Last week was our best ever! We picked the QB1, TE1, DST1, three Top 14 wide receivers, two top running backs and we busted just once from 15 streamers! And we’re going to need those sorts of picks again this week. Bye week mayhem has reached its peak with a season-high six teams getting a week off. The Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Jaguars, Saints and Jets are all on byes, so it’s more important than ever to line up the best streaming options. Plus, there’s another six teams on bye in Week 14 so stashes are vital as well.
To keep things simple, we’ll define a streamer as any player you wouldn’t usually start who is a viable option for this week. They may be on your bench or they may be on waivers, depending on your league. We’ll define a stash as any player you can probably find on waivers that you should stash for the future, either because they have a favorable match-up coming up, or because they could become a future fantasy starter.
Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down Youtube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy Youtube channel. If you have any questions, throw them in the comments below.
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool
I’ll also be reporting my streamer record from the season to date above each section, to give you an idea of what to expect. Strong finishes mean top third of starters at the position, moderate means the top half of starters and a bust is anyone else.
QB Streamers (12 strong, 5 moderate, 6 bust):
- Player: Jared Goff
- Matchup: Colts
Last week, I recommended starting Jared Goff as my top streamer, and he was the definitive QB1. This week, I’m going back to the well. The Lions should dominate the Colts and I’d expect plenty of points from their quarterback.
- Player: Bo Nix
- Matchup: Raiders
Bo Nix is incredibly still owned in less than 50% of leagues. This week, he faces a Raiders team leaking points for fun. This year’s shock QB7 is a strong start in Week 12.
QB Stash:
- Player: Sam Darnold
- Matchup: Bears
It would be a mistake to start Sam Darnold against a strong Bears pass defense, but the Vikings have a number of great matchups around the corner. If you’re the Jackson, Daniels, Stroud or Nix owner, Darnold is a solid compliment as he faces the leaky Falcons in Week 14 when your starter is on bye. Though ideally, you can just pick him up the week before.
RB Streamers (20 strong, 10 moderate, 6 bust):
- Player: Bucky Irving and Rachaad White
- Matchup: Giants
The Buccaneers are favorites against the Giants and should be able to lean on their ground game. Their running backs are in a committee and both are viable streamers in a week when Bijan Robinson, James Cook, Chase Brown, Alvin Kamara and Breece Hall all have byes.
- Player: Rhamondre Stevenson
- Matchup: Dolphins
Rhamondre Stevenson has returned to the full workhorse role in New England, receiving 39 carries in the last two weeks combined. The Dolphins are susceptible on the ground meaning Stevenson once again has a solid rushing floor.
- Player: Austin Ekeler
- Matchup: Cowboys
The Cowboys look a shell of their former selves and allowed Joe Mixon to run rampant on MNF. This week it’s the Commanders’ strange committee. Both backs are playing a lot of snaps, with Austin Ekeler often running routes when Brian Robinson is on the field. Against the league’s third worst rush defense, I’m risking it with Ekeler (and Robinson) again this week after he paid off last week.
RB Stashes:
- Player: Roschon Johnson
- Matchup: Vikings
It’s a tough matchup for Roschon Johnson this week but the change in coaching staff has led to some interesting usage. Against the Packers, Johnson was not only the passing down back, he returned to being a significant short yardage and goal line back. That’s a lot of usage for a team that is often trailing while also running a lot in the red zone.
- Player: Dylan Laube
- Matchup: Broncos
At the time of writing, it appears Alexander Mattison and Zamir White are at risk of missing Week 12. In a deeper league, I would take a pot shot of Dylan Laube. Ameer Abdullah is typically a receiving back while Laube surprisingly received every down usage in the pre-season. He’s worth a pickup with you’re down bad at running back.
Running backs get injured more than any other player in fantasy, with the average Top 36 running back missing two games per season in fantasy. For that reason, your best bet in fantasy is to roster running backs who are an injury away from an every-down role. Each week, I’ll be listing my favorite RB stashes, only including players you won’t be starting most weeks.
Top Handcuffs: Tyler Allgeier, Braelon Allen, Zach Charbonnet, Blake Corum, Ray Davis, Tyjae Spears, Devin Singletary, Cam Akers, Gus Edwards
WR Streamers (9 strong, 13 moderate, 11 bust):
- Player: Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston
- Matchup: Chargers
The Chargers will likely need to throw to keep up with the Ravens and that should mean a good outing for Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. But it is worth noting that this isn’t quite how things panned out for the Steelers in their win over Baltimore. Nevertheless, with so many bye weeks, I can’t leave this west coast duo on my bench.
- Player: Josh Downs
- Matchup: Lions
The Lions remain the league’s best slot matchup and Josh Downs remains a strong slot receiver despite the return of Anthony Richardson. With the Colts likely chasing points for most of the game, I like Downs’ chances of a big game.
- Player: Christian Watson
- Matchup: 49ers
The Packers are expected to score plenty of points in a shootout against the 49ers. With Christian Watson slowly claiming control of the X receiver role over Dontayvion Wicks, he’s a low-end starter against San Fran.
WR Stashes:
- Player: All Browns Receivers
- Matchup: Steelers
The Steelers have shut down opposing receivers better than most teams, but I still want Cleveland’s receivers on my roster. Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore are dominating snaps and sharing targets almost evenly. All are viable options down the stretch.
- Player: John Metchie
- Matchup: Texans
It seems like John Metchie is winning the battle for the Texans’ slot receiver role. Stefon Diggs showed the value it can have but at the moment Robert Woods is taking enough snaps, and hence targets, to make Metchie a non-starter. Maybe in a week or two though, he’ll emerge into a valuable fantasy option.
- Player: Adam Thielen
- Matchup: Chiefs
Adam Thielen is expected to return this week against the Chiefs. It’s a brutal matchup and I’d expect a slow ramp-up, but in deeper leagues, Thielen has enough upside to suggest a bench stash in case he can repeat last season’s heroics with Diontae Johnson out of town.
TE Streamers (7 strong, 4 moderate, 11 bust):
- Player: Ja’Tavion Sanders
- Matchup: Chiefs
I don’t know what to expect from Ja’Tavion Sanders this week. He could be a clear starter and one of Carolina’s lead receivers or he could play 20% of snaps and put up a donut with Tommy Tremble back in the lineup. Against a Chiefs defense that concedes most of its points to tight ends, I’m willing to take the gamble.
- Player: Hunter Henry
- Matchup: Dolphins
The Dolphins are more susceptible to tight ends than wide receivers. Meanwhile, Hunter Henry has at least five receptions and 45 yards in four of the last five weeks. He’s a great floor tight end this week, especially in PPR.
TE Stash:
- Player: Dawson Knox
- Matchup: Bye
If Dalton Kincaid is out in Week 13, Dawson Knox will be a strong start. So, I’m stashing Knox until we get some clear injury news on the Bills’ starter. (Yes, I’m a little desperate, there’s few good tight end stashes at the moment.)
K Streamers (11 strong, 5 moderate, 6 bust):
- Player: Cameron Dicker
- Matchup: Ravens
It’s surprising, but the Ravens have conceded the sixth most points to kickers this season. Chris Boswell’s six field goals in Week 11 certainly helped that but it also makes sense. Teams score a lot of points against Baltimore, with Vegas projecting this week’s game for 50 points too. So Dicker is a good streaming option in Week 12.
- Player: Spencer Shrader
- Matchup: Panthers
Welcome back to “Starting Kickers against the Panthers”. This week, our guest Spencer Shrader. Who’s that you may ask? Well, Harrison Butker is kicking it on IR so Shrader is the Chiefs kicker this week. That’s all you need to know really.
DST Streamers (15 strong, 1 moderate and 6 bust):
- Player: Kansas City Chiefs DST
- Matchup: Panthers
The Chiefs aren’t even a top 20 DST this season but this week they face the Panthers. That’s all you need to know.
- Player: Houston Texans DST
- Matchup: Titans
I picked the Texans DST last week and they finished with the most points. This week, they face the team that has conceded the most DST points this season. Yeah, I’m going for Houston again.
Please note I won’t be listing any kicker or DST stashes as you should never roster more than one of either of these positions.
