The end is near. It’s not just a slogan on a zealot’s sandwich board or graffitied on a wall in a back alley on the wrong side of the tracks. This is it. We’ve reached the final weekend of the fantasy football regular season in many leagues. You may find yourself already looking ahead to the playoffs, or you may need a win to get in, with or without some help. With six (SIX!) teams on bye this week, points will be at a premium, and the quest to find them begins on Thursday night. A pair of former Southern California neighbors meet in the Week 14 Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video. The current (and former) Los Angeles Rams play host to the Las Vegas (formerly Oakland, formerly Los Angeles) Raiders. Let’s start digging and see if we can’t find some of those points for you.

Note: All point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted. Odds and betting information are courtesy Quarter4.

Week 14 Thursday Night Preview: Raiders’ Offense

The Raiders have been one of the more puzzling and maddening teams in the NFL this season. They’ve had two separate three-game losing streaks this season. Other than a shut-out at the hands of the Saints, their losses have all come in one-score games. A bounce of the ball here, a penalty call there, and the Raiders could well find themselves in possession of a wildcard slot, instead of fighting to remain relevant in the AFC playoff picture. Strangely, but luckily for fantasy managers, the Raiders’ success (or lack thereof) in the win-loss columns hasn’t necessarily been correlated to their offensive- and thus, fantasy- production.

Derek Carr (QB13) has thrown two touchdowns per game almost like clockwork. He’s failed to throw at least one score in two games this season. The Raiders won the first and lost the second. He’s thrown exactly one score once this season. It was a Raider win. The Raiders won the game two weeks ago in which Carr threw three touchdowns for the first time since 2020. In the remaining eight contests, Carr has thrown two scores. The Raiders are 2-6 in those games. Las Vegas has won three of the four games this season in which Davante Adams (WR1) has not caught a touchdown pass. There have been 32 games this season where wide receivers have scored 30+ points. Adams has four of them. The Raiders are 2-2 in those contests. Josh Jacobs has been better in wins for the most part (logically), but still serviceable in losses.

Raiders’ Offense Big Question

Adams and Carr have been fairly match-up proof in terms of their performances against teams with strong pass defenses. In fact, the Raiders’ wins have by-and-large come in games versus the teams on their schedule with stronger pass defenses. The one player who does seem at least somewhat tethered to the Raiders’ schedule and results is Jacobs. Against teams ranking in the top-24 in overall run defense, the Raiders are 2-6. The two wins were both against the Broncos. The Rams are fourth in run defense and don’t seem to be a good matchup for Jacobs. But the Rams are also 30th in overall offense. They mirror the Broncos in that way. This profiles as a game the Raiders should win, which should bode well for Jacobs.

“Oh, really, Thornton? We should play the overall RB2 this week? Groundbreaking analysis.” (Crude gesture)

Well, duh. Play Jacobs. Don’t be scared off by the matchup and get cute. Likewise, you’re starting Adams. He’s actually seemed to get more fantasy effective as the season progresses. I also have Carr as a startable option in this week’s Byemageddon landscape. And Foster Moreau should be able to take advantage of the matchup to put up starting numbers, but tight ends outside of Kansas City have been about as predictable as North Korea’s missile testing schedule. I have him at TE9, but I wouldn’t go boating in the Sea of Japan based on that, if you catch my drift. Daniel Carlson and the Vegas DST (no, really) are both nice starting options this week. Mack Hollins is a low-end FLEX if you’re desperate.

Week 14 Thursday Night Preview: Rams’ Offense

While the Raiders’ offense may have been confusing this season, the other former tenants of Memorial Coliseum have just been depressing. The defending champs have looked nothing like last season’s top-10 overall unit. Between losses on the offensive line, an underperforming backfield, and devastating injuries everywhere, the Rams’ season got off to an underwhelming start in Week 1’s Thursday Night game, and has never really recovered. Last season’s QB6, Matthew Stafford is most likely done for the year with a spinal cord contusion. But he wasn’t lighting the world on fire before the injury. Darrell Henderson beat Cam Akers for the starting running back position, then played himself onto the waiver wire. He’s now hoping to be active in Jacksonville week-to-week. All-World wideout Cooper Kupp and offseason acquisition Allen Robinson are both lost to injury as well.

Rams’ Offense Big Question

The Raiders present a great matchup for opposing fantasy players across the board. They’re giving up top-12 points to every skill position. But this is the Rams’ offense we’re talking about. They’re not just missing their starting quarterback, they’re thinking of playing Baker Mayfield tonight. Mayfield was acquired earlier this week after requesting a release from Carolina. Los Angeles may try to plug-and-play him Madden-style. Because why not? So the question is, does anyone on the Rams warrant your fantasy consideration?

I’m not touching any of the Rams’ quarterbacks tonight, and neither should you. They’ll be dealing with enough contact from the likes of Maxx Crosby. With the anticipated struggles at quarterback, I’m not recommending any of the Los Angeles wideouts still standing. If you’re looking at Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, or Tutu Atwell, strap in for a disappointing Week 14 Thursday Night. I have Jefferson ranked ahead of Skowronek, but Skowronek’s been the more consistent of the two despite not finding the endzone yet. Tyler Higbee seemed like a good option when the receiving corps first fell apart, but has failed to meet expectations. I have him as TE22 this week. Even Matt Gay and the Rams’ DST are untouchable. The season can’t end fast enough for the Lambs.

Betting Lines (Courtesy of Quarter4):

Favorite: Raiders (-7.5)

Over/Under: 42

Notable Props: Josh Jacobs rushing yards (133.3); Davante Adams receiving yards (107.4); Daniel Carlson field goals made (1.7)

Challenge Chase!

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