A little bit of a different approach to my weekly waiver wire targets & stashes as we approach the fantasy football playoffs. With Week 14 indicating the final week of the fantasy football regular season (for most leagues), I'm going to be highlighting my favorite weekly streams and stashes as there isn't a use for picking up a player in the hopes that their role evolves into a more significant one 3-4 weeks down the line, but rather only immediate options that are either streaming into your lineup or have the potential to be played next week/beyond due to an injury to a player ahead of them on the depth chart.
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These are purely the best available options for this week and this week only, making them options to "plug-and-play" due to favorable matchups, situations, and/or injuries to other players. These aren't "luxury" plays but rather ones to fill in if you have a hole in your lineup due to bye weeks and/or injuries. Only players available in over 60% of leagues will be included.
Quarterbacks:
Trevor Lawrence (at TEN) - If active
Russell Wilson (vs CLE)
Jameis Winston (at PIT)
Aaron Rodgers (at MIA)
Will Levis (vs JAX)
Runningbacks:
Isaac Guerendo (vs CHI)
Ameer Abdullah (at TB) - If Alexander Mattison and Zamir White are inactive
Zach Charbonnet (at ARI)
Tyler Allgeier (at MIN)
Kenneth Gainwell (vs CAR)
Wide Receivers:
Adam Thielen (at PHI)
Elijah Moore (at PIT)
Ray-Ray McCloud (at MIN)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (at NYG)
Xavier Legette (at PHI)
Tight Ends:
Juwan Johnson (at NYG)
Noah Gray (vs LAC)
Noah Fant (at ARI)
Mike Gesicki (at DAL)
Chig Okonkwo (vs JAX)
Defense/Special Teams:
Tennessee Titans (vs JAX) - If Trevor Lawrence is inactive
New Orleans Saints (at NYG)
Cincinnati Bengals (at DAL)
Jacksonville Jaguars (at TEN)
Arizona Cardinals (vs SEA)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have the potential to be league-winners beyond this week due to favorable matchups in the future and/or potential handcuff value. Only players available in over 60% of leagues will be included.
Isaac Guerendo (RB - San Francisco 49ers)
With Christian McCaffrey out for the season and Jordan Mason on IR until at least Week 18 (after the end of most fantasy football seasons), it's Isaac Guerendo in the 49ers backfield. Guerendo needs to be stashed as a potential top-15 fantasy RB down the stretch here as we have always seen production out of an RB in a Kyle Shanahan offense, regardless of perceived talent level.
Adam Thielen (WR - Carolina Panthers)
Very appealing Weeks 15-17 as a potential high-volume PPR receiver after having recorded 14 targets & 11 catches in the two games since returning from IR.
Tyler Allgeier (RB - Atlanta Falcons)
He's an RB3 in his own right, but the handcuff to Bijan Robinson and would be an immediate top-15 RB if Bijan went down. He needs to be stashed.
Jaylen Wright (RB - Miami Dolphins)
Was sneakily involved in the month before the Week 13 blowout, having recorded 5+ carries in each of his last four games and in 7 of his last 8 games.
He's the handcuff to De'Von Achane and would likely become a top-15 fantasy RB if Achane was sidelined.
Braelon Allen (RB - New York Jets)
Purely the handcuff to Breece Hall.
Brandin Cooks (WR - Dallas Cowboys)
Returned from IR in Week 13 and drew seven targets vs the Giants. Should be in a moderately appealing role (WR2), especially for Week 16 vs Tampa Bay, and could see expanded work as he progresses.
Noah Gray (TE - Kansas City Chiefs)
It's not very often you're "handcuffing" a TE and that's not entirely, but is partially, the case here.
Gray has been involved notably over the last month with three consecutive games of 4+ catches and 10+ fantasy points, including back-to-back games in Weeks 11 and 12 of 18+ points and 2 TDs.
He also would immediately become a borderline top-5 option for fantasy if Travis Kelce went down. Worth a stash if you don't have a quality TE or are rostering a less-than-ideal TE2.
Devaughn Vele (WR - Denver Broncos)
On a tear as of late with three consecutive 10+ point games (ahead of Week 13 MNF), but he will be on his bye in Week 14, making him a stashable option.
Jameis Winston (QB - Cleveland Browns)
He's been hit-or-miss as a starter this year, posting two 23+ point performances and two games of under 15 points, granted those two sub-par games came against the Chargers (9th-fewest PPG to QBs) and the Steelers (fewest PPG to QBs).
After a slightly unappealing matchup against Pittsburgh in Week 14, the volume should be there for Jameis to be a potential streaming option in Weeks 15 and 16 as he faces Kansas City (10th-most PPG to QBs) and Cincinnati (3rd-most PPG to QBs).
He's worth a stash, especially seeing as he may be passing 40+ times a game from Week 15 onward.
Parker Washington (WR - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Returned to the "Christian Kirk" role in Week 13 with 12 targets for 6-103-1, even despite the absence of Trevor Lawrence.
We've seen Washington be fantasy-relevant at times last year when within an elevated role (which he will see here). He could be a sneaky option once Lawrence returns, especially if he can continue to replicate 6+ targets as he has in 2 of his last 3 games.
Top Defense/Special Teams Stashes:
These are DSTs to stash if you have the roster space, allowing you to get one step ahead of others competing to stream a defense from waivers in the coming weeks. Only DSTs available in over 60% of leagues are included.
Week 15 Stashes
Arizona Cardinals (vs NE)
Cincinnati Bengals (at TEN)
Atlanta Falcons (at LV)
Los Angeles Chargers (vs TB)
Carolina Panthers (vs DAL)
Week 16 Stashes
Atlanta Falcons (vs NYG)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs CLE)
Indianapolis Colts (vs TEN)
Arizona Cardinals (at CAR)
Jacksonville Jaguars (at LV)
Week 17 Stashes
Los Angeles Chargers (at NE)
New Orleans Saints (vs LV)
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs TEN)
Chicago Bears (vs SEA)
Indianapolis Colts (at NYG)