Think you don’t need streamers or stashes? Think again! Emanuel Wilson has been a major stash for us all season and Hunter Henry was our streamer of the week; and they were both fantasy gold last Sunday. But as always, it’s a new week and that means new opportunities and more value to be found. So, each week, I’ll be bringing you an article answering two simple questions: who should I stream this week and who should I stash for the future?
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 potentially 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.
QB Streamers:
Jacoby Brissett (ARI): Jacoby Brissett has finished as a Top 12 QB in every start this season and he now faces one of the league’s easiest quarterback matchups. If you started him last week, there’s no reason not to go back to the well again.
Jaxson Dart (NYG): In Week 12, Jameis Winston dominated the Lions for a QB1 finish. But Jaxson Dart is back this week and he’s an even better fantasy proposition given his rushing floor. After all, he’s been the QB3 in three of his last five starts. The Patriots are the toughest running back matchup in football meaning we should see plenty of passing by the Giants’ rookie. So, Dart’s a risky upside option in Week 13.
QB Stash:
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA): It’s always hard to trust Tua Tagovailoa, especially without Tyreek Hill and Darren Waller, but I think he could be a surprise playoff asset. The Dolphins get three top 7 QB matchups in the final three weeks so, if you’re struggling at the position and need upside, Tagovailoa might be the risk worth taking.
RB Streamers:
Kenneth Gainwell (PIT): The Steelers tend to use a lot of Kenneth Gainwell when they’re chasing the game and he’s had a lot of success as a check-down option and change-of-pace guy against weak run defenses. This Bills run defense is awful but the Steelers should be behind much of the game. This just screams a Gainwell boom game, especially in PPR.
Devin Neal (NO): If Alvin Kamara is out in Week 13, I’m expecting plenty of backup Devin Neal. He’s got a low ceiling given Taysom Hill likely gets a lot of the goal line looks, but in PPR leagues in particular, he’s an entirely solid RB3/flex option.
Kyle Monangai (CHI): Kyle Monangai out-touched D’Andre Swift by design last week and could easily be the more valuable back in Week 13 too. The Eagles don’t seem like a juicy matchup on paper but they’ve conceded top half running back points this season, making Monangai a viable deeper streamer.
RB Stashes:
Raheem Mostert (LV): Ashton Jeanty may sit in Week 13, making Raheem Mostert a great one-week stash (and longer if you’re looking for upside down the stretch). Plus, even if Jeanty is fine, Mostert is a fine hold if there’s little upside available on waivers.
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: Blake Corum, Brian Robinson, Bhayshul Tuten, Chuba Hubbard, Ollie Gordon, Tank Bigsby, Isaiah Davis, Ameer Abdullah, Keaton Mitchell, Dylan Sampson, Michael Carter
WR Streamers:
Troy Franklin (DEN): Troy Franklin is available in over half of leagues and that makes absolutely no sense to me. He’s out-targeted Courtland Sutton every week since Week 5 and is the WR26 so far this season. In Week 13, he gets a Top 3 wide receiver matchup against the Commanders. He’s a must own player who should be started in the vast majority of leagues. And Courtland Sutton is an entirely fine start too this week.
Christian Watson (GB): Christian Watson seems to have taken over the WR1 role in Green Bay over Romeo Doubs. He’s topped 45 yards in every one of his games this season and has out-snapped and out-targeted Doubs over the last fortnight. The Lions are a Top 10 matchup making Watson a solid upside start in Week 13, though his floor is low.
Jayden Higgins (HOU): Jayden Higgins has 26 targets and 3 touchdowns over the last five weeks, yet he’s still only getting 60% of Texans’s snaps. But his usage has been rising of late, especially outside 3WR sets, making him a solid streamer in a good passing matchup against the Colts.
WR Stashes:
John Metchie (NYJ): Since joining the Jets a little over a fortnight ago, John Metchie has 10 targets, 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. He gets a tough matchup against the Falcons this week, but he has a very solid stretch of opponents in the fantasy playoffs making him a viable low-end stash if you’re struggling at receiver.
TE Streamers:
Juwan Johnson (NO): I’ve been high on Juwan Johnson all season and he’s currently a Top 10 tight end. This week, he gets one of the league’s top tight end matchups and should be used even more again with Alvin Kamara out. I’m happy to start him this week but he’s a risky proposition longer-term so back him up accordingly.
Brenton Strange (JAC): Brenton Strange was sneakily a very effective deputy whenever Evan Engram was out last season and I expected a continuation of that fantasy value this year. Unfortunately, an IR stint cruelled his momentum after 23 targets in the first month of the season. But he was back in Week 12 with 93 yards on a lower-than-usual snap count. That should rise this week so I’m backing him in as a low-end stream and a good stash.
TE Stash:
Taysom Hill (NO): It’s hard to know what the Saints will do with Alvin Kamara out but they could turn to a steady dose of Taysom Hill. He’s a little too risky for my taste without seeing it first but he is a viable streamer if you’re desperate at the position and considering the likes of Mike Gesicki or Evan Engram this week.
K Streamers:
Zane Gonzalez (ATL): Zane Gonzalez is coming off back-to-back Top 5 finishes and gets the best kicker matchup, the Jets, in Week 13. How others aren’t ranking him higher I have no idea!
Evan McPherson (CIN): With a floor of 8 points and three Top 10 finishes in the last five games, Evan McPherson is most certainly back. He’s a solid streamer against the 7th-best kicker matchup, the Ravens.
DST Streamers:
Chargers DST (LAC): The Raiders have been awful and get a new OC this week. This should be another boom week for an inconsistent Chargers DST.
Jaguars DST (JAC): The Titans have been fantasy gold for opposing DSTs and I see no reason for that to change this week. The Jags are coming off a 6-sack performance and a blanking of Justin Herbert’s Chargers, so Tennessee should be easy pickings.
DST Stash:
Saints DST (NO): It’s that time of year when I’ll finally concede the merits of stashing a DST (though still not a kicker, not ever). New Orleans faces the Panthers, Jets and Titans in the fantasy playoffs and that’s the sort of juicy schedule I want to be a part of, especially if I have a Week 15 bye.
If you have questions on your leagues, make sure you hit me up on Instagram @TheFantasyFirstDown or on Twitter @FantasyFirstDwn. Also make sure you check out my dynasty and weekly rankings plus my Youtube. Lastly, make sure you check out all the amazing tools available on the Razzball website. They’re great for making start/sit decisions.
