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FFL: Week 14 | NFL: Week 14

ESPN's Randy Moss taking leave for health reasons

Fri Dec 6 11:54am ET
Field Level Media

Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is taking an extended leave of absence from his role as an ESPN NFL analyst to focus on a "personal health challenge," the network said Friday.

Moss, 47, raised concerns on Sunday in an Instagram post in which he asked fans to pray for him and his family.

Without specifying a particular illness, Moss urged men to get bloodwork and checkups. Viewers had noticed that the whites of his eyes were visibly yellow, a potential sign of jaundice.

"I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessing hands on me and my family through these hard times. People were talking about my eyes last week," Moss said. "I'm battling something, man, and it's something internal. Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors and got a great family around me."

Moss has been part of ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" crew since 2016.

"For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating ‘Countdown' with his insight and passion," the network said in a statement. "He has ESPN's full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready."

Moss was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in 218 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

The four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including a single-season record 23 scores with the Patriots in 2007.

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The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 14

Player Notes
Breece Hall Dec 6 11:30am CT
Breece Hall

There was no sign of running back Breece Hall (knee) at the portion of practice open to the media on Friday. This is very notable after Hall was held out of practice on both Wednesday and Thursday as the team prepares to take on the division-rival Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium this Sunday. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich was optimistic earlier this week that Hall would be available in Week 14, but fantasy managers should be pretty worried at this point that he might be inactive this Sunday. Hall played through a questionable tag in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks but played a season-low 62% of the offensive snaps and finished with 12 carries for 60 yards while failing to haul in his only target in the passing game. If Hall is active on Sunday, he could once again play a smaller role in New York's backfield, giving him bust potential. Rookie Braelon Allen is worth a speculative pickup if you're desperate at the position in Week 14 with six teams on bye.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Dec 6 11:10am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Friday that quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion, shoulder) will have surgery to fix a sprained AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. However, Lawrence must first clear the league's concussion protocol before surgery is scheduled. The former first overall pick out of Clemson suffered a scary concussion in the Week 13 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans and was placed on Injured Reserve. Although Lawrence would be eligible to return in the Week 18 regular-season finale, the Jaguars are shutting him down for the season and will have him undergo surgery on his shoulder. The 25-year-old should be fully ready for the start of the 2025 season next fall, but after a very disappointing 2024 campaign, Lawrence will probably go undrafted next year in standard 12-team, one-QB fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Dec 6 11:00am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll told assembled media that rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (hip flexor) will not practice on Friday ahead of the Giants' game against New Orleans. The rookie from LSU missing Friday's practice is not a positive development, so it will be worth checking to see how the Giants designate him on the official injury report. At 2-10, the Giants' year is already lost, though Nabers has been by far their best player and a reliable fantasy option. Against a similarly bad Saints defense, Nabers is a high-end WR2, but he'll have to be healthy enough to play first.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Dec 6 10:50am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (hip/back) returned to practice on Friday, according to a report from Fox Sports' Greg Auman. The rookie from Oregon has been in stellar form recently, compiling 313 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 12 catches in his past three games, but he did not practice either Wednesday or Thursday as Tampa prepares for Las Vegas in Week 14. Fantasy managers will have to keep on eye on the injury report to see if Irving will be ready for a decent matchup against the Raiders. If available, Irving's play lately has moved him into RB1 territory as the fantasy playoffs approach.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Dec 6 10:40am CT
Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield (Achilles/knee) is once again practicing on Friday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The former No. 1 overall pick also registered full practices the two prior days, so it stands to reason that he will be good to go for Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even better for Mayfield, his top target in receiver Mike Evans (hamstring/calf) and running back Bucky Irving (hip/back) both returned to practice after missing the two prior days. Mayfield has been a steal this year in fantasy and should remain a nice starting option again in a plus matchup against the struggling Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Dec 6 10:30am CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring/calf) returned to practice on Friday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. It's good news for Tampa and fantasy managers rostering Evans, who did not practice either Wednesday or Thursday. The veteran receiver has been excellent when healthy, and is coming off a dominant day against the Carolina Panthers in which he turned 12 targets into eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers will have to wait for the injury report to make sure Evans is good to go against Las Vegas in Week 14, but he's a No. 1 receiver when available.

From RotoBaller

Jake Bates Dec 6 10:00am CT
Jake Bates

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates converted both of his field-goal attempts and all four extra points in the team's 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night. Bates' performance included a 43-yard kick and a clutch 35-yard game-winner, showcasing his reliability in high-pressure situations. The Lions' offense continues to provide plenty of scoring opportunities for Bates, who has now connected on 21 of 22 field-goal attempts and 48 of 49 extra points this season. With at least eight fantasy points in 10 games this year, Bates remains one of the most consistent fantasy kickers heading into Week 15's matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 6 9:50am CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught five of his six targets for 43 yards and added a 10-yard rush in the team's 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. St. Brown tied for third in receiving yards in the high-scoring contest but continued a quieter stretch of games, having now totaled 16 receptions for 178 yards without a touchdown over the past three weeks. Despite the dip in production, he remains a must-start option in all fantasy formats due to his consistent involvement in Detroit's offense. Fantasy managers will hope for a stronger showing in Week 15 when the Lions host the Buffalo Bills. St. Brown remains a focal point of the offense and will look to reestablish himself as a top-tier fantasy WR.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Dec 6 9:50am CT
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught five of his seven targets for 54 yards in a 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night in Week 14. LaPorta finished second on the team in receiving, continuing his recent surge in production. After a largely underwhelming season, the veteran tight end seems to be finding his rhythm, recording double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back games for the first time this year. With three touchdowns and two games of at least 54 yards over his past four contests, LaPorta has worked his way back into the low-end TE1 conversation. He'll look to stay productive as the Lions host the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Dec 6 9:50am CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught five of his eight targets for 80 yards in a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night in Week 14. Williams led the Lions in receiving yards, showing his big-play potential in Detroit's high-powered offense. Despite catching five passes in each of his last three games, Williams has not found the end zone during this stretch, slightly capping his fantasy value. His output has been unpredictable at times this season, but his ability to produce big-yardage plays makes him a WR3 with upside for Week 15 as Detroit hosts the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Tim Patrick Dec 6 9:20am CT
Tim Patrick

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick scored his first two touchdowns of the season on Thursday night to help the team to a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers. The former Denver Bronco finished the game with six receptions for 43 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets. This was the second two-touchdown performance of his career, the last one happened in Week 13 of the 2020 season. It was also his first touchdown since Week 15 of 2021. Patrick and company will take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 6 9:10am CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs found paydirt on Thursday during the 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers. The "Sonic" half of the backfield duo hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to end the first half and give Detroit a ten-point lead. He went on to finish the game with 15 carries for 43 yards and six receptions for 30 yards and a score. Gibbs couldn't find as much open space as David Montgomery in this game, but the touchdown provided a nice fantasy scoring boost. He'll go up against a vulnerable run defense in the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 and look to find some more running room.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Dec 6 9:00am CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw the ball 41 times and allowed six different pass catchers to haul in at least five receptions each during the 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The veteran signal-caller finished the game with 283 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception on 32-for-41 throwing while adding four carries for seven yards on the ground. Two of his scores went to Tim Patrick which were his first two of the season. Goff will look to push this win streak to 12 against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Dec 6 9:00am CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery found the end zone again on Thursday during the three-point win over the Green Bay Packers. The red zone and goal line carries came in handy yet again as the bruiser back scored on a three-yard run to cap off the game's first drive. He finished with 14 carries for 51 yards to lead the backfield while chipping in with five receptions for 33 yards on five targets. The running back duo in Detroit has provided some big value as they both scored in this one. They'll look to share the wealth again in Week 15 against a red-hot Buffalo Bills squad.

From RotoBaller

Theo Johnson Dec 6 8:50am CT
Theo Johnson

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (foot) underwent a season-ending surgery to address the foot injury he suffered on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys. According to Art Stapleton, the issue was a fifth metatarsal fracture and not a Lisfranc injury. This means the rookie finishes his first season with 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown on 43 targets through 12 appearances. There hasn't been a confirmed timetable for his return yet. That means Daniel Bellinger will be the starter to finish out the season.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Dec 6 12:00am CT
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft continued his fine fantasy season as he got into the end zone in the Packers' 34-31 loss to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions in Week 14. Kraft caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Love in the third quarter; his only touchdown pass of the night. With only 20 passing attempts, there wasn't much volume to be had by the Packers' pass-catchers, but Kraft reeled 3-of-5 targets for 41 yards. Next up for the Packers is a date with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 where Kraft should be considered a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Dec 6 12:00am CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks was solid but unspectacular in the Packers' 34-31 loss to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions in Week 14. Wicks had extended playing time thanks to Romeo Doubs (concussion) being ruled out and was moderately productive, bringing in 4-of-5 targets for 49 receiving yards. Two of his receptions in back-to-back plays of 28 and 12 yards directly led to great field position where the Packers eventually settled for a game-tying field goal. The Packers will head west to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in Week 15 and if Doubs remains out, Wicks will be a low-end flex option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Dec 5 11:50pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson posted his second 100-yard game in the last four contests as the Packers lost 34-31 to the Detroit Lions. Watson led the Packers with seven targets and caught four passes for 114 yards, pacing the Packers on the receiving end of things. After losing a fumble at the end of the first quarter, Watson made a few long catches, including a 59-yard reception in the third quarter. With Romeo Doubs (concussion) out for Week 14, Watson got some extended playing time and took advantage with a big game on not a ton of volume. Depending on the health of Doubs, Watson will once again be a boom-or-bust fantasy flex when the Packers head west to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 15.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Dec 5 11:40pm CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs provided most of the Packers' scoring as he was a massive part of the Packers' game plan in their eventual 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions. Jacobs was solid on the ground, piling up 66 yards on the ground on 18 rushing attempts, but he scored three times to highlight Jacobs' stellar performance. Pacing the Packers' offense as the closer to three of their four touchdown drives, Jacobs plunged in a one-yard score in the second quarter, a six-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and a four-yard plunge. Jacobs almost had a fourth touchdown through the air as well, if not for an offensive pass interference penalty. Week 14 was Jacobs' second three-touchdown game in the last three games, so Jacobs is clearly a must-start fantasy option at running back heading into Week 15's tilt against the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Dec 5 11:30pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was a bit of a disappointment in the Packers' 34-31 last-second loss to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions in Week 14. Love only had 20 pass attempts, completing 12-of-20 pass attempts for 206 yards and a single touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft in the beginning of the third quarter. On the ground, Love also added 23 yards on the ground, most of that coming from an eight-yard scramble in the first drive and then a 14-yard scramble in the second quarter. Without much in the way of passing volume, it would have taken extreme efficiency for Love to thrive from a fantasy perspective. He'll look to improve in Week 15, where he and the Packers will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. Consider Love a back-end fantasy QB1 for that matchup.

From RotoBaller