Fantasy Stat Pack: Week 14

Ryan McDowell

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Fourteen QB1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
QB1 Drew Brees, NO
QB2 Jameis Winston, TB
QB3 Mitchell Trubisky, CHI
QB4 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB5 Jimmy Garoppolo, SF
QB6 Ryan Tannehill, TEN
QB7 Philip Rivers, LAC
QB8 Drew Lock, DEN
QB9 Jacoby Brissett, IND
QB10 Matt Ryan, ATL
QB11 Derek Carr, OAK
QB12 Carson Wentz, PHI

 

The 49ers and Saints played what many are calling the game of the year so far, which resulted in the overall QB1 performance for veteran Drew Brees, along with a QB5 rank for Jimmy Garoppolo. Ryan Tannehill and Mitchell Trubisky stayed hot, as did rookie Drew Lock, who produced his first ever QB1 game. Also, it is strange to see neither Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson on this list.

Year to Date QB1s

Rank Player
QB1 Lamar Jackson, BAL
QB2 Deshaun Watson, HOU
QB3 Dak Prescott, DAL
QB4 Russell Wilson, SEA
QB5 Josh Allen, BUF
QB6 Jameis Winston, TB
QB7 Kyler Murray, ARI
QB8 Aaron Rodgers, GB
QB9 Patrick Mahomes, KC
QB10 Kirk Cousins, MIN
QB11 Tom Brady, NE
QB12 Carson Wentz, PHI

 

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston set new career-highs in passing yards (456) and fantasy points (37.7) and rode that from QB9 to QB6. Russell Wilson has only been a QB1 once in the past two months and he finally took the hit, falling from QB2 to QB4.

QB1 Games this Season

QB1 Games Players
11 Lamar Jackson
10
9 Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson
8 Patrick Mahomes
7 Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston
6 Jared Goff, Josh Allen, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, Tom Brady

 

Most QB1 Games Allowed

QB1 Games Allowed Teams
11 NYG
10 ARI, DET
9
8 CIN, HOU, MIA, OAK, TB
7 ATL
6 DAL, IND, KC, NO, PHI
5 CLE, JAX, SEA, SF, WAS
4 CAR, GB, NYJ, TEN
3 DEN, LAR, MIN, PIT
2 BUF, NE
1 BAL, CHI, LAC

 

Two of the league’s worst teams this season matchup in Week Fifteen as the Giants host the Dolphins. Having allowed a league-high 11 QB1 games this year, this is a chance for Miami’s veteran signal caller Ryan Fitzpatrick to stay hot. Over the past six weeks, Fitzpatrick is the QB7, averaging over 22 fantasy points per game. The Cardinals and Lions are next in line, surrendering ten QB1 games this year. The Cardinals face the Browns and Baker Mayfield. After a terrible start to the season, Mayfield has been a QB1 over the past six weeks. The Lions entire team has fallen apart and now face the Buccaneers. There is some bad news for quarterback Jameis Winston, who will play without receiver Mike Evans and is dealing with a hand injury himself.

A trio of teams have allowed only one QB1 game this entire season and remain matchups to avoid, if possible. The Ravens face the Jets and Sam Darnold on Thursday night to kick off the week, while the Bears look to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in a huge NFC North game. It could be a tough week for Kirk Cousins as he faces the Chargers, who have stopped opposing quarterbacks all season and now are nearly back to full strength.

Running Backs

Week Fourteen RB1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
RB1 Austin Ekeler, LAC
RB2 Aaron Jones, GB
RB3 Joe Mixon, CIN
RB4 Raheem Mostert, SF
RB5 Boston Scott, PHI
RB6 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB7 Derrick Henry, TEN
RB8 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB9 Deandre Washington, OAK
RB10 Todd Gurley, LAR
RB11 Devonta Freeman, ATL
RB11 (tie) Melvin Gordon, LAC

 

The Week Fourteen list includes a few surprising names, including a repeat performance for Raheem Mostert as he again saw the bulk of the backfield work for the 49ers on his way to a RB4 finish. Rookie back Miles Sanders was set up for a huge week against the Giants defense but it was backup Boston Scott who ran hard and fast, finishing with his first ever RB1 game. Finally, Raiders rookie Josh Jacobs was a late scratch, giving backup Deandre Washington as chance to be the every-down back and he produced one of the best games of his four-year career, his third time with more than 20 fantasy points.

Year to Date RB1s

Rank Player
RB1 Christian McCaffrey, CAR
RB2 Dalvin Cook, MIN
RB3 Austin Ekeler, LAC
RB4 Aaron Jones, GB
RB5 Derrick Henry, TEN
RB6 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
RB7 Leonard Fournette, JAX
RB8 Nick Chubb, CLE
RB9 Mark Ingram, BAL
RB10 Chris Carson, SEA
RB11 Alvin Kamara, NO
RB12 Josh Jacobs, OAK

 

With only three weeks left in the season, the top-scoring players at each position are nearly locked in, meaning we will see very little movement from week to week. Packers back Aaron Jones was able to break away from his backfield-mate Jamaal Williams for a big game, moving him from RB6 to RB4. Jaguars back Leonard Fournette managed just 63 total yards, dropping him from RB4 to RB7 over the course of the season.

RB1 Games this Season

RB1 Games Players
11 Christian McCaffrey
10
9
8 Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry
7 Ezekiel Elliott, Austin Ekeler, Leonard Fournette
6 Aaron Jones, LeVeon Bell
5 Alvin Kamara, David Johnson, Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, Josh Jacobs

 

Most RB1 Games Allowed

RB1 Games Allowed Teams
9 CAR, DET
8 JAX, LAC, MIA
7 BUF, CIN, KC, WAS
6 ARI, ATL, GB, HOU, OAK
5 CHI, CLE, LAR, NYG, MYJ, SEA
4 BAL, IND, MIN, SF, TB, TEN
3 DAL, DEN, NO, PHI
2 NE
1
0 PIT

 

The Panthers and Lions have emerged over the past few weeks as run defenses to target. Combine the Carolina defense and last week’s injury to Rashaad Penny, running back Chris Carson could be in for a huge week. The Buccaneers running game has been tough to figure as both Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber have been inconsistent, in usage and production. The matchup against the Lions is all they have going for them. The Jaguars (vs. Josh Jacobs), Chargers (vs. Dalvin Cook) and Dolphins (vs. Saquon Barkley) are also teams to target.

Over three months into the season and the Steelers still haven’t allowed a single top-twelve performance to opposing running backs. This might not be the week to rely on Bills rookie back Devin Singletary. The Patriots have given up two RB1 weeks and face the red-hot Joe Mixon and the Bengals. Mixon is the RB4 over the past five weeks.

Wide Receivers

Week Fourteen WR1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
WR1 Emmanuel Sanders, SF
WR2 AJ Brown, TEN
WR3 Darius Slayton, NYG
WR4 Michael Thomas, NO
WR5 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
WR6 Robert Woods, LAR
WR7 Robby Anderson, NYJ
WR8 Julian Edelman, NE
WR9 Allen Robinson, CHI
WR10 Zach Pascal, IND
WR11 Amari Cooper, DAL
WR12 Diontae Johnson, PIT

 

Rookies AJ Brown and Darius Slayton have shown flashes all season and in Week Fourteen, they displayed their upside, each finishing inside the top-three receivers of the week with multiple touchdown games. Steelers rookie Diontae Johnson, the WR12 for the week, is not far behind.

Year to Date WR1s

Rank Player
WR1 Michael Thomas, NO
WR2 Chris Godwin, TB
WR3 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
WR4 Julian Edelman, NE
WR5 Mike Evans, TB
WR6 Amari Cooper, DAL
WR7 Cooper Kupp, LAR
WR8 DJ Chark, JAX
WR9 Kenny Golladay, DET
WR10 DJ Moore, CAR
WR11 Keenan Allen, LAC
WR11 (tie) Allen Robinson, CHI

 

Mike Evans suffered a serious hamstring injury on his Week Fourteen touchdown catch, ending his day and likely his season. He fell from WR3 to WR5. Lions receiver Kenny Golladay moved up from WR11 to WR9 and will have the chance to climb even higher as his running mate Marvin Jones landed on the injured reserve list. Allen Robinson made an appearance in the group, landing at WR11, replacing Jarvis Landry.

WR1 Games this Season

WR1 Games Players
9 Michael Thomas
8
7
6 DeAndre Hopkins
5 Julian Edelman, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay, Mike Evans
4 Amari Cooper, DJ Chark, Cooper Kupp, Julio Jones, Stefon Diggs, Marvin Jones

 

Most WR1 Games Allowed

WR1 Games Allowed Teams
12 MIA
11 TB
10
9
8 NYG
7 ARI, DET, IND, MIN, NYJ, OAK, PHI
6 ATL, CAR, NO, SEA
5 CHI, DAL, HOU, JAX, LAR
4 CLE, DEN, KC, LAC, WAS
3 BUF, GB, SF, TEN
2 BAL, CIN, PIT
1 NE

 

As they have been most of the season, the Dolphins sit atop the list of defenses to target when choosing fantasy wideouts. This will be a chance to fire up the Giants trio of Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, pending their respective health. The Bucs have allowed 11 WR1 games this year and will try to find a way to stop Golladay and the Lions.

The Patriots have surrendered just one WR1 game all season and that is unlikely to change against the Bengals. Tyler Boyd has struggled in his role as the team’s top option and John Ross is just back from his two-month long injury absence. The Ravens (vs. Robby Anderson), Bengals (vs. Julian Edelman) and Steelers (vs. John Brown) are also matchups to consider, since they’ve allowed only two WR1 games all year.

Tight Ends

Week Fourteen TE1s (top 12 scorers)

Rank Player
TE1 Zach Ertz, PHI
TE2 Noah Fant, DEN
TE3 Jared Cook, NO
TE4 George Kittle, SF
TE5 Tyler Higbee, LAR
TE6 Travis Kelce, KC
TE7 Ian Thomas, CAR
TE8 Hayden Hurst, BAL
TE9 Cameron Brate, TB
TE9 (tie) Nick O’Leary, JAX
TE11 Hunter Henry, LAC
TE11 (tie) Jonnu Smith, TEN

 

This was a week for the replacements to shine. With Gerald Everett still out of the lineup, Tyler Higbee had another big game for the Rams, while Ian Thomas (for Greg Olsen), Hayden Hurst (for Mark Andrews) and Jonnu Smith (for Delanie Walker) also found their way into the top twelve. Cameron Brate and Nick O’Leary also began the season as backups.

Year to Date TE1s

Rank Player
TE1 Travis Kelce, KC
TE2 Zach Ertz, PHI
TE3 Darren Waller, OAK
TE4 Mark Andrews, BAL
TE5 George Kittle, SF
TE6 Austin Hooper, ATL
TE7 Hunter Henry, LAC
TE8 Jared Cook, NO
TE9 Jason Witten, DAL
TE10 Greg Olsen, CAR
TE11 Evan Engram, NYG
TE12 Kyle Rudolph, MIN

 

Zach Ertz dominated the Giants on Monday Night Football, helping him to move from TE4 to TE2 for the year, while Jared Cook jumped up to TE8, staying hot against the Niners. Injured tight ends Evan Engram (TE9 to TE11) and Greg Olsen (TE7 to TE10) each fell after they sat in Week Fourteen.

TE1 Games this Season

TE1 Games Players
11 Travis Kelce
10
9 George Kittle
8 Darren Waller, Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz
7 Austin Hooper, Jared Cook

 

Most TE1 Games Allowed

TE1 Games Allowed Teams
10 ARI
9
8 GB, OAK, SEA, TB, TEN
7 ATL
6 CIN, HOU, IND, KC, NO
5 CAR, CLE, DET, LAR, NE, PIT
4 BUF, CHI, DAL, JAX, LAC, MIA, MIN, NYG, NYJ, SF
3 DEN, PHI, WAS
2 BAL

 

The Cardinals continue to be the mascot of the flow chart, allowing 10 TE1 games on the season. Coming up this week, they face the Browns and David Njoku. In his first game back last week, Njoku caught just a four-yard pass on four targets. Still worth a risk if your tight end spot in in rough shape.

The Ravens have given up two TE1 games all season and Jets tight end Ryan Griffin enters this game already banged up. He’s an easy player to avoid this week. The Broncos (vs. Travis Kelce), Eagles (vs. Jeremy Sprinkle) and Redskins (vs. Zach Ertz) have also been tough against tight ends this year. We’ll see if Denver and Washington can retain their lofty position against the season’s top-two fantasy scorers at the position.

Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included the schedule for this week for reference.

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ryan mcdowell