NFL Player News

Hopkins was invisible in this one, taking on more of a rotational role while Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman functioned as every-down players. With five receptions over four games, Hopkins is a fantasy non-factor that should remain on waiver wires. He won’t be fantasy viable unless Flowers and Bateman miss time.

Broncos running backs accounted for 8-of-16 offensive touches on the team’s first drive, with backup RBs Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin worryingly combining for three. Harvey pulled away from the latter two as the game progressed, though, operating as the offensive focal point as the Broncos trounced the division-rival Raiders. Harvey played with physicality on runs up the middle, capping off his team’s fifth drive with one such play on a three-yard touchdown run. His six receptions tie for a team-high. Harvey is an RB2 against the Packers in Week 15.

Engram caught his first pass of the day, a six-yard completion, on a slant route during the Broncos’ third drive, at which point the broadcast began pouring out their large amount of pre-game notes on the sporadically involved pass catcher. He managed just one more reception thereafter. Engram is a moderate TE2 against the Eagles.

The good news is that Musgrave, along with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, led the Packers in targets. The bad news is that Matt LaFleur deployed a three-headed committee at tight end. Musgrave, Josh Whyle, and Josh Fitzpatrick all run between 30 and 40 percent of the routes. Until Musgrave separates from the pack, he will be on the outside of the TE2 ranks looking in.

Golden was active for the first time since Week 11. He has missed the previous two games because of a wrist issue and missed time with a shoulder injury before Week 11. The Packers barely played him this week, putting him on the field for just four routes. Bo Melton ran five routes and came down with a 45-yard touchdown on his only catch of the day. It’s hard to say how much of the Packers’ decision to limit Golden’s role was based on his health. Fantasy managers, however, don’t need to get bogged down in the specifics. Golden is not on the fantasy radar for Week 15.

Mims’ receiving role is almost a non-factor, but the shifty wide receiver did manage to return a second-quarter punt for a 48-yard touchdown, marking his first such trip to the end zone. Mims also rushed once for two yards. He does not need to be rostered in re-draft leagues.

Bryant produced a couple of chunk gains via leaping grabs in this one, though he unfortunately failed to secure the one target that really mattered. The Raiders turned the ball over on downs with three seconds left in the second quarter, giving the Broncos possession on the Raiders’ 44-yard line. Broncos QB Bo Nix uncorked an on-target pass that Bryant high-pointed in the end zone. Unfortunately, Bryant only pawed at it with both hands, and the pass fell to the ground, incomplete. Bryant remains stuck on the boom-bust FLEX spectrum against the Packers next week.

Franklin had a forgettable Week 14 showing. He may have banged the left side of his hip while being leveled by Raiders S Isaiah Pola-Mao on a downfield incompletion, but Franklin returned after a play or two. Franklin’s most consequential play occurred on the Broncos’ third drive, when he bobbled a reception on 4th-and-3. He initially met the ball while in first-down territory but was knocked backward as he was securing the catch and the officials ultimately ruled him down behind the first-down marker. It was inconsequential for fantasy purposes. Franklin is a risky FLEX against the Packers in Week 15.

With Christian Watson emerging as the Packers’ No. 1 receiver and Jayde Reed back in the mix, Doubs simply couldn’t earn targets in a suddenly-crowded receiver room. Things have been trending in this direction for a while. Doubs most recently topped 23 yards in Week 11 and his last game with more than four catches came in Week 8. He can safely be dropped in all 12-team fantasy formats heading into Week 15.

Reed also turned two rush attempts into 22 yards. Matt LaFleur was eager to get Reed involved early in the game. Jordan Love’s first throw of the day went to Reed. One of his rush attempts also came on the first drive and he caught another pass later in the drive. Reed wound up running just over 60 percent of the available routes on the day and tied for a team-high in targets. After missing over two months with foot and shoulder injuries, this was as good a role as fantasy managers could hope for in his first game back. He will sit in the WR4 ranks for his Week 15 date with the Broncos.