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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Kevin Erickson

Fantasy Football: Key utilization stats to know from Week 14

We’re well into December, and that means we’ve come to a critical juncture. The regular season for most fantasy leagues ended in Week 14, or will likely end in Week 15. So, a lot of you might be departing now, and if so, thank you for reading. If you’re into the playoffs, and sticking around to read, congrats.

Nothing is worse than hearing about a fantasy league you’re not in, but indulge me for a minute. In my big-money league, which has been together since the 1990’s, I ended up losing Stefon Diggs and Chris Olave to long-term injury, while enduring long spurts without Harrison Butker, Jordan Love, Christian Kirk and Tua Tagovailoa. Thank goodness for Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson and … Chris Boswell? I lost a tiebreaker for the final wild-card spot, but with all of the carnage, it was almost a crazy run to the playoffs.

Everybody has those crazy stories, and it’s how you work the waiver wire to either make or break your season. Adding Tucker Kraft, Jakobi Meyers, Adam Thielen and, yes, Boswell, kept my team afloat.

I hope you’re still plugging along and preparing for a deep run for your league’s trophy and bag.

Las Vegas Raiders offense

Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders are well out of it, sitting at 2-11. It’s nearly the night before Christmas, and all through The Strip, plenty of creatures were stirring, dropping money on a trip. The Raiders are done, and most people don’t care, because St. Shedeur and Deion might soon be there!

Thank you, thank you! I guess there is probably not a residency anytime in my future.

For now, the offense is a mess. Gardner Minshew is long since gone to injury. Aidan O’Connell took the reins, but he was carted off and wearing an air cast this past week. Deemed a bone bruise, he hasn’t necessarily been ruled out, but it looks like Desmond Ridder will get a chance to face his old team, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 15.

Whoever the QB is will likely have RB Sincere McCormick in the backfield. McCormick ran 15 times for 78 yards at Tampa Bay Sunday, totaling 89 scrimmage yards on 17 total touches.

Head coach Antonio Pierce seems to like the former UTSA Roadrunners standout, and the team might give McCormick a long look down the stretch to see if he has a place on the team’s plans for 2025. He could be a RB3 or flex fantasy option if he continues to start.

The team also is giving TE Michael Mayer some run, either to see if he fits in for 2025, or he can build some potential trade value as he won’t be an unrestricted free agent until 2027. Mayer topped the team with 68 yards on seven receptions, just edging Brock Bowers for the team lead by a yard.

With Bowers in the mix now, Mayer could be traded for a player to fill a multitude of needs. For this season, though, Mayer could have some TE2 value down the stretch.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers

Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Well, WR Mike Evans is back, and we all know what he can do. However, what’s the haps behind him?

In Week 14, veteran Sterling Shepard managed four receptions for 63 yards on six targets, just edging out rookie Jalen McMillan with four grabs for 59 yards. Yet, McMillan had one more target, and he was able to produce his first two-touchdown game in the NFL.

This will be an interesting battle down the stretch. Here is the deal, though. Shepard is 31 years old, and he was picked in Round 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. McMillan was taken in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bucs, so you know who has the brighter future on the Suncoast.

For our purposes in fantasy, if McMillan is able to continue earning the trust of QB Baker Mayfield, he could end the season as WR3 or flex fantasy option. Despite his two-score game, we should pump the brakes. Heading into Week 15 he and the Bucs are on the road, facing a lockdown Los Angeles Chargers defense, so it’s an unfavorable matchup.

Seattle Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet

Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

What to do. What to do.

Charbonnet was amazing in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, going for a career-high 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries while adding seven receptions for 59 yards on seven targets. He had a highlight-reel, 51-yard touchdown near the end of the second quarter, which really took the wind of the sails of the Cardinals.

This is a team that still has RB Kenneth Walker III, who has been dealing with an ankle and calf injury. In Week 12 against Arizona, he had just 41 rushing yards and 2.6 yards per attempt, while getting tackled behind the line of scrimmage four times. He tried playing in Week 13 against the Jets, and it was a similar story, going for 3.1 yards per run. KW3 is averaged 3.7 yards per attempt this season, and he hasn’t had more than four yards per attempt in a game since Oct. 20. He has just one score in the past five games since that game, too.

Walker is getting tests done to figure out if he can make it back for Week 15. Charbonnet fantasy managers hope not.

The Seahawks face the Green Bay Packers in Week 15 on Sunday Night Football in front of the 12s. If Charbonnet gets the nod, he’ll be up against a Packers D allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Hmm.

San Francisco 49ers RB situation

Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Man, that snow game in Buffalo killed the San Francisco 49ers. Not only did they lose Christian McCaffrey to a season-ending PCL injury, but Jordan Mason joined him with a season-ending ankle injury.

That’s okay, though, as Isaac Guerendo looked like CMC Jr. against the Chicago Bears in Week 14. He rushed 15 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two receptions for 50 yards on his two targets. Guerendo is an RB1, right?

Well, he left in the fourth quarter due to a foot injury. Was he held out as a precaution as the Niners were so far ahead at the time? Patrick Taylor was next man up, going for a touchdown in garbage time.

As far as Guerendo, it doesn’t help that the 49ers have a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. With estimated practice report Monday, he was listed as a non-participant, so fantasy managers who blew their FAAB budgets last week continue to hold their collective breath.

Taylor would be the guy to add this week if Guerendo can’t go Tuesday in practice, or he is limited. Get that insurance immediately. Israel Abanikanda has NFL experience and could see time if Guerendo is out, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn had a pair of carries against the Bears, too, going for just four yards.

Hopefully Guerendo can make it back, but Taylor might be a fit for your team in Week 15 as a RB3 or flex fantasy option if not.

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