You can’t ignore all of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s touchdowns. (Pro Football Network)
Safety Micah Hyde has ditched retirement talk (for now) by re-signing with the Bills; Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair got dinged with a three-game suspension for his hit on Trevor Lawrence; and the Broncos opted to waive wide receiver Josh Reynolds rather than return him to the active roster.
Finding Positives in Tennessee
Oh man, have the Tennessee Titans ever dropped off a cliff. In 2021, this was a 12-win team that had made the playoffs three straight seasons. The following year, they dipped to seven wins and then six last year. This season, Tennessee is sitting at 3-9 after getting pummeled in Washington in Week 13.
If not for the horrific Jaguars, the Titans would likely be sitting in the basement of the AFC South, and there’s still time for that to happen — especially the with two teams matching up on Sunday. There hasn’t been much to sing about in Music City this year.
But if we look hard enough, there has been a bright spot in wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who has somehow managed to find paydirt eight times despite only hauling in 20 passes this season. His propensity for scoring is hard to ignore, making him a sleeper candidate heading into Week 14.
In last week’s 42-19 loss, Westbrook-Ikhine (when he wasn’t suffering from the dropsies — see video below) accounted for both Tennessee touchdowns, giving him four scores on just seven catches over the last three games. This is a dude that ranks fourth in TD receptions but only 87th in targets and 89th in receptions. Crazy!
He’s on pace to match last year’s reception total, when he managed just three touchdowns, but with 365 yards already he should top 500 for first time in his career. And given that NWI (who is in line for a big raise) ranks 36th among wide receivers with 84.5 Fantasy points, it’s reasonable to consider him a fine WR3 for Week 14.
Justice Hill Getting Targets
After a superb 13-win effort last year, the Baltimore Ravens have had their share of struggles this season, and with two losses in the last three games they have already surpassed 2023’s loss total.
Fortunately, B-More has its bye in Week 14, so that should offer the squad time to regroup for the stretch run as its seeks to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year.
One Raven that’s been a somewhat pleasant surprise this season is veteran running back Justice Hill. While his role within the run game has diminished (only four times has he had even five carries in a game this season and he’s had three or fewer three times over the last four), he’s emerged as a much more targeted player out of the backfield in the pass attack.
Earlier in his career Hill wasn’t used in the passing game much, but that began to change last season when he parlayed 39 targets into a career best 206 yards receiving (and his first ever receiving touchdown).
This year, he’s already surpassed all those totals with two scores on 45 targets and new personal bests in receptions and yardage. Hell, Hill has had at least six targets twice over the last three weeks alone.
Okay, so his aDOT is not good, but he had 20 per cent of the targets in Week 13, and that’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Hill has seen tons of PT while proving he can do just about anything as an all-purpose back.
Consider him a solid flex option for Week 15 against a struggling Giants’ team.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Edgar Holland Winter, known more commonly as simply Edgar Winter, headed The Edgar Winter Group in the 1970s. The band’s debut album, They Only Come Out at Night, was released in 1972, and includes one of their signature tunes, “Free Ride,” which was written by Dan Hartman.