizona. Bummer.

DeAndre Hopkins (7-79, 11 targets) is still a stud and should still be started, but you’ve got to figure that his ceiling games will take a hit. He’s so good he’ll still provide massive value compared to the rest of the position, aside from the heavy hitters at wide receiver. Same with Marquise Brown (4-34, eight targets), but it’s pretty likely his efficiency and volume will take a hit as well, knocking him out of “must-start” range.

Week 14 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner

Keep Them Rostered: Marquise Brown, Trey McBride (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: With Kyler Murray’s knee injury, he’s a safe drop. He won’t return this season.

Atlanta Falcons

On bye in Week 14.

Week 14 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: A bold claim that there are studs.

Keep Them Rostered: Drake London, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier (strictly a contingent play), Desmond Ridder (deep 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: The Falcons announced they will start rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder over the bye week. Marcus Mariota will be placed on IR and thus ending his season. Mariota is an easy drop here.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens lost backup quarterback Tyler Huntley to a concussion, which led to Anthony Brown (could be real, could be AI, who knows) leading the way for the Ravens at quarterback. Either way, the Ravens were nauseatingly run-heavy, but hey, it worked. When you’re going up against an offensively challenged (and on their backup quarterback as well with Kenny Pickett leaving the game) Steelers team, it’s likely to work. 

Only five Ravens earned a target and just four caught a pass. Both Demarcus Robinson (5-52, 74% routes) and Mark Andrews (2-17) led the Ravens with six targets apiece, but this passing game is not one to target at all. Even more concerning, Andrews hasn’t caught a touchdown since Week 6 and has a combined 6-70 line with 13 targets in the last two weeks. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fantasy managers, but he’s got to be started.

Huntley did practice in a limited capacity on Tuesday and Wednesday and with Lamar Jackson missing a fifth consecutive practice, it’s looking like Huntley will progress through the protocol in time to play for Saturday afternoon’s contest vs. Cleveland.

Week 14 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: J.K. Dobbins, Demarcus Robinson (deeper 12 and 14 team), Gus Edwards

Dump ‘Em: If you were holding Kenyan Drake, you can drop him. He’s nothing more than a little-used (18% snaps, 26% routes) pass-catching spell for Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who returned in Week 14.

Buffalo Bills

In a game against a tough Jets defense with weather concerns throughout, the Bills were a bit stifled on offense. Clearly, that trickled down to the passing game, where Dawson Knox (4-41-1, seven targets, 94%) led the Bills in all receiving categories, including catching their lone passing touchdown from Josh Allen.

Every elite wide receiver is afforded a handful of dud games, so even if it did happen at one of the most critical times in the fantasy season, Stefon Diggs (3-37, five targets) is still #good. 

Week 14 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Stefon Diggs, Josh Allen

Keep Them Rostered: Gabe Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, Devin Singletary, James Cook, Dawson Knox (deeper 12 team and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

Don’t look now, but somehow, the Panthers are running the ball even better without all-world back Christian McCaffrey. Granted, he’s not your prototypical “between-the-tackles” type runner, but it’s kind of shocking.

Maybe it’s not so shocking if they want to limit the damage that Sam Darnold starting at quarterback can do to a team.

Their run-heavy approach (-10.3% PROE, fourth-lowest in Week 14) predictably yielded little results from the passing game (not that we were targeting it, mind you), but it would have been nice for DJ Moore (no stats, three targets, 100% route participation) to get on the stat sheet. This just goes to reinforce that we can’t trust a soul in this passing game.

Not Moore, not anybody.

Week 14 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: #FreeDJMoore

Keep Them Rostered: DJ Moore, D’Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard

Dump ‘Em: N/A, because you should have dropped them already.

Chicago Bears

On bye in Week 14.

Week 14 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Fields

Keep Them Rostered: David Montgomery, Cole Kmet, Chase Claypool

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

In Week 14, it was Ja’Marr Chase or nothing. Literally.

Tyler Boyd played all of two snaps and Tee Higgins played just one snap. The Twitter discourse about Higgins being off of the injury report during the lead-up to Sunday and then being “available but not playing that much due to a hamstring injury” and that being a “coaches’ decision” was just #notgood.

Chase (10-119-1, 15 targets) carried the passing game with nobody else catching more than two passes. If, for some reason, the Bengals are without one or more of Boyd or Higgins against the Buccaneers in Week 15, Chase will have to do it again. And probably will because he’s fantastic, and it’d likely take a SWAT team to stop him. Maybe not even then.

Week 14 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Samaje Perine (still a priority handcuff/contingent play who saw more snaps with a healthy Mixon back), Tyler Boyd

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson looked a bit better this week following his first start in two years in Week 13, but it still wasn’t enough as he was only responsible for one passing touchdown and 10 points. Still, with 42 passing attempts (plus one from backup Jacoby Brissett), he was able to bring some of his targets along for the ride.

The trio of Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Njoku, and Amari Cooper accounted for over 70% of the available targets for Cleveland in Week 14. Peoples-Jones (8-114, 12 targets) led the way for the Browns in all receiving categories, but it was Njoku (7-59-1, nine targets) who caught the touchdown. Cooper had the down game where he lost out on efficiency, but he should be good to go as he establishes a connection and rapport with Watson.

Week 14 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amari Cooper, Nick Chubb, David Njoku

Keep Them Rostered: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Deshaun Watson, Kareem Hunt

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Dallas Cowboys

The Texans almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory as the Cowboys kept them in the entire game, but like a cat toying with its food, they scored a touchdown with under a minute left to pull out the win.

There wasn’t really a main part of the offense that went off on either the rushing or receiving side, but really a “death by 1,000 cuts” way of putting together yardage and production. Tony Pollard (4-20-1, five targets) scored the lone receiving touchdown and six Cowboys had five or more targets — the lone remaining target coming from the returning James Washington.

Dalton Schultz (6-87, 10 targets) led the Cowboys in most categories as CeeDee Lamb (5-33, six targets) had a down day but obviously is just fine in the grand scheme. 

Week 14 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Gallup

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

With the Chiefs storming out to a 27-0 lead in the second quarter, we thought this was just going to be another steamrolling by the Chiefs and a status-quo Broncos letdown spot. 

Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns (!) and was knocked out of the game with a potential concussion, so Brett Rypien finished out the game with a touchdown pass of his own which made the score much closer than the game indicated despite having chances to drive down the field to take a lead. The Broncos were very much pass-heavy here (77.8% raw pass rate — second-highest in Week 14).

Jerry Jeudy (8-73-3, nine targets) was the recipient of three touchdown passes and had by far the best fantasy day of any Broncos’ pass-catcher all season. It did help that there wasn’t a Courtland Sutton to siphon targets, but Jeudy was the only pass-catcher able to put together a worthy fantasy stat line. Despite the outburst, we’re still a bit bearish on most of the options here in Denver.

We still love Greg Dulcich (3-42, eight targets, 74% routes), however.

I have a brand to uphold, people.

Week 14 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Courtland Sutton (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Jerry Jeudy, Greg Dulcich, Latavius Murray (deeper 12 and 14 team), Russell Wilson (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Detroit Lions

We know Amon-Ra St. Brown is #good, but the Lions’ big win vs. the Vikings was more centered around the strength of the entire passing game rather than one guy in St. Brown. Lions fans got a glimpse of what’s to come with Jameson Williams (1-41-1, two targets, 15% routes) scoring a 41-yard touchdown and D.J. Chark (6-94-1, seven targets, 90% routes) earning volume as well. St. Brown still had a great game, but now that there are other weapons in tow, I’m not saying St. Brown’s production will come down, but if the Lions are going to be a legit thing, he may have to give up one or two of the huge volume-spike games to some others. 

Still, a good Lions team is fun for everybody and this team is certainly that. They worked their way into legitimate playoff contention and with meaningful football in December, we can expect some more fireworks before the season is through.

Of course, there’s nothing more fun than Penei Sewell running jet motion and catching one of the clinching plays of the game.

And proving the Lions made the right choice in wide receivers:

Week 14 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Keep Them Rostered: D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, D.J. Chark, Jared Goff, Jameson Williams (stash still)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Green Bay Packers

On bye in Week 14.

Although I’m sure if there was anybody in the history of the NFL that could have scored a touchdown during his bye week, it would be Christian Watson.

Week 14 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Christian Watson, Aaron Jones

Keep Them Rostered: Allen Lazard, Aaron Rodgers, AJ Dillon

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Houston Texans

The Texans stink and will continue to stink, but in their almost-upset of the Cowboys, they stunk a bit less than usual with a relatively unconventional usage of their quarterback. Well, quarterbacks in plural.

In a move that evoked memories of Steve Spurrier, Lovie Smith trotted out both Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel in tandem, with Driskel more in the Taysom Hill role. It worked out for most of the game and without Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks in the lineup, they had two players step up to assume most of the receiving work. Surprisingly, Chris Moore (10-124, 11 targets, 93% routes) led the way, but I have a hard time believing that this is some sort of ascension as:

1. It’s the Texans
2. Cooks and Collins will be back… maybe?

The Texans picked up Amari Rodgers (4-57-1, five targets, 69% routes) from the Packers after they released him and he scored the only receiving touchdown for Houston. Rodgers is a former third-round pick from 2021 and the Packers gave up on him rather quickly after putting him on punt return duty.

With the Texans losing Dameon Pierce at least for this week and possibly for the next couple of weeks as well with an ankle injury, the Texans may not have any choice but to pepper pass game targets. It will throw efficiency out the window for pure volume, which may not be so bad. It’s still hard to trust any of these options and that extends to Cooks and Collins as well.

Week 14 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Dameon Pierce (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Nico Collins (when healthy), Brandin Cooks (when healthy), Chris Moore (deep 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Indianapolis Colts

On bye in Week 14.

Week 14 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman

Keep Them Rostered: Parris Campbell (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Alec Pierce (14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars

The general discourse of the tight end position is such a wild roller coaster ride, but when you see a player that has such an obvious ceiling in a condensed offense, you’ve got to target them. That’s the story of Evan Engram (11-162-2, 15 targets), who with his gargantuan Week 14 performance, shot up from TE14 to TE4 in PPR. Outside of the obvious names at tight end, it’s very difficult to put together even a handful of names who can even come close to the level of upside Engram. It’s why we valued Kyle Pitts so high off of an age-21 season where he put up 1000 yards receiving. True upside is difficult to find at the tight end position, but when it’s around in the late rounds like Engram was, it’s hard for a guy like Andrew Cooper, who has been touting Engram for longer than most have been alive, to ignore.

My Engram soliloquy aside, Engram, Zay Jones (8-77-1, 12 targets), and Christian Kirk (5-45, seven targets) combined for a whopping 81% of targets in Week 14. 

Week 14 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk

Keep Them Rostered: Zay Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Evan Engram

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs

Combined with the Broncos’ 77.8% pass rate, the Chiefs put up a 13.9% PROE, the second-highest PROE of Week 14. Keeping with their typical aggressive pass-game ways, Patrick Mahomes had 42 pass attempts and was very aggressive in building their 27-0 lead.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (9-74-1, 11 targets), Travis Kelce, and Jerick McKinnon combined for a nice 69% of targets in Week 14, with Smith-Schuster and McKinnon accounting for all three touchdowns through the air. With defenses so locked in on Kelce (4-71, nine targets), it’s no wonder Mahomes has had to lock in on some other targets to force the defense’s hand in the need to account for other weapons. Kelce hasn’t had a true ceiling game in a few weeks, but he’s too good to keep down for long.

McKinnon (7-112-2, 55% routes) has in theory taken over the backfield, but Isiah Pacheco does get more of the rushing work, which we know carries (0.65 fantasy points per rush attempt) worth much less than targets (1.51 fantasy points per target) in terms of fantasy points.

That’s a hugely important discrepancy when it comes to valuing running backs and what they can offer a team, because while in the Week 14 box score, Pacheco had a slightly more than 2:1 rush attempt advantage over McKinnon, McKinnon dusts Pacheco with receiving volume and usage. I typically weigh the receiving aspect for running backs very heavily and obviously, I talk about that here with running backs around the league weekly. But it gives some more context to the things I mention and allude to weekly.

Week 14 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes

Keep Them Rostered: Isiah Pacheco, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jerick McKinnon, Skyy Moore (deep 12 and 14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders played a game of keep-away with the Rams, which obviously did not work in their favor in the win column, but clearly, these teams know way better than any of us do. They only passed the ball 20 times and basically sat on their 16-3 lead until the Rams scored two touchdowns in 3:09 of actual game time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

With 20 total pass attempts from the Raiders, Davante Adams (3-71, seven targets) saw 35% of those targets and had a pretty pedestrian game by his lofty standards. Outside of Adams, only one other Raider saw more than two targets — Mack Hollins (2-22, four targets).

It was just an ugly performance and based on how conservative the Raiders were, they completely deserved to lose this game. Just like it’s always been for fantasy, you can only trust the two guys who put up over 70% of the Raiders’ total offense this season: Adams and Josh Jacobs.

Week 14 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams

Keep Them Rostered: Darren Waller (designated to return from IR), Hunter Renfrow (designated to return from IR), Derek Carr, Mack Hollins

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami’s vaunted wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle was impressively shown up by Mike Williams and Keenan Allen on Sunday night. They were both healthy for the first time this season and it showed. Too bad it only took 14 weeks for that to happen, right?

Williams (6-116-1, six targets) was the downfield winner with a 13.8-yard aDOT and looked very much like the Mike Williams we know and love. Allen (12-92, 14 targets) played the hits and was the short-area targets and racked them up in bunches for Justin Herbert.

With Williams and Allen back, it relegated Josh Palmer (4-53, six targets) and Gerald Everett (5-28, eight targets) to some spot duty, but both earned a lot amount of targets all things considered. That’s what happens when Herbert has 51 pass attempts in a game.

Week 14 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams

Keep Them Rostered: Josh Palmer, Gerald Everett

Dump ‘Em: If you’re still holding DeAndre Carter, you can go ahead and drop him as with everybody healthy, he’s not seeing very many pass routes.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are riding high with their come-from-behind win against the Raiders which honestly, they did not deserve. It’s not their fault the Raiders put that game on a silver platter to drive the Baker Mayfield hype train, but here we are.

Tutu Atwell (5-50, nine targets) and Ben Skowronek (7-89, eight targets) combined for half the team’s targets in Week 14, but there’s never a world where I can recommend them as starting fantasy options. I just can’t. The other shoe is already destined to drop and the bottom is primed to fall out, as we know the Rams could get stymied by the Packers in Week 15.

Call me the eternal pessimist, but not all production is created equal, and with the Rams, it can turn sour just as easily as it turned sweet on that fateful Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.

Week 14 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: None exist here!

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Higbee (maybe?), Ben Skowronek (if you must in 12 team, but more of a 14 team guy), Tutu Atwell (deep 12 and 14 team), Van Jefferson (deep 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins stunk up the joint on national television, putting together a passing attack that netted just 145 yards and was led by a woefully inefficient Tua Tagovailoa, who only completed 10 passes on 33 dropbacks. The Chargers answered every question the Dolphins could pose and then some, completely shutting them down.

Jaylen Waddle has a combined seven fantasy points in his last two contests. Not great, Bob.

At least Tyreek Hill (4-81-1, 10 targets) caught a deep touchdown and ran back a fumble for a touchdown to post a solid day, but that was essentially it for the Dolphins in terms of their pass-catchers. Considering the Dolphins had a league-low of 46 and 51 offensive plays in both Weeks 13 and 14, that’s not going to get it done. 

Week 14 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagovailoa

Keep Them Rostered: Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson (11-223, 15 targets) is so-so-so #good. He’s going to be my 1.01 in 2023 and if he’s not that in consensus rankings and drafts to at least start out next season’s drafts, I’d be surprised.

After Jefferson, it’s the status quo for the Vikings: condensed offense to the top targets like T.J. Hockenson and Adam Thielen. The trio of Jefferson, Thielen (7-65-1, eight targets), and Hockenson (6-77, eight targets) combined for over 75% of targets and with K.J. Osborn (5-38-1, five targets), that number spikes to almost 90%.

The Vikings play fewer skill position players each week than an NFL team typically does, which seems to be a Kevin O’Connell trait brought over from the Rams the last couple of seasons and now in Minnesota with him becoming the head coach. Just like the Seahawks, it makes it much easier to pinpoint who is getting the ball each week when we know the secondary and tertiary targets aren’t likely to see more than a target or two.

Week 14 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook

Keep Them Rostered: T.J. Hockenson, Adam Thielen, Alexander Mattison, Kirk Cousins

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New England Patriots

Without Jakobi Meyers in the slot for the Patriots and with the Patriots losing DeVante Parker, who had concussion-like symptoms after a huge hit, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne (5-47, five targets) were thrust into bigger roles. Despite that, there really wasn’t anything to write home about from an offensive or fantasy standpoint. Which sounds apropos for this team.

Agholor (5-32, 10 targets) earned 30% of the targets on Monday night and earned most of the downfield looks with 55% of air yards, but couldn’t put anything together. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, as the Patriots were much more pass-heavy than usual, with a 69% raw pass rate and 8% PROE — the fourth-highest of Week 14. Perhaps that was because the team lost Rhamondre Stevenson early and had to pivot from their game plan after mixing in rookie running backs Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris, who both scored rushing touchdowns.

Week 14 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Rhamondre Stevenson (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Jakobi Meyers (when healthy), Hunter Henry (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints

On bye in Week 14.

Week 14 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara (for now… despite the upside, it’s a ceremonial placement because he sure hasn’t been playing like one lately.)

Keep Them Rostered: Rashid Shaheed (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Jarvis Landry (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Juwan Johnson (deep 12 and 14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Giants

Big Fantasy requires me to talk about every team that played in Week 14 and the New York Giants are certainly one of them. This hodge-podge of passing-game options isn’t being started in 12-team leagues unless you, as a fantasy manager, are desperate — bless your little heart if that’s you.

Richie James (7-61-1, nine targets) and Isaiah Hodgins (4-38-1, six targets) are both running routes on at least 89% of dropbacks, and both scored, but they’re extremely difficult clicks into your lineup and even more so now that the fantasy playoffs are here. Still, they’re running the most routes along with Darius Slayton (2-42, three targets, 77% routes), who took a dip in routes and production this week.

Week 14 New York Giants Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Saquon Barkley

Keep Them Rostered: Darius Slayton, Daniel Jones, Daniel Bellinger (deeper 12 and 14 team) Richie James (deeper 12 and 14 team), Isaiah Hodgins (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Jets

The Jets hung tough with the Bills, and while there weren’t any huge performances with the volume, there were still some notable takeaways here. 

Elijah Moore (6-60, 10 targets) jumped back into the 90% routes range for the first time since Week 4. I’m not saying he’s a must-start option, but it provides a much safer avenue to capture the clear upside he has. He’s seemingly escaped the Robert Saleh doghouse he was in after he requested a trade early on this season.

Garrett Wilson (6-78, seven targets) is still #good despite being more of a floor game in terms of production. He’s a must-start every week.

Week 14 New York Jets Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Garrett Wilson

Keep Them Rostered: Zonovan Knight, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Michael Carter

Dump ‘Em: Ty Johnson is droppable for me in this offense as with Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight holding down the backfield, Johnson is expendable.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had a 50/50 run/pass split and destroyed the overachieving Giants. With 48 points scored, both DeVonta Smith (5-64-1, eight targets) and A.J. Brown (4-70-1, six targets) got there to reasonable degrees, but only Quez Watkins (4-19, five targets) had over four targets and more than two receptions outside of that Brown/Smith duo. Watkins’ time in the sun as the third passing-game target is likely setting as Dallas Goedert’s window to return from IR has opened up and is increasingly likely to play in Week 15.

Week 14 Philadelphia Eagles Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert

Keep Them Rostered: Miles Sanders

Dump ‘Em: With Dallas Goedert returning, you can go ahead and drop Quez Watkins. Watkins will be nothing more than an extremely boom-or-bust option without the increased target volume when Goedert was on IR.

Pittsburgh Steelers

I’m clearly a glutton for punishment as I keep thinking the Steelers will eventually find their weapons much more than they actually do and that it will be a gold mine like it’s been for the last several seasons.

Kenny Pickett was knocked out early with a concussion, which led Mitch Trubisky back out to spearhead the Pittsburgh passing attack. Yikes.

The Steelers didn’t run that many plays (55 total, second-lowest of Week 14) and there really wasn’t much of a fruitful receiving day of the lot outside of Diontae Johnson (6-82, eight targets) and a Pat Freiermuth (3-33-1, six targets) touchdown late to cut the Ravens’ lead to two points.

Reportedly, Mason Rudolph is splitting snaps with Trubisky in practice, so it might have only taken 14 weeks, but I think I’ll finally be hands-off on this passing game for the season.

Week 14 Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: I can’t do it anymore with the Steelers.

Keep Them Rostered: Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, George Pickens, Jaylen Warren (contingent play for Harris)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy in control of this 49ers offense as a game manager makes Jimmy Garoppolo look like a gunslinger by comparison. Purdy only had 21 pass attempts (with Josh Johnson coming in relief to snatch two more attempts), so in this blowout of the now toothless Buccaneers, it’s seemingly going to rely more on efficiency and touchdowns than ever before.

Purdy’s 5.2-yard aDOT in Week 14 was even lower than his league-low 5.4-yard aDOT last week and the team only managed 113 air yards. Purdy isn’t throwing the ball downfield. If the team is blowing out their opponents, maybe they don’t have to, but at some point, Purdy is going to have to take some shots downfield instead of condensing the offense in and around the line of scrimmage.

Losing Deebo Samuel to an MCL and ankle sprain is honestly one of the better scenarios that could have happened, as looking at that play in real-time looked brutal. Samuel (4-43, five targets; rushing touchdown) did chip in with a decent receiving line and scored a rushing touchdown before leaving the game, so his loss will consolidate the rushing work even more to Christian McCaffrey.

Brandon Aiyuk (2-57-1, three targets) scored a touchdown and George Kittle (4-28, five targets) helped lead the team in targets with Samuel, but didn’t put up a meaningful stat line in the end. Getting the fantasy-friendly stat lines we want will require Purdy to be a bit more aggressive. Whether or not that’s going to happen — especially if the 49ers are steamrolling their opponents — remains to be seen.

Week 14 San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Jordan Mason (purely a handcuff/contingent play)