Guest of the League
Makers Mark Est. 2019
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 14 | NFL: Week 14

NFL releases list of Walter Payton Award nominees

Thu Dec 5 11:08am ET
Field Level Media

The NFL introduced the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the highest honor given to a player in the league, on Thursday.

Nominees are players who both excel on the field and provide a "positive impact beyond the game," according to the league.

"The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award celebrates Walter's enduring legacy of excellence on the field and compassion off it," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a news release. "This award is the league's most prestigious honor, and we are proud to recognize these 32 outstanding men for the positive impact they make in their communities every day."

The award will be presented Feb. 6 during the NFL Honors ceremony. The winner will receive a donation of up to $265,000 to a charity of his choice. The others will receive up to $55,000 for their causes.

Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers won the 2023 award.

The nominees, by team, are:

Arizona Cardinals, Trey McBride

Atlanta Falcons, Grady Jarrett

Baltimore Ravens, Roquan Smith

Buffalo Bills, Dion Dawkins

Carolina Panthers, Adam Thielen

Chicago Bears, Andrew Billings

Cincinnati Bengals, Orlando Brown Jr.

Cleveland Browns, Denzel Ward

Dallas Cowboys, Zack Martin

Denver Broncos, Alex Singleton

Detroit Lions, Jared Goff

Green Bay Packers, Kenny Clark

Houston Texans, Jalen Pitre

Indianapolis Colts, Kenny Moore II

Jacksonville Jaguars, Arik Armstead

Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce

Las Vegas Raiders, Maxx Crosby

Los Angeles Chargers, Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles Rams, Kyren Williams

Miami Dolphins, Alec Ingold

Minnesota Vikings, C.J. Ham

New England Patriots, Deatrich Wise Jr.

New Orleans Saints, Cameron Jordan

New York Giants, Darius Slayton

New York Jets, Solomon Thomas

Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Graham

Pittsburgh Steelers, Larry Ogunjobi

San Francisco 49ers, Curtis Robinson

Seattle Seahawks, Uchenna Nwosu

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mike Evans

Tennessee Titans, Jeffery Simmons

Washington Commanders, Bobby Wagner

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 14

Player Notes
Dane Cruikshank Dec 5 1:13am CT
Dane Cruikshank

The Atlanta Falcons re-signed free-agent S Dane Cruikshank to the practice squad on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

From TheHuddle

Diontae Johnson Dec 5 12:13am CT
Diontae Johnson

Dynasty | Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Dynasty Analysis: Ouch. It seems Johnson was asked to enter this week's game and politely declined. Clearly unhappy with his role after being traded from Carolina, Johnson is seemingly waving the white flag on his season and moving forward. He has just one catch on five targets in four games played after being acquired by Baltimore as this mid-season acquistiion has clearly gone haywire. At this point, Johnson is likely to serve his suspension, then the rest of the year on the Baltimore bench. His dynasty value is crumbling, but at least he'll be a free agent this off-season and the chances of him re-signing with the Ravens are near zero.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Trevor Lawrence Dec 5 12:13am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Dynasty | The Jaguars have placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence on IR. Dynasty Analysis: Lawrence suffered a concussion on an unnecessary hit last week in the game against Houston and it looks like his season is over. He'll also reportedly need surgery to repair the damage to his AC joint, an injury that happened earlier in the season. It's unfair to say Lawrence is breaking down, but it is fair to say his future is murky. The "next big thing" at quarterback now has just 69 touchdowns and 46 interceptions through his 60 career games and the injuries are starting to pile on. Considering he'll likely again have a new Head Coach and offense, Lawrence is looking a lot more like a QB2 than a QB1 in dynasty leagues at this point and his dynasty value will likely slide this off-season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jake Ferguson Dec 4 11:50pm CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) is making progress from his head injury and took part in the team's unofficial walkthrough practice on Wednesday as they prepare for their Monday night battle against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14. The Cowboys won't release their first official injury report for the week until Thursday, but it's a good sign that the 25-year-old is back on the field in any capacity after missing the last two games due to a concussion he suffered in the Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans. He'll need to completely pass through the league's concussion protocol and be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play on Monday night, though, so Ferguson's Week 14 status remains up in the air, which makes life difficult for his fantasy managers. With Ferguson out the last two games, Luke Schoonmaker has stepped up with eight catches for 88 yards and a score on 10 targets.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 4 9:53pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown's 76 receptions rank fourth in the NFL, and he has yet to drop a pass this season.

Fantasy Spin: St. Brown is averaging a somewhat pedestrian 10.8 yards per reception, but he is tied for second in the league with nine touchdown catches. While more yardage would be nice, St. Brown still offers a WR2 floor with WR1 upside, especially in PPR formats.

From TheHuddle

Saquon Barkley Dec 4 9:33pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with 6.1 yards per carry, and his 32 carries of 10 or more yards also rank first in the league.

From TheHuddle

Derrick Henry Dec 4 9:23pm CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry's 600 yards after first contact rank first in the NFL, and he has 145 more than the second-best player.

Fantasy Spin: The move to Baltimore has revitalized Henry, and he currently ranks second in the league in rushing yards and first in rushing scores. Henry has found the end zone in 11 straight games, and he has five games with more than 130 rushing yards. The only bad news for fantasy owners is that Baltimore is on bye in Week 14.

From TheHuddle

Corey Ballentine Dec 4 9:00pm CT
Corey Ballentine

Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) will miss his third straight outing in Week 14 when his team lines up against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. The seventh-year veteran picked up a knee ailment back in Week 9 that he's battled through since then. He was able to log limited sessions on Monday and Tuesday but was downgraded to a DNP on Wednesday before ultimately being ruled out for the matchup. Defensive back Carrington Valentine projects to continue filling in for the 27-year-old stalwart while he's shelved. With teammate Corey Ballentine (knee) also deemed out, the Pack will be a bit short in their defensive backfield for the divisional clash.

From RotoBaller

Denzel Perryman Dec 4 8:53pm CT
Denzel Perryman

Los Angeles Chargers LB Denzel Perryman (groin) is hopeful to return against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, following a two-game absence.

From TheHuddle

Tommy DeVito Dec 4 8:50pm CT
Tommy DeVito

According to head coach Brian Daboll, New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (forearm) will be the team's backup quarterback if healthy. Pat Leonard of the team reported the news. Per Daboll, DeVito "may be ready." New York is approaching their Week 14 contest against the New Orleans Saints with signal-caller Drew Lock as the team's QB1. As noted by the coach, it will be Lock's first full week of prep as the starter. With little upside surrounding the Giants' QB situation, fantasy managers should steer clear of it for now. Presently, the 26-year-old is little more than waiver-wire fodder in 2QB and superflex formats, while Lock is a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Bub Means Dec 4 8:40pm CT
Bub Means

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) was a limited participant in his return to practice. The rookie wideout made his first appearance at practice since injuring his ankle in Week 8's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It's a step in the right direction for the 23-year-old, who has a chance to be activated from injured reserve if he can enhance his practice status over the next few days. For now, New Orleans will continue to deploy Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin Austin Jr., and Cedrick Wilson Jr. as their top three pass-catchers. It's unclear which of those three wideouts will have their playing time cut upon Means' return, though MVS and Austin Jr. project to be the most likely.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Butker Dec 4 8:30pm CT
Harrison Butker

Matt Derrick of the team reports that according to head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (knee) could return to action in Week 15. It's excellent timing for the Chiefs, who just put kicker Spencer Shrader (hamstring) on injured reserve and had Matthew Wright taking kicks against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13. While Butker is still on IR and won't make an appearance for this weekend's outing against the Las Angeles Chargers, it does appear he could be able to return when he's eligible in Week 15. Fortunately, Wright and Shrader have been serviceable in the 29-year-old's stead. However, Kansas City could undoubtedly use their top leg back for the season's final stretch.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is coming off a Thanksgiving night where he caught two touchdowns, and he'll look to keep that run going as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. Reed has been a volatile fantasy asset all season and his utilization has been sporadic too. One week, he's used almost exclusively at the line of scrimmage, the next week he's a deep threat. It's frustrating as a fantasy manager, but despite that, Reed has still been the most stable of the Packers' wide receivers in terms of fantasy scoring. The Lions are in the bottom-half of the NFL in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, so if I was going to hang my hat on the Packers' receiver on Thursday Night Football, it's Reed. He should be in fantasy lineups as a low-end WR2 with upside in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft will have his work cut out for him in Week 14 as the Packers travel to Detroit to take on the division-leading Lions. Kraft has been a solidly producing fantasy tight end for much of the season and returned top-12 value at the position last week with a 6-78 line against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Up next are the Detroit Lions, who help Kraft in check in Week 9, to the tune of just four receptions for 34 yards. The Lions have given up the fewest fantasy points per game to the tight end position this season. If you're starting Kraft in fantasy lineups this week, you're hoping for a touchdown as a high-end streaming option.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Dec 4 8:20pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has a golden opportunity to produce in Week 14 as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. Wicks saw plenty of action in the Packers' home win against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night, where he earned five targets. He saw that action after Romeo Doubs (concussion) left the game and Doubs has been ruled out for this Thursday's game. On a per-route basis, Wicks has fallen off last season as he's caught just 21-of-50 targets on the season. With six teams on bye, Wicks could find his way into fantasy lineups as a low-end desperation flex in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Jake Bates Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Jake Bates

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates will aim to continue his strong season as the team takes on the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football. Bates contributed nine points during Detroit's 23-20 Thanksgiving win over the Bears, converting three of four field goals while missing his first attempt of the season from 45 yards out. Despite the blemish, Bates remains one of the most consistent kickers in the league, going 19-for-20 on field goals and 44-for-45 on PATs through 12 games. The Lions' offense is the highest-scoring in the NFL, and continue to provide Bates with ample opportunities. Fantasy managers can confidently keep him in lineups. Bates is a safe, high-floor option against Green Bay.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has two multiple-touchdown games in a row over his last two weeks and looks to make it three in a divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Love has picked up his production after a lull in Weeks 8 and 9; a Week 9 where he faced the Lions at home and had his second-worst fantasy performance of the season. Detroit has given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position, and Love will have his work cut out for him in this second matchup. With Romeo Doubs (concussion) ruled out, Love will be down a receiving weapon on Thursday night, but should still be considered a borderline fantasy QB1 for this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 4 8:10pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been all over the map this season in terms of fantasy production, but he'll look to put his stamp on Thursday Night Football as the Packers head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions. Watson's range of outcomes could be overall WR1, WR100, or anywhere in between. The main rub with Watson has been consistency, as he put up his best fantasy performance of the season in Week 11 with a 4-150 receiving line. He followed that up with 0.4 fantasy points in Week 12, then met in the middle as fantasy's WR52 against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night. With Romeo Doubs (concussion) ruled out, Watson should be on the field much more, but he's still a boom-or-bust flex option for fantasy managers, even with six teams on bye in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Dec 4 8:00pm CT
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta will remain a focal point in Jared Goff's passing attack as the Lions gear up for a Thursday night showdown with the Packers in Week 14. LaPorta is coming off a mixed outing against Chicago, where he turned three receptions into just six yards but salvaged his fantasy value with two touchdowns. While his yardage production has dipped this seasonaveraging 35.5 yards per game compared to 52.3 as a rookieLaPorta's red-zone presence keeps him relevant in fantasy. Green Bay presents a favorable matchup for tight ends, allowing the sixth-most receptions and yards per game to the position. This could be the perfect opportunity for LaPorta to build on his 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Dec 4 7:50pm CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams aims to bounce back from a quiet Thanksgiving performance as Detroit hosts the Packers in Week 14. Despite seven targets against Chicago, Williams managed only 28 yards on five catches, marking just his third game this season with fewer than 50 yards. However, his consistent involvement in the passing gameseeing six or more targets in three consecutive weeksis a positive sign for fantasy managers. Additionally, Williams contributed 18 yards on two rushing attempts, showcasing his versatility. The Packers' defense has been stingy against wide receivers, allowing the eighth-fewest receptions and seventh-fewest receiving yards per game. However, Williams' growing role in Detroit's high-powered offense could provide him with opportunities to shine in this crucial NFC North battle.

From RotoBaller