Week 14 Sleeper Fantasy Football Picks - Snap Counts, Targets, Usage Analysis

December 6, 2023

Joey analyzes 5 sleeper fantasy football picks for Week 14 based on recent increases in snap counts and usage. Should I start these fantasy football sleepers?

This is it. Week 14 is here, which means this is the final week of the fantasy football regular season for most leagues. Most fantasy managers are in must-win territory with the playoffs starting in Week 15. It's an important weekend for all fantasy managers, especially those fighting for a bye week.

It's crazy to think about all the time and effort you have put into your fantasy lineups this year, and the end is near. But this is the final push, and RotoBaller will have you covered extensively until the end of the year.

This article will look at which players saw their snap count or usage increase or decrease in Week 13. This could be a useful tool to help make lineup decisions in Week 14 easier. So, let's dive in and see which players make the list.

Surprisingly High Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts: 94% snap share 

Those fantasy managers who played Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss in Week 13 are likely disappointed with his production. He finished with just 7.7 PPR fantasy points and was the RB27 on the week. But, despite the rough fantasy performance, there are plenty of positives from Moss moving forward. 

For starters, Moss saw 94% of the Colts' offensive snaps, playing 67-of-71 possible snaps in the contest. Without Jonathan Taylor (thumb) in the lineup, the 25-year-old back continues to see elite snap usage. In four games with Taylor out, Moss is on average playing 87.9% of the team's offensive snaps.

On top of that, Moss saw 19 carries in the game, his most since Week 5. He ran 19 times for 51 yards while also catching two passes for six yards in the game. The elite usage and snap share are great signs for the 25-year-old moving forward, and he remains a strong RB1. He averages 23.25 touches in four games without Taylor this season. 

WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: 11 catches for 149 yards

Entering Week 13, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase's fantasy value was the lowest it has ever been over his three-year career. Quarterback Joe Burrow was out for the season, and Chase just wasn't going to see the same type of volume with Jake Browning under center. After all, the 23-year-old wideout had just four catches for 81 yards two weeks ago. 

The 12.1 PPR fantasy points in Week 12 was a solid outing for Chase. But fantasy managers likely knew the monster 30-point fantasy days would be extremely hard to come by. However, if you held onto the Bengals wideout and didn't trade him at the fantasy trade deadline, you were rewarded big time in Week 13.

Chase totaled 11 catches for 149 yards and one touchdown on an impressive 12 targets. It was evident early in the game that Cincinnati wanted to get the ball into his hands. They were throwing easy screens to him and getting him involved in any way possible. Even with Browning at quarterback, he has WR1 potential and should continue to start every single week on your fantasy team. 

RB Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots: 69% snap share

Things were looking bleak for New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott in fantasy, and most managers likely dropped him. Leading up to Week 13, he saw his snap share decrease in three straight games and hadn't scored a rushing touchdown since Week 7. 

Now Elliott should be the number one waiver wire priority this week with Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) likely to miss several weeks. Stevenson left Sunday's game early in the contest, and it was the veteran who saw almost all of the running back touches and snaps. 

Elliott played a season-high 69% of the snaps while totaling a season-high 22 touches on 92 yards in the game. This New England offense has its problems, but the volume will be there for the 28-year-old back. Last week, he played 44 snaps, and only Ty Montgomery II (3 snaps) saw any other running back snaps on the team. 

Other Players To Note: 

• LAR Kyren Williams (94% snap share)
• ARI James Conner (76% snap share with Arizona controlling the game) 

Surprisingly Low Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers: 57% snap share, 14 carries for 18 yards 

If you roster Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler in fantasy, there have been plenty of headaches this year. That sadly continued in Week 13. Ekeler played just 57% of the Chargers' offensive snaps last week, while backup Joshua Kelly played 43% of the snaps. 

It's surely been a disappointing season for Ekeler. He is averaging just 14.3 fantasy points per game and has missed three contests this season with an ankle injury. The age (28) and his high-ankle sprain could be a large reason for his down year. In Week 13, he rushed 14 times for only 18 yards.

On top of his low snap share last week, Ekeler had just two catches for nine yards on three targets. He has been a fantasy PPR monster over the past couple of seasons due to his pass-catching abilities. However, he has now seen just three targets in two of the past three games. You have to continue to start him in fantasy, though, his value is definitely declining.

WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers: three catches for 25 yards

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is another player that continues to disappoint in fantasy. After a hot start to the year, Thielen has not been able to replicate that success. Unfortunately, in Week 13, the veteran could not flip the switch. 

He finished with just three catches for 25 yards on six targets. It was a matchup that could get Thielen going, especially against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that struggles mightily in the secondary. The Buccaneers have also had a hard time guarding slot receivers in 2023. 

However, for the second straight week, Thielen couldn’t do anything. Over the past two games, the veteran has only four catches for 27 yards. During that same span, he has seen just nine targets. He doesn’t see high volume anymore and is no longer a must-start in fantasy.

Other Players To Note: 

• PHI D'Andre Swift (42% snap share, lowest since Week 1)
• CLE David Njoku (two catches with Joe Flacco under center)

More Fantasy Football Analysis