Week 14 Observations

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Published on December 13, 2021

After an exciting Thursday night game, that was one of the worst slates in the last decade, saved only by the two overtime games in the late window, and an eventful, if random, shootout on Sunday night. The Team of Destiny sailed pretty easily with the Broncos in Survivor, but so did everyone else. There are still 23 teams left heading into Week 15.

Tom Brady's having a good year, but Aaron Rodgers is the MVP. Everything is so smooth, and he doesn't make mistakes.
AJ Dillon (15-71-0) is in a full-fledged timeshare with Aaron Jones (5-35-1, 3-3-30-1), though Jones got both touchdowns.
Davante Adams (13-10-121-2) could never match last year's insane pace, but he's been worthy of a top-five pick.
Justin Fields passes the eye test for me. He's at least Jalen Hurts, and there's upside above that, despite the sloppiness.
Every team needs a Jakeem Grant -- it's odd the Dolphins let him go.
The 4th-and-1 punt down 11 with 11 minutes left in the game by Matt Nagy was abominable. What did you think would happen when Rodgers got the ball?
The Bills were down 24-3, and I had written them off as no better than the pretenders in the NFC North. But they showed me something with the second-half rally even though they came up short in overtime.
Josh Allen is the QB1 now, though he has competition in Kyler Murray if Murray keeps using his legs.
Ja'Marr Chase (8-5-77-2) finally showed a glimpse of the guy from the season's first six weeks.
Joe Burrow is either throwing deep balls or getting sacked. The Bengals need an alternative besides running it.
George Kittle (15-13-151-1) had another monster game, and he sealed it in overtime with a highlight-reel catch. He's 27-22-332-3 over the last two weeks. Easy TE1 when healthy.
Deebo Samuel (8-37-1, 1-1-22-0) was mostly a running back. Bizarre the Niners can't get Samuel and Kittle involved in the same game.
The Mike Glennon Giants are the 32nd-best offense in the NFL.
Saquon Barkley (16-64-0, 3-3-31-1) got his points, but it was in garbage time. Between the injuries and the offense around him, it's hard to know if he's still the same player.
Kyle Rudolph (2-2-66-0) isn't an option for fantasy, but he pulled a Mark Bavaro on a first-quarter catch, carrying several Chargers for 10 yards, so he deserves a mention.
Melvin Gordon (24-111-2) is still good and will have a role no matter how great Javonte Williams (15-73-1, 2-1-10-1) is. Williams never goes down on first contact.
Rashaad Penny (16-137-2, 1-1-1-0) has always looked good on the rare occasion he's been healthy. He could be one of those late-season league winners (or he could get hurt in the first quarter of your playoff game when you use him.)
Tyler Lockett (9-5-142-1) has been so much better than DK Metcalf (8-4-43-0) this year. Metcalf did have a couple opportunities taken away on penalties though.
I made the Panthers -2.5 my best bet, but Cam Newton was just so sloppy with the ball. I'm not sure whether it was him or the center, but every snap seemed like a fumble risk. After starting off 9-0, I'm now 9-5.
It's amazing the Cowboys let the Team back into the game. Dallas has more talent than almost anyone in the league, now that their defensive linemen Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are back, but I don't trust them.
Cam Sims (4-3-69-1) always makes plays when he gets a shot, but for some reason, the Team buried him this year.
Terry McLaurin didn't have the courtesy to get concussed after producing some points.
Taysom Hill is a beast for fantasy. He's almost what Cam Newton was. Alvin Kamara (27-120-1, 5-4-25-0) is back.
Hunter Renfrow (14-13-117-1) had a nice game, but that team has checked out.
The Chiefs are doing it on defense, and Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are giving way to short passes and the running game.
The Jaguars are so inept offensively, it's unwatchable. Is Trevor Lawrence even good? He looks like Mike Glennon.
I don't know how the Browns blew the cover. Baker Mayfield threw one senseless pick, but you'd think they'd run the ball with a lead and Lamar Jackson hurt.
Mark Andrews (11-11-115-1) is the TE1 now, ahead of Travis Kelce.