Week 14 is here! Typically, this is the final week of the fantasy football regular season. Thankfully, it’s also the final week for bye weeks. It’s so unfortunate that the NFL still has bye weeks this late in the season, it seems to make perfect sense to wrap them up before Thanksgiving week, and then have 16 games per week the rest of the way. That would open up fantasy football leagues to have more unique and dynamic playoff format, like two-week matchups, but alas we’re stuck with this schedule (for now) and have to play it out like this. So, for one last week of the regular season, the Patriots, Giants, 49ers, and Panthers all have the week off.

It’s a critical week for fantasy football managers, but it’s also an important week for many NFL teams as well. This week’s schedule is jam-packed with games with major playoff implications, kicking off tonight when the Cowboys visit the Lions in a nearly must-win matchup for both sides. The degradation of the Lions’ offense has been fascinating to watch this season, with Ben Johnson moving on to division rival (and number one seed in the NFC) Chicago. The run game clearly does not have the same juice that it’s had in years past, and Jared Goff isn’t the type of QB who can carry an offense with his arm alone. Jahmyr Gibbs is still a dominant fantasy option, RB3 in total scoring through 13 weeks, but he’s had more dud games than we’re used to from the fantasy superstar.

The playoff implications don’t end tonight, with Sunday’s slate loaded with important matchups as well. CIN @ BUF, IND @ JAX, and PIT @ BAL all include teams fighting for their playoff lives on the AFC bubble. Meanwhile, Chicago @ Green Bay in the evening slate will determine the NFC North leader heading into the final four weeks of the season. Finally, on Sunday Night Football, the red-hot Texans have a chance to essentially eliminate Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs from playoff contention.

The big injury we’re following this week is the injury to Justin Herbert’s non-throwing hand, which required surgery on Monday afternoon. Herbert has a chance to make it back for Monday Night’s matchup against the Eagles, but it’ll depend on how much he practices heading into the weekend. If he can’t go, dynasty bust Trey Lance will be under center for LA. The Chargers may also get rookie running back Omarion Hampton back this week, but Kimani Vidal has been stellar in his absence. If Hampton can return this week, I expect a committee backfield with him and Vidal.

Good luck this week, newsletter-reader. Whether you’ve clinched your playoff spot, are playing for a bye, need a win to get in or even if you’re hoping to lose for the number one pick, DLF is here to get your team ready for the weeks ahead! Check out the DLF Expert Rankings to see where your players stand according to our experts. You can also plug your league into the My DLF League Sync Tool where you can see your rosters, all of your leaguemates’ rosters, available players on the waiver wire, and scores for all of the rosters. If you have some holes in your starting lineup, open up the rankings and you’ll easily be able to find the best available players for you to pick up. League sync also works for the Trade Analyzer Tool, if your league hasn’t passed its trade deadline yet. The playoffs are approaching, so win the week with the advanced, analytical tools available at DLF!

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The age cliff for a running back often comes out of nowhere and hits like a brick wall. One season, they can be setting records and winning fantasy leagues. The next, they can fade away with their fantasy value going with them. Hopefully, for Saquon Barkley managers, we are not at that point yet. But, with only two top-ten PPR finishes this season (week one and week eight), managers should be concerned that Barkley’s best years are behind him. Let’s dive into the player value and see if he’s worth buying low, or moving on from, in the upcoming fantasy football off-season. 

Barkley was a top-ten dynasty pick at points this past off-season, a massive price to pay for a seventh-year running back, entering his age 28 season, and coming off a season with 436 total rushing attempts. For a dynasty running back to be a first round pick in startups, there needs to be no red flags on their profile. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but it’s a lesson to be learned for dynasty drafters in the future (maybe let Jonathan Taylor fall to the second round in startups next year). His ADP has dipped all the way down to 35 overall, the 12th running back off the board. The DLF Expert Rankings are higher on him, at 25th overall and RB7 off the board. 

When there is such a massive disparity between the ADP and the experts, that’s a flashing neon light to buy low on that player. The vibes for Barkley and the Eagles offense are horrible, but the underlying numbers aren’t that bad. He’s still the RB13 in PPR scoring and he’s still heavily involved in the passing game. It’s clear the offense has taken a step back with the transition from Kellen Moore to Kevin Patullo, and Super Bowl hangovers are nothing to shake a stick at. Barkley has a great schedule of matchups down the stretch, and the Eagles are still in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot. I expect them to lean on Barkley the rest of the way and get him going before a critical playoff run. But, if he continues to struggle, he’ll be a great buy-low piece in the fantasy football off-season, despite going into his age 29 season.

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5 RUNNING BACKS LOSING VALUE

The dynasty landscape moves fast, and at no position is it more evident than at running back. Runners absorb punishment each and every week, wearing them down over the course of a season and the course of a career. It is why young workhorse backs are so valued in the dynasty market, as they provide a unique advantage compared to many of their peers.

I personally feel age can be a tad overrated when it comes to running backs. It can be utilized as a tiebreaker, though running back is a volatile position and value can be had from investing in steady veterans. The shelf life is so short you scoop up all the production you can.

Running backs can hit a wall in a hurry, and it is important to identify trends that indicate the dip is coming. It is an imperfect process of course, especially as players extend their careers with better training and medical science. Using DLF’s ADP for November, I will look at eight players losing value and what the future may hold.

Kaleb Johnson, PIT

After a monster junior season at Iowa, Kaleb Johnson went to the Steelers with the 83rd overall pick in April’s draft. It looked like a hand-in-glove fit, with Johnson joining Arthur Smith’s run scheme, teaming with Jaylen Warren to give Pittsburgh a strong tandem.

The Steelers have formed a committee, though it has been veteran Kenneth Gainwell mixing in while Johnson has been fairly well planted to the bench. He has 24 carries for 61 yards and a single reception for nine yards and has failed to earn more work as the season has progressed.

In single quarterback formats, Kaleb Johnson was getting first-round hype right after the draft. He nestled in at 11th overall in May ADP. Fast forward to November, and Johnson is slotting in at 107th overall and RB34, a far cry from his summer status and possibly even overly optimistic given what we have seen thus far.

It is too early to throw in the towel on Johnson, and perhaps something clicks in year two. The early results have the hallmarks of a bust, however, and Johnson is merely a bench stash or throw-in as part of bigger trades.

Chuba Hubbard, RB CAR