If you’re reading this, congratulations! You’ve made it to the second to last hurdle! Or you’re in a league with a very funky playoff structure. Ten of our 16 streamers last week boomed even though none had been ranked inside the normal starting spots. Hopefully, we can go even better this week!
Because it’s playoff time, our streamers will be focused on Week 16, and our stashes will be focused on Week 17. I recommend at this stage, your bench should contain one viable backup running back, one viable backup wide receiver, and potentially a DST with a good Week 17 matchup, and the rest should include players who, if circumstances hit, will be viable starters for you.
Please don’t roster bench fillers who are solid but lack upside. If you’ll never start a player, there are better options available. Please comment below if you want tips on getting your bench right.
I’ve been 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 fantasy 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: 18 strong, 6 moderate, 10 bust):
Baker Mayfield (TB): Let’s be very clear: I wouldn’t start Baker ahead of the many every-week starters most people will have, and he’s also behind guys like Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford, who are probably rostered by this stage. But if you’re limited in options, Mayfield is coming off a boom week and faces one of the league’s best QB matchups against the Jaguars. He’s a risky but high upside option in this vital Week 16.
Honorable Mention: Joe Flacco (CLE) (an even lower but viable option)
QB Stashes:
Derek Carr (NO): There aren’t many good Week 17 streamer matchups, but one who is likely available and has a plus situation against the attackable Bucs is Derek Carr. I think this isn’t a great use of your roster spot, so ideally, just pick him up off waivers next week.
Russell Wilson (DEN): Another with a positive matchup against the struggling Chargers is the Broncos’ Russell Wilson. I wouldn’t go out of my way to start him at any time, and ideally, you wouldn’t waste a roster spot on him, but there are situations where it makes sense to stash him.
RB Streamers (Week 2: 34 strong, 12 moderate, 16 bust):
Devin Singletary (HOU): With CJ Stroud far from 100% and Dameon Pierce being almost entirely phased out it’s very possible we could see a lot of Singletary against a Browns defense best attacked on the ground. He won’t be available in many leagues, but he’s the kind of player you wouldn’t have been starting most weeks but could this week despite the matchup.
Gus Edwards (BAL): That is a major boom/bust option. With Keaton Mitchell out, it’s likely Gus the Bus will be the main man on the ground. The 49ers are a tough matchup, but the Cardinals gashed them for 250 rushing yards and 2 TDs just last week, so there’s clearly an upside here. It’s also possible Justice Hill is heavily involved, but I wouldn’t recommend starting him as the Ravens usually look elsewhere when he’s on the field but rush when Gus is out there.
Honorable mentions: Tyjae Spears (TEN) and Zamir White (LV) – These are both desperation options.
RB Stashes:
Kenneth Gainwell (PHI): The Eagles face the league’s worst run defense in Week 17 and Gainwell has been surprisingly active in recent weeks. It’s likely the Eagles get an early lead and want to rest D’Andre Swift a little, so Gainwell’s worth stashing if you’re struggling at RB.
Zamir White (LV): I don’t like starting White this week against the Chiefs, but he gets a far better matchup against the Colts in Week 17, so he’s worth stashing just in case Josh Jacobs is still out then.
If you’re strong at RB, these are some handcuffs who are an injury away from being a potential league winner in Week 17: Rico Dowdle (DAL), Elijah Mitchell (SF), Zach Charbonnet (SEA), Tyjae Spears (TEN), D’Ernest Johnson (JAC), Chase Edmonds (TB), Kenneth Gainwell (PHI), Latavius Murray (BUF), Israel Abanikanda (NYJ), Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN), Dameon Pierce (HOU), Miles Sanders (CAR).
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Spiller (LAC) and Antonio Gibson (WAS)
WR Streamers (22 strong, 20 moderate, 19 bust):
Tee Higgins (CIN): It’s been hard to start any Bengal not named Chase for weeks, but with Ja’Marr likely out this week, Higgins becomes a solid start, and Tyler Boyd becomes a viable desperation option. The Bengals have started cycling their backups more often now, so I wouldn’t consider Trenton Irwin.
Noah Brown (HOU): It’s a bad matchup, and with Nico Collins back, potentially a bad situation. But there’s likely no higher upside option than Brown available on waivers. With three of his last five games over 22 PPR points and zero points in the other two, he’s the ultimate boom/bust player this week.
Honorable Mentions: Gabe Davis (BUF) and George Pickens (PIT) (speaking of boom/bust options, though these have good matchups.)
WR Stashes:
Cedrick Wilson (MIA) and Xaiver Gipson (NYJ): I mentioned this last week, but if Tyreek Hill or Garrett Wilson goes down, these guys become viable starters. They’re worth stashing if you’re weak at WR and need a desperation play.
Honorable mention: Jerry Jeudy (DEN)
TE Streamer (13 strong, 4 moderate, 13 bust):
Hunter Henry (NE): The injuries to the Patriots’ wide receivers have led them to lean heavily on their tight ends. The Patriots face one of the league’s best tight end matchups in the Broncos this week, making Henry a desperation starter if you’ve been streaming the last few weeks.
Honorable mention: Darren Waller (NYG)
TE Stash:
Noah Gray (KC): If Travis Kelce goes down with an injury, you’d have to think his backup, Gray, will become a top-10 option. He’s worth the stash if you’re a little weak at tight end.
Honorable mentions: Gerald Everett (LAC)
K/DST Streamers (25 strong, 13 moderate, 12 bust):
Matt Gay (IND), Jason Myers (SEA), New York Jets DST, Denver Broncos DST and Green Bay Packers DST.
DST Stashes:
I still wouldn’t recommend stashing a kicker, but if you want to stash a DST, that’s fine. Here are a few good options:
Week 17: The Cleveland Browns face the New York Jets, the LA Rams face the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills against the Patriots.
