Fantasy Football: 5 Things We Learned in Week 14

Jaylen Samuels is Clearly James Conner's Backup

The fantasy football sphere used a lot of words at an attempt to predict how the Pittsburgh Steelers' backfield would break down without James Conner. They've traditionally relied heavily on just one back, but we had no experience to draw from with this current group.

The Steelers may have lost in humiliating fashion, but we came away from the outing ahead. We learned who we can rely on for fantasy points.

Jaylen Samuels clearly emerged as the back to own while Conner is out (and he could be out a little while). Samuels led the team in carries with 11. Stevan Ridley was involved -- he got five carries himself and scored the team's lone rushing touchdown -- but he was very inefficient with those touches, compiling just four yards on the ground. Samuels wasn't particularly efficient with his carries either, but he did damage in the passing game.

He converted all 7 of his targets into a solid 64 yards, the second-most on the team behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. Pending Monday Night Football, that means Samuels will finish with the third-most receptions and the second-most receiving yards among all Week 14 running backs. If you play in any point-per-reception leagues, his proficiency in the passing game provides an invaluable floor for a running back.

Samuels will surrender some work to Ridley, but his dominant share of the rushing workload and unique skills in the passing game -- not to mention the Steelers' usually-great offense -- will make him one of the top running backs in the league for as long as Conner is out.