Whether you’re in your championships, toilet bowl, or just still in it for the standings, we’re in the final days of fantasy, which means it’s your last chance to make a bold play. Those in between may not care, but those still vying for a trophy may have to make agonizing start/sit decisions yet.
This late in the year, even the backups to backups are hurt. If you were betting on Devin Neal or Zonavan Knight, suddenly you’re out of players you relied on who weren’t even on radars to start the year. However, if there’s an opportunity, it means there’s a startable player who can make a difference in your playoff matches. Here are the guys to consider if you need a last-minute streamer.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
The QB landscape has gotten rough over the past few weeks. If you were a Daniel Jones, Patrick Mahomes, or Jayden Daniels team, or have brutal matchups like Trevor Lawrence against Denver, you might be scrambling to find a different start.
Bryce Young has been an enigma that we haven’t been able to figure out. It’ll be scary starting him in such an important spot, but if there’s a chance we get the 1st-overall pick version of Young, it’ll be against Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers continue to be a pass funnel for fantasy, and the full return of Mike Evans gives this game some shootout potential.
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Believe it or not, Michael Carter is a five-year NFL veteran, so we aren’t working with no information here. It’s been a tumultuous season for Carter and the Cardinals’ backfield as a whole this year, but with the injury to Zonovan Knight, it’s Carter’s spot to lose with a plus matchup against the Falcons.
Carter was able to muster up 56 yards on 14 carries against the Texans last week, and had a similar 18/51/1 game earlier this year against Tennessee. If we can eke out 10 points with a third-string RB this late in the season, it’s a major win.
However, Carter excels in the passing game and has already seen 4+ targets in four of his last five games. The workload should give him a strong floor, so he’ll just need to punch one in to suddenly become a great start.
Audric Estime, RB, New Orleans Saints
It’s next man up in New Orleans. Alvin Kamara still isn’t back yet, and now Devin Neal has gone down to injury as well. That means Audric Estime should see a bulk of the workload against the Jets this week.
This is far more of a projection, as Estime has seen all of six carries total this year. He handled 76 attempts as a rookie last year in Denver, but fell out of favor in their rotation. Only Evan Hull and possibly Nyheim Miller-Hines stand to take away opportunities, but I’d expect the Saints to want to see what they have in their young player above all else.
Either way, this is a matchup start, indeed. The Saints have won two in a row and now face a lowly Jets team that’s been gashed by RBs over the past three weeks. Estime managed to catch three balls on three targets last week, so if there was ever an opportunity to have a breakout game, it’s here.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Do I love it? Of course not! We’re all here hoping that the TreVeyeon Henderson breakout is real and here to stay, but that doesn’t mean Stevenson is going away.
Some of us may just need a warm body to fill their RB2 spot. If that’s you, then it’s worth giving Stevenson a look as he still had an efficient 77 yards rushing on six carries and three receptions while Henderson was gashing Buffalo. Stevenson was on the field more as well, out-snapping Henderson 35-25.
Henderson’s scores came from long runs, so it’s possible that Stevenson could get a goal-line touchdown in this game. Mike Vrabel isn’t one to change his ways, so I’d expect to see plenty of Stevenson on Sunday, thus he can make for a fine emergency play if you need him.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Refer back to the Bryce Young blurb if starting a Panther this week feels gross. You’re not wrong, but if you need a sound floor play at WR with the potential for a little more, then Coker deserves a look.
He’s seen a reliable minimum of four targets every week for the last five weeks, and has gone for over 60 yards and a touchdown in each of the last two weeks. Now he gets a susceptible Buccaneers secondary that’ll have their hands full trying to keep Tetairoa McMillan at bay.
He’s been reliable for some points at the minimum as of late and gets a great matchup. Beyond the name value, this is a safer start with upside than one may initially assume.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
The beneficiary of Philip Rivers’ entering the lineup? Not Alec Pierce. With Rivers’ mind as sharp as ever, but his arm shot, Pierce’s skill set offers little more than cardio and clear outs. With targets consolidated, we turn to the only option likely available for you, Josh Downs.
Don’t let a brutal matchup against the Seattle defense in Rivers’ first start back worry you too much. Downs saw five targets last week, on par with Pittman and one less than Tyler Warren, but caught the game’s only touchdown.
Now he’ll face the 49ers in a must-win game for both teams, and San Francisco has been particularly vulnerable to slot receivers, where Downs will operate. Moreover, their defense has been far more reliant on disguises than pass rush, a perfect matchup to let old man Rivers cook.
We have an ideal matchup for both Downs and Rivers in a potential shootout game in a dome.
Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos
It’ll be the flavor of the week for the foreseeable future with this Denver weapons cache. Pat Bryant will return after a week of full practices, and had slowly overtaken Troy Franklin as the WR2 in this offense before missing last week.
The Jaguars are giving up plenty of volume to receivers, allowing the fourth most receptions to them this season. They’ve also been excellent against the run, something the Broncos haven’t been able to quite get off the ground yet. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this a shootout type of game, but if the red-hot Jags can keep the heat on against this defense, then the volume play is there for Bryant.
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins
I’m firing up Waller big time in my playoff game this week. Am I letting aspirations from his 200-yard, two-touchdown playoff bomb back in 2020 cloud my judgment? Perhaps, but things do align well for him.
Most are worried now that 7th-round rookie Quinn Ewers is making his first official start this week. Understandably, there’s close to no data to give us an idea of what Ewers will be able to do in his first game, and his draft status alludes to the possibility that this could go very poorly. That said, Ewers loves to target his TE. Gunnar Helm led 2024 Texas in receptions and kept pace with future 1st-round receiver Matthew Golden while Ewers started.
It’s certainly a gamble, but the matchup is too good to ignore. The Dolphins face the Bengals at home, who’ve been dead last in defending TEs this year, allowing 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns to the position. Meanwhile, Waller has scored in four of the six games he’s played this year.
I’m doubling down and playing him in my flex just to get him in my lineup. If you don’t have a clear starter at TE, then this is the upside play you need.
