One more chance! One more opportunity to fight for a playoff spot, to improve your seeding or to prepare your team for that playoff matchup. With six teams on bye this week, now is the time to nail those streamers and sort out your playoff stashes. So let’s get into it.
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 (14 strong, 5 moderate, 8 bust):
- Player: Sam Darnold
- Matchup: Falcons
With six teams on bye including Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and CJ Stroud, quarterback stashing for Week 14 has been something we’ve been discussing for weeks. And Sam Darnold has always been the guy, so now’s the time to pull the trigger. After three solid finishes in tough matchups, Darnold takes on a generous Falcons defense that should offer plenty of scoring opportunities.
- Player: Russell Wilson
- Matchup: Browns
After pumping the Bengals for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns, Russell Wilson can keep his momentum going against a Browns defense that is struggling against the pass. He’s a strong streaming option in a down week for quarterbacks.
QB Stash:
- Player: Jameis Winston
- Matchup: Steelers
I can’t think of many good reasons to stash a quarterback into the playoffs. There will always be a viable option on waivers with no teams on bye and if you’re in the playoffs, you likely have a solid option locked in. But let’s say you expect to take on a powerhouse team in Week 15 or 16 and you need as much upside as possible? For me, Jameis Winston is your guy. Jameis has a pair of plus matchups and offers extreme upside, especially given he’s facing teams which score a lot of points.
RB Streamers (23 strong, 12 moderate, 8 bust):
- Player: Isaac Guerendo
- Matchup: Bears
With Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason heading to IR, Isaac Guerendo will be the top waiver wire pickup this week. If you have him, start him. The Bears are most susceptible on the ground and the 49ers are struggling through the air at the moment.
- Player: Rachaad White
- Matchup: Raiders
The Buccaneers have leant heavily on Bucky Irving as their lead back, but Rachaad White has still been heavily involved too. Their red zone usage is inconsistent but against the awful Raiders run defense, White has plenty of touchdown and receiving upside on a week when Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Joe Mixon, Brian Robinson and Rhamondre Stevenson are all unavailable. Plus, Sean Tucker has been phased out again taking this back to a two man backfield.
- Player: Travis Etienne
- Matchup: Titans
D’Ernest Johnson was a healthy inactive for the Jaguars, turning the backfield over to Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. While their usage was based on drive rather than down and distance, I expect long-term this situation will help Etienne more than his young teammate. Etienne is the better receiving back and is also receiving the bulk of the carries. While Bigsby is a viable desperation pickup and stream, I prefer Etienne if I have the option.
RB Stashes:
- Player: Braelon Allen
- Matchup: Dolphins
I’ve been high on Braelon Allen all season. He’s a Breece Hall injury away from a significant role in an offense that is traditionally good for running backs. The Jets are quickly falling out of playoff contention while Hall is battling a knee injury, leading the league in fumbles and has suggested his own benching. Of all the league’s backups, Allen seems the most likely to vault into a fantasy relevant role during the playoffs. If he’s available, he’s a must-pickup.
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, Zach Charbonnet, Blake Corum, Ray Davis, Kareem Hunt, Tyjae Spears, Trey Benson, Devin Singletary, Cam Akers, Roschon Johnson, Sincere McCormick
WR Streamers (13 strong, 13 moderate, 14 bust):
- Player: Jayden Reed
- Matchup: Lions
Jayden Reed hasn’t topped 26 receiving yards once in the last month, though he has been saved by three touchdowns. This week though, he gets the league’s best slot matchup in the Lions. Despite his poor usage, he’s a must start for me.
- Player: Jerry Jeudy
- Matchup: Steelers
I’ve spoken a lot about Jerry Jeudy and his Browns teammates being fantastic pickups this season and Jeudy is finally starting to pay off. The Steelers are an awful matchup but with Jameis Winston at the helm, I’m starting Jeudy regardless.
- Player: Darnell Mooney
- Matchup: Vikings
A pair of touch matchups and a bye week have really cooled off the hype on Darnell Mooney. But he’s still the WR18 on the season and faces the league’s most generous wide receiver defense in Minnesota. I’d happily start him in Week 14.
WR Stashes:
- Player: Cedric Tillman
- Matchup: Steelers
A concussion has halted the Cedric Tillman hype in its tracks, but it wasn’t long ago that the Brown had three consecutive games over 75 yards with three touchdowns. He’s been dropped in a lot of leagues but gets a good playoff schedule. I’d pick him up and stash him for his upside.
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Matchup: Jets
A season of persistent mediocrity has Jaylen Waddle falling off a heap of rosters as we approach the fantasy playoffs. But with the Texans and Browns, two of the league’s best receiver matchups, coming up, I think Waddle could be a surprise playoff asset.
- Player: Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel
- Matchup: Bears
The 49ers are midway through a run of tough receiving matchups and are barely getting by with a hobbled Brock Purdy. But with the Rams and Lions popping up on their playoff schedule, I can see a serious bounce-back for Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel come Week 15.
TE Streamers (8 strong, 6 moderate, 12 bust):
- Player: Cade Otton
- Matchup: Raiders
Cade Otton had seven targets last week and now faces the league’s third best tight end matchup in the Raiders. He’s a risky start but so is everybody at the position so I’m putting him out there if I need a Week 14 fill-in.
- Player: Will Dissly
- Matchup: Chiefs
Will Dissly put up an unsurprising donut in Week 13, but he now faces the league’s best tight end matchup in the Chiefs. Remember, this is the team that Brock Bowers blasted for 30 PPR points last week. I wouldn’t anticipate that type of performance but, if you’re desperate for a streamer who will likely be available after waivers run, Dissly is a good option.
TE Stash:
- Player: Juwan Johnson
- Matchup: Giants
It’s entirely possible that the injury of Taysom Hill could lead to a big bump in routes and targets for Juwan Johnson. I expect a lot of 12 personnel, with Fabian Moreau staying in to block and Johnson going out and getting receptions. Pick him up just to see what happens if you’re struggling at the position.
K Streamers (15 strong, 5 moderate, 6 bust):
- Player: Chase McLaughlin
- Matchup: Raiders
Chase McLaughlin paid off as a streamer last week so I’m going back to the well. The Raiders have conceded the most points to kickers so far this season and McLaughlin is on fire. This is a match made in heaven.
- Player: Parker Romo
- Matchup: Falcons
The Falcons are the league’s second-best kicking matchup and Parker Romo has been very solid for the Vikings, despite his first miss last week. He’s a strong pickup in Week 14.
DST Streamers (18 strong, 1 moderate and 7 bust):
- Player: Tampa Bay Buccaneers DST
- Matchup: Raiders
Aidan O’Connell is a good quarterback to target if you need a DST this week, so I’m backing the Buccaneers to offer plenty of sacks and keep the score relatively low against Vegas.
- Player: New Orleans Saints DST
- Matchup: Giants
The Giants were already a top three DST matchup, then they released Daniel Jones. This feels like a nice, safe week for the Saints 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.