As the fantasy football playoffs get underway, it’s a smart strategy to let go of the players that are clogging up the bottom of your bench for high-upside options that could ultimately help you bring home a fantasy championship.
With that in mind, here are several players that may be worth stashing if they’re available as we head into Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season.
The Top Players To Stash in Fantasy Football
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets (4% Rostered)
Yes. We live in a world where Zach Wilson is a player worth stashing. Of course, this only applies to teams that need a quarterback. I don’t know about all of you, but I’ve got a team built around the Justin Herbert-Keenan Allen stack that is reeling. Between X and the PFN Discord, I’ve seen others in a similar situation.
With so many quarterbacks injured, there are not only playoff teams, but teams with first-round byes that are in need of a quarterback. Believe it or not, Wilson is one of the best ones you can stash.
This move is specifically for Week 16, when the New York Jets play the Washington Commanders, who are allowing 22.0 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Only the Philadelphia Eagles allow more.
Wilson just played what I consider the best game of his career against the Houston Texans. He threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he played with confidence and didn’t turn the ball over. Wilson may not be a top-12 option in Week 16, but he will be a high-end QB2.
Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings (23% Rostered)
It doesn’t feel like Ty Chandler should be available after he was such a hot name two to three weeks ago. However, the buzz has cooled off as Alexander Mattison squashed any notion that this would be a timeshare.
Unfortunately, Mattison sprained his ankle last week. While the severity is unknown, there is fear that he sustained a high ankle sprain, which would sideline him for at least a couple of weeks. There are only three weeks left in the fantasy season.
MORE: FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
If Mattison does have a high ankle sprain, Chandler would be in line to start. His Week 16 matchup is brutal at Detroit, but the other two matchups are passable. Plus, volume remains king, and there should be a whole lot of it if Mattison can’t go.
The time to grab Chandler is now — before we get any information on Mattison. If a substantial workload doesn’t come Chandler’s way, you can simply drop him.
Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (2% Rostered)
I imagine that once Wednesday morning rolls around and waivers clear, this roster percentage is going to skyrocket.
Josh Jacobs left last week’s game with a knee injury. It could end up being nothing, but with the Las Vegas Raiders on a short week, he seems unlikely to play. That means we will have at least one week of Zamir White in a starting role.
With the Raiders’ season just about cooked, there’s a nonzero chance Jacobs gets shut down for the remainder of the year, and even if that doesn’t happen, the veteran RB could just be too injured to play.
Two of the next three games for the Raiders are against soft run defenses. And just like with Chandler, volume is king. White would still cede passing down work for Ameer Abdullah, but the second-year RB would be the primary runner and goal line back if Jacobs can’t go. There is low-end RB2 upside here.
Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots (20% Rostered)
It feels like people have forgotten about Demario Douglas, as the New England Patriots’ unquestioned WR1 has missed the past two games with a concussion.
QB Bailey Zappe played the best game of his career last week, throwing three touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Prior to getting hurt, Douglas had seen seven or more targets in four straight games, and he hit double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five.
The schedule isn’t great, but if Douglas is able to return, he will be a startable WR3, possibly as soon as this week. He is a very worthwhile stash, as there aren’t many viable fantasy receivers on the waiver wire this late in the season.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
