The time is now. With playoffs just around the corner, this is your last chance to push for a playoff spot, a bye week or a better seeding. We’ll be covering your best Week 14 streamers and some stashes who can help you in the fantasy playoffs.
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. 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 starter.
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 the top third of starters at the position, moderate means the top half of starters, and bust is everyone else.
Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com, and I answer all start-sit questions on Instagram @thefantasyfirstdown and Twitter @FantasyFirstDwn.
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QB Streamer (Week 1: 15 strong, 5 moderate, 10 bust):
Joe Flacco (CLE): With the Browns showing life in their passing game for the first time since Deshaun Watson went down, you’d have to feel like Old Man Joe will be back for Week 14. If you’re struggling at QB, you could do worse than Flacco’s upside against a secondary Jake Browning tore apart for 354 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Honorable Mention: Russell Wilson (DEN)
QB Stash:
Geno Smith (SEA): I don’t understand why you’d waste a roster spot on a quarterback at this stage of the season, but if, for whatever reason, you feel like you need another option, you can do a lot worse than Geno Smith. We saw him have plenty of success against a strong Dallas defense, so there’s plenty of upside when he faces the Eagles, the league’s most generous team to opposing quarterbacks.
Honorable Mention: Matthew Stafford (LAR)
RB Streamers (Week 2: 29 strong, 11 moderate, 12 bust):
Ezekiel Elliott (NE): With Rhamondre Stevenson unlikely to be ready on a short week, it’s Zeke Szn in Week 14. There will be plenty of volume against a Steelers defense that’s kind to running backs.
Tyjae Spears (TEN): Let’s be clear: I’m expecting Derrick Henry to play against the Dolphins. But I also expect the Titans to trail and need to pass early and often. That could lead to a lot of snaps for Spears. In PPR, he’s a viable desperation option.
Honorable mentions: Alexander Mattison (MIN) and Dameon Pierce (HOU)
RB Stashes:
Antonio Gibson (WAS): At the time of writing, we don’t know what’s happening with Brian Robinson’s hamstring. That makes Gibson a valuable pickup for the playoffs, just in case.
Running backs get injured more than any other position 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. While I can’t predict who will get injured, I can say who’ll be most effective when given the opportunity. Each week, I’ll be listing my favorite RB backups, only including players you won’t be starting most weeks.
Handcuffs: Rico Dowdle (DAL), Tyler Allgeier (ATL), Joshua Kelley (LAC), Elijah Mitchell (SF), Chase Edmonds (TB), Kenneth Gainwell (PHI), Miles Sanders (CAR) and Dalvin Cook (NYJ).
Honorable Mention: Kareem Hunt (CLE)
WR Streamers (18 strong, 19 moderate, 16 bust):
Brandin Cooks (DAL): The Cowboys face the Eagles in a potential shootout for NFC East supremacy. Cooks has five touchdowns in his last seven games and faces an Eagles defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. While Cooks only had one catch for seven yards in the previous matchup, he’s now the clear WR2 and the Cowboys are at home, meaning things should be different this time around.
Jayden Reed (GB): With Christian Watson once again suffering a hamstring injury, there’s a good chance Reed could be the main man against a Giants side that is generally most generous to slot receivers. While his snap count likely won’t increase much, his target share should, especially if Aaron Jones and Luke Musgrave remain out. Dontayvion Wicks is also a viable deep stream if Watson is out.
Honorable Mentions: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) and Elijah Moore (CLE)
WR Stash:
Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch (ARI): The Cardinals have been struggling badly with injuries at wideout, meaning their bye week comes at the perfect time. When he gets the chance, Dortch regularly produces, but if Wilson and Marquise Brown can both get healthy for Week 15, Wilson becomes a great option. The Cardinals have a great playoff schedule, so both are viable bench stashes you can use in a pinch if it comes to it.
Honorable mentions: Demarcus Robinson (LAR) and Josh Downs (IND)
TE Streamer (12 strong, 3 moderate, 12 bust):
Gerald Everett (LAC): Everett struggled mid-season with Donald Parham and Stone Smartt emerging as threats to his usage. Everett has returned to that lead tight end role, though, and he now faces a weak tight end defense in the Broncos. He’s a solid option if you’re hurting at the position.
Honorable mention: Isaiah Likely (BAL) and Tyler Conklin (NYJ)
TE Stash:
Chig Okonkwo (TEN): The Titans temporarily shifted to a tight end committee, but it’s moving back towards an Okonkwo-centered offense again. As a bonus, the Titans face the Texans in both Weeks 15 and 17, providing Okonkwo with multiple opportunities to shine.
Honorable mentions: Pat Freiermuth (PIT) and Dallas Goedert (PHI)
K/DST Streamers (23 strong, 11 moderate, 12 bust):
Chris Boswell (PIT), Evan McPherson (CIN), Houston Texans DST and Cleveland Browns DST.
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.
