In most leagues, there is one week left until the fantasy playoffs. That's it. Maybe it's win or go home for you this week. I've been there. Or this could be about landing that first-round bye with another victory. And maybe you just want to play spoiler in Week 14, knocking another team out of the postseason dance. I like it.
But there's a catch here in Week 14, as six teams are on a bye. That's right. Six. And there are some heavy hitters out this week, especially at the quarterback position: Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Anthony Richardson and more. So, there is a need, especially in deeper leagues, to find potential streaming options to drop into your lineup.
Today, we'll start with the quarterbacks, and I have five targets, including a couple who fit in 2-QB superflex formats. Yes, we always hit on the wide receivers, and I have a group here that presents some scoring upside. And, while the running back position remains lighter at this time of the season, I'll give you options, along with a tight end and defense to stream.
Players listed below are deeper-league targets, rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues entering this week's waiver period. Although you might notice overlap with Eric Moody's waiver wire column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are solely for this week's matchups and not based on the players' values for the remainder of the season.
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (55.0% rostered; vs. Browns)
Wilson lit up the Bengals defense in Week 13, posting a season-high 26.86 points and throwing for 414 yards with three touchdowns. Sure, that was a really good matchup for Wilson. I get it. But just two weeks ago, in the snow versus the same Browns defense, Wilson completed 21 of 28 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. And he hit four throws of 20 or more air yards in that one. You can play Wilson this Sunday in the home tilt against Cleveland.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (46.9% rostered; at 49ers)
If we look at Williams, with a focus on his two games under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who is now the Bears' interim head coach, then there is upside to discuss here. Williams has posted 26 or more points in each of his past two games (MIN, @DET) with Brown calling the plays, throwing for multiple touchdowns and rushing for at least 33 yards in each. Plus, he's simply been much more decisive with his decision-making. While I don't love the road game this week at San Francisco, Williams has to be an option given his recent run of production, along with the number of quarterbacks on a bye in Week 14.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (25.4% rostered; vs. Jaguars)
Levis has been a productive fantasy quarterback over his past four games, posting at least 15 points in each, with multiple touchdown passes in three. Plus, Levis will see the ball on designed rushes, and he will look to get outside of the pocket as a runner, as he's totaled 22 carries in this four-game stretch. Yes, Levis will make some questionable decisions with the ball. We know that. But with a great Week 14 matchup against a Jags defense that ranks dead last versus quarterbacks, Levis can be played as a deeper-league starter this week.
Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders (3.4% rostered; at Buccaneers)
O'Connell isn't going to give you much of anything as a runner, but he just went into Arrowhead last Friday and threw for 340 yards versus the Chiefs, and he gets a strong matchup in Week 14 against Tampa Bay. A true pocket thrower who wins with timing and location, O'Connell finished with 19.6 points against the Chiefs, and he now gets a Bucs defense that ranks in the bottom five versus quarterbacks. He's an option in two-QB superflex leagues.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (4.3% rostered; at Eagles)
This is a tough matchup for Young against a surging Philly defense, but with the bye weeks, managers in two-QB superflex leagues could take a shot here. And Young's recent play supports it. He is trusting the pocket. Moving to throw. And the eye level has been consistent. Young scored a season-high 23.62 points on the Bucs defense this past Sunday, and he posted 16.62 versus the Chiefs in Week 12. Plus, he has rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown over his past three games. He's worth a flier at this stage.
Wide receivers
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (44.6% rostered; at Jaguars)
Westbrook-Ikhine is on a heater, logging at least one touchdown catch in seven of his past eight games. And he's doing this with an average of only 2.5 receptions per game. So, can it continue? The positive here is that Westbrook-Ikhine is cashing in for managers and, despite the low reception rate, the target volume is decent. Westbrook-Ikhine has seen at least five targets over his past three games. I'll take that with a matchup versus the Jags this week. If you play in a deeper league, get him in the lineup.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints (23.0% rostered; at Giants)
I've been on MVS for weeks, so let's keep it rolling here for this Sunday's matchup versus the Giants. Like Westbrook-Ihkine, Valdes-Scantling is finding the end zone, with a least one touchdown grab over his past three games. And Saints quarterback Derek Carr has been willing to cut it loose on vertical throws. Now, MVS is averaging just 2.3 receptions and 3.7 targets over this three-game span. However, at 33.1 YPC, I'll play the upside.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (36.7% rostered; at Eagles)
As we talked about with Bryce Young, the Week 14 matchup in Philly isn't ideal. But for a defense that will lean on zone coverage, Theilen's ability to find open voids does create some positives in the lineup. Last week, in the OT loss to the Bucs, Thielen posted a season-high 23.9 points, catching eight of 10 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown, just missing on a second scoring grab. In a game that could force Young to throw with some volume in order to keep up, Thielen can get you numbers catching the ball on unders and working the intermediate zones.
Ray-Ray McCloud III, Atlanta Falcons (11.9% rostered; at Vikings)
The target volume is climbing for McCloud in Atlanta. McCloud has now seen at least six targets in each of his past two games, and he's scored over 10 points in both. Plus, he can get loose in the open field, as 65.2% of his receiving yardage in those two games came after the catch. He shifts gears quickly with the ball in his hands. Take McCloud as a deeper-league option versus a Vikings defense that has struggled to limit wide receivers all season.
Running backs
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (73.4% rostered; vs. Bears)
With both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) heading to IR, the door is open for Guerendo to take on a lead role in the 49ers backfield. Guerendo rushed for 19 yards and a touchdown (on four carries) in the Week 13 loss to the Bills, and he has produced two games this season with at least 85 yards rushing. Plus, he has some game-breaking ability due to his 4.3 speed. Guerendo fits as an RB2 this week versus a Bears defense allowing 4.9 YPC (29th in the NFL). He's been added in most leagues at this late juncture in the week, but it's certainly worth checking to see if he's still available in your league.
Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers (43.8% rostered; at Eagles)
The run game matchup versus the Eagles is a rough one, and Brooks will continue to play a secondary role behind starter Chuba Hubbard. However, last week in his second pro game, Brooks did see six carries (for 18 yards), and he displayed his upside as a receiver catching three passes for 23 yards. In a deeper league, Brooks has some Week 14 value due to his elusiveness and ball-carrier vision after the catch as an underneath outlet for Bryce Young.
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (13.3% rostered; at Chiefs)
As expected, Gus Edwards started the Week 13 game versus the Falcons with J.K. Dobbins on IR, but game flow limited his touches as he rushed for only 32 yards on six carries. Vidal got some looks here too, rushing four times for 20 yards. Even in a tough matchup versus the Chiefs run defense, you are betting on an increased workload for Vidal as the No. 2, and he does have enough receiving traits to be targeted on screens and checkdowns.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (35.4% rostered; at Titans)
Travis Etienne Jr. is still the No. 1 in Jacksonville, but Bigsby did see eight touches for 35 total yards in the Week 13 loss to the Texans. I know there isn't a ton here to get juiced up about, but if you are in a situation where you need a back in a deeper league, Bigsby at least gives you some volume, and we've seen him rip off big plays this season.
Tight ends
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (47.5% rostered; vs. Browns)
Freiermuth scored 18.8 points in the Steelers' Week 13 win over the Bengals, catching six of seven targets for 68 yards and a touchdown. And Freiermuth caught all four of his targets for 59 yards (9.9 points) in the first meeting versus the Browns just two weeks ago. With his rugged playing style, ascending volume and seam-stretching ability, Freiermuth fits here as a streamer for Sunday's home game versus Cleveland.
D/ST
New Orleans Saints (51.4% rostered; at Giants)
This is a matchup play versus a subpar Giants offense that is going to start either Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito at quarterback in Week 14. The Saints haven't recorded a takeaway since Week 10, but with multiple sacks in three straight games, and the ability to generate pressure on blitz schemes, this unit will have turnover opportunities versus the Giants.