Veteran star WRs appear in Week 14 when we needed them most

With six teams off in Week 14, fantasy managers who previously had the luxury of sitting struggling veterans — or, at the very least, starting them knowing they’d have to make up the points at d other positions – were forced to count on great performances from them.

Boy, did they succeed!

With the playoffs on the line, veteran receivers showed up at the last minute for the fantasy playoffs. Who left in Week 14 and what can we expect at the most critical time of our fantasy seasons?

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, WRs, Miami Dolphins

It seems appropriate to start this recap with Hill and Waddle’s big plays. Few duos have had a more difficult season than this one generally electric pair. When Tua Tagovailoa went down in Week 2, the Dolphins entered a dark period without a viable quarterback to produce even remotely salvageable fantasy numbers. The entire offense suffered, although Fantasy managers remained optimistic, knowing that with Tagovailoa’s return, the offense could come back to life.

Unfortunately, the immediate resurgence only benefited De’Von Achane, while Hill and Waddle continued to deliver disappointing performances. Despite Waddle’s performance in Week 12 and Hill’s three touchdowns over the past four games, we hadn’t seen a dominant performance from either — until now.

In Week 14, the long-awaited offensive explosion finally arrived. Hill caught 10 of 14 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Waddle caught nine of 12 targets for 99 yards and a 2-point conversion. Although Jonnu Smith was successful in overtime, Hill and Waddle were the heart of the Dolphins’ offense, making Fantasy managers nostalgic for their peak performances of the past.

Checking the pulse: Can we really believe that Hill and Waddle are both return to a weekly essential?

I discussed the Dolphins’ outlook for the remainder of the season in the Pulse Check article two weeks ago, and so far, things are going according to plan. Their remaining schedule includes Houston, San Francisco and Cleveland. Next week’s game against Houston should emphasize the passing game, as the Texans’ defense has struggled without Azeez Al-Shaair. San Francisco’s defense presents a tougher challenge but is still manageable. Game of the week 17 has The Cleveland game is the only potential problem due to weather. Nonetheless, Hill and Waddle offer significant upside through Week 16.

Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, WRs, New York Jets

Miami’s receivers weren’t the only ones who had success in the Dolphins-Jets game. Adams and Wilson also had big games after weeks of disappointing performances.

Adams has at least shown some ceiling, but has seen great volatility with several WR4 performances over the past month. This week’s performance, however, was his best as a Jet, with nine receptions on 11 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson, on the other hand, was stuck in a slump, having failed to reach double-digit fantasy points since Week 9. I discussed Wilson on Sunday’s episode of “Fantasy Football Live” and pointed out that we were in a “don’t panic” phase with Wilson. Despite frustrating performances, his volume has remained steady, with a minimum of eight goals in all but two games this season. My take was that Wilson’s guaranteed volume and a pass-friendly upcoming schedule meant brighter days were ahead, and he delivered on that prediction with seven receptions on 10 targets for 114 yards.

Checking the pulse: So we have zero The panic is progressing, right?

Looking ahead, the Jets face Jacksonville next week, one of the most pass-friendly matchups in the league, followed by another favorable matchup against the Rams. A tougher test looms in Week 17 against the Bills, but, as the Rams proved on Sunday, strong veteran quarterback play can still take advantage and push high volume to match that of Josh Allen . The Jets receivers are both top-20 options going forward and the sheer volume makes this a comfortable play.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns

Before we dive into Jeudy’s performance, let me take a moment to thank Jameis Winston for finally unlocking a level of play in Jeudy that none of us really expected, turning him into a true WR1. Jeudy has now finished among the top 24 receivers for four straight weeks and did it again this week with five receptions on six targets for 64 yards and a touchdown against a typically strong Pittsburgh secondary.

While Cedric Tillman is expected to return at some point, Jeudy could still operate as the Browns’ WR1. The two receivers haven’t had much overlap this season, but in Week 11 against New Orleans, Tillman and Jeudy played complete games, and Jeudy finished as the overall WR4. Regardless of Tillman’s presence, Jeudy has thrived since Amari Cooper’s departure.

Checking the pulse: Can we really trust Winston?

Winston, for all his flaws, brings a certain level of fantasy consistency that the Browns lacked with Deshaun Watson. Under Watson, the offense rarely attempted more than 40 passes and failed to surpass 200 passing yards in any game. In contrast, Winston has exceeded 200 passing yards in every start this season, approaching or exceeding 400 yards on several occasions while regularly attempting more than 40 passes.

Looking ahead, the Browns have exhibition matchups against Kansas City, Cincinnati and an inconsistent Miami defense to close out the season. Jeudy is an easy, lock-in WR2 with strong WR1 potential and a must-play starter for the remainder of the season.

Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers

No list of notable Week 14 veterans would be complete without the oldest of them all: 34-year-old Adam Thielen.

After a ramp-up game following his return from IR, Thielen has been on fire the past two weeks, posting 17 receptions on 21 targets for 201 yards and a touchdown. The connection is not a shock. In 2023, Thielen was Bryce Young’s top target and finished as a top-five receiver three times before fading deeper into the season. Thielen has once again become Young’s favorite and most reliable target and Young has looked like a completely different quarterback since returning from his mid-season bench.

Checking the pulse: Can Thielen actually maintain this level of production?

Thielen’s outlook for the rest of the season depends largely on his ability to stay healthy, but the schedule is favorable. At his age – and I say this lovingly as someone of the same age – it’s difficult to sustain long-term success, but three more games don’t take much and he should finish the season strong. Carolina faces neutral and beatable defenses from Dallas and Arizona, with a dream matchup in Week 17 against a Tampa Bay defense Thielen already torn apart earlier this season. Many fantasy managers may think they have younger or more well-known players to replace Thielen, but he remains a solid flex option with WR1 on the rise for the rest of the season.

Quick pulse check —And Justin Jefferson?!

Let’s wrap things up with a quick note on Justin Jefferson. I’ve talked about Jefferson in previous Pulse Checks, emphasizing that there’s no need to panic over his disappointing performance. His talent was never in question, it was simply a matter of the defense focusing on stopping him, opting to let Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson do the damage instead.

Despite this, Jefferson’s goals remained consistent outside of a game against Chicago. This week he made a statement, catching all seven of his targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson reminded us why he is one of the best in the game.