Finally, the fantasy football bye-week apocalypse is behind us. Week 14 saw six (very fantasy-relevant) teams take their week off, which threw a wrench into many fantasy lineups. The fact that scoring went wild in Week 14 also compounded the uniqueness of this pivotal week.
As the fantasy playoffs begin, making the right choices based on a player’s usage and volume is even more critical. Lose, and there is no next week. What can we learn from usage this past week?
This weekly piece will look at an interesting usage note for each team during every NFL week. If you have interesting usage notes, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X (@CableBoxScore) and let me know. Let’s dive into the NFL Week 14 usage!
NFL Week 14 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Trey McBride’s Unfortunate Record
Despite seeing 14 more targets (and having at least 12 targets three games in a row), Trey McBride set the record for most receptions through 12 games without a touchdown in NFL history. He has 31 catches in the last three games, and none have been able to find the end zone.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Pitts in the Pit
For the third time in four games, Kyle Pitts had zero or one catch, this time with one grab for 14 yards. While the three wide receivers all had at least five catches and 70 yards, Pitts continues to struggle.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore Did Not Play in Week 14
"Let's go see what we're all about."
Coach Harbaugh on the message to the team: pic.twitter.com/al20Cbu5WF
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 9, 2024
BUFFALO BILLS
Cook Needs to Turn Up the Heat
For the third straight game, James Cook played under 50% of snaps for the Bills. This one was easy to predict as the Bills fell down by two scores almost immediately, but it’s worth noting Ty Johnson will be the man in games where Buffalo trails.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Jonathan Brooks Pain
When Jonathan Brooks went down with a non-contact injury to the same knee he tore his ACL last year, it was an awful site to see. The immediate repercussion was that Chuba Hubbard was back to a bell-cow with 97% of snaps played.
CHICAGO BEARS
Rome Odunze Elevated
After weeks of struggling, the Bears decided to give Rome Odunze the confidence boost he needed, and it worked. Odunze played the highest percentage of snaps of all wide receivers and saw two of the three red zone targets to wide receivers. The result was two touchdown catches in Week 14.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Brown Shows up in Passing Game
Chase Brown ended the night second on the Bengals in targets with eight in this game. Tee Higgins only had five targets in this game and was barely a factor.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Ford Back on Top
For the second straight week, Nick Chubb barely played a third of the snaps and Jerome Ford dominated the snaps. Ford also out-touched Chubb 13-11 and saw four targets to Chubb’s one.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Dowdle Now Officially an RB1
After out-snapping Ezekiel Elliott 46-6 on Monday Night, the torch has officially been passed to Rico Dowdle. Dowdle’s 20 opportunities were far more than Elliott’s three.
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver Did Not Play in Week 14
Bye Week's over.
👀 on Week 15.
📸 » https://t.co/INSefu1A1D pic.twitter.com/MFsDyT0E1A
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 10, 2024
DETROIT LIONS
Jameson Emerging
For the third straight week, Jameson Williams either led or was tied for the team lead in targets. His eight targets in Week 14 were his most since Week 2. Sam LaPorta and the running backs still dominated the red zone looks, but Williams is becoming increasingly involved each week.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Reed Shut Out Completely
One of the byproducts of Josh Jacobs handling so many more rushing opportunities each week is that the wide receivers aren’t getting as many looks. Jayden Reed felt that on Thursday when he saw one target and registered zero stats in the game. Jordan Love also has fewer than 210 yards passing in two of his last three games, so there hasn’t been a lot to go around.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Houston Did Not Play in Week 14
We’re backkkk did you miss us? cuz we missed you 🫵 pic.twitter.com/oGnapkQ9Eg
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 9, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Indianapolis Did Not Play in Week 14
Closing up shop for a few days.
Join in our fourth annual Bye Week Social Break – visit https://t.co/VjeJfuH0m9 for useful tools and mental health resources. 💚💙 pic.twitter.com/yD6axeZ0PC
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 5, 2024
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Backfield Roles Becoming Clear
Despite an almost equal of snaps in Week 14, it is clear who the Jaguars prefer with the ball in their hands. Tank Bigsby out-touched Travis Etienne 19-8, had more touches in the red zone, and scored a touchdown. He appears to be the back to roster when both are healthy.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Pacheco Slow Role
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Sincere-ly New Role for Raiders
Sincere McCormick jumped into the first chair among running backs this week. After getting 38% of the snaps last week, he exploded to 61% of snaps in Week 14. He also out-touched Ameer Abdullah 17-2 and outgained him 89-4 in yards.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Kimani Vidal Moves Up
With J.K. Dobbins out for the year, Kimani Vidal crossed the 50% threshold of snaps for the first time this season and actually out-snapped Gus Edwards 53% to 43%. Vidal has pass-catching ability Edwards lacks and might see a bigger role in weeks ahead.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Blake Corum Sits Back Down
After a week where he played 32% of snaps, Blake Corum dropped back down to 17% and was out-touched by Kyren Williams 31-8. Perhaps the talk of a split backfield was a tiny bit premature.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Taking Back to the Old School
The Dolphins game against the Jets was vintage Miami (at least from the last three years). Tyreek Hil had 14 targets. Jaylen Waddle had another 12. Both wide receivers had massive games as Miami won in overtime.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Jordan Addison Career Day
When Sam Darnold throws for five touchdowns, he is going to bring some pass-catchers along with him. Justin Jefferson had a massive day, but it was Jordan Addison with eight catches, 133 yards, and three touchdowns who won people their matchup single-handedly. Addison’s 12 targets were a career-high.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England Did Not Play in Week 14
A dose of @DrakeMaye2 mic’d up for your bye week. pic.twitter.com/BcVD1XkyNb
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 5, 2024
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Kendre Miller Out of Doghouse
In his first game back from another injury, running back Kendre Miller played 26% of snaps and touched the ball 10 times, including a rushing touchdown. As the Saints continue to lose and the injuries pile up, don’t be surprised if they use Miller over Kamara more and more.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Tyrone Tracy Levels Up
Tyrone Tracy Jr. played 83% of the running back snaps on Sunday, his highest mark of the season. He out-touched Devin Singletary 17-2 in that game and earned 83 yards plus a touchdown.
NEW YORK JETS
New Running Back Headache
Braelon Allen did not get all the work with Breece Hall out, as he shared the snaps with Isaiah Davis right down the middle. Allen out-touched him 15-13, but Davis was slightly more efficient and ended the day with a touchdown.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Wide Receiver Lost and Found
As Jalen Hurts threw for just 108 yards on Sunday, there were only nine total catches by wide receivers for the Eagles. A.J. Brown has expressed his frustration but why change anything when you have won nine in a row?
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pickens Replacements
With George Pickens missing this game, it was Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller who led the team in wide receiver snaps. Calvin Austin III played only 35% of snaps and was the fifth option on offense most plays.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Who’s Left to Play Running Back
Isaac Guerendo was phenomenal on Sunday, but he left the game with a foot sprain and is Questionable for Thursday Night Football. If he were to miss, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn would step into the new role.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Walkerless in Seattle
As expected, Zach Charbonnet dominated the running back snaps and touches with Kenneth Walker out of the lineup. Charbonnet played 80% of snaps and touched the ball an insane 29 times for 193 total yards and two touchdowns.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Jalen McMillions
Wide Receiver Jalen McMillan ran alongside Mike Evans as a starter against Las Vegas. He played in 79% of snaps and caught four balls for 59 yards and two touchdowns. He is a worthy pickup down the stretch.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Breaks the Streak
NWI did what he has been doing every game, which is to play more than 90% of snaps and catch hardly any balls. This time, however, he couldn’t come away with a touchdown like he had eight times in his last eight games. NWI caught one ball for just 19 yards.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Washington Did Not Play in Week 14
Ready to get back to work pic.twitter.com/QTCYQCQ9pW
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 10, 2024
Data Sources: Pro Football Focus, NFL Next Gen Stats, Football Guys Snap Summary, FTN Air Yards, Pro Football Reference, Team Rankings, Fantasy Points Data Suite
Make sure to check out all of our Week 15 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!