NFL Reactions: Week 14

It's been 14 weeks of a fantasy season. You've made it all this way. You've put in the hours doing research, scouring the stats, attacking matchups, all to get a leg up on your competition on your way to the fantasy playoffs. You've pulled off victories in Monday night nail-biters that seemed to take a year off your life. You've also scored the second-most points in your league in a given week just to lose to that week's highest scorer. Fantasy football is an amazing game, and though we can ride the emotional waves our team may bring, it is meant to be fun.

What's not fun is when you've set yourself up for success for 14 weeks, are heading to the playoffs and your star signal caller has a chance to miss that playoff run.

Sure, Lamar Jackson hasn't been himself lately, but it's Lamar Jackson. The Ravens will figure it out as they make a playoff push of their own … right?

There's a chance we may never know after he injured his right ankle Sunday and left in a walking boot. However, if there's one thing I've learned from fantasy, it's that waiting around to see what will happen is not a winning strategy. 

After continuously refreshing Twitter to find any sort of uplifting news about Jackson, I realized that my time was better spent preparing for the worst. I opened up my fantasy app, and went straight to the free-agent pool. None of the names truly stood out, but there was one that caught my eye a bit: Jimmy Garoppolo. Welcome to the team, Jimmy G.

If Jackson misses the fantasy playoffs, Garoppolo has a chance to be a solid replacement and help me achieve the ultimate goal — a championship. His playoff schedule is an absolute dream: Atlanta, Tennessee and Houston. It doesn't get much better than that. Not to mention, his pass catchers are hitting their stride in recent weeks. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have been great, and George Kittle's last two games are a reminder of the type of game-changer he is. 

Don't get me wrong. I'd much rather have Jackson's upside and rushing ability in a survive-and-advance scenario, but there's a good chance that's just not in the cards. That said, Garoppolo could be the answer for anyone struggling with what to do next if they are without Jackson. 

If you've made it this far and are in the playoffs, a new season begins now. I know this is common coach-speak in the NFL, but fantasy managers should treat each week as a one-game season. Now's the time to do whatever we can to advance. For some like myself, that means possibly starting Jimmy Garoppolo over Lamar Jackson in the playoffs.

Sunday Takeaways

• Rashaad Penny rewarded fantasy managers who had the courage to start the fourth-year running back. Penny carried 16 times for 137 yards and long touchdown runs of 32 and 47 yards. Adrian Peterson and Travis Homer were out with injuries and Alex Collins (16 yards on seven carries) is still working back from a groin injury, but if Penny can keep the hot hand, it might be his backfield to lose.
• D'Onta Foreman led the Titans' rushing attack in a shutout of the Jaguars, rushing a team-high 13 times for 47 yards and a score. While no back can fill Derrick Henry's shoes as he continues to miss games, Foreman seems to be the preferred option in Tennessee to see the majority of touches. The Titans get a Week 15 matchup against the Steelers, who have been gashed by running backs in recent weeks, including a 205-yard performance to Dalvin Cook on Thursday.
• Taysom Hill threw for just 175 yards and no touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Jets, but he still helped some fantasy squads win their week with his performance on the ground. Hill rushed 11 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns, doing more than enough to save his fantasy day. Fantasy managers can feel safe with his rushing floor to make him a viable start in the fantasy playoffs.
• Alvin Kamara had a great day in his return from injury, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown, while also adding four catches for 25 yards. His 27 attempts on the ground should provide confidence that he is healthy following his knee injury. With Taysom Hill leading the offense, there is always a chance that Kamara could cede some goal-line work to the quarterback. But as Sunday proved, there's enough to go around for both.
• With Tony Pollard (foot) sidelined against Washington, many fantasy managers expected a big day for Ezekiel Elliott. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition, as Elliott's 12 rushes were one fewer than Corey Clement, likely due to Elliot's lingering knee injury. The Cowboys have a favorable matchup Week 15 against the Giants, but starting Elliott has been a painful proposition lately.
• Tyler Lockett had one of those vintage games he's known for, catching five balls for 142 yards and a touchdown. Russell Wilson struggled in his return from his finger injury but has gotten closer to normal the last couple weeks. Lockett's score was a beautiful 55-yard touchdown pass from Wilson. Meanwhile, DK Metcalf continues to underwhelm, catching just four balls for 43 yards. Lockett is the preferred fantasy option while Metcalf continues to sink fantasy teams.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire's two-touchdown performance is a promising sight as we approach the fantasy playoffs. The running back is being used in scoring position, and the Chiefs' offense might be starting to get things figured out. With favorable matchups down the stretch, Edwards-Helaire has a chance to come up big when it counts.
• Both Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams had their way with the Lions' defense in a blowout victory. Gordon rushed 24 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams carried 15 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. The rookie also hit paydirt on a 10-yard reception. The backfield split has caused fantasy headaches this season, but games against the Bengals, Raiders and Chargers present good matchups, and it's possible that Gordon and Williams both do damage in those games.
• San Francisco won an overtime thriller against the Bengals, and they are an intriguing team in fantasy. Deebo Samuel is basically becoming a running back, rushing eight times for 37 yards and a touchdown, while catching his only target for 22 yards. Brandon Aiyuk caught six of 11 targets for 62 yards and the game-winning touchdown, finally reaching his potential this season. George Kittle's 13 receptions for 151 yards and a score made for his second consecutive week-winning type of performance. Jimmy Garoppolo has one of the best quarterback schedules for the fantasy playoffs, so prepare for big things.
• The silver lining to the Bengals' heartbreaking loss is that Ja'Marr Chase returned to form. The rookie wideout cooled in recent weeks after a hot start to the season, but he got back into the flames with five catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot, so expect quarterback Joe Burrow to continue to air it out and look for Chase for his big-play ability.

Injury Notes

• The severity of the Lamar Jackson's injury is unclear, and the team is unsure if he has a high- or low-ankle sprain. The former would keep Jackson out for some time. Either way, Jackson's availability for Week 15 against the Packers is certainly in jeopardy. Tyler Huntley is the backup, and Baltimore's offense will suffer without Jackson.
• Kareem Hunt exited Sunday's win over the Ravens with an ankle injury. Hunt is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. If he misses time, D'Ernest Johnson would be the most likely candidate for added work as the team's No. 2 running back behind Nick Chubb.
• Terry McLaurin suffered a concussion in a loss to the Cowboys. If McLaurin doesn't go Week 15 against Philadelphia, choosing a Washington receiver to trust will be a difficult undertaking.
• Taylor Heinicke left the loss to the Cowboys in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. The severity of the injury is unknown, but if he is sidelined, Kyle Allen would be the next man up as Washington's signal caller.
• Rex Burkhead was forced out of the Texans' loss to the Seahawks with a groin injury. Houston's depth at running back was already thin with both David Johnson and Jaylen Samuels on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so Royce Freeman was the only back available after Burkhead's exit. If Burkhead is out, Johnson and Freeman likely would handle the majority of carries against a struggling Jaguars defense in Week 15. If they're not ready and Burkhead is out, Royce Freeman would be the only running back left.
• Austin Ekeler exited in the third quarter of the Chargers' win over the Giants with an ankle injury. After the game, coach Brandon Staley said Ekeler could have returned, but the Chargers had a big lead in the game. In his absence, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley split touches. While it looks good for Ekeler, the Chargers have a short week playing Thursday.