Week 14 in fantasy football is put-up-or-shut-up time. Whether you play dynasty, redraft, or best ball, for most fantasy managers, this is it — the final week of the regular season before the second season begins: the three-week fantasy football playoff sprint.
It’s easy to get caught up in the now during any week of the season, but Week 14 demands an intense focus on the right now. For dynasty managers, however, it’s crucial not to lose sight of the long-term goal: continually improving rosters and building for the future.
Yes, it’s absolutely time to make late-season waiver wire adds and identify start/sit edges that can push your team over the top this week and throughout the rest of December. But it’s also the perfect time to clean up your roster by identifying players who didn’t hit this season but have the juice and the profile to break out in the future.
Let’s rewind to December 2021. A wide receiver on a four-win team wrapped up his rookie year with only 33 receptions for 446 yards and a single touchdown. Fast-forward to New Year’s Day 2022, and a rookie tight end with excellent draft capital finished his debut season with just 39 catches for 265 yards and one lonely touchdown.
Who were these seemingly uninspiring players? Nico Collins and Trey McBride, respectively.
Fast forward to today: both are valuable contributors and cornerstone assets in many dynasty formats. If you have either one in your lineup, you are feeling pretty good about the upcoming fantasy football playoffs.
Sure, we’ve been spoiled by instant-impact rookies like Puka Nacua, Brock Bowers, and Ja’Marr Chase over the years — stars who fire off right from the start. But dynasty managers know the reality: while some players hit immediately, others take time.
Dynasty rosters often include players who don’t break out right away but can deliver immense value down the road. As the NFL enters a crucial period — free agency and the draft — roster spots can open up or remain accessible for players to thrive.
Now is the time to stash or acquire a few players who won’t make your starting lineups in the fantasy playoffs but could gain considerable value heading into next season. These players could see opportunities materialize during the offseason and beyond.
Take a moment to analyze your roster. Make those late-season moves, identify underperforming players with untapped potential, and position yourself for success — not just in December but well into the future. None of these players will cost you much of anything, but could gain value.
Remember: It’s not just about winning today — it’s about winning today AND staying ahead for tomorrow.
Players to Stash: Potential 2025 Breakouts
Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals, 22 Years Old
Burton has faced issues off the field and hasn’t done much on it, but he undeniably has talent. Talent at the wide receiver position—and experience in this offense — could be in high demand.
One offseason after losing longtime contributor Tyler Boyd, the Bengals are likely to lose Tee Higgins to another team when he signs a mega free-agent deal. While Cincinnati is almost certain to add a wide receiver through the draft, free agency, or both, Burton still has a potential pathway to a breakout in 2025.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Washington Commanders, 22 Years Old
Is Sinnott a Trey McBride type who breaks out in Year Two, or is he destined to be a long-term role player? While there are some parallels to McBride, who played under current Washington OC Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona, that comparison might be wishful thinking. I prefer to believe the truth lies somewhere in between.
I was very high on Sinnott as a prospect, and I hope this isn’t just wishful thinking. He was the highest-drafted tight end for the Commanders since their Redskins days in 2008. Zach Ertz exceeded expectations this season, delivering plenty of fantasy utility at the tight end position, but how much longer can the 34-year-old keep going?
Sinnott’s situation reminds me of two former Dallas Cowboys: Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson. Both did very little as rookies but later broke out as TE1s. Could Sinnott follow a similar trajectory? Time will tell,but he has one of the clearest pathways of the players on this list despite a disappointing rookie season.
Marshawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers, 23 Years Old
No, I won’t stop hyping Lloyd — he just needs to stay healthy. Josh Jacobs has been terrific, and is playing some of the best and most consistent fantasy football of his career, but Lloyd should enter Week 1 of 2025 as the handcuff - with some post-hype handcuff plus potential. Jacobs will only be 27 next season, but he already has over 1500 career carries.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots, 22 Years Old
Call this one a total hunch — a player who is completely free in nearly every dynasty league. Boutte is younger than rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker (by months, not years, but still!). He has also consistently drawn targets from Drake Maye since Maye took over as the starter.
At one time, Boutte was a highly regarded devy prospect. While at LSU, he caught 131 passes for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading the Tigers in receiving yards as a freshman. However, he was written off by many after a disastrous fall to the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Boutte doesn’t have the stats to back up his potential just yet, but he does have 34 targets over his last six games. Never say never with this one — it could be a case of “I told you so” from the devy community. Boutte is dirt cheap and worth a speculative stash.
Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steeler, 25 Years Old
Wait, what? Theo, are you delusional? Fields was traded for peanuts last offseason and then benched despite a winning record and solid fantasy production. So, I’ll forgive you if you’re rolling your eyes at this one.
But here’s the thing — Fields is heading into the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. While teams won’t be lining up to sign him as their long-term answer at quarterback, multiple teams will likely pursue him as a backup or bridge QB.
Fields could replicate what he did this year in Pittsburgh: start the season until the backup is ready. Last season it was Russell Wilson, but in 2025 it could be an incoming rookie. Any week Fields is in the starting lineup, he’s a viable fantasy option. Over his last 11 starts, he has finished as a QB1 in weekly scoring six times.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints, 22 Years Old
How about a Year Three running back breakout? With Dennis Allen now long gone, Miller will return from IR to a more enthusiastic head coach in Darren Rizzi. Recently, Rizzi has been effusive in his praise of Miller and the talent level he brings to the team.
Although Alvin Kamara was extended, the Saints need to identify another back to relieve pressure on Kamara and prepare for the future. If Miller finishes the season on a positive note, he will be in the driver’s seat for that role in 2025.
The Saints controversially selected Miller over De’Von Achane in the 2023 draft (yikes!), a decision that already looks like an all-time blunder—and will probably always look like one. However, Miller still has the potential to be a valuable asset to roster next season.
Cade Stover, TE, Houston Texans, 24 Years Old
Stover has the profile, draft capital (4th-round pick), and the "shower narrative" (college connection with C.J. Stroud at Ohio State) to thrive as soon as he secures the starting job. Schultz is a roadblock, but not an insurmountable one. Houston extended him last offseason, but they could opt to move on in favor of the younger, cheaper option in Stover this offseason.
Here are a few other players who have gained or lost value in dynasty as of late.
Stock Up
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers, 23 Years Old
Dave Canales: Quarterback Whisperer. Canales’ reputation for turning around quarterbacks’ NFL trajectories continues to grow. He resurrected Geno Smith’s career in Seattle, oversaw Baker Mayfield’s resurgence in Tampa Bay, and was the quarterbacks coach in Seattle during Russell Wilson’s best fantasy season. Now, it appears Canales has worked his magic again with Bryce Young.
Earlier this season, Young lost his starting job to Andy Dalton and was seemingly written off in dynasty circles. He became a cautionary tale that not all No. 1 picks pan out. However, an injury to Dalton gave Young a second chance, and he seized the opportunity with little fanfare but significant results.
Young’s recent performances have been strong enough to make him the favorite to enter the 2025 season as Carolina’s starting quarterback. From a dynasty perspective, he’s not leaping into QB1 territory just yet, but he certainly belongs in the QB2 conversation.
Carolina narrowly lost to Tampa Bay this week, but Young was terrific. He posted 298 passing yards, two touchdowns (one rushing), and nearly a third, which was overturned in a controversial decision on an Adam Thielen catch just before halftime. Over the last three games, Young has finished as QB17, QB14, and QB8, steadily gaining momentum.
Tales of his demise were greatly exaggerated. If his improvement continues, plenty of analysts — myself included — will be taking Ls on their early takes about Young.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns, 25 Years Old
Jeudy is playing the best football of his career. He’s one of those players where you think, “Wait, he’s only 25 years old?” Once regarded as a can’t-miss talent, Jeudy was the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, selected two spots ahead of CeeDee Lamb and seven ahead of Justin Jefferson. Ever heard of those two guys?
After multiple years of disappointment and injuries in Denver, Jeudy was traded to Cleveland this past offseason — the NFL’s version of a transfer portal — joining Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore as wide receivers acquired by the Browns via trades. The Browns promptly extended Jeudy with a three-year, $52.5 million contract, a deal that initially left many in fantasy circles scratching their heads. Now, that contract looks like a bargain.
Jeudy has been on an absolute tear. Over the last five weeks, he leads all players with 614 receiving yards. He’s 14th in targets with 48 and trails only Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in fantasy points per game, averaging 21.7. On Monday Night Football, Jeudy had his best game as a pro, catching nine passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. It marked his fifth straight game with 12.9 fantasy points or more.
Jeudy isn’t the first wide receiver to benefit from playing alongside Jameis Winston. Cedric Tillman also saw his dynasty value rise, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Winston will return to Cleveland as the starter in 2025 — with Jeudy right alongside him.
This is not a dead-cat bounce, but it is a huge gain in dynasty value. Dynasty managers who held onto Jeudy through tough times now have a player they can confidently start in the fantasy playoffs and one with significant upside heading into 2025.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders, 28 Years Old
Lost in the Brock Bowers hype has been the strong play and usage of Jakobi Meyers. In games without Davante Adams this season, Meyers has averaged 15.1 PPG, 9.1 targets per game, a 25.1% target share, and a 32.9% first-read rate. Meyers is on pace to set career highs in multiple categories.
Why would Las Vegas choose to move on from a player like this in the offseason? It’s more likely that Vegas enters next year with Bowers and Meyers as their top two targets to start the season. The Raiders are projected to land a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and are one of the teams most likely to select a quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders with an early first-round pick. That kind of quarterback stability can only benefit Meyers and the Las Vegas offense as a whole.
There is still a disconnect between Meyers’ on-field production and his dynasty value or cost to acquire. He is the ideal combination of a player you can use right now while still holding value for the future.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 29 Years Old
So much for the “Tight Ends don’t produce under Mike McDaniel” narrative. Smith has been outstanding, and his recent play has been dominant. Over the last seven weeks, Smith has averaged 17 PPG — tied for the second-highest at the position with Trey McBride and trailing only Brock Bowers.
Smith has already set career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and targets. He trails only George Kittle in Yards Per Route Run (YPRR) and boasts an impressive first-read rate of 21%. Smith has been extremely efficient at earning first downs, trailing only Bowers and McBride in this category. He is also in a dead heat with Tucker Kraft and McBride for second among all tight ends in yards after the catch.
Smith isn’t just excelling in advanced metrics; he’s also dominating in fantasy points per game. At 29 years old, he remains an elite athlete at the position. He has a chance to be this year’s version of David Njoku or Evan Engram — a tight end who becomes a fantasy playoff league winner. Smith has already gained a tremendous amount of dynasty value this season and will enter 2025 with a strong role in the offense once again.
Stock Down
CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans, 23 Years Old
Make no mistake — Stroud still holds tremendous dynasty value and plenty of long-term insulation. If you have him on your dynasty team, you have a locked-in starter for many seasons to come. This is not a time to panic, but rather a reality check.
Last offseason, Stroud was hyped as a legitimate threat to break up the "big three" QBs (Allen, Mahomes, Hurts) in dynasty rankings and was seen as a viable alternative in dynasty startups. Coming off a sensational rookie year, he led the Texans to the fantasy playoffs and delivered excellent value for fantasy managers who drafted him in their dynasty rookie drafts. In redraft leagues, Stroud was one of the best final-round picks or waiver wire additions. Optimism for Stroud was universal across all fantasy formats.
An offseason trade for Stefon Diggs only fueled the hype train in Houston. However, this season has brought more disappointment than success for fantasy managers. Stroud's PPG average has plummeted from 18.7 last year to just 14.6. Not only has his overall production been underwhelming, but he has also failed to deliver the occasional spike week to offset the decline. Stroud has only two top-8 weekly finishes at the QB position, and none since Week 4.
When superflex dynasty startups kick off this offseason, Stroud’s value will have taken a significant hit from his 2024 price tag.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco, 28 Years Old
Back in the Stone Ages (OK, 2020), Christian McCaffrey played only 10 total games over a two-year span. The narrative of CMC being an injury-prone player had largely faded since his trade to San Francisco, thanks to two highly productive seasons. However, this year has been nothing short of a disaster.
McCaffrey ends the year with only four games played and is headed back to IR, this time with a knee injury — likely a PCL sprain. He turns 29 years old this June. Injuries take a toll on any player, but they are particularly impactful for older players, even elite athletes like CMC.
The allure of drafting McCaffrey will still be present in all formats next season, but it will come with plenty of red flags. Dynasty managers who didn’t sell McCaffrey this year are now stuck with a diminishing asset. While there’s hope that he can return to form and provide one more stretch of high-end production next season, one truth remains: Father Time is undefeated. The end is closer than ever due to the mounting injuries.
Looking ahead, 2025 could also bring significant change for a San Francisco team that may experience turnover on both sides of the ball, adding even more uncertainty to McCaffrey’s outlook.
Watch List
Sincere McCormick, RB, Las Vegas Raiders, 24 Years Old
McCormick was activated from the practice squad and performed well against a strong Chiefs run defense. He finished last week’s game with 12 carries for 64 yards. Last season, we saw Antonio Pierce increase the usage of lightly used Zamir White down the stretch last season. History could repeat itself with McCormick.
Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco, 24 Years Old
McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are both headed to the IR. Guerendo is an exciting next man in even on a San Francisco offense that has been struggling to score as of late. The speedy rookie has elite athleticism and now an opportunity for volume. Guerendo has one of the highest Speed Scores of all time (125.7). He scored 19.2 PPR Points in Week 8, and will have a chance for more this week and in the fantasy playoffs.
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville, 22 Years Old
Washington is back on our radars this week. He was targeted a career-high 12 times in Jacksonville’s loss to Houston and finished with 6 catches for 103 yards and a TD. Washington has a chance to end the season by gaining some solid momentum as a core member of the Jaguars receiving room headed into the 2025 season.
