This a snippet of Adam Pfeifer’s NFL matchups column, previewing Titans vs. the Raiders for Fantasy Football Lineups. With just a few weeks left in the season, we have to begin assessing not only injuries and matchups, but also potential resting of stars for the long haul. All of it has a tremendous effect on our NFL DFS and season-long fantasy lineups. So let’s dig into some NFL DFS matchups and NFL game breakdowns for your Week 14 Fantasy Football Lineups on DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo and FantasyDraft.
To read the FULL column, click HERE.
Tennessee Titans @ Oakland Raiders
Total: 47.5
Line: TEN -2.5
Titans passing game
There is honestly nothing to not like about Ryan Tannehill right now. Since he took over as the starting quarterback, Tannehill is fourth among all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (21.1), while only Lamar Jackson is averaging more fantasy points per dropback on the season (0.66). The Titans also lead the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage since Tannehill became the starter and per Pat Thorman of Establish The Run, the Titans have nearly doubled their no-huddle rate with Tannehill under center. He has scored multiple touchdowns in six consecutive games and is in a great spot to keep it going, as he faces the Raiders, who are allowing a 6.7 percent passing touchdown rate on the season, the second-highest rate in the league.
Tannehill is first among qualified passers in yards per attempt off play-action (12.4), while Oakland is surrendering 10.1 yards per attempt off the play type this year, the fifth-worst mark in the league. With the Raiders also ranking 30th in pressure rate (18.1 percent), Tannehill should have time to make plays down the field against a defense surrendering the second-highest average depth of target in the NFL (9.8).
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Deciding which receiver to play from the Titans is a bit trickier. A.J. Brown is always my preferred option, as he’s the most explosive player, averaging 8.4 yards after the catch per reception this year, the highest mark among all wide receivers on the season. However, his NFL DFS price is getting up there and Tannehill has been spreading the ball around quite a bit. The matchup is obviously favorable, as the Raiders are allowing the fourth-most yards after the catch in all of football, as well as the second-most yards per completion (12.2). And although he has been awful from a fantasy perspective, we might have to consider Corey Davis at just $3,900 if Adam Humphries sits out. The veteran slot man has missed the last two practices with an ankle injury.
Titans running game
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and I’m not talking about Christmas. No, I’m talking about the late-season surge that we see from Derrick Henry every season where he just dominates. Over the last three weeks, Henry has accumulated 496 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 68 carries. The lead back in a run-first offense, Henry is now third in the league in carries (232) and fourth in opportunity share (82 percent). The Raiders have been better against the run this season and Henry’s price has now skyrocketed over $8,000 on DraftKings, making him a tougher sell, especially since he still isn’t catching a ton of passes. But I still don’t see this improved Oakland run defense shutting him down completely.
Raiders passing game
Derek Carr is coming off a brutal game in Arrowhead where he typically struggles. He threw for 222 yards, two awful interceptions and one touchdown that came with 30 seconds left of a blowout contest. In a below average matchup, it is tough to get excited about Carr, as the Raiders are content with just establishing the hell out of the run. They are calling pass just 54.4 percent of the time, the seventh-lowest rate in the league. The only case I can make for Carr for NFL DFS in Week 14 is that he’s $5,000 on DraftKings.
It was great to see Darren Waller finally have another good game last week, catching seven of nine targets for 100 yards. It was his third 100-yard game of the year, as Waller benefited from the absence of slot receiver Hunter Renfrow, who operates in the same area of the field as Waller. The breakout tight end is third at his position in targets (87), deep targets (eight) and target share (24 percent), while also ranking inside the top eight in yards per catch (12.2), yards per target (9.3) and yards per pass route (2.81).
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The only knock has been his lack of red zone usage, as Waller hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8 but you still can’t complain about the production he’s given you, especially since he was likely picked up off waivers. Tennessee, meanwhile, just allowed 76 yards and a touchdown to Jack Doyle last week and are now allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (10.9) and fourth-most touchdowns (0.5) to opposing tight ends.
Tyrell Williams has fallen off a cliff lately. Since Week 9, Williams is the WR62 in fantasy with just three end zone targets during that span. On the bright side, the Titans will be without their top two corners in Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson for this game but it’ll be hard to trust him in the opening round of the playoffs.
Raiders running game
Josh Jacobs has apparently been playing with a fractured shoulder and has now missed practice both Wednesday and Thursday. Jacobs has been limited in practice since Week 7 but still active and full-go come Sunday but it appears he could actually be in jeopardy of missing some action this week. If he suits up, you continue starting him as a high-end RB2, as the Raiders are feeding him the rock, calling run at the seventh-highest rate in the league. Tennessee is allowing 4.0 yards per carry, the seventh-best mark in football, as well as 102 rushing yards per game, the 10th-fewest, making a banged up Jacobs a mediocre daily play this week. If he can’t play, Oakland would likely start DeAndre Washington and mix him in with Jalen Richard on most passing downs.
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