Fantasy Football Today - fantasy football rankings, cheatsheets, and information
A Fantasy Football Community!




 Log In  | Sign Up  |  Contact      






Usage Notes: Week 14



By Mike Krueger | Updated: 12/12/23

Each week, I’ll look at snaps, usage, touches, target shares and pull out the highlights you need to know from each game.

- All games will be available Monday afternoon each week.
- Snap shares are in parenthesis next to each player’s name.


Thursday:

NE @ PIT


Sunday Early:

CAR @ NO | LAR @ BAL | IND @ CIN | JAX @ CLE

DET @ CHI | TB @ ATL | HOU @ NYJ


Sunday Late:

SEA @ SF | MIN @ LV | BUF @ KC | DEN @ LAC

PHI @ DAL


Monday:

GB @ NYG | TEN @ MIA

Ezekiel Elliott

NE @ PIT

Offensive Snaps
Patriots: 57
Steelers: 70


Ezekiel Elliott (91.2%) had a dominant role with Rhamondre Stevenson out, handling every running back carry and getting 29 touches. He’s an easy RB2 with RB1 upside when he finds the endzone. Upcoming schedule for Zeke: KC, @DEN, @BUF.

The passing offense under Bailey Zappe isn’t going to be great but we saw an outlier outcome (240-3-1) against the Steelers.

The Patriots were three wide receivers including WR DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. That left JuJu Smith-Schuster (98.2%) and Tyquan Thornton (94.7%) to be every-down players. Jalen Reagor (35.1%) filled the third receiver role but only had 1 target. JuJu led the group with a 23.1% target share.

TE Hunter Henry (87.7%) had 3 targets and caught all three for 40 yards and 2 TDs. Happy Birthday!

The Steelers offense continues to sputter regardless of the OC or quarterback.

Najee Harris (57.1%) and Jaylen Warren (52.9%) were in their normal roles despite Harris carrying the Questionable tag. Neither RB was noteworthy.

Diontae Johnson (68.6%) had a decent fantasy day as he found the endzone and had a late catch in garbage time to help pad his stats. George Pickens (85.7%) and the rest of the Steelers receivers were quiet as Mitchell Trubisky threw for just 190 yards.

TE Pat Freiermuth (68.6%) is sharing time with Darnell Washington (42.9%) and Connor Heyward (15.7%) which caps his fantasy upside.

CAR @ NO

Offensive Snaps
Panthers: 80
Saints: 52

Chuba Hubbard (77.5%) maintained his lead-back role over Miles Sanders (21.2%) and handled 25 touches as the Panthers got off 80 plays.

The Carolina passing game continues to be a disaster. Adam Thielen (81.2%), D.J. Chark (88.8%) and rookie Jonathan Mingo (88.8%) are the top three wideouts but offer little fantasy upside. Mingo led the group with a 28.1% target share but caught just 2 of 9 targets.

No Taysom Hill and Rashid Shaheed in this game for the Saints.

Alvin Kamara (53.8%) had 17 opportunities and did find the endzone to save his fantasy day. His 3 receptions for negative 11 yards was a shocker. Jamaal Williams (44.2%) had 11 touches… the most he’s seen since Week 1.

Chris Olave (65.4%) led the Saints underwhelming receiving group with a 22.7% target share. A.T. Perry (61.5%) and Lynn Bowden Jr. (76.9%) combined for 5 receptions.

Juwan Johnson played just 40.4% of the snaps and saw just 2 targets despite no Taysom Hill.

LAR @ BAL

Offensive Snaps
Rams: 77
Ravens: 72

28 touches for Kyren Williams (89.6%) who is one of the few workhorse backs in the league. Royce Freeman (10.4%) had just 3 touches, all runs.

The Rams ran a tight three wide receiver group with Cooper Kupp (97.4%), Puka Nacua (83.5%) and Demarcus Robinson (85.7%). Kupp and Robinson both had a 26.3% target share. Puka wasn’t far behind with a 21.1% target share.

No Tyler Higbee for the Rams this week. That left Davis Allen (71.4%) and Hunter Long (24.7%) to handle tight end duties. Long left the game early with a knee injury.

The Ravens used a three-headed committee at running back: Keaton Mitchell (33.3%), Justice Hill (41.7%) and Gus Edwards (27.8%). Mitchell led the group with just 10 touches.

Baltimore had four receivers in play including Zay Flowers (97.2%), Odell Beckham Jr. (52.8%), Nelson Agholor (59.7%) and Rashod Bateman (47.2%). Flowers and Beckham both had a 25.0% target share.

TE Isaiah Likely (79.2%) posted a 5-83-1 line on 7 targets.

IND @ CIN

Offensive Snaps
Colts: 64
Bengals: 60

Zack Moss (84.4%) held his dominant role but couldn’t get much going against the Bengals, handling 17 touches for just 56 yards and zero TDs.

Michael Pittman Jr. (85.9%) led all Colts receivers with a 28.9% target share. Alec Pierce (90.6%) and Josh Downs (78.1%) had just 3 targets a piece.

The Colts used four tight ends in this game: Kylen Granson (37.5%), Will Mallory (31.2%), Mo Alie-Cox (28.1%) and Andrew Ogletree (26.6%). This is a situation to avoid.

Chase Brown (30.0%) has earned a role behind Joe Mixon (63.3%). Brown had 11 touches and scored on a 54-yard screen pass early in the game. Trayveon Williams (1.7%) had just 1 touch and Chris Evans was inactive.

Ja'Marr Chase (86.7%) and Tee Higgins (75.0%) saw just 4 targets a piece as the Bengals only attempted 25 passes and allowed Mixon to do the heavy lifting in this game. TE Tanner Hudson (23.3%) caught the other receiving TD.

JAX @ CLE

Offensive Snaps
Jaguars: 76
Browns: 76

Trevor Lawrence played every snap despite suffering a high ankle sprain the week before.

Travis Etienne (77.6%) now has 4 receptions in each of his last three games but is only averaging 3.7 yards per carry on the season. D'Ernest Johnson (26.3%) had six opportunities as the backup RB.

With Christian Kirk out, Calvin Ridley (94.7%), Zay Jones (84.2%) and Parker Washington (61.8%) were the top three wideouts for the Jaguars. Jones led the group with a 28.6% target share. Ridley was not far behind with a 26.5% target share.

TE Evan Engram (89.5%) was the star of the passing show, posting a 11-95-2 line on 12 targets. His best two fantasy days of the season have come in back-to-back weeks.

Jerome Ford (56.6%) and Kareem Hunt (36.8%) both saw double-digit touches with Ford posting a 12-51-0, 5-31-0 line. Hunt was able to find the endzone but had just 30 total yards.

Amari Cooper (84.2%), Elijah Moore (69.7%) and Cedric Tillman (60.5%) led the wideouts but it was TE David Njoku (81.6%) who did the most damage, scoring twice and racking up 91 receiving yards. Cooper had a 32.6% target share.

DET @ CHI

Offensive Snaps
Lions: 65
Bears: 71

Jahmyr Gibbs out-snapped David Montgomery in this game 41 to 23 as the Lions were playing from behind the entire 4th quarter. However, both had a similar number of touches (14, 13).

The Lions used five receivers in this game including Amon-Ra St. Brown (87.7%), Jameson Williams (58.5%), Josh Reynolds (55.4%), Kalif Raymond (35.4%) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (13.8%). ARSB led the group with a 26.5% target share.

TE Sam LaPorta (86.2%) had six targets but only 2 receptions for 23 yards.

D'Onta Foreman (54.9%) played the most of the three Chicago RBs and handled 13 touches. Roschon Johnson (28.2%) and Khalil Herbert (16.9%) combined for just 4 touches. It appears Foreman is the lead back for now.

D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney both played 90% of the snaps but Moore, who had a 32.3% target share, is the only wideout with any fantasy value.

TE Cole Kmet (84.5%) had a 22.6% target share and has at least 7 targets in five of his last six games.

TB @ ATL

Offensive Snaps
Buccaneers: 68
Falcons: 72

A big workload for Rachaad White (83.8%) who saw 25 carries and 27 touches. Chase Edmonds (17.6%) mixed in for 10 touches as the Bucs went run-heavy against the Falcons.

Chris Godwin (83.8%) led the Bucs with a 37.9% target share but had just 5 catches for 53 yards. Mike Evans (92.6%) had just 1 catch for 8 yards on six targets.

It was still a three-headed committee for the Falcons at running back but Bijan Robinson did play 77.8% of the snaps. He did split rushing attempts almost equally (10, 9) with Tyler Allgeier (20.8%). Cordarrelle Patterson (16.7%) only had three touches.

Monster day for Drake London (76.4%) who had a 28.2% target share and posted a 10-172-0 line on 11 targets. This was easily his best fantasy day of the season.

TE Kyle Pitts (84.7%) and Jonnu Smith (69.4%) both saw action as usual. Jonnu had 7 targets while Pitts had 6.

HOU @ NYJ

Offensive Snaps
Texans: 56
Jets: 68

It was Devin Singletary (57.1%) back in the lead RB role for the Texans who lost C.J. Stroud in this game with a concussion. Dameon Pierce (14.3%) handled just five touches as the score got out of hand which allowed Dare Ogunbowale to play 28.6% of the snaps.

Nico Collins (5.4%) left this game early with a calf injury. His second calf injury of the season. Xavier Hutchinson (73.2%) filled the void and should be looked at on the waiver wire if Collins is out for any length of time. Robert Woods (71.4%), Noah Brown (66.1%) and John Metchie (50.0%) were also in the mix.

TE Brevin Jordan played 75.0% of the snaps with Dalton Schultz inactive.

Breece Hall (61.8%) has seen 9-8-9 targets over his last three games. He finished with a 10-40-0, 8-86-1 line. Dalvin Cook (23.5%) had 8 touches for 8 yards.

Garrett Wilson (91.2%) had a 40.0% target share and finished with a 9-108-0 line. Allen Lazard played 72.1% of the snaps and didn’t have a target.

SEA @ SF

Offensive Snaps
Seahawks: 59
49ers: 54

Kenneth Walker (55.9%) returned from an oblique injury this week and had 13 opportunities compared to 10 for Zach Charbonnet (42.4%). This likely the backfield split we’ll see most often from the Seahawks.

DK Metcalf (89.8%) was ejected late in this game. Tyler Lockett (81.4%) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (71.2%) were catching passes from Drew Lock in this game as Geno Smith (groin) was inactive. JSN led the group with a 22.6% target share but had just 4 catches for 25 yards.

The 49ers continue to roll. Christian McCaffrey (88.9%) took his first carry 72 yards down to the 3-yard line. Jordan Mason (11.1%) punched it in from there. Elijah Mitchell was out with a knee injury.

Brandon Aiyuk (90.7%), Deebo Samuel (77.8%) and TE George Kittle (92.6%) all did fantasy damage this week. Deebo and Aiyuk both had a 33.3% target share. Deebo has a rushing TD in four of his last five games.

MIN @ LV

Offensive Snaps
Vikings: 72
Raiders: 54

Rough day for the Vikings who scored just 3 points. Joshua Dobbs (73.65) got pulled for ineffectiveness. Nick Mullens (26.4%) could start Week 15 against the Bengals.

Alexander Mattison (31.9%) left with an ankle injury which allowed Ty Chandler (55.6%) to handle 15 touches. Chandler should see an increased role next week. Kene Nwangwu played 3 snaps.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, Justin Jefferson (18.1%) left early with a chest, rib injury. Jordan Addison (95.8%), K.J. Osborn (70.8%) and Brandon Powell (50.0%) would be the starting WRs next week if Jefferson sits.

A really rough day for the Raiders who scored just 0 points. Josh Jacobs (63.0%) left the game with a knee injury. Zamir White (9.3%) and Ameer Abdullah (27.8%) would handle the running back work next week if Jacobs can’t go.

Davante Adams (98.1%) had a 34.5% target share but only averaged 7.6 yards per catch. Jakobi Meyers (98.1%) had a 20.7% target share.

TE Michael Mayer played 94.4% of the snaps but had just 2 targets.

BUF @ KC

Offensive Snaps
Bills: 77
Chiefs: 66

James Cook (44.2%) was a difference maker for the Bills taking 15 touches for 141 yards and a TD. Buffalo also worked in Latavius Murray (32.5%) and Ty Johnson (20.8%). Murray and Johnson combined for 11 touches.

Gabriel Davis (81.8%) had zero catches on two targets. Josh Allen failed to look his way when Davis was wide-open for a TD. Stefon Diggs (79.2%) and Khalil Shakir (61.0%) were in their normal roles.

Dawson Knox (46.8%) returned to action but played behind Dalton Kincaid (77.9%). Kincaid had a 22.2% target share while Knox had an 8.3% target share.

No Isiah Pacheco this week allowed Clyde Edwards-Helaire (48.5%) and Jerick McKinnon (45.5%) to share running back duties. 15 opportunities for CEH, 7 for McKinnon.

Another solid game from Rashee Rice who saw his snap share expand to 84.8% this week. He easily led the WR group with a 25.6% target share. Justin Watson (54.5%), Kadarius Toney (43.9%), Skyy Moore (34.8%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (33.3%) and Richie James (16.7%) all saw the field but have very little fantasy value.

TE Travis Kelce (89.4%) had a 25.6% target share.

DEN @ LAC

Offensive Snaps
Broncos: 67
Chargers: 68

The Broncos stuck with their three-headed running back attack. Javonte Williams (59.7%) scored his first rushing TD of the season and handled 20 touches. Jaleel McLaughlin (19.4%) and Samaje Perine (20.9%) saw 13 combined touches.

Another week another TD for Courtland Sutton (74.6%). That’s now 10 TDs for Denver’s No.1 wideout. Jerry Jeudy (56.7%) and Lil'Jordan Humphrey (56.7%) played the same number of snaps.

The Chargers lost QB Justin Herbert (45.6%) to a fractured finger on his throwing hand. He won’t play in Week 15. Easton Stick (54.4%), come on down.

Isaiah Spiller (17.6%) got involved (6 touches) this week as the Chargers tried to spice up their running game. Nothing they did affected the usage of Austin Ekeler (72.1%) who posted a 10-51-1, 5-49-0 line. Joshua Kelley (10.3%) had just 3 touches.

Alex Erickson (66.2%) worked as the No.2 receiver behind Keenan Allen (95.6%) and Quentin Johnston (88.2%). Erickson had just 1 catch on 7 targets. Jalen Guyton played 32.4% of the snaps and had just 1 target.

Gerald Everett (67.6%) had a 19.5% target share and played well ahead of Donald Parham (22.1%).

PHI @ DAL

Offensive Snaps
Eagles: 55
Cowboys: 82

A couple bad games in a row now for D’Andre Swift (50.9%) who posted a 11-39-0 line with zero targets. Kenneth Gainwell (45.5%) had four touches for 28 yards.

The Eagles turned the ball over too much which limited their offensive output. A.J. Brown (92.7%), DeVonta Smith (94.5%) and Jalen Hurts all fumbled. Brown had a 46.4% target share.

TE Dallas Goedert (83.6%) returned to action and posted a 4-30-0 line which isn’t bad considering the Eagles were light on play volume.

Tony Pollard (72.0%) grinded out 59 rushing yards on 16 carries but did have 7-37-0 on 8 targets in the passing game. Rico Dowdle (28.0%) had 13 touches and found the endzone.

CeeDee Lamb (89.0%) had a 25.6% target share. Michael Gallup (48.8%) had a big catch that led to a 3-48-1 line.

Jake Ferguson (73.2%) made a couple big plays in this game and had a 20.5% target share. He’s in the weekly TE1 conversation.

GB @ NYG

Offensive Snaps
Packers: 68
Giants: 56

Aaron Jones missed yet another game which allowed AJ Dillon (52.9%) to handle 17 touches. Patrick Taylor (47.1%) handled just 6 touches but did have 52 yards.

Christian Watson missed as well with a hamstring injury. As expected, Romeo Doubs (82.4%) and Jayden Reed (69.1%) played the most snaps. Reed led the WR group with a 26.3% target share.

TE Tucker Kraft played every snap and caught all 4 of his targets for 64 yards.

Saquon Barkley (85.7%) scored twice and handled 23 touches for the Giants.

The mainly used four receivers: Darius Slayton (92.9%), Wan'Dale Robinson (78.6%), Jalin Hyatt (64.3%), Isaiah Hodgins (35.7%). Robinson led the group with a 35.0% target share but Tommy DeVito threw the ball just 21 times.

TEN @ MIA

Offensive Snaps
Titans: 71
Dolphins: 72

Tyjae Spears (66.2%) had his best fantasy day of the season on 13 touches, racking up 118 yards including 89 receiving yards. Derrick Henry (47.9%) scored 2 TDs for the third-straight game.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (88.7%), DeAndre Hopkins (63.4%), Treylon Burks (64.8%), and Chris Moore (43.7%) were the top receivers for the Titans. Hopkins led the group with a 33.3% target share. That’s back-to-back games with 12 targets.

TE Chigoziem Okonkwo (67.6%) had 6 targets for the second consecutive game.

Raheem Mostert (63.9%) did most of the damage for Miami in this game rushing for 2 TDs. He now has 16 rushing TDs on the season. Devon Achane (45.8%) had 16 opportunities and is the preferred passing game back.

Tyreek Hill (47.2%) injured his ankle early and sat out a big portion this game. Jaylen Waddle (81.9%), Cedrick Wilson (55.6%) and Braxton Berrios (45.8%) got some extra opportunities as a result. Waddle led all the receivers with a 24.2% target share.