5 NFL Stats to Know Through Week 14

Todd Gurley and the New Orleans Saints must have read this article last week. 

After I wrote that Gurley had been struggling and had a tough road ahead for the rest of the season, he ran for his third most yards of the season and scored twice. Most people agreed with me, but he turned out to be the key contrarian play that won the $3 Million first prize in the FanDuel World Fantasy Football Championship.

I also mentioned that the Saints defense was dead last in our power rankings, and they still are but they held Tamp Bay to only 17 points.

On a positive note, Doug Baldwin showed that his last few games were not a fluke by catching three more touchdown passes to make a total of eight over his past three games.

So now I will give a big thank you to Baldwin, and we can move on to the next week.

Here are five stats to know -- both traditional stats and Net Expected Points (NEP) marks, which compare team or player's performance relative to expectation-level -- through Week 14.

1. Khalil Mack’s 34.70 fantasy points led the NFL in Week 14

Six defensive linemen were among the top 22 fantasy scorers in Week 14, and Khalil Mack became the only defensive player to lead the league in fantasy points during a single week. He also passed Fletcher Cox (27.50) for the highest weekly score of any defensive player this season.

Mack had 5 sacks with one forced fumble to give him 9 sacks over his past three games and take the NFL lead with 14 sacks this season.

With all three of the Raiders' remaining opponents in the top half of the league in sacks allowed, Mack can build on his sack tally and be a key player throughout the fantasy playoffs in IDP leagues.

2. Odell Beckham’s 133.82 Reception NEP is best in the NFL

Since 2000, only 24 players have had a better Reception NEP over a whole season, than Odell Beckham currently has through just 13 games.

His 0.94 Reception NEP per target also leads the league this season among players with 90 or more targets, and he is tied with Allen Robinson and Tyler Eifert for the NFL lead with 12 receiving touchdowns, after catching a touchdown pass in 9 of 13 games this season.

Beckham has the most standard fantasy points of any non-quarterback (204.30) and has been held to single-digit fantasy points only three times all season.

He has had over 100 receiving yards in each of his last six games, averaging 132 receiving yards per game over that span.

In Week 15, Beckham will be up against the Panthers' defense that ranks second in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP (-50.98) and possibly draw shadow coverage from likely the best cornerback in the NFL: Josh Norman.

3. The Panthers are 13-0

Carolina’s offense and defense have both been among the league’s best this season, and they are yet to lose a game.

*Fumbles lost are 4th fewest in league

With both sides of the ball playing at a high level, it’s no surprise that the Panthers lead the league with a plus-18 turnover differential.

The offense is led by Cam Newton, who leads the league with a 27.36 Rushing NEP and is ninth in Passing NEP (93.41).

The defense is well-rounded, with four players having at least three interceptions each and Thomas Davis leading the way with 5.5 sacks. The emergence of Norman has been huge for the Panthers, as he is yet to allow more than 50 yards in a game to an opposing wide receiver.

4. The Dolphins are 4-0 when Lamar Miller has more than 15 touches

After a big first half that resulted in two rushing touchdowns, Lamar Miller finished Week 14 with only 12 rushing attempts, while Ryan Tannehill attempted 41 passes in their loss to the Giants.

The Dolphins are now 1-8 when Miller has 15 or fewer touches.

Miller is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and his 0.07 Rushing NEP per rush ranks fifth in the NFL among running backs with 100 or more carries this season.

He certainly has the ability to be a fantasy RB1 and even led all players in Week 7 with 35.60 fantasy points, but the Dolphins' questionable play calling will keep fantasy owners guessing as to when he will have another big game.

5. The Falcons have scored 29 points total over their last three games

The Falcons started the season 5-0 with both one of the best wide receivers and running backs in the league but have now lost their last six games.

They haven’t had a player among the top 50 fantasy scorers in any of the past three weeks and Julio Jones has 23.7 total fantasy points in that time. Matt Ryan hasn’t been much better, with only 27.12 fantasy points over that span and only two games with 20 or more fantasy points all season.

Devonta Freeman had 123.5 fantasy points during Weeks 3 through 6 and only 75.4 in all other weeks. He has been held under 14 fantasy points in every game since Week 6.

Atlanta was shut out in Week 14 against the Panthers, who they have to play again in Week 16. Fantasy owners who have leaned on Jones and Freeman to carry their team to the playoffs will likely need to look at other options for the fantasy championship game.