For the first time in four years, this blog has a guest columnist. Pro Football Network analyst Jason Katz (better known as "Katz") offers insights below on players to stash in advance of the fantasy playoffs (for those hoping to make the playoffs, and that includes you AW and JK). Katz and PFN analyst Tommy Garrett join me three times a week on the PFN fantasy podcast. He is one of the bluntest people I know--on par with my wife, and almost as charming. Here is Katz's column:
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This post is for those of you in leagues where you’re already locked into at least a playoff spot, if not a bye (or if you lock up a playoff spot/bye after this week, this works for you, too, just not until next week). With two weeks left in the fantasy regular season, it’s time to position yourselves for a playoff run. That means optimizing your roster specifically for Weeks 15-17. Where are you weak? Do you need to load up your bench with wide receivers? Should you stash backup running backs with the potential to start if the starter goes down? Are you streaming quarterbacks or defenses?
When it comes to the playoffs, nothing matters except your starting roster. If you have bench players you know you’re never going to use, drop them for players that might be useful. There’s logic in rostering three quarterbacks and three defenses in the fantasy playoffs, which is a transgression of the highest order during the regular season. All basic roster construction rules go out the window in the playoffs in favor of whatever maximizes your chances of advancing to the next round. I’m gonna take you position by position and pinpoint some players you might want to stash now at the expense of WR4/5s or RB4/5s you know you won’t need.
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: The Dolphins QB gets the Jets, Saints, and Titans in the fantasy playoffs. He’s not just a guy you can stash to stream one week. He’s a guy you can stream all three weeks.
Jimmy Garoppolo: You just hold your nose and dive in with Jimmy G when you start him. You know the volume won’t be there, but you hope he can throw a couple of touchdowns. The 49ers play the Falcons, Titans, and Texans in the fantasy playoffs.
Taysom Hill: We all saw what he did against the Cowboys. He played awful and still managed over 20 fantasy points because of his rushing. He is matchup proof as long as he doesn’t lose his job and his "mallet finger injury" doesn't keep him off the field.
Mac Jones: The rookie can air it out when he needs to. The Patriots get the Colts in Week 15, but that’s the only week Jones will be useful.
Running Back
Devontae Booker: We know what he can do if Saquon Barkley goes down. He was dropped in many leagues. Throw him on your bench if you have the spot.
Khalil Herbert: He was better than David Montgomery as the starter. If Montgomery goes down again, we also know what Herbert can do.
Samaje Perine: He is Joe Mixon’s direct backup and is a lock for 12-15 touches if Mixon were to get hurt. RB2 upside stash.
Kene Nwangwu: I love this kid’s talent. We have no idea how long Dalvin Cook will be out. If Alexander Mattison gets hurt, Nwangwu has RB1 upside.
Wide Receiver
There’s really nothing to do at wide receiver. You can always find guys on waivers to plug and play that won’t get you zero and there are rarely any clear “handcuff WRs” that we know will be fantasy-viable if a starter got hurt. The only available wide receiver I have any interest in stashing if I can is Curtis Samuel because we know how talented he is and that he has WR2 upside if he ever managed to stay healthy long enough to work his way back into an every-down role.
Tight End
C.J. Uzomah is the only name that stands out here. The Bengals get the Ravens in Week 16. The Ravens are bottom five against the tight end and Uzomah had 3-91-2 against them the last time they played.
DST
Whenever I have a team locked into a playoff spot, I prefer to stream my defenses before the playoffs even start. During the season, I’m usually always a week ahead. In the playoffs, just give me all two or three before Week 15 even starts.
New Orleans Saints: They’re more of a championship-week streamer, as they get the Panthers in Week 17.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers will be most useful in Week 16 at home against the Browns.
Los Angeles Chargers: This is not a great defense, but they do get the Texans in Week 16.
Chicago Bears: They’re also more of a championshi- week streamer. They get the Giants in Week 17, and I suspect Daniel Jones is done for the season.
Seattle Seahawks: In Weeks 16 and 17, they get the Bears and Lions at home.
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- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy
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This post is for those of you in leagues where you’re already locked into at least a playoff spot, if not a bye (or if you lock up a playoff spot/bye after this week, this works for you, too, just not until next week). With two weeks left in the fantasy regular season, it’s time to position yourselves for a playoff run. That means optimizing your roster specifically for Weeks 15-17. Where are you weak? Do you need to load up your bench with wide receivers? Should you stash backup running backs with the potential to start if the starter goes down? Are you streaming quarterbacks or defenses?
When it comes to the playoffs, nothing matters except your starting roster. If you have bench players you know you’re never going to use, drop them for players that might be useful. There’s logic in rostering three quarterbacks and three defenses in the fantasy playoffs, which is a transgression of the highest order during the regular season. All basic roster construction rules go out the window in the playoffs in favor of whatever maximizes your chances of advancing to the next round. I’m gonna take you position by position and pinpoint some players you might want to stash now at the expense of WR4/5s or RB4/5s you know you won’t need.
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: The Dolphins QB gets the Jets, Saints, and Titans in the fantasy playoffs. He’s not just a guy you can stash to stream one week. He’s a guy you can stream all three weeks.
Jimmy Garoppolo: You just hold your nose and dive in with Jimmy G when you start him. You know the volume won’t be there, but you hope he can throw a couple of touchdowns. The 49ers play the Falcons, Titans, and Texans in the fantasy playoffs.
Taysom Hill: We all saw what he did against the Cowboys. He played awful and still managed over 20 fantasy points because of his rushing. He is matchup proof as long as he doesn’t lose his job and his "mallet finger injury" doesn't keep him off the field.
Mac Jones: The rookie can air it out when he needs to. The Patriots get the Colts in Week 15, but that’s the only week Jones will be useful.
Running Back
Devontae Booker: We know what he can do if Saquon Barkley goes down. He was dropped in many leagues. Throw him on your bench if you have the spot.
Khalil Herbert: He was better than David Montgomery as the starter. If Montgomery goes down again, we also know what Herbert can do.
Samaje Perine: He is Joe Mixon’s direct backup and is a lock for 12-15 touches if Mixon were to get hurt. RB2 upside stash.
Kene Nwangwu: I love this kid’s talent. We have no idea how long Dalvin Cook will be out. If Alexander Mattison gets hurt, Nwangwu has RB1 upside.
Wide Receiver
There’s really nothing to do at wide receiver. You can always find guys on waivers to plug and play that won’t get you zero and there are rarely any clear “handcuff WRs” that we know will be fantasy-viable if a starter got hurt. The only available wide receiver I have any interest in stashing if I can is Curtis Samuel because we know how talented he is and that he has WR2 upside if he ever managed to stay healthy long enough to work his way back into an every-down role.
Tight End
C.J. Uzomah is the only name that stands out here. The Bengals get the Ravens in Week 16. The Ravens are bottom five against the tight end and Uzomah had 3-91-2 against them the last time they played.
DST
Whenever I have a team locked into a playoff spot, I prefer to stream my defenses before the playoffs even start. During the season, I’m usually always a week ahead. In the playoffs, just give me all two or three before Week 15 even starts.
New Orleans Saints: They’re more of a championship-week streamer, as they get the Panthers in Week 17.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers will be most useful in Week 16 at home against the Browns.
Los Angeles Chargers: This is not a great defense, but they do get the Texans in Week 16.
Chicago Bears: They’re also more of a championshi- week streamer. They get the Giants in Week 17, and I suspect Daniel Jones is done for the season.
Seattle Seahawks: In Weeks 16 and 17, they get the Bears and Lions at home.
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- PFN fantasy site -- www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-football/
- PFN fantasy podcast -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372
- Free fantasy advice newsletter -- www.getrevue.co/profile/pfnfantasy