For many fantasy football managers, Week 14 was a pivotal moment that ultimately sealed their fate. With most semi-finals kicking off next week, plenty of teams were vying for the few remaining playoff spots.

This likely led to a rollercoaster of emotions as managers eagerly awaited the result of their matchups. Those who already clinched a playoff spot in weeks past enjoyed a much more relaxed opportunity to gather more insights and prepare for what’s to come.

It goes without saying that in a week of this magnitude, every individual performance is viewed under a microscope. Who propelled your team toward a playoff berth? Which players came up short when it mattered most? Can these players be trusted in the all-important upcoming matchups?

In what remains, I’ll address these questions and provide a level-headed assessment of the risers and fallers from Week 14.

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Fantasy Football Risers

Adam Thielen (WR – CAR)

Adam Thielen continues to defy the laws of nature, delivering consistent fantasy football production at 34 years old. Since returning from a long-term hamstring injury, the veteran has averaged 6.66 receptions and 86 receiving yards per game. As the focal point of this much-improved passing attack, Thielen is on track to be a solid fantasy contributor down the stretch.

Over the offseason, most managers wrote off Thielen’s fantasy viability. Given the struggles QB Bryce Young experienced throughout his rookie year, he seemed unlikely to support consistent wide receiver production. The addition of Xavier Legette and Diontae Johnson cast further doubt on the veteran’s ability to produce in this system.

However, Thielen and Young have always had a rock-solid rapport. At the beginning of the 2023 season, Young peppered the reliable veteran with a plethora of targets. Thielen consequently performed as the WR5 in half-PPR formats over the first five weeks of the season.

Bryce Young is currently playing the best football of his professional career and Adam Thielen is now fully healthy. With this in mind, Thielen may be poised for elite fantasy production, reminiscent of the early parts of 2023.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Thielen’s efficiency hasn’t declined over the years. His averages of 2.10 yards per route run and 3.40 yards after the catch per reception are both in line with his career averages. He’s made several crucial plays for the Panthers as of late.

Adam Thielen rescues the play on 4th & 2!

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— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

Thielen’s savvy route-running and sure-handedness remain a focal point of Dave Canales’ offensive system. As Bryce Young continues his development, he’ll heavily rely upon the veteran wideout. This volume will make Thielen an excellent Flex/WR3 fantasy start sit option, particularly in half- or full-PPR formats.

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

In the previous section, I highlighted the glaring improvements this Carolina offense has made over the past month or so. They’ve scored a minimum of 20 points in four of their past five contests and have kept pace in games against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

One of the main catalysts of this recent offensive surge has been the excellent performances from RB Chuba Hubbard. The latter has emerged as the engine of this team’s rushing attack since signing a lucrative four-year, $33.2 million contract.

Hubbard’s efficiency metrics are quite impressive. Among backs with at least 100 carries, he currently ranks ninth in rushing grade, eighth in yards after contact per carry and ninth in yards per carry (PFF). Dave Canales has a track record of putting his talented running backs in advantageous situations. Rachaad White enjoyed a career year under Canales’ stewardship in 2023. We can thus expect Hubbard’s effectiveness to persist throughout the remainder of the season.

The main concern regarding Hubbard’s long-term outlook was the looming emergence of rookie RB Jonathon Brooks. Brooks, who the team selected in the second round of the most recent NFL Draft, was a highly-touted prospect who would eventually earn touches in this backfield. Unfortunately, the rookie’s return from injured reserve (IR) was cut short after suffering a non-contact knee injury in Sunday’s contest against the Eagles. It’s worth noting that this is the same knee that kept Brooks sidelined for the majority of the 2024 season. With Brooks’ continued health concerns, Hubbard will continue to see elite volume.

Hubbard is enjoying a true breakout season. He’s earned a workhorse role and continues to make the most of these touches. He should confidently be viewed as a high-end RB2 from here on out.

Fantasy Football Fallers

Jayden Reed (WR – GB)

The Green Bay wide receiver carousel continues to be a nightmare for fantasy managers. In the Packers’ Thursday Night Football matchup against division rivals Detroit, the team’s presumed No. 1 WR was limited to one target and failed to record a reception. Jayden Reed’s lack of volume has been a concerning trend as of late, and this underwhelming performance came at a very inopportune for many managers.

Reed has now failed to surpass six targets in every game since Week 4. This lack of volume is perplexing, considering the efficiency he has displayed on limited touches. Per PFF, he averages 2.30 yards per route run and 7.4 yards after the catch per reception. Both of these metrics would suggest Reed is being criminally underused in Matt LaFleur’s system.

The issue is the crowded wide receiver room in Green Bay. The likes of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks have all contributed to this passing attack. Also effective pass-catchers in their own right are RB Josh Jacobs and TE Tucker Kraft. There are, simply put, too many mouths to feed in this offense. With this in mind, it’s hard to foresee a sudden uptick in opportunities for Reed.

Given Reed’s lack of consistent volume, he cannot be ranked in the upper echelons of fantasy football wide receivers. That said, the sophomore possesses true game-breaking ability and is liable to deliver a touchdown on any given play. Fantasy managers should view Reed as a highly volatile WR2/WR3 the rest of the way.

Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)

Deebo Samuel has had an abysmal 2024 season. The star wideout, who’s been a beloved asset in the fantasy football community, hasn’t delivered on the promise that made him a third-round draft selection. His overall lack of efficiency has coincided with a sharp decline in volume, resulting in underwhelming fantasy production.

Many expected Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending ACL injury to result in an uptick in touches for Sameul. However, Samuel hasn’t managed to capitalize on this target vacancy. Instead, the likes of George Kittle and Jauan Jennings have inherited larger roles in the 49ers’ offense. Both Kittle and Jennings have accumulated more receptions than the star wideout.

Samuel’s lack of effectiveness may have contributed to his decreased role in Shanahan’s system. According to PFF, he’s seen a sharp decline in yards per route run, receiving grade and yards after catch per reception from last year. His rushing output has been very disappointing as well. He’s currently on pace for career lows in yards per carry, yards after contact per carry and elusive rating (PFF).

Samuel can no longer be considered a mainstay in fantasy lineups. His insufficient volume greatly dampens his fantasy upside. He should be ranked as a matchup-dependent WR3 for the foreseeable future.

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