The 6 Best Players To Stash Now For The Fantasy Football Playoffs

I figured I’d start this week’s article with some inspirational quotes from people who know a little something about winning:

• “It's not how you start the season, it's how you finish.” - Albert Pujols
• “The most important thing is to win enough games to get into the playoffs. Then, once you get into the playoffs, win.” - Joe Flacco
• "I’d wish you the best of luck, but I believe luck is a concept created by the weak to explain their failures." - Ron Swanson

There. Now that you’re sufficiently motivated, let’s take a look at some lesser-hyped but very stash-worthy players for the upcoming fantasy playoffs. I’m not going to waste time in this article telling you to stash Blake Corum. You already know that. We’re going to dig a little further beneath the surface, like a fantasy tick with a thirst for playoff blood. Or…a less disgusting analogy, if you’d prefer.

I know that many of you are still fighting for your playoff lives, so your priority is to win NOW. But if you’ve already locked up a spot or need to cut some fat from your bench, look no further…

Low Key High Upside Stashes

Ollie Gordon, RB - Dolphins

• Upside Potential: 8.5/10

I swear this isn’t just me wishing fantasy relevance upon a dude named “Ollie” so we get to hear announcers say the name “Ollie” a whole bunch during the next few Dolphins games. I would never do that. That would be stupid. But ya know what’s not stupid? Picking up the backup to a workhorse running back who’s already had some injury scares.

Ollie Gordon has a clear leg up on Jaylen Wright as the handcuff and should step into a pseudo-lead role if Achane misses any time. But even if the Miami backfield’s health bar remains bright green, Gordon could still be a desperation flex play. He’s put up two double-digit fantasy performances (and a third if we’re allowed to round up) on the back of some touchdowns. That’s important because the Dolphins have a stretch of excellent matchups to close out the fantasy season, including a date with a Bengals defense that gives fantasy points away like food court samples.

Devin Singletary, RB - Giants

• Upside Potential: 7.5/10

I was shocked (SHOCKED I TELL YOU!) to see Devin Singletary is only rostered in just 24% of Yahoo leagues. Not just because Tyrone Tracy Jr was carted off the field last week and could be limited coming out of the bye week. But because Singletary has been heavily involved in this offense, with and without Tracy, since Cam Skattebo’s season-ending injury.

Singletary has gotten 40%+ of the snaps and carries while owning the short yardage and goal line attempts. And who’s waiting around the corner but the Commanders and Vikings, who both give a major boost to opposing rushers. Then there’s the Raiders, who are…ya know…bad. What I’m saying is there are no bad matchups on his horizon.

Darren Waller, TE - Dolphins

• Upside Potential: 7.5/10

Like most years, the tight end position falls into two categories for fantasy managers: 1) The Haves, 2) The Holy Hell This Is Depressings. But with his rather surprising return from injury, Waller has given that second group a potential spark. Earlier this year, Darren Waller was a touchdown miser, hoarding end zone targets like Scrooge McDolphin. In the few games he’s played with a full-time role, he’s averaged 11.6 PPR points. (To put it in context, that’d be good enough for TE8 in PPG.)

Better yet, the rest of Waller’s schedule is a fantasy goldmine. I know I just talked about this with Gordon, and I don’t want to give the Bengals defense a complex or anything…but have you seen what they allow opposing tight ends to do to them? Frankly, those highlights should be rated NC-17.

Don’t Make Me Tell You Again Stashes

Jayden Reed, WR - Packers

• Upside Potential: 8.0/10

I don’t want to keep being this guy, but Jayden Reed’s rostership percentage is forcing my hand. So I’ll say again: Jayden Reed could be the key to reinvigorating the Packers passing offense in their post-Tucker Kraft era. Matt LaFleur has said as much, noting how much they move Reed around the field and calling him “a YAC machine.” As soon as his collarbone is ready for action, the third-year receiver could be the smelling salts your fantasy roster needs.

Though it feels like an eternity ago now, Reed is coming off back-to-back seasons where he led all Green Bay pass-catchers in receiving yards. I should also point out that Kraft was second on the team in that category last year. From now until the end of your fantasy playoffs, the Packers face teams with good-to-great offenses that should demand Jordan Love throw some uppercuts. And who better to make sure his fist connects to his opponents’ chins than Reed?

Pat Bryant, WR - Broncos

• Upside Potential: 7.0/10

Welcome back to another installment of My Best Friend, Pat. (Catch the one-man show coming to a recently foreclosed theater near you.) Pat Bryant has seen 13 targets over his last two games, trailing only Courtland Sutton (14) in that time. He also usurped Troy Franklin in route participation, though I’m not ready to anoint this a full-on Freaky Friday switcheroo. Not just yet. But it’s at least trending that way.

And the man is no overnight success, either. Bryant’s ascension has been growing beneath the surface for quite some time. We’re just finally getting to see the flowers. Dwain McFarland called him a WR5 and climbing, but if Bryant stays the course this week against the Raiders, I’ll be ready to move him into official flex territory for the playoffs.

Big Brain Playoff Stash

Samaje Perine, RB - Bengals

• Upside Potential: 7.0/10

Please don’t be sad reading that name. I know it’s not a sexy name. But I implore you to think of the upside that comes with that bald head and giant beard of his. In Samaje Perine’s last five healthy games, he’s had at least a 35% snap share and 30% of the rush attempts in each of them. Targets have been tougher to come by than usual, but he’s clearly and heavily involved in the gameplan whenever he’s active. The results haven’t been staggering, but hey, at least the dude’s out there.

Should something happen to Chase Brown, whether that be an injury or the sudden urge to retire and spend his Sundays working on a food blog, Perine would likely get a bigger chunk of the pie than Tahj Brooks. Most of Cincinnati's remaining games should be high scoring affairs, leaving room for Perine to help out your flex spot in a pinch.