You regular readers — and each and every one of you regulars is awesome, thank you very much — are aware that my weekly NFL Bold Predictions columns feature one pseudo-clever, albeit wordy intro, and four predictions.
But today, I’m mixing things up. For my NFL bold predictions in Week 14, I’m chopping the intro by like 75% and adding a fifth prediction.
You’re welcome.
Now let’s get bold.
NFL Bold Predictions for Week 14
Here's who might or might not do some crazy stuff on Thursday, Sunday, or Monday.
1) Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Could Throw for 400 Yards
When the Cowboys started the season with a record of 3-5-1, the general consensus was, “They’re cooked,” and justifiably so. The defense — which was crippled by the loss of DE Micah Parsons (trade) and the arrival of terrible former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus (defensive coordinator, bad idea) — was a sieve, allowing 30.7 points per game over their first nine.
Lost in the shuffle was the fact that save for a Week 1 stinker (188 passing yards, 0 TDs), QB Dak Prescott was balling out, topping 22 fantasy points five times between Week 2 and Week 7. And over the previous three weeks, he’s been fantasy’s QB1, averaging a whopping 24.6 fantasy points.
On Thursday night, he and his ‘Boys visit Detroit, where they’ll have to deal with a frustrated Lions squad that’s lost two out of their last three, allowing an average of 24.6 points, and 22.0 fantasy points to opposing QBs, the third-most in the league.
The conditions are just right for Dak to top 400 passing yards for the first time since November 12, 2023 (404 against the Giants), and the 11th time in his career.
I just made Dallas owner/GM Jerry Jones very, very happy.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott PrizePicks Projections for Cowboys vs. Lions: 269.5 Pass Yards
2) Titans QB Cam Ward Might Suffer 5 Sacks and Toss 3 Interceptions…and Lose His Job
Regular readers know not just about my bold predictions format, but also the fact that I ain’t exactly a member of the Cam Ward fan club. But let’s be honest here: Who is?
Not fantasy managers, as the first pick of the 2025 NFL draft sits at QB28, behind the Jets’ former starter Justin Fields (QB24) and Vegas’ Geno Smith (QB19), a pair of signal callers who are, here in 2025, in a word, bad.
On Sunday, the Titans visit Cleveland, where they’ll have to deal with a Browns defense that, over the last month, has allowed a stingy 10.8 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Tennessee’s QB2 is Brandon Allen. Do with that information what you will.
Titans QB Cam Ward PrizePicks Projections for Titans vs. Browns: 177.5 Pass Yards
3) The Chicago Bears Offensive Backfield Might Go Off…Again
On Black Friday, virtually every football fan ever — or at least those with a Prime Video subscription — watched the Chicago Bears backfield of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai gash the Philadelphia Eagles defense with combined totals of 255 rushing yards, a pair of tuddies, and 38.7 fantasy points.
Will they do it again at Lambeau Field, where they’ll have to deal with the Packers and their 17th-ranked rushing defense? Welp, Philly’s rush D is ranked 22nd, slightly better than the Pack, which means Swift and Monangai might be slightly worse than they were last Friday.
But not that much worse.
RB Kyle Monangai PrizePicks Projections for Bears vs. Packers: 45.5 RushYards
4) The Minnesota Vikings Could Be Held to 7 or Fewer Points
Minnesota’s QB room wins the 2025 NFL Avert Your Eyes Award.
Hey, at least they won something.
So avert your eyes as we break down some Vikes QB fantasy digits:
- Carson Wentz: 15.1 average fantasy points, QB34
- J.J. McCarthy: 12.5 average fantasy points, QB35
- Max Brosmer: 0.6 average fantasy points, QB55
Little surprise that over their last four games — all losses — the offense has managed an average of 10.5 points, which includes last week’s 26-0 crapfest L to the Seattle Seahawks.
Sunday, they get the 3-9 Commanders at home, a team who — surprise, surprise — have a not-that-bad pass defense, ranking tenth in the league in passing yards allowed.
As of this writing, McCarthy looks like he’ll start under center, and while he’ll likely be better than the patently overmatched rookie Brosmer did last week (again, avert your eyes), we won’t be looking at a Fran Tarkenton-esque performance.
All of which means Vikes fans and McCarthy fantasy owners should, say it with me now, avert their eyes.
QB J.J. McCarthy PrizePicks Projections for Commanders vs. Vikings: 185.9 Pass Yards
5) Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Might Play Like Nathan Peterman
This one is an eye test thing
Mahomes is a fantasy and reality beast — he’s fantasy’s QB2, third in the league in passing yards, and fifth in TDs — but something looks…off.
There are actually some numbers to support Mahomes’ blah recent work: In three of his last four outings, his passer rating hasn’t topped 79.5 — and his career average is 101.6.
On Sunday, they host a Houston defense that’s on a cray-cray heater over the last month, allowing 16.0 reality points and 8.25 fantasy points (DST3).
And lest we forget, two weeks ago, they made Bills QB and reigning MVP Josh Allen look a bit silly, picking him twice, and not allowing a TD.
Maybe comping generational Hall of Famer Mahomes to Nathan Peterman — arguably the worst QB in NFL, AFL, XFL, USFL, WSFL, CFL, and WFL history – might be harsh and unrealistic.
But, eye test.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes PrizePicks Projections for Texans vs.Chiefs: 236.5 Pass Yards
Will any of these boldies come to fruition? Who the heck knows, but one thing we do know is you can win real money on PrizePicks with your NFL predictions.
Just pick More or Less on at least two player projections and potentially win real cash with your picks every week.
And follow Playbook for the entire NFL season, where you'll always enjoy boldness galore.
