Week 14 started with a bang on Thursday Night Football in an epic showdown between divisional rivals, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, which had some huge fantasy implications.

Come Sunday, we had another explosive divisional battle between the Jets and Dolphins that also entertained big fantasy numbers.

Minnesota put up some huge fantasy numbers, but the game of the week, producing massive fantasy numbers on both sides, the highest scoring game of the season, was between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills.

So let’s break down all the excitement, and all the huge fantasy numbers for the week.

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Quarterbacks

Studs:

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills – With the Bills defense unable to stop QB Matthew Stafford and the Ram’s offense, putting them in a 17 point deficit in the 3rd quarter, Allen put the team on his shoulders and gave them an opportunity to win the game, earning yet another weekly QB1 honor. He finished the day with an impressive 342 yards passing and 3 TDs. That alone might have earned him QB1 status, but Allen also went ahead and rushed for an additional 82 yards and 3 more TDs. This might end up being the biggest fantasy day of the season, but, unfortunately for the Bills, it wasn’t enough to win the game, with a final score of 42-44.

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings – Had Allen not had the fantasy game of the season, Darnold very well may have been the QB1 for this week. He threw for 347 yards and 5 TDs, both career highs. He targeted his top 2 wideouts, who accounted for 265 yards and all 5 TDs, 19 times and helped land both of them on the WR stud list.

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals – Burrow just continues to put up big fantasy numbers, passing for 369 yards and 3 TDs on Sunday. In the past 3 games the Bengals just squandered 3 spectacular performances from Burrow and the offense, losing all 3, but this time his defense helped him out, and the Bengals were able to get the W, 27-20.

Honorable Mentions:

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles – 108 yards passing and 2 TDs; 59 yards rushing and 1 TD

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins – 331 yards passing and 2 TDs

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions – 283 yards passing and 3 TDs

Duds:

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears – After 2 really solid fantasy weeks in a row, Williams had a rookie hiccup in Santa Clara, against the 49ers, passing for only 134 yards. He was able to squeeze in 2 TDs in garbage time, both to WR Rome Odunze, but that wasn’t enough to keep him off the duds list.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs – Mahomes just hasn’t had a good fantasy season this year. The days of throwing for over 300 yards and 4 or 5 TDs every week are in the past. This week he threw for a mere 210 yards and 1 TD.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers – Game script may have played a part in this as the Lions dominated the time of possession, and the Packers had success running the ball, so why stop what’s working? None of that really matters to the Love fantasy owner, though. They just know he only passed for 206 yards and 1 TD, a very modest performance in fantasy numbers.

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Wide Receivers

Studs:

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings – Addison has been the beneficiary of defenses concentrating on the other side of the field, and for good reason, to try to contain Justin Jefferson. Although he has had some down games, this week he exploded for 3 TD grabs for the first time in his career. With 12 targets going his way, he hauled in 8 of them for 133 yards, earning the WR1 spot for the week.

Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals – 19 targets to WR’s Addison and Jefferson of the Vikings seemed like a heavy dose. Chase had almost that many (18) on his own. He was able to haul in 14 of them for 177 yards and 2 TDs, finishing a very close 2nd to Addison in non PPR leagues. He actually would be WR1 in PPR leagues, helping the Bengals get the W in Arlington, TX, 27-20.

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – Nacua was part of the the myriad of fantasy points scored in the shootout between the Rams and Bills. His contribution was 12 catches for 162 yards and 1 TD. He also scored a rushing TD, the first of his career, on a jet sweep motion play.

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings – Addison and Jefferson mark the 4th pair of WRs to both make a studs list this season. With Addison playing as well as he is, Jefferson has had some opportunities with single coverage. So what happens when he’s not double teamed every play? He hauls in a perfect 7/7 receptions for 132 yards and 2 TDs. Back to the drawing boards, NFL defenses.

Honorable Mentions:

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers – 7 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TDs

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins – 10 receptions for 115 yards and 1 TD

Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 4 receptions for 59 yards and 2 TDs

Duds:

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans – The entire Titans offense had a hard time getting things rolling. 2 field goals were the only points they were able to muster all game. Westbrook-Ikhine is a boom or bust WR, as he is heavily reliant on the deep pass. He put up solid fantasy numbers the previous 3 weeks, but he was only able to bring in 1 catch for 19 yards in this one.

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers – If you didn’t watch the game, and just saw the score, you might think Samuel had a chance to put up some nice fantasy numbers, as the 9ers beat up on the Bears, 38-13. Samuel just hasn’t had a good season this year. Fantasy or otherwise. He was only able to contribute 2 receptions for 22 yards. They even tried to get him going in the run game, but his 5 attempts only resulted in 13 yards.

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles – Brown was vocally frustrated after this one. He had the lowest target total of the season (4). Maybe he felt like he could have contributed more, but after a win, shouldn’t you be happy about that? I think Brown has himself in his fantasy league. Ha Ha! RB Saquon Barkley has become the focal point in the offense, leaving Brown feeling left out. He caught all 4 of his targets for 43 yards. Come on Philly, spread the wealth around, Brown wants to eat too!

Running Backs

Studs:

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks – Seattle’s run game didn’t miss a beat with starter Kenneth Walker III out with an ankle/calf injury. In a game the Hawks needed to stay atop of the NFC West, Charbonnet stepped in and rushed for 134 yards and 2 TDs, adding 7 receptions, on 7 targets, for 59 yards. With this kind of production, how do you bench him and go back to Walker? Will they now split duties? Not good for fantasy owners, if so.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers – I was one of the fantasy owners, in a league that matters to me, who swooped RB Jordan Mason off the waiver wire in case RB Christian McCaffrey got hurt again. Unfortunately they both got hurt in the same game, in blizzard conditions against the Bills. Now insert Guerendo, the 3rd string RB. Guerendo had gotten some carries earlier this season, while McCaffrey was out for the first 10 games, and Mason was banged up, and looked pretty good. Now the backfield was all his and he seized the opportunity. With 15 rushing opportunites, he ran for 78 yards and 2 TDs and caught 2 passes for an additional 50 yards. Guerendo left the game late with a foot injury, though. Who’s 4th in line?

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers – After scoring only 3 TDs in the first 9 games, Jacobs has now scored 3 TDs in 2 of the last 3 games. This week, against a tough Detroit run defense, he ran for 66 yards and 3 TDs, and had a receiving TD called back on a pass interference call against WR Christian Watson.

Honorable Mentions:

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 17 carries for 90 yards and 1 TD; 2 receptions for 19 yards and 1 TD

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams – 29 carries for 87 yards and 2 TDs

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals – 14 carries for 58 yards; 6 receptions for 65 yards and 1 TD

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals – 18 carries for 90 yards; 4 receptions for 32 yards and 1 TD

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons – 22 carries for 92 yards and 1 TD; (1) 2 point conversion

Duds:

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Irving left this game early tending to a hip and back injury he already had going in. It would have been better for fantasy owners had he just sat this one out. Instead, they figured he was good if he was playing, and inserted him into their line ups. He was only able to pick up 3 yards on 4 carries, and 15 yards on 1 reception, before exiting.

James Cook, Buffalo Bills – QB Josh Allen took over this game all together, including leading the team in rush attempts. Allen wasn’t about to let Cook punch it in when the Bills were near the goal line either, as he himself rushed for 3 TDs. And getting down big to the Rams, it became heavy passing scheme time, pushing Cook to the side resulting in just 6 carries for him that amounted to 20 yards gained.

D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears – Swift hasn’t really had a great game since the Bears infamous Hail Mary loss to the Commanders in week 8. This week, averaging only 2.7 yards per carry, he rushed for 38 yards on 14 carries.

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Tight Ends

Studs:

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers – Kittle earned the TE1 spot this week for the 2nd time this season, and is currently TE1 for the season as well. Not a big week for the tight end position as Kittle earned it with no TDs, but did catch all 6 targets for 151 yards.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints – Johnson hauled in 4 passes for a season high 50 yards, and 1 TD. This is Johnson’s first time on the studs list, and it will be hard for him going forward to hit the list again, as QB Derek Carr injured his wrist in the contest.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers – Last week, Freiermuth’s 6 receptions for 68 yards and 1 TD only got him on the honorable mention list. This week, his 3 receptions for 48 yards and 1 TD get him on the studs list. Go figure.

Honorable Mentions:

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins – 3 receptions for 44 yards and 1 TD

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns – 7 receptions for 42 yards and 1 TD

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers – 3 receptions for 41 yards and 1 TD

Duds:

No tight ends fit the criteria of having high enough expectations to qualify to be a dud, and had a bad enough game to be put on the list, in my opinion.

Defense/Special Teams

Studs:

San Francisco 49ers – In a must win, get right game for the 9ers, San Francisco’s defense came to play. They held the Bears to an astonishing 4 yards in the first half. They sacked QB Caleb Williams 7 times and recovered a fumble. With a big lead, they eventually gave up 13 points, but still came out on top in fantasy.

Duds:

Buffalo Bills – Part of the reason for QB Josh Allen having the huge fantasy day that he did, was because the Bills defense let the Rams get a 17 point lead and ultimately gave up 44 points in the loss. The Bills recorded no fantasy stats, which put them in the negative in fantasy point value for the day.

Thanks for checking out this week’s edition of my fantasy football studs and duds list. Hope you enjoyed it, and possibly found it useful in these last critical weeks either in playoffs or leading into playoffs. I always enjoy hearing your feedback, so please feel free to leave a message below.