The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 14: Tough matchups can ruin playoff plans

This past week proved that in fantasy football bad matchups and poor circumstances can ruin the best of lineups We opined last week that you might want to sit two NFL greats Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson Resumes aside we thought fantasy mavens couldn t count on them to produce in Week Jackson wound up going touchdown free barely completing half of his passes Jefferson did even worse a two-catch four-yard meeting in his greater part ineffective performance since Pony League We re just one week from the three-week fantasy playoff run Here are guys whose matchups in Weeks - are far less than optimal Breece Hall Jets RB He managed only his third rushing touchdown last week And with Jaguars Saints and Patriots coming up he ll have to work really hard to add his fourth FOXBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER Breece Hall of the New York Jets is pursued by Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots during the second half of a championship at Gillette Stadium on November in Foxborough Massachusetts Photo by Jaiden Tripi Getty Images R J Harvey Broncos RB Denver rookie looked great at times last Sunday night but he has three tough run defenses ahead in Packers Jaguars and Chiefs LANDOVER MARYLAND - NOVEMBER RJ Harvey of the Denver Broncos scores a rushing touchdown against the Washington Commanders during overtime at Northwest Stadium on November in Landover Maryland Photo by Patrick Smith Getty Images Rico Dowdle Panthers RB He s losing touches to teammate Chuba Hubbard lately and neither will thrive in upcoming games against the Saints Bucs and Seahawks SANTA CLARA CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER Rico Dowdle of the Carolina Panthers is tackled by Jordan Elliott of the San Francisco ers in the first quarter of the challenge at Levi's Stadium on November in Santa Clara California Photo by Jed Jacobsohn Getty Images Jaylen Warren Steelers RB Another back sharing too much work with a teammate Kenneth Gainwell And the run defenses of Dolphins Lions and Browns are all above average PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER Jaylen Warren of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Photo by Justin Berl Getty Images Xavier Worthy Chiefs WR Easy tournament against Titans is sandwiched by games with Chargers and Broncos It s also obvious now he s clearly behind Rashee Rice in the pecking order ORCHARD PARK NEW YORK - NOVEMBER Maxwell Hairston of the Buffalo Bills intercepts a pass intended for Xavier Worthy of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter in the contest at Highmark Stadium on November in Orchard Park New York Photo by Jason Miller Getty Images Rome Odunze Bears QB Sophomore has only one TD catch in his past eight games and Bears next three foes Browns Packers ers will make QB Caleb Williams sweat PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER Rome Odunze of the Chicago Bears runs out of bounds after a catch against Sydney Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the contest at Lincoln Financial Field on November in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Photo by Emilee Chinn Getty Images Dalton Kincaid Bills TE Has only nine catches in three games since returning from injury and Buffalo has three tough defenses ahead in Patriots Browns and Eagles ORCHARD PARK NEW YORK - OCTOBER Dalton Kincaid of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch and is tackled by Craig Woodson of the New England Patriots in the third quarter of the tournament at Highmark Stadium on October in Orchard Park New York Photo by Timothy T Ludwig Getty Images Sam Darnold Seahawks QB Former Viking has cooled off over the past month and his next three are against Colts Rams who just intercepted him four times and Panthers SEATTLE WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball while being hit by Dallas Turner of the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a championship at Lumen Field on November in Seattle Washington Photo by Steph Chambers Getty Images Caleb Williams Bears QB As alluded to earlier the Chicago sophomore will have his newfound proficiency tested by three of the NFL s better defenses Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reacts during an NFL football challenge against the Philadelphia Eagles Friday Nov in Philadelphia AP Photo Chris Szagola Jared Goff Lions QB Detroit requirements him to step up in order to claim a playoff berth and with the next three against the Rams Steelers and Vikings it s not a certainty he will Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football encounter in Detroit Thursday Nov AP Photo David Dermer Sitting stars Don t count on Chicago RBs D Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai repeating their Black Friday magic against the Packers tough defense Same goes for Chargers RB Kimani Vidal against a bruised Eagles D Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty has almost no blocking to speak of and will have another long day against Denver Tua Tagovailoa will continue to disappoint against the Jets defense and that will make WR Jaylen Waddle almost unstartable Baltimore s Lamar Jackson is again an iffy QB choice versus Pittsburgh And two quarterbacks we expect to be mostly kept in check are Arizona s Jacoby Brissett against the Rams and yes the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes against Houston s top-shelf defense Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift in action during an NFL football meeting against the Philadelphia Eagles Friday Nov in Philadelphia AP Photo Chris Szagola Matchup competition Someone is going to thrive for Cleveland this week against - Tennessee It won t be Shedeur Sanders It very likely will be RB Quinshon Judkins The Lions will need to run roughshod through Dallas and Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will Tampa Bay RB Bucky Irving looked strong in his return from injury and will post strong numbers versus New Orleans Vikings have little choice but to rely on RB Jordan Mason against Washington Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba was mostly quiet against the Vikings but he ll rebound facing that Atlanta defense Two receivers that will stay hot are Houston s Nico Collins against the Chiefs and Jacksonville s Jakobi Meyers versus the Colts And the Bills defense better be ready because Cincy quarterback Joe Burrow is BACK Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins runs the ball against the San Francisco ers during an NFL football tournament Sunday Nov in Cleveland Photo by Jeff Haynes AP Images for Panini Injury watch Couple of big injuries over the long weekend Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand and it remains to be seen if he will miss time Detroit star wideout Amon-Ra St Brown sprained his ankle early on Thanksgiving and he s considered week to week for the suddenly desperate Lions Players considered questionable include four running backs Vikings Aaron Jones New Orleans Alvin Kamara Arizona s Trey Benson and the Chargers Omarion Hampton and four pass catchers Dallas George Pickens Atlanta s Drake London Arizona s Marvin Harrison Jr and Cincinnati s Tee Higgins Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football meeting against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday Nov in Inglewood Calif AP Photo William Liang Deepest sleeper Sleepers don t get any deeper than Atlanta receiver David Sills V the only NFL player we re aware of who rocks the V in his name He has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past two games in which former Viking Kirk Cousins has started at quarterback for the Falcons So he s hot Those are also his only two scores since arriving in the league with the Giants If you put your faith in him making it three straight you re a braver fantasy maven than I Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V celebrates hios touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football encounter Sunday Nov in East Rutherford N J AP Photo Seth Wenig The Thursday pick Cowboys at Lions - Pick Lions by Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs pulls away from Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine during the first half an NFL football championship in Detroit Thursday Nov AP Photo Paul Sancya You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere s BS Show podcast on iTunes You can follow Kevin on X theloopnow He can be reached at kcusick pioneerpress com Related Articles The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves The Loop NFL Picks Week The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves The Loop NFL Picks Week The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week Last-minute moves