RADIO
Monday Night Football was an Absolute Barnburner
There was a chance the league was going to flex out Monday Night's contest between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns, but it's a good thing that they didn't. The Broncos won 41-32 in an absolute thriller that saw plenty of exciting plays sway the momentum back and forth throughout the game.
Jameis Winston ended up throwing for 497 yards and four touchdowns with three INTs and two pick-6s, which feels like the football equivalent of going on an eight-day bender with Charlie Sheen. The lows are low, but boy, are those highs high.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix took a couple of deep shots on risky passes that he shouldn't have thrown, but he was able to connect with wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. on one that went for a 93-yard score. Neither team was able to do much on the ground, but Jaleel McLaughlin continues to look like the best running back in Denver. It was Nix's first double-digit interception game since Week 2.
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had an absolute revenge game of sorts against his former squad, going off with nine catches for 235 yards and one touchdown. He even let the crowd hear it on several plays, and you can only imagine how Broncos fans felt watching a player who was wildly inconsistent in Denver look like Jerry Rice on MNF.
Former pro and college teammates Jerry Jeudy and Patrick Surtain II lined up against each other on 34 of 57 routes.
Surtain allowed 2 receptions for 20 yards (3 targets) vs Jeudy while the rest of the team allowed 7 receptions for 215 yards (10 targets).
Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/dxeRBambDL
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 3, 2024
The NFL is funny, man. Terry McLaurin is a Top 12 WR now. Courtland Sutton went from "washed" to still really good. Jeudy and Elijah Moore were trending out of the league. It turns out the QB and the system matter so much outside of maybe two WRs who are truly situation-proof. Heck, we've even seen Tyreek Hill and CeeDee Lamb struggle this year without their quarterbacks.
Vintage Russell Wilson Returns
Bucky Irving Continues to Carve out a Meaningful Role
Bucky Irving is making waves as a rookie in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, carving out a meaningful role alongside Rachaad White. In Week 13, Irving showcased his potential in a thrilling overtime win over the Carolina Panthers, logging 25 rush attempts for 152 yards and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 33 yards.
The rookie running back played exactly 50% of the offensive snaps, matching White, and proved he’s ready to be a key part of Tampa’s backfield down the stretch. Heading into Week 14, Irving’s combination of efficiency and explosiveness makes him a name to watch in fantasy football.
Coming out of Oregon, Irving was an overlooked prospect. Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing just 192 pounds, he lacked the prototypical size for an NFL running back, and his 4.55 forty-yard dash didn’t exactly wow the scouts. But for those who watched the tape, Irving’s talent was undeniable. With a low center of gravity, incredible footwork, and elite contact balance, he brought something special to the field.
Despite being undersized, Irving has shown he can absorb hits and keep moving through contact, proving that his versatility as a running back translates seamlessly to the NFL.
Bucky Irving’s contact balance and low center of gravity are both exceptional and have translated well at the next level https://t.co/e9qMKX6qHX
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) December 1, 2024
In his rookie campaign, Irving has continued to impress, racking up 133 rush attempts for 732 yards (a stellar 5.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns while also catching 35 passes for 285 yards. His ability to contribute as both a runner and a receiver has made him a vital weapon in offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s scheme.
With quarterback Baker Mayfield playing well and Tampa’s offense humming, there’s plenty of room for Irving to continue building on his rookie success. His Week 13 breakout game was just the latest example of how he’s becoming a critical piece of this team.
One of the most encouraging signs for Irving’s fantasy value is the lack of competition beyond White. Sean Tucker is no longer seeing the field, which has allowed Tampa to focus on a true two-man backfield. While Irving and White are splitting snaps, both have shown they can be productive in this setup.
With Irving’s efficiency and knack for big plays, he has the potential to be a fantasy difference-maker, even if he’s not seeing a full workhorse load. For managers in need of reliable production, he’s shaping up as a strong option.
Heading into Week 14, Irving should be on the radar for fantasy managers as a flex play with upside. His ability to contribute to all facets of the game, combined with Tampa’s balanced offense, makes him a reliable option in most formats.
While the backfield split with White will limit his ceiling at times, Irving’s consistent production and ability to break big plays ensure he remains relevant for the rest of the season. Irving is proving that he more than belongs.
Brock Bowers Truly is a Generational Prospect
Which Running Backs Were Bell-Cows in Week 13?
Here were the running backs who saw at least a 60% snap share in Week 13.
| Player | Team | Snap Share | Total Touches | Fantasy Points |
| Jonathan Taylor | IND | 88.7% | 26 | 16.8 |
| Saquon Barkley | PHI | 87.5% | 25 | 18.7 |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | 85.7% | 27 | 13.9 |
| Chase Brown | CIN | 80.6% | 15 | 17.5 |
| Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 78.6% | 12 | 2.3 |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | 77.8% | 23 | 19.7 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | 77.8% | 21 | 10.9 |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 75.3% | 32 | 22.5 |
| Joe Mixon | HOU | 74.6% | 24 | 19.9 |
| Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG | 73.0% | 11 | 13.5 |
| Tony Pollard | TEN | 72.7% | 12 | 6.8 |
| D'Andre Swift | CHI | 69.4% | 13 | 8.4 |
| Rico Dowdle | DAL | 69.3% | 25 | 19.8 |
| De'Von Achane | MIA | 69.0% | 15 | 17.0 |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 67.8% | 16 | 17.8 |
| Nick Chubb | CLE | 66.3% | 10 | 6.7 |
| Kenneth Walker III | SEA | 61.9% | 18 | 5.6 |
| Ameer Abdullah | LV | 61.8% | 12 | 6.3 |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | 61.8% | 12 | 6.0 |
A few notes on the state of the running backs heading into Week 14.
While it's fair to question just how viable the Dallas Cowboys offense can be for fantasy without quarterback Dak Prescott under center, Rico Dowdle looks locked and loaded as the team's RB1. Over their last five games, Dowdle has seen 17, 15, 12, 22, and 25 touches per game. The Cowboys have some favorable matchups coming up for fantasy as well.
Dallas plays the Bengals in Week 14 and the Panthers in Week 15, which are solid matchups for Dowdle. Week 16 and 17 could be a problem against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, but for now, Dowdle looks locked in as an RB2 over the next two weeks.
Kyren Williams saw his lowest workload of the season with just a 67.8% snap share in Week 13, but it's probably more related to keeping him fresh for the stretch run than anything else. Williams has been a volume-dependent back for fantasy but is a clear favorite of head coach Sean McVay. Rookie Blake Corum might become more involved, but it's probably not a big cause for concern.
Josh Jacobs continues his tear as Green Bay's locked in RB1. Can you believe the Packers are 9-3 and are somehow only third in their division? That's got to be some kind of a record, right? On Thanksgiving Night, Jacobs pounded the rock just 19 times for 43 yards but found the end zone and caught four receptions for 74 yards.
That might not seem like much, but Jacobs was never used heavily as a receiver during his time with the Raiders, and it's clear just how great of a running back he is now that there's a better supporting cast around him in Green Bay. Jacobs is averaging 9.6 yards per reception, which is easily the best of his career. He is the engine that makes this offense work so well.
Christian McCaffrey left Sunday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills with a non-contact knee injury, and his season is likely over. Backup Jordan Mason was also placed on injured reserve this afternoon, which means that rookie Isaac Guerendo is the next man up. If Guerendo is available in any leagues at the moment, I'd be using whatever of my remaining FAAB left to get him.
Here are the pass catchers with the highest target shares from Week 13. Due to some load times and issues with frame rates on mobile devices, all the vital points of data you need are below in a separate tweet from my RotoBaller partner, Scott Rinear.
Below are the snap shares, and WR metrics like targets per routes run (TPRR), including other relevant data points for wide receivers in Week 13.
Week 13 Leaderboards: Top 40 WRs (PPR)
Includes MNF
Stats included:
Fantasy Points
FPTS/Target
FPTS/Route
Snap Share
Routes Run
Route%
Targets
Targets per Route Run (TPRR)
Target Share*As always, routes/Snaps data from @PFF_NateJahnke pic.twitter.com/6y7iBXHvrz
— Scott Rinear (@MunderDifflinFF) December 3, 2024
A few important notes on the state of the wide receivers heading into Week 14.
Houston Texans wideout Tank Dell was a player I was really high on heading into 2024, but he has been a big disappointment thus far. Dell has just two top-24 WR finishes on the season and has only topped 100 yards receiving in a game once. Thus far in the year, he had a disappointing 43 receptions for 543 yards and two touchdowns. So, for the sake of transparency, it's time to take my "L" on that call.
Dell was held to just one catch for 23 yards in Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Given how high he was drafted, he's been a lineup killer pretty much all year in fantasy.
A hat tip to Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. After never having more than seven receiving touchdowns in a single season, McLaurin had two on Sunday for a total of nine on the year. Scary Terry is on pace for his best season ever, with 61 receptions for 896 yards and nine touchdowns through 13 games in 2024.
After watching McLaurin shuffle through the likes of quarterback after quarterback through his five years in Washington, he's becoming one of the league's better wide receivers, with Jayden Daniels as quarterback. It's been nice to see one of the better dudes in the NFL thriving with solid quarterback play for a change.
Watching Drake Maye struggle back there on the Patriots without any consistent wide receiver play makes my head hurt at the thought of the reality that the Patriots drafted Ja'Lynn Polk at pick No. 37 instead of Ladd McConkey at No. 34. The Patriots swapped a fifth for a fourth by moving back three spots with the Chargers, but they wound up with the wrong wide receiver instead. That one's going to sting for a while.
Top Waiver Targets for Week 14
- Isaac Guerendo, RB - San Francisco 49ers (6% rostered)
- Ameer Abdullah, RB - Las Vegas Raiders (10% rostered)
- Braelon Allen, RB - New York Jets (33% rostered)
- Russell Wilson, QB - Pittsburgh Steelers (35% rostered)
- Juwan Johnson, TE - New Orleans Saints (5% rostered)
This will be our final week of waiver pickups with the fantasy playoffs looming large. My general rule is to ride or die with your studs during the fantasy playoffs, with few exceptions. We are more so using our remaining FAAB to play keep away from our opponents than we are rushing to start unproven players. However, Guerendo is the exception as we can still trust in Kyle Shanahan.
Conclusion
Week 14 brings another brutal bye week, with six teams (Broncos, Colts, Commanders, Patriots, Ravens, and Texans) taking a seat. Staying ahead of the chaos on waivers is the name of the game, although the good news is after this week, we won't have to deal with those wretched byes anymore.
Right now is the time to keep your fantasy radar dialed in and your waiver wire strategy sharp. Whether it’s finding those sneaky flex plays or stashing key handcuffs for the postseason push, this is the stretch where preparation separates the contenders from the pretenders. Week 14 is the perfect chance to reset, reload, and make your lineup decisions count.
Thanks for riding along with me through this week’s fantasy breakdown! I’ll be here every step of the way to help you stay ahead and dominate your league. Got questions or need advice? You know where to find me on X! Let’s keep those lineups sharp and finish strong—here’s to making every matchup matter in the home stretch!
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