Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season is underway after the Lions defeated the Cowboys on Thursday night time. Now, let’s take a look at what that you must know for the remaining 13 video games on the slate. Now we have last-minute nuggets to know.
First, analytics author Seth Walder breaks down three stat tendencies that could possibly be pivotal this weekend. Then, fantasy author Eric Moody highlights 5 gamers who’re rostered in lower than 50% of ESPN leagues as of Saturday and could possibly be began in a jam. That is adopted by NFL analyst Ben Solak’s three potential surprises, NFL analyst Matt Bowen’s key matchup to look at and sports activities betting analyst Pamela Maldonado’s favourite guess for Week 14. We additionally requested our NFL Nation reporters to reply questions on attention-grabbing QB conditions across the league.
The place do the Steelers have a transparent benefit over the Ravens? Does Jets huge receiver Adonai Mitchell have fantasy upside towards the Dolphins? Will the Offensive Participant of the 12 months race get determined this week? How will the Bears attempt to get previous the Packers’ protection? Will offense be restricted within the Commanders-Vikings matchup? What is the newest on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s left hand damage? We dig into all of it.
Bounce to:
Stat tendencies | Fantasy sleepers
Potential surprises | Key matchup
Wager of the week | QB questions
Walder: Three key stat tendencies that might decide Week 14 winners
Will the Broncos’ go rush be an excessive amount of for Raiders quarterback Geno Smith?
The Broncos are on tempo to tie the single-season group sack document (72). There may be arguably no higher matchup for them to maneuver forward of that tempo than a sport towards the Raiders.
Smith has taken sacks at a ten.6% price, the very best amongst all QBR-qualifying quarterbacks this season. And with Denver as stable favorites in Las Vegas, the Broncos ought to drive Smith into loads of determined passing conditions. Denver, which ranks fourth in go rush win price (42.8%), sacked Smith six occasions in Week 10.
Will Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. be capable to restrict Seahawks huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
This can be a No. 1 vs. No. 1 matchup of kinds. Smith-Njigba, even after his least productive sport of the season (23 yards versus the Vikings), is averaging 4.3 yards per route run this season. That not solely leads all gamers in 2025, however it additionally leads all gamers in any season since at the least 2007.
Terrell can also be quietly placing up distinctive numbers this season. He has allowed 0.5 yards per protection snap, lowest amongst all outdoors cornerbacks with at the least 200 protection snaps. His success comes primarily by way of goal deterrence — maybe why his robust season hasn’t acquired a ton of consideration. His 9% goal price can also be lowest amongst that very same set of cornerbacks. Although Terrell will not all the time be on Smith-Njigba, their snaps towards one another could possibly be important Sunday.
Might fumbles be the important thing to victory for a Steelers upset over the Ravens?
The playoff leverage for this sport is huge. The Ravens have a 75% likelihood to succeed in the playoffs with a win however only a 31% likelihood with a loss, per ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. It is a comparable story for Pittsburgh — 64% and 19%, respectively.
The Ravens are favored going into the competition, however the Steelers have the sting in a single high-leverage space: fumbles. No group has compelled fumbles at the next price this season than the Steelers (on 2.0% of defensive performs). And the Ravens have been notably prone to fumbling, doing so on the second-highest price within the league (2.8% of the time on offense). If Pittsburgh can proceed that pattern in Week 14, that might even the enjoying subject.
Moody: 5 fantasy sleepers that you must decide up — and may begin this week
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (38.3% rostered)
For the reason that Jaguars’ bye, Lawrence has scored at the least 17 fantasy factors in three of his previous 5 video games. He is surrounded by playmakers, resembling Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Brenton Unusual. In the meantime, the Colts’ secondary has allowed the eighth-most receiving yards per sport to huge receivers this season. Lawrence is a stable choice for managers determined at quarterback in Week 14.
Brenton Unusual, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (33.9% rostered)
Unusual’s snaps, routes run and targets all trended up up to now two video games. That is encouraging, as he has come again from a hip damage, which compelled him onto injured reserve. Unusual has scored at the least 13 fantasy factors in back-to-back video games and recorded his first landing of the season towards the Titans in Week 13. He faces a Colts protection that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy factors per sport to tight ends.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets (28.2% rostered)
Mitchell completed with a season-high 12 targets and 102 receiving yards in Week 13 towards the Falcons. Since getting traded to New York, his goal share has grown every week. The Dolphins have restricted opposing huge receivers to the fewest fantasy factors per sport, however they have been extra susceptible on a per-play foundation, permitting the very best completion share and seventh-highest yards per go try.
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Why Area Yates sees fantasy upside for Adonai Mitchell in Week 14
Area Yates explains why he sees fantasy upside in Jets WR Adonai Mitchell for Week 14 vs. the Dolphins.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders (28.0% rostered)
Rodriguez had at the least 11 touches and 9 fantasy factors in three of his previous 4 video games. He scored a landing in three of these outings. The Commanders’ backfield stays a committee, however Rodriguez appears to be like just like the chief towards Minnesota. The Vikings’ protection has additionally allowed the Tenth-most speeding yards per sport, placing him in a positive spot for Week 14.
Devaughn Vele, WR, New Orleans Saints (7.7% rostered)
For the reason that Saints moved on from huge receivers Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, Vele’s function has exploded. His route participation has jumped considerably, and he has turned 15 targets over the previous two video games into 130 yards and a landing. With New Orleans out of playoff rivalry, it is smart for the Saints to lean on their younger expertise. Vele faces a Buccaneers protection that has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards per sport to huge receivers.
Solak: Do not be stunned if …
The Broncos have their huge loss
The Rams had been 9.5-point favorites when the Panthers shocked them final week, serving as reminder that any group can lose at any time within the NFL. The Broncos are 7.5-point favorites in Las Vegas, enjoying a Raiders group that matched up properly towards them within the first assembly. Denver can also be on a shorter week, coming off an time beyond regulation sport Sunday night time. This one would possibly get ugly.
Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett breaks the single-season sack document
Garrett is simply 4 sacks from surpassing the single-season mark of twenty-two.5, attained by Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021). Garrett will get a house matchup towards rookie Cam Ward, some of the sacked quarterbacks within the NFL. This could be a uncommon occasion during which the Browns nurse a second-half lead, and Garrett actually will get an opportunity to go on a tear.
Offensive Participant of the 12 months will get determined this week
Seahawks huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Colts working again Jonathan Taylor are in a useless warmth for the award. Smith-Njigba will get a Falcons protection that simply gave up 100 receiving yards to Adonai Mitchell and the Jets, and he’s coming off a career-worst sport — count on JSN to get early and massive manufacturing. Taylor is in a must-win divisional sport towards a suspect Jags run protection — count on him to get 25-plus touches. Both of them goes for 150 yards and two touchdowns this week.
Bowen: Key matchup to look at
The Bears’ 12 personnel run sport vs. the Packers’ defensive entrance
We should always see a gentle use of 12 personnel — one working again, two tight ends and two huge receivers — from the Bears to create run sport manufacturing Sunday. Coach Ben Johnson’s offense has run the ball 133 occasions out of 12 personnel this season, fourth most within the league. The Bears like to make use of their tight ends to win the sides, whereas additionally producing bottom cutback lanes on distinctive “wham” blocks. Plus, Johnson will get his tight ends in movement earlier than the snap to provide them higher blocking angles.
Nonetheless, the Bears may have a problem opening lanes for working backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. The Packers’ protection has allowed 3.9 yards per carry this season, which is tied for fifth greatest within the NFL.
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Orlovsky to McAfee: Bears’ go sport nonetheless leaves loads to be desired
Dan Orlovsky tells Pat McAfee that Caleb Williams has improved however that the Bears’ passing sport nonetheless leaves loads to be desired.
Maldonado: My favourite guess for Week 14
UNDER 42.5 factors in Washington Commanders at Minnesota Vikings
Each offenses are caught behind their limitations. Washington’s QB state of affairs retains the ceiling low, as Jayden Daniels is making his first begin since dislocating his left elbow Nov. 9. The Commanders transfer the ball properly however not often end drives, and the Vikings quietly rank third in pink zone landing price allowed (48.6%).
Minnesota’s offense is an excellent larger drag. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is anticipated to return, however he has been the least environment friendly signal-caller within the league in each significant metric. Each groups ought to lean one-dimensional, throwing hundreds however not producing sustained effectivity.
NFL Nation: QB questions
How shut is Caleb Williams to unlocking his full potential within the Bears’ passing sport?
Williams believes the Bears are “so shut” to unlocking the passing sport. He pointed to a number of examples from the win in Philadelphia, the place his receivers had been in the precise spot on the proper time and slipped as a consequence of subject circumstances or there was a miscommunication between himself and his main goal. When Ben Johnson mentioned Chicago is successful video games “regardless of our passing sport, not due to it,” he is proper, however it’s not simply Williams who has to repair these points.
The important thing to getting the passing assault on monitor is route depth and ball placement. Williams mentioned he must be clear together with his footwork, and when he strikes by way of the ideas, he ought to make sure that his drop is true and his passes hit receivers in stride. — Courtney Cronin, Bears reporter
Has Trevor Lawrence discovered his go-to receiver in Jakobi Meyers, and what has made their connection so robust so rapidly?
It is simpler to let Lawrence clarify it. Right here he’s Nov. 19, after enjoying simply two video games with Meyers: “I like throwing to him. He is simply a straightforward man to throw to from a quarterback perspective. It is form of onerous to explain generally, simply the way in which he strikes, it appears very clear what he’s going to do. So, that is one thing I actually like.”
That is a great distance of claiming he trusts Meyers. The stats bear that out: 18 catches on a team-high 21 targets since Meyers was acquired Nov. 4. The Jaguars had a league-high 19 drops within the eight video games earlier than Meyers was acquired however have simply 5 within the 4 video games since then. — Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter
What is the newest on Justin Herbert and if he’ll play with a left hand fracture?
Regardless of having surgical procedure on his left hand 4 days in the past, nobody within the group seems involved about Herbert lacking Monday’s sport towards the Eagles. Herbert practiced Thursday with a forged, throwing passes and catching snaps as regular, although gripping the ball together with his left hand nonetheless seems to be a problem. After his damage towards the Raiders, the Chargers operated solely from the shotgun and pistol, a plan anticipated to proceed Monday. If the Chargers want an under-center snap, they are going to seemingly flip to backup quarterback Trey Lance. — Kris Rhim, Chargers reporter