With only four more weeks left in the regular NFL season, all 32 teams are in a scramble to finish with their best record.
Recent shifts made competition in the NFC even tighter. The Philadelphia Eagles will be looking to get back on track on the road facing a tough NFC competitor. Both quarterbacks in this showdown might be challenged put points on the board.
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs are sinking like quicksand. The team and its rookie running back need to step up. Will Kareem Hunt finally rebound?
Meanwhile, a new quarterback in San Francisco will look to advance his team to its third win of the year. This is when a particular wide receiver should perform at an elite level.
Based on matchups, team takeaways and giveaways, here are our stud and dud predictions for NFL Week 14.
Stud: Marquise Goodwin, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have found new life. Goodwin deserves a shout out for catching all eight of his targets for 99 yards last week working with new quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. In Week 14, we predict Goodwin tops this performance against the Houston Texans. Houston has given up 23 receiving touchdowns as well as 249.9 receiving yards on average per contest. This sets Goodwin up to build on last week’s performance when his odds of finding the end zone are extremely favorable.
Dud: Jamaal Williams, running back, Green Bay Packers
Williams is smoking hot after rushing for a total of 113 yards at a pace of 5.38 yards per carry and one touchdown his last game. But he stands to cool down in Week 14. Williams will be pitted up against a Cleveland Browns defense that has yielded a league-low 3.3 yards per attempt, and just five running back rushing touchdowns all season. Plus, Williams might need to be worried about rookie Aaron Jones. He returned to action last week and delivered an exhilarating game-winning score.
Stud: Casey Hayward, cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers
Hayward is returning from a star performance in his last game that should have his Week 14 opponents shaking in their cleats. The Chargers host the Washington Redskins when we can envision Hayward having a hand in forcing all kinds of bumbles against quarterback Kirk Cousins and Co. Wideout Jamison Crowder in particular was a mess last week. Washington turned the ball over four times, making the Dallas Cowboys defense look elite. Hayward should have no problem swooping in to continue Washington’s nightmare.
Dud: Michael Thomas, wide receiver, New Orleans Saints
Thomas has had both quiet and splashy games so far this season. In Week 14, we see Thomas taking a step back from the 70-yard, one-touchdown performance in his last game. The Saints head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons, who have allowed only one wide receiving touchdown in their last four games. Plus, cornerback Desmond Trufant will make his return. Stealing all of the touchdowns per the usual should be the Saints’ dual-headed monster at running back, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.
Stud: Matt Forte, running back, New York Jets
When faced with the right matchup, Forte thrives. He led the Jets last week with 58 rushing yards and stands to have an even better performance in Week 14. The Jets travel to Denver to face a Broncos defense that is not holding up well at all. Just last week, Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake posted 141 total yards on 26 touches, along with a rushing touchdown against Denver. Forte can do it all as far as rushing and receiving, so he too should be primed for a fantastic outing.
Dud: Carson Wentz, quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
Expectations for Wentz to throw for multiple scores in Week 14 should be tamed. Next, he will face another tough opponent in a road game at the home of the Los Angeles Rams. Over their last four games, the Rams have given up only four passing touchdowns. Wentz sputtered his last game against the Seahawks when he managed only one passing score in 29 attempts. The one touchdown was a bit humbling considering Wentz has scored at least twice per game since Week 5. Wentz’s fantasy football owners would be wise to pump the brakes.
Stud: Golden Tate, wide receiver, Detroit Lions
Tate’s numbers have been lagging as of late. He has not scored since Week 10 or tallied 100-plus receiving yards since Week 9. Hopefully, the buck stops here when the Detroit Lions head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers. In their last four games, the Bucs have given up an average of 15.25 catches and 211.5 yards to opposing wide receivers. There should be plenty of receptions and yards to go around for Tate, as well as Marvin Jones, in this receiver-friendly matchup.
Dud: Cam Newton, quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Newton was not a happy fellow after the Panthers fell to the Saints last week. And, he might not be smiling too much in Week 14 either when the Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings. First off, the Vikings are allowing just 17 points on average to their opponents. Through the air, opposing quarterbacks are completing a mere 61.2 percent of their passes. This has resulted in the Vikings giving up just 12 passing scores on the season. If cornerback Xavier Rhodes has his say, he’ll cause fits for Newton and his receivers all game long.
Stud: Alfred Morris, running back, Dallas Cowboys
The Morris train took off full steam ahead when he busted out a 127-yard, one-touchdown performance in his last game. Now, Morris gets to feast on a New York Giants run defense that just let Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch unleash his inner beast. Lynch could not be stopped when he ran for 5.94 yards per carry, adding a total of 101 yards and one touchdown this past week. Morris is finding his groove nicely with Dallas and should perform like a natural in such a favorable matchup.
Dud: Kareem Hunt, running back, Kansas City Chiefs
We are all really tired of waiting for Hunt to rebound with a speedy, high-yardage, high-scoring game. Instead, it is best to assume that Hunt will deliver another clunker in Week 14. Hunt and the Chiefs will be in desperation mode when they host their divisional rival Oakland Raiders. Likely, quarterback Alex Smith is going to have to re-load that cannon arm of his and take Sunday’s game through the air in an attempt to win. This should leave Hunt stuck in the irrelevant category once again.
Stud: Kevin Byard, safety, Tennessee Titans
Byard and the Titans will look to build on their eight wins when they travel out west to take on the Arizona Cardinals. His defense should have an advantage facing quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert had one of his classic performances last Sunday when he tossed two interceptions compared to one score. This upcoming tilt puts Byard in the perfect environment to add to his league-leading six interceptions. Plus, Gabbert has yet to produce a clean game since assuming the starting role in Week 11.
Dud: Jordan Howard, running back, Chicago Bears
Howard got stuck in the mud last week against a San Francisco 49ers run defense that he should have blazed through. This is concerning considering the 49ers have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards on the season. Unfortunately, there is not a lot to suggest that Howard is due for a rebound performance this week. Even against a Cincinnati rushing defense giving up 123.8 yards per game at 4.0 yards per attempt, it is just too risky to trust Howard.
Stud: Frank Gore, running back, Indianapolis Colts
As one of the most reliable and consistent players in the NFL, Gore is up for a better-than-average game in Week 14. He and the Colts hit the road to play the Buffalo Bills. It just so happens that the Bills have given up the most running back fantasy points in the league the last four games. They have allowed nine running back rushing touchdowns in this four-week stretch, along with staggering 151 rushing yards on average per tilt. Gore still receives the bulk share of carries, priming him for a thriving personal performance this Sunday.
Dud: Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers should find themselves challenged when the Baltimore Ravens come to town. The last time Roethlisberger faced the Ravens, he passed for just 216 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception. Big Ben looks to once again have his hands full playing a Ravens defense that leads the league with 29 takeaways. This equates to opposing teams committing an average of 2.4 turnovers per game. To make matters more difficult, opposing quarterbacks are completing just 59.1 percent of their passes against Baltimore.
Stud: Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end, Houston Texans
Clowney has stepped up his performances as of late and has tallied five sacks in his last five games. Now, the Texans host the San Francisco 49ers when a vulnerable quarterback, Jimmy Garappolo, will be at Clowney’s mercy. Garoppolo was sacked twice last week and we can imagine Clowney will be on the fast path to get at the young quarterback. Clowney currently leads the Texans with nine sacks.
Dud: David Njoku, tight end, Cleveland Browns
This rookie tight end has been catching our attention thw past two games after turning eight catches into 121 yards and one touchdown. Njoku is a reliable target for his rookie quarterback in most circumstances. Though this week, the Browns host the Green Bay Packers that have yielded only three tight end touchdowns all season. Also keep in mind, opposing tight ends are averaging only 41.4 yards per game against the Packers. Njoku should have one of his quieter games while the Browns desperately seek win No. 1.
Stud: Sterling Shepard, wide receiver, New York Giants
We like Shepard for a multitude of reasons this week when the Cowboys come to town. First, he gets a hometown matchup when his hometown quarterback Eli Manning returns under center. The enthusiasm and support for Manning’s return — at MetLife, especially — will be huge. In the midst of all the positive vibes, Shepard should receive more than the six targets he had his last game. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 17 wide receiving touchdowns. Plus, the Cowboys are giving up 23.5 receptions on average per game. Only the Titans have surrendered more.
Dud: Jared Goff, quarterback, Los Angeles Rams
Things will continue to be heated for Goff and the Rams when they host the Eagles this Sunday. Both NFC teams are fighting for top slots as Goff will face a challenging Eagles defense. Philadelphia has allowed only three passing touchdowns in its last four contests. This game should boil down to a defensive fist fight. And, we already predicted that Wentz and his offense might spin their wheels as well.
Stud: Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end, Jacksonville Jaguars
This Week 14 home matchup pairs Ngahoue and his “Sacksonville” defense against the Seattle Seahawks. What could possibly go awry here? Game after game, quarterback Russell Wilson is forever on the scramble as he tries to avoid the pass rush and yet another dreaded sack. Likely, Wilson will be running for his life once again. Ngakoue stands to add an 11th sack to his stats facing Wilson, who has endured an average of 2.3 sacks per game.
Dud: Kenny Stills, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
Stills’ yo-yo of performances throughout 12 games range all over the place. He last recorded 98 yards and one touchdown against the Denver Broncos. But Week 14 pits Stills against the New England Patriots. The Pats kept Stills bottled up in Week 12, holding him to just three catches for 47 yards. New England’s defense knows that Stills can be electric when he gets his hands on the ball. It is not likely Stills accomplishes much against a Patriots defense that has given up only two wide receiving touchdowns in its last four contests.