De’Von Achane leads Dolphins as they hold off Saints

Sun Nov 30 4:30pm ET
Field Level Media

De'Von Achane rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown, Riley Patterson kicked four field goals, and the host Miami Dolphins won their third straight game by holding off the New Orleans Saints 21-17 on Sunday afternoon.

Achane scored on a 29-yard run on the first possession of the game, and the Dolphins (5-7) never relinquished the lead despite a shaky performance by Tua Tagovailoa, who completed 12 of 23 passes for 157 yards, with an interception.

Rookie Tyler Shough passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints (2-10).

On the first possession of the second half, the Saints drove 65 yards, the last 17 of which came on a touchdown pass from Shough to Chris Olave. Shough ran for a two-point conversion, New Orleans pulled to 16-8, and the score stayed that way through the end of the third quarter.

Patterson kicked a 33-yard field goal to increase the lead to 19-8 with 9:39 remaining. Charlie Smyth made a 56-yard field goal on his first attempt in a regular-season game to get the Saints back within eight points with 6:08 left.

New Orleans got the ball back at its 45 when it stopped Ollie Gordon II for a 1-yard loss and fourth down with 3:05 left.

Shough threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele with 1:17 left, giving the Saints a chance to tie with a two-point conversion. After a false-start penalty, Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a Shough pass and returned it all the way for two points.

Vele recovered an onside kick and the Saints reached the Miami 36, but Shough was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 with 29 seconds left.

The Dolphins received the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards in six plays, the last of which was Achane's 29-yard TD run, and the 7-0 lead held up through the end of the first quarter.

Miami increased the lead to 10-0 when Patterson kicked a 39-yard field on the fourth play of the second quarter. Patterson added a 25-yard field goal, and after Rasul Douglas intercepted Shough, Patterson kicked a 48-yarder as time expired, giving the Dolphins a 16-0 lead.

The Dolphins outgained the Saints 298-294, but the visitors had the edge in first downs 20-16.

Vele led all pass catchers with eight receptions for 93 yards.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 14

Player Notes
Isaac TeSlaa Dec 5 10:30am CT
Isaac TeSlaa

Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa recorded two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown on three targets in his team's 44-30 Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. While the 23-year-old has just eight receptions on the season, four of them have come in the end zone, including two in the last two weeks. TeSlaa has seen extended playing time thanks to the absence of Lions wideout Kalif Raymond (ankle), who has missed two straight games with an ankle injury. Raymond's return timeline is uncertain, but his return would almost certainly cut into TeSlaa's chances in the future. Still, Detroit may continue to utilize TeSlaa as a big-body threat in the red zone with tight ends Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck) on Injured Reserve. Fantasy managers interested in TeSlaa should monitor Raymond's injury status heading into Detroit's Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Dec 5 10:30am CT
RJ Harvey

When asked on Wednesday about running back RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton hinted that the rookie has not yet been fully unleashed and has a "rare running skill set." "There's that saying, 'You haven't seen anything yet,'" Payton noted to reporters. The 24-year-old has kept his fantasy value afloat with touchdowns while finding little room to work on the ground. Fortunately, Harvey has carved out a decent role in the passing game, picking up at least three targets in all but four outings. Payton's insinuation suggests the rookie is set to take off like a rocket ship, but he'll need to improve his efficiency as a rusher before that becomes a reality. Even with all that said, Harvey's workload has remained steady, and he has the athletic profile to be a successful NFL and fantasy asset. Look for him to continue improving this Sunday in a road clash with the Raiders. He's a high-end RB2 for that outing.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Dec 5 10:20am CT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in a position to bounce back in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. After being the most consistent player in fantasy through his first 11 games, JSN finally came back down to Earth in Week 13. He logged just two receptions for 23 yards. These types of games happen relatively often for wide receivers. Week 13 was also a very strange game for Seattle. Quarterback Sam Darnold was relatively ineffective, but the Vikings' offense was completely inept. Seattle ultimately kicked a lot of field goals and scored on defense, which propelled them to victory. Although Smith-Njigba's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 is not ideal, he has proven to be matchup-proof in just about every game this year. Darnold's play should improve. It cannot get much worse than it has been over the last few weeks. Even with Darnold playing poorly, JSN has still managed to produce in fantasy. Start Smith-Njigba as a top-five option once again in Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Dec 5 10:20am CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a riskier option in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the Falcons' terrible record, they have been solid against the pass this season. Darnold himself has hit a serious skid over the last several weeks. He has only cracked double-digit fantasy points once in the last four weeks. The recent run of bad games has been primarily caused by a plethora of turnovers and a lack of touchdown passes to make up for them. Darnold's 10 interceptions and five fumbles lost are already one turnover shy of his total from 2024. The Seahawks should have plenty of success running against the Falcons, which may be a better game plan for the team while Darnold works through his struggles. Of course, the Seahawks have great offensive potential, and Darnold could get back on track in any given week. There are some desperate fantasy managers out there with the Patriots and Giants on bye this week. Darnold is a risky play with an extremely low floor, but with a solid ceiling as well.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Dec 5 10:20am CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was listed as questionable to play entering his team's Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys after missing practice all week with a low ankle sprain. However, the 26-year-old gritted through the injury and provided a solid performance, hauling in six catches for 92 yards on nine targets. Even while almost certainly playing at less than 100%, St. Brown proved he can still be a reliable pass-catcher. With the Lions playing on Thursday night, he'll now have a few extra days of rest before Detroit's Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday. Across 13 games this season, St. Brown has hauled in 81 receptions for 976 yards and nine touchdowns on 117 targets. As long as he comes out of Week 14 healthy enough to keep playing, St. Brown profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Dec 5 10:00am CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson went off in a two-game stretch across Weeks 11 and 12, recording 25 catches for 303 yards on 33 targets. Wilson's production was buoyed by the absence of Cardinals WR1 Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel), who missed those games after undergoing an appendectomy. Harrison Jr. returned to the field in Week 13, and Wilson recorded just three catches for 36 yards on seven targets. However, Harrison Jr. has yet to practice this week heading into the team's Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams due to a heel injury. If Harrison Jr. goes back on the shelf, Wilson could re-emerge as Arizona's lead wide receiver. The Cardinals are averaging 48.6 pass attempts per game over the last three weeks, so Wilson could be a good bet to see double-digit targets and profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver for as long as Harrison Jr. is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Dec 5 9:50am CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. has been one of the most consistently productive backs in the NFL so far this season, recording 1,016 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games. The 26-year-old has recorded at least 15 touches in 10 out of 12 contests and scored four touchdowns over the last four weeks. Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten has played a role as the team's RB2 and looked like he might be pushing Etienne Jr. for playing time when he recorded 15 carries in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, in the two weeks since that game, Etienne Jr. has out-touched Tuten 31 to 16 and out-snapped him 71 to 31. Etienne Jr. appears to still have a firm grasp on the RB1 role in Jacksonville and profiles as a high-end fantasy RB2 heading into a Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Dec 5 9:40am CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (calf) got off to a slow start to the 2025 season, averaging just 50.6 scrimmage yards per game over his first six contests. However, the 25-year-old has taken off ever since Week 7, topping 100 scrimmage yards in each of his last six games. Over the last three weeks in particular, Brown is averaging 22.3 touches and 123.3 scrimmage yards per game. Finding the end zone remains a struggle for Brown, as he's scored just two touchdowns on the season. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow back in the fold and Cincinnati's offense as a whole trending upward, Brown should have more red zone chances in the coming weeks. It's worth noting that Brown is listed on the Bengals' injury report with a calf injury heading into the team's Week 14 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, but he's been a full practice participant and appears likely to play. As long as Brown is on the field, he profiles as a must-start fantasy running back.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Dec 5 9:30am CT
Kareem Hunt

Across 12 games this season, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has recorded 629 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 144 touches. While the 30-year-old's season-long numbers don't jump off the page, Hunt's work in recent weeks is more notable. He's earned double-digit touches in five straight games and scored five touchdowns in that span. Hunt saw a boost in playing time throughout November due to a knee injury to fellow Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. Still, in Pacheco's first game back in Week 13, Hunt remained the clear lead rusher and out-touched Pacheco 15 to five. Even if Kansas City works towards a more even split between the two backs as Pacheco gets healthier, Hunt has proven to be the team's trusted option at the goal-line. Hunt has earned 34 red zone snaps so far this season, compared to just 15 for Pacheco. Hunt profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2 heading into Kansas City's Week 14 matchup against the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Dec 5 9:20am CT
Jacoby Brissett

Since taking over for the injured Kyler Murray (foot) in Week 6, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been consistently productive. Across seven starts, the 32-year-old has completed 67.8% of his pass attempts for 2,188 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Brissett has thrown for at least 250 yards in every start and topped 300 yards passing in three straight games heading into his Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona's pass-happy approach buoys Brissett's production. He's averaging 43 pass attempts per start overall and 48.6 per game over the last three weeks. Arizona figures to be chasing points once again on Sunday against the Rams, which could lead to another high-volume day for Brissett. Additionally, Murray's return timeline remains murky, as the team has not yet opened his 21-day Injured Reserve activation window. Brissett profiles as a low-end fantasy QB1 for as long as he remains the starter in Arizona.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Dec 5 9:10am CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had a fantastic Week 13 with 82 receiving yards on eight targets, and is looking to continue that production in Week 14 against the Seattle Seahawks, who have been vulnerable to the tight end position, allowing the fifth most fantasy points to tight ends. What's most encouraging for Pitts is that his targets went up in Week 13 to eight, compared to the last three games, where he only saw a combined 13 targets. With Kirk Cousins now under center for the second straight week in Week 13 and more acclimated to the offense, the rapport between Pitts and Cousins showed in Week 13. The last time Cousins played two games in a row was in 2024, before Michael Penix Jr. took over as the team's QB1 in Week 16 of that season. Based on the trend and matchup, Pitts' stock is on the rise heading into the final weeks of the fantasy football season. Rotoballer ranks him as the TE7 for Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Dec 5 9:00am CT
Treylon Burks

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks had a spectacular grab in Week 13 on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos, where he "Mossed" the defensive cornerback and delivered a highlight reel that now puts him on the radar for fantasy football. Although the catch was spectacular, Burks still has quite a bit to prove: he hauled in only one of his four receptions in that game, played only 66 percent of the snaps, and has yet to have a game with more than 58 receiving yards. Additionally, the Commanders are getting healthy at the wide receiver position, as Terry McLaurin played in Week 14 and looked really good, earning 14 targets and catching seven of them for 96 yards and a touchdown. The former first-round pick in 2022 (Burks) should continue to see his opportunities increase as he settles into the offense, but from a fantasy perspective, he should remain on the waiver wire in re-draft formats.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Dec 5 8:40am CT
Jayden Daniels

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is tracking to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. Important to note, head coach Dan Quinn said earlier in the week that he was not cleared for contact, and it's unclear at this point whether that clearance has been granted. Still, full participation on Thursday is a big step in the right direction. Although nothing is official about his return, the news is very encouraging for Daniel's fantasy owners, as we saw in 2024, Daniel provides high upside at the quarterback position, primarily due to his rushing upside. Although the news is encouraging to a young star getting back on the field, fantasy managers should temper expectations given that he hasn't played much in 2025. When he returns, and considering the Commanders are out of playoff contention (3-9), it's likely the coaching staff will want him to limit his rushing so that he doesn't take as many hits. Regardless, Daniels should provide QB1 value once he returns and should be inserted into most lineups. Marcus Mariota has filled in admirably for Daniels in his absence, but if Daniels suits up, Mariota can be dropped to waivers.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Dec 5 8:30am CT
Justin Herbert

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was not only limited in practice on Thursday, but mentioned that Herbert's goal is to play on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles and that he is trending in the right direction to do so after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture in his left hand on Monday. For now, it appears he needs the swelling to go down and a few more obstacles to overcome, but fantasy managers who were worried about Herbert's availability for Monday night after seeing the injury in Week 13 should view Pelissero's report as encouraging news. The Eagles rank middle-of-the-pack against opposing quarterbacks, but one thing Herbert has done a lot this season is use his legs. With the injury to his hand and his efforts to prevent re-injury or take additional hits, it's possible Herbert does not run as much, limiting some of his upside for Week 14. Combined with the tough matchup, fantasy managers may want to consider other options if available. Regardless, Herbert still provides low-end QB1 fantasy value leading up to Week 14.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Dec 5 1:00am CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 25 of his 34 pass attempts for 309 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He took one sack and lost two rushing yards on a pair of kneels. Although the veteran quarterback didn't have the flashiest day throwing into the end zone, he still orchestrated eight different scoring drives and helped propel Detroit to a key victory that will massively boost their playoff odds. Goff has just two turnovers over his last six games, and he has at least 255 passing yards in each of those six contests. Next week, he'll head west for a revenge game against his old team, the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025, but Goff's impressive play keeps him in the low-end QB1 tier for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Dec 5 1:00am CT
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams converted nine targets into seven catches for 96 receiving yards during Thursday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Each of those three statistics either tied or singlehandedly set team-highs in the Detroit victory. Williams capitalized on increased opportunities to produce with Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) less than 100 percent. St. Brown was still heavily involved, but Williams had more targets and yards than his talented receiver teammate, and the two tied for playing time with 57 snaps. The 24-year-old has now posted at least 16.6 fantasy points (PPR) in five of his last six games, with the lone exception being a zero-catch dud in Week 12. During that six-week span, he ranks as the overall WR12 in fantasy points per game, as well as the WR1 in total fantasy points. Even if St. Brown is back to 100 percent next week against the Los Angeles Rams, Williams should still be viewed as a fringe top-12 fantasy receiver and a must-start in all leagues.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Dec 5 1:00am CT
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery had six carries for 60 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also converted his lone target into a 13-yard reception. The highlight of Montgomery's outing was a 35-yard rushing touchdown that extended Detroit's lead to multiple possessions in the second quarter. Although Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 120 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on Thursday, remains the primary running back in the Lions' offense, Montgomery has been able to maintain a fantasy-relevant role of his own. He has double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in four of his last six games, as well as a touchdown in three of those six. The veteran should continue to be viewed as a high-end RB3/flex heading into Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Dec 5 12:40am CT
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 376 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions during Thursday's Week 14 loss against the Detroit Lions. He also rushed for 14 yards and took five sacks. The veteran quarterback may have salvaged his fantasy performance with the touchdown and high yardage total, but he also played a major role in Dallas' defeat, as he had two turnovers and the Cowboys lost by two possessions. This was his third different two-interception game of the season, and he has now been picked off four times over his last three games. He'll look to clean things up ahead of Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings, who have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Ryan Flournoy Dec 5 12:30am CT
Ryan Flournoy

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy caught nine of his 13 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 14 loss against the Detroit Lions. Flournoy had a steady role from the start of the game, but he carved out an even larger target share after teammate CeeDee Lamb (concussion) exited and was ruled out in the third quarter. The second-year receiver from Southeast Missouri State had the best game of his young career, but it's not the first time he's put himself on the fantasy radar. Earlier in the year, when Lamb missed time with an ankle injury, Flournoy generated some fantasy buzz as a low-end WR3/flex. He should return to the WR3/flex tier in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams if Lamb is inactive and Flournoy is tasked with operating as the No. 2 receiver alongside George Pickens.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Dec 4 11:40pm CT
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 12 carries for 43 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns during Thursday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also caught all seven of his targets for an additional 77 receiving yards. The 24-year-old's explosive season continues, as he has now recorded three-touchdown performances in three of the last five weeks. He's a top-three running back in PPR scoring this year with a whopping 58 catches so far. He also has 16 touchdowns and over 1,500 scrimmage yards. David Montgomery remains a factor in Detroit, but clearly, this backfield belongs to Gibbs. He should continue to be viewed as a high-end RB1 going forward, even in non-PPR leagues. He'll look to build on his success in 10 days against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15.

From RotoBaller