Six teams are on bye in the final week of the regular season, putting even more pressure on fantasy owners, and numerous fantasy-relevant players are out with injuries. If you need a bye week or an injury replacement, our Week 14 fantasy sleeper picks, which include Tyler Huntley, Cam Akers, and Jameson Williams, can help you finish the regular season on a high note.
Fantasy Sleepers: Jameson Williams, Tyler Huntley and Cam Akers for Week 14
You can read also: Raiders – Rams Injury Reports for Week 14: Josh Jacobs and Andrew Billings OUT?
1. Cam Akers, Rams vs. Raiders (Sloan Piva)
UPDATE: Akers rushed 12 times for 42 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for one yard in the Rams’ 17-16 win over the Raiders on Thursday night. He also fumbled.
Last week, Akers saw 46 offensive snaps and 17 touches, both easily season highs for the third-year back who has been benched for the majority of the season.
He rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns, nearly helping an embattled Los Angeles team defeat a solid Seattle team.
The Raiders have permitted the fifth-most PPR points per game to running backs (seventh-most in standard formats), most recently allowing 132 scrimmage yards to Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley.
The Kyren Williams hype appears to have been exaggerated, as this appears to be Akers’ backfield after all.
2. Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Browns (Matt Lutovsky)
UPDATE: Perine will hand over starting running back duties to Joe Mixon against the Browns on Sunday after the latter practiced fully Wednesday and cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol, but Perine may have earned a larger role than he previously held after excelling as a replacement for Mixon over the past two games, according to James Palmer of NFL Network.
Despite the fact that Joe Mixon (concussion) is expected to return this week, Perine has performed well enough to earn a role in Cincinnati’s offense.
Remember, Perine had already scored a receiving touchdown before Mixon’s concussion in Week 11.
The Browns allow the second-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to running backs, so Perine is a flex option even with just 10 touches in a thin week.
3. Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chiefs (Vinnie Iyer)
To have a chance offensively, the Broncos must keep giving him the ball, and he has a good history in this matchup dating back to his days with the Raiders in the AFC West.
- Quarterbacks
1. Tyler Huntley, Ravens @ Steelers (Piva)
UPDATE: Huntley is expected to start at quarterback against Pittsburgh on Sunday, with Lamar Jackson (knee) listed as questionable after not practicing all week, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
“It looks like it’s going to be Tyler on Sunday,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after Friday’s practice.
Huntley came through for Baltimore in Week 13 when Lamar Jackson went down with a knee injury.
Huntley was an efficiency model, completing 27-of-32 passes for 187 yards and adding 41 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Huntley will now face a Steelers defense that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards and second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL.
2. Ryan Tannehill, Titans vs. Jaguars (Lutovsky)
UPDATE: Tannehill (ankle) took part in full practice on Thursday, according to Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ official website.
Tannehill’s ceiling is rarely high, but his floor should be adequate against Jacksonville’s 29th-ranked pass defense.
Even if Treylon Burks (concussion) is out, Tannehill has enough capable pass-catchers to put up 250 yards and two touchdowns, as he did against Denver in Week 10.
3. Jared Goff, Lions vs. Vikings. (Iyer)
He’s back to putting up big numbers against weak defenses at home, and the volume will be high against Kirk Cousins.
- Wide receivers
1. Jameson Williams, Lions vs. Jaguars (Lutovsky)
Although Williams only played eight snaps in his NFL debut last week, we expect him to ramp up and make his presence felt in Week 14.
Minnesota allows the most passing yards per game and the third-most points per game to wide receivers.
Williams can make an impact with a big play or two even on limited snaps, and we expect the Lions to use him more.
2. DJ Chark, Lions vs. Vikings (Piva)
In a game with a 53.5 O/U, nearly every pass-catcher has upside.
Chark scored against Buffalo two weeks ago and caught five of six targets for 98 yards against Jacksonville last week.
He should see a lot of action in Week 14 against a Vikings defense that has given up 364 yards or more in each of the previous two weeks. This week is Chark week.
3. Zay Jones, Jaguars @ Titans (Iyer)
Last week, he was quiet as Christian Kirk and Evan Engram did work underneath against Detroit, but Tennessee gets smacked a lot on the outside, so a rebound is in order for Jones.
Read more: The Cowboys are wary of Odell Beckham as the Giants look to extend his contract
- Tight ends
1. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans vs. Jaguars (Iyer)
UPDATE: According to Turron Davenport of ESPN.com, offensive coordinator Todd Downing stated on Thursday that Okonkwo has earned more opportunities and that the Titans are considering more ways to get him the ball.
The rookie has five targets in three games in a row, and he’s been crucial alongside fellow rookie Treylon Burks. Okonkwo will play a larger role if Burks does not recover from his concussion.
2. Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Cardinals (Piva)
Arizona’s struggles against tight ends have become a way of life, with Henry seeing five targets in each of the last two games.
This season, nine tight ends have received five or more targets against Arizona, and each of them has thrived.
The average output of that group was six catches, 73.3 receiving yards, and 0.66 touchdowns. Henry should destroy the Cards, and I’m betting he finds the end zone, as TEs have nine times this season against them.
3. Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Patriots (Lutovsky)
McBride has caught five of seven targets in two starts since replacing Zach Ertz (knee) – not great, but he’s involved.
The Patriots allow the 11th-most FPPG to tight ends and have struggled against the position for the majority of the season, so we expect McBride to have a breakout game.
- Defense
1. Arizona Cardinals vs. Patriots (Piva)
New England’s offense has been erratic, and the wheels nearly came off completely against Buffalo last weekend.
Expect Arizona to apply heavy pressure early and often, forcing Mac Jones to make numerous errors as he sees ghosts.
Arizona has 23 sacks, 14 takeaways, and five defensive touchdowns this season, so we like the home team’s chances here.
2. Seattle Seahawks vs. Panthers (Iyer)
The Seahawks will result in a lot of passing, which will result in sacks and turnovers for Sam Darnold in front of a raucous 12th Man.
3. Las Vegas Raiders @ Rams (Lutovsky)
Even before Matthew Stafford (neck) got hurt, the Rams were allowing the most FPPG to D/STs.
They’re now using either a hunched-up John Wolford (neck), an overworked Bryce Perkins, or the newly acquired Baker Mayfield. Even the Raiders can benefit, especially with a short week.