We’re in the thick of it now! The fantasy playoffs are well and truly upon us and nailing those Week 16 streamers and Week 17 stashes is more important than ever.
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 (15 strong, 6 moderate, 10 bust):
- Player: Bo Nix
- Matchup: Chargers
Bo Nix has struggled a little over his last two games with five interceptions, but he remains the QB9 on the season. This week he takes on a Chargers team that is fantastic against the run. The Broncos will need to go to the air early and often meaning a high upside game for the Broncos’ rookie quarterback.
- Player: Aaron Rodgers
- Matchup: Rams
The Jets’ passing game is really heating up, with Aaron Rodgers ripping off a pair of Top 12 fantasy finishes over the last fortnight. This week brings another great quarterback matchup in the 9th-ranked Rams. ARod is a solid streaming option you can pick up if you’re not confident in using Patrick Mahomes this week.
QB Stash:
- Player: CJ Stroud
- Matchup: Ravens
There’s plenty of better starting options for Week 17. For example, Bo Nix is someone you can start this week and next. But if your starter has a tough week 17 matchup or you’re concerned about a Week 16 injury, my favorite stash is CJ Stroud. The Texans are going to need to throw on the Ravens to have any chance of success, meaning CJ Stroud is a risky but viable option in your fantasy championship.
RB Streamers (26 strong, 13 moderate, 8 bust):
- Player: Jerome Ford
- Matchup: Bengals
Nick Chubb is out for the season meaning it’s Jerome Ford the rest of the way. With Dorian Thompson-Robinson sadly returning to the starting QB spot, I expect a more conservative game plan with more running and that should help Ford. I’d also expect a healthy chunk of D’Onta Foreman, but Ford is the guy for fantasy, as the Browns will likely be trailing and Ford is the primary receiving back.
- Player: Kendre Miller
- Matchup: Packers
Kendre Miller has been outplaying Alvin Kamara of late and will be the clear starter if Kamara is out. It’s a middling matchup in which the Saints will probably try to grind out the game on the ground. Miller is a solid RB2.
- Player: Travis Etienne
- Matchup: Raiders
The Jaguars have been a mess to predict at RB for weeks but against the Raiders, I’m frankly willing to start both running backs. But Etienne gives you a better floor given he’s consistently the receiving back and Mac Jones is very happy to regularly check down.
RB Stashes:
- Player: Patrick Taylor
- Matchup: Dolphins
Isaac Guerendo can’t seem to stay healthy and is now dealing with a hamstring injury. I think he’s the most likely back to unexpectedly miss Week 17 so I’m rostering Patrick Taylor just in case.
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, Blake Corum, Tyjae Spears, Ray Davis, Kareem Hunt, Trey Benson, Devin Singletary, Cam Akers, Roschon Johnson
WR Streamers (15 strong, 14 moderate, 17 bust):
- Player: Keenan Allen
- Matchup: Lions
The Lions are one of the league’s best slot receiver matchups and Keenan Allen is an elite receiver who plays over half of his snaps from the slot. Three weeks ago, he took Detroit for 86 yards and two touchdowns. A repeat performance is very much on the cards.
- Player: Xavier Worthy
- Matchup: Texans
The last two weeks, Xavier Worthy has finally broken free of the Chiefs’ receiver rotation, with consecutive 80%+ snap games. This week he faces a Texans defense that is particularly leaky to receivers. Assuming Patrick Mahomes plays, Worthy is a viable deep start.
- Player: Jalen McMillan
- Matchup: Cowboys
Jalen McMillan has broken out over the last fortnight, taking over from Cade Otton as the top receiver not named Mike Evans. With Evans being force-fed targets through double coverage, McMillan has benefited from wide open spaces and a high-scoring offense. With 134 yards and three touchdowns across the last two weeks, it’s not hard to imagine another big game for the youngster.
WR Stashes:
- Player: Jaylen Waddle
- Matchup: 49ers
Jaylen Waddle gets a strong Week 17 matchup against the Browns, after booming in Weeks 12-14. A Week 15 knee injury has certainly taken some of the gloss off but if he’s healthy, Waddle is a solid option for your Fantasy Super Bowl.
- Player: Romeo Doubs
- Matchup: Saints
In Week 17, the Packers get the best wide receiver matchup in football, as they face the Vikings in a dome game. Packers receivers are hard to trust at home in winter but in what should be a free-flowing game, I think Doubs has plenty of upside for your fantasy finale.
- Player: Rashod Bateman
- Matchup: Steelers
Rashod Bateman has battled injuries for the last month, but he looked fantastic coming out of the Ravens’ bye week. I wouldn’t trust him against the Steelers this week but in Week 17 he faces the Texans and that’s a match made in heaven.
TE Streamers (9 strong, 6 moderate, 15 bust):
- Player: Brenton Strange
- Matchup: Raiders
Two pieces of information are all you’ll need to stream Brenton Strange:
- The Raiders have conceded the fourth most points to tight ends this season.
- Strange had twelve targets last week.
- Player: Juwan Johnson
- Matchup: Packers
I’d be lying if I said I feel confident about this, but Juwan Johnson has been playing over 70% snaps the last three weeks and he gets a positive tight end matchup. Given the scarcity of starting TEs, Johnson is a viable streamer this week.
TE Stash:
- Player: Pat Freiermuth
- Matchup: Ravens
It’s hard to trust Pat Freiermuth against the Ravens, though I think he is probably a better streamer than Juwan Johnson. But in Week 17 he’ll be an even better option as he takes on a Chiefs matchup that is top 5 for tight ends.
K Streamers (16 strong, 8 moderate, 6 bust):
- Player: Chad Ryland/Matt Prater
- Matchup: Panthers
The Panthers remain a top kicking matchup, and the Cardinals have been kicking field goals like it’s going out of season. It’s unclear whether Chad Ryland or Matt Prater will be the Cardinals’ starter in Week 16, but I feel good about starting whichever kicker Arizona trots out there.
- Player: Jake Moody
- Matchup: Dolphins
The Dolphins are a Top 3 kicking matchup and Jake Moody is an accurate kicker. I like this combination.
DST Streamers (20 strong, 3 moderate and 7 bust):
- Player: Atlanta Falcons DST
- Matchup: Giants
The Falcons DST has 13 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries over the last three weeks. They now face Drew Lock and the Giants which feels like a recipe for DST gold.
- Player: Cincinnati Bengals DST
- Matchup: Browns
This is a great option if your league really benefits defenses that concede few points. It’s hard to imagine the Browns moving the ball easily with DTR and as a bonus, the Bengals have 6 sacks, 6 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 touchdowns over the last three games.
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.
