Week 14 Streamers and Stashes: Strange times are ahead

One more opportunity. One more chance to clench a playoff spot. One more week of fantasy grind before the real fun starts. Let’s maximise your upside, lock down a playoff spot and press for the best playoff team possible. So, and with every other 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:

Jared Goff (DET): Jared Goff had one top 12 finish in the first 9 weeks, but a month of positive matchups changed that, as he’s now the QB11 on the season. And things get even better this week as he faces a Cowboys team that concedes four more points per week than any other team. That gap from 1^st-2^nd is the same size as the gap from 2^nd-14^th. This is the matchup to target every week. Start Goff.

Jordan Love (GB): Jordan Love has likewise been rather boom-bust, with three huge 25+ point finishes sandwiched between seven games where he couldn’t surpass 16 points. But he gets the Bears in Weeks 14 and 16 and they’re both boom matchups. They have solid run offenses but allow a lot of points through the air. Love is an upside stream in Week 14.

QB Stash:

Jaxson Dart (NYG): Need a quarterback for Week 15? Jaxson Dart is your man. He’s available in a heap of leagues thanks to his bye this week and he’s facing the very attackable Commanders defense next week. Stash him if you’re unlikely to clinch a bye week.

Bryce Young (CAR): Need a quarterback for Week 16? Got a bye but can’t trust your current passer? I’d be stashing Bryce Young. He has two top four finishes in his last three games and he gets a Top 3 matchup in your Fantasy Semi-Final. The Buccaneers have conceded top three points to quarterbacks, bringing Young into play for a boom Week 16.

RB Streamers:

Kimani Vidal (LAC): Kimani Vidal has alternated between a Top 8 fantasy finish and failing to break the Top 32 over his eight games as starter. This should, on schedule, be an off week; but the Eagles are a good running back matchup. And with Justin Herbert at best limited, I expect LA may lean on the ground game. It’s possible that doesn’t get much traction if Herbert isn’t right, but I think the volume makes Vidal a worthwhile risk regardless.

Chris Rodriguez (WAS): Chris Rodriguez has established himself as the clear Commanders early-down back. Meanwhile the Vikings have been great against the pass, leading to teams attacking them on the ground with some success. In what is expected to be a tight matchup, I’m backing Rodriguez for 15-odd carries and a touchdown.

Blake Corum (LAR): Teams are running riot over the Cardinals of late, while the Rams are using Blake Corum to ease the load on Kyren Williams in their blowout wins. With the Rams 8.5-point favorites, I can see Corum getting a dozen carries for a solid possibility of double-digit points.

RB Stashes:

Jordan Mason (MIN): Aaron Jones can’t stay healthy and the Vikings get some good matchups in the playoffs. Jordan Mason is a worthwhile stash just in case Jones gets shut down.

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, Malik Davis, Isaiah Davis, Ameer Abdullah, Keaton Mitchell, Ray Davis

WR Streamers:

Terry McLaurin (WAS): The Commanders played 90 snaps and chased the Broncos for much of the game in Week 13, but putting over 20 points up again Denver is still incredibly impressive. And that’s what Terry McLaurin did in his first week back. He didn’t even play a full snap-count either! That, for me, makes him an every-week starter until you hear otherwise. The Vikings are a stingy matchup but I’m starting Scary Terry regardless.

Alec Pierce (IND): Michael Pittman is nominally the Colts WR1, yet it’s been Alec Pierce who has been performing most impressively for Indy. This week, he faces an improved but still leaky Jaguars secondary. There’s enough here for me to start him as a solid WR3/flex-style streamer.

Adonai Mitchell (NYJ): The Jets have new outside starters in Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie. While Metchie started better of the two, Mitchell has outplayed him in general and is the safer play this week against the Dolphins. Though neither is a truly safe play, I’m comfortable starting either WR if you’re struggling for pass catchers.

WR Stashes:

Devaughn Vele (NO): After his surprise move from the Broncos, Devaughn Vele has established himself as the clear WR2 in NOLA. With Chris Olave a consistent injury risk at the moment, Vele is a worthwhile stash who could prove very valuable in the playoffs. He’s even a viable deep streamer this week in a solid matchup.

TE Streamers:

Brenton Strange (JAC): I’ve been banging the Brenton Strange drum all pre-season and I’m once again banging away. The Colts are one of the easiest tight end matchups this season and Strange has been a consistent target for Trevor Lawrence. I’m starting him anywhere I own him.

Dalton Kincaid (BUF): Dalton Kincaid is yet to play over 55% snaps this season, and since the bye week he’s run under 18 routes every week. But against the Bengals, the league’s best tight end matchup by a wide margin, I’m starting Kincaid without fear. If he’s out, I’d consider Dawson Knox a low-end option too.

TE Stash:

Darren Waller (MIA): I’d rather see Darren Waller’s snaps return to pre-injury levels before I start him, but he’s a valuable, upside stash who could win you a playoff matchup if things go his way. There’s huge touchdown upside and if we can get some volume too, he may just be a surprise stud.

K Streamers:

Harrison Mevis (LAR): Did you know Harrison Mevis was the Rams kicker now? Did you know he was even an NFL player? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Mevis is a good kicker with a good matchup in a good team. He’s a good, safe start this week.

Riley Patterson (MIA): Don’t want safety? What about upside? Riley Patterson has been great of late and gets a fantastic matchup against the Jets in Week 14. He’s also solid for Week 15 too as an added bonus.

K Stash:

Andy Borregales (NE): I hate this and I don’t want to do this, but in some leagues, a Week 14 kicker stash is worthwhile. Andy Borregales has brilliant Week 16 and 17 matchups. If you’re already locked into a bye week spot, roster Borregales and just hold. In some leagues, I’m playing him even though he’s on bye because I’m already locked into my seeding. He’ll be worth it.

DST Streamers:

Buccaneers DST (TB): The Saints have been mediocre all season and made the Dolphins a great DST start last week. Let’s see if the Buccs can do the same this week?

Dolphins DST (MIA): The Dolphins could be good this week too. They face a struggling Jets offense that has, admittedly, turned things around a little of late. I’m happy to start Miami’s defense again in Week 14 though.

DST Stash:

Saints DST (NO): New Orleans faces the Panthers and Jets in the next two weeks and have proven to be solid in good matchups. I don’t like stashing DSTs, but this is the only time of the year when it’s sensible. The Saints DST is my favorite that is available in most leagues.

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.