FFT Express - Beat the Waiver Wire! MUST-STASH Players Before Week 13!

Podcast: Fantasy Football Today (FFT Express)
Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer with analyst Dave Richard

Episode Overview

This FFT Express episode is all about “beating the waiver wire” as Fantasy Football approaches Week 13. With no bye weeks because of Thanksgiving, there are more games and unique opportunities to stash players before your league rivals. Adam Aizer and Dave Richard run down the best under-the-radar pickups at every position—including running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, and DSTs—who could become hugely valuable in the coming weeks. Their advice focuses both on immediate fill-ins and high-upside stashes for the fantasy playoffs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Thanksgiving Schedule & Strategy

• Thanksgiving means loaded schedule: “There are no bye weeks. We have three games on Thursday, one on Friday, and the rest are Sunday and Monday.” (Adam, 01:31)
• Get ahead—like prepping Thanksgiving: Adam compares waiver wire moves to holiday meal prep: “Buy all the ingredients you need... get all the appropriate pies, because you don’t want to be left with pumpkin pie when there’s nothing else good.” (01:24)

2. Running Backs to Stash

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Washington Commanders)

• Top Recommendation: “He appears to be the lead running back for an NFL team, and that’s really the only box that matters when you’re looking to pick somebody up off the waiver wire.” (Dave, 02:18)
• Availability: 69% available, possible lead back status.
• Fantasy Value: “He checks a lot of boxes... depth piece or maybe ends up starting for you.” (Dave, 02:21)

Devin Singletary (Houston Texans)

• Availability: 58% of leagues.
• Schedule: “Next three games... Detroit this week—not great—but then Washington, Minnesota, and Las Vegas. A lot of those games are in the fantasy playoffs.” (Dave, 04:22)
• Bench Value: Backup plan, especially for playoff emergencies.

Other Notables & Handcuffs

• Justice Hill (Baltimore Ravens): “Just for week 13... the Ravens taking on Cincinnati. Maybe he gets a couple of catches on route to garbage time.” (Dave, 04:50)
• Handcuff Stashes: “Now’s the time... get those stash running backs in case of emergency. They’ll be 70% of what the starters were, maybe 60%...” (Dave, 05:34)
  • Blake Corum (Rams), Tank Bigsby (Giants), Ali Gordon (Dolphins), Ray Davis (Bills)

3. Quarterback Deep Dives

• Jackson Dart, Joe Burrow: “Just go check your waiver wire to see—did someone drop Jackson Dart? Is Joe Burrow still available?” (Adam, 02:54)

  • Highly rostered, but worth a search.

• Jacoby Brissett: “Same thing with Jacoby Brissett... he’s got Tampa.” (Dave, 03:05)

• Trevor Lawrence: “We would never start Trevor Lawrence unless he was playing the Titans. And that’s... who he plays next week.” (Dave, 03:08)

• Week 13 Streamers/Insurance:

  • “Maybe if you’ve got one of those quarterbacks, you can look to add Brissett, Trevor Lawrence, or potentially a week 13 replacement.” (Dave, 03:23)
  • Bryce Young (Panthers): “I think he’s going to have to throw a lot...” (Dave, 03:27)
  • Tua Tagovailoa (TUA), Tyler Shough: “Not earth-shattering to us especially, but could give you a pivot if you don’t love your quarterback in week 13.” (Dave, 03:36)

4. Wide Receiver Stashes

• Check These First: Christian Watson, Kayshon Boutte, Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson. (Dave, 07:06)

  • “They’re available... with some favorable matchups coming up.” (Dave)

• Josh Downs: “Josh Downs leads the way, 40% available. He’s got the Chiefs this week, Texans next week... he plays in the slot. Four straight with at least 11 PPR points before his last game.” (Dave, 07:31)

• Darnell Mooney: “He’s been worse. But for week 12, there’s no Drake London... seven-plus targets in each of his last two games.” (Dave, 07:52)

• Luther Burden: “My favorite stash last week... 75% available. His route rate is rising.” (Dave, 08:13)

5. Tight End Options

• Juwan Johnson (Saints): “Check for Juwan Johnson, 30% available.” (Dave, 08:40)
• Theo Johnson: “28% available... don’t like his matchup as much this week, but week after is more favorable.” (Dave, 08:41)
• Breton Strange: “Been an IR stash... coming back soon... like him even more against Tennessee in week 13.” (Dave, 08:52)
• IR Stash: “Darren Waller... does sound like he’s going to have a chance to come back... 71% available.” (Dave, 09:19)
  • Adam adds: “He was doing some good things and scoring touchdowns... they need a number two target there, so that could easily be Darren Waller.” (09:25-09:32)

6. Defense/Special Teams (DST) Planning

• Key Week 13 Note: “Tough matchups ahead for the Packers, Steelers and Vikings defenses in week 13.” (Dave, 09:40)

• Jacksonville Jaguars DST: “The big stash to get here is Jacksonville... banging on this matchup against Tennessee. They’re 59 available... they will be a top 10 DST then.” (Dave, 09:41)

• Other DST Streams:

  • 49ers DST: “They’ve got Cleveland, then a bye, then Tennessee... good matchups coming up.” (Dave, 09:57)
  • Colts DST: “Against Houston.” (Dave, 10:01)
  • Dolphins DST: “Playing better... week 13 against New Orleans, week 14 against the Jets.” (Dave, 10:03)
  • Chargers DST: “Get the Raiders in week 13—use them then, but after that, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys—a tough schedule.” (Adam, 10:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He appears to be the lead running back for an NFL team, and that’s really the only box that matters when you’re looking to pick somebody up off the waiver wire.” — Dave, 02:18
• “Buy all the ingredients you need... get all the appropriate pies, because you don’t want to be left with the pumpkin pie when there’s nothing else good.” — Adam, 01:24
• “Now’s the time... get those stash running backs in case of emergency. They’ll be 70% of what the starters were, maybe 60%...” — Dave, 05:34
• “He was doing some good things and scoring touchdowns... they need a number two target there, so that could easily be Darren Waller.” — Adam, 09:25-09:32
• Light, humorous banter about the holidays and movie plans closed out the show:
  • “Happy Thanksgiving.”
  • “It’s way too early to wish people happy Thanksgiving.”
  • “Merry Christmas.”
  • “What are you gonna do with your wife for Valentine’s Day 2026?”
    (10:40-11:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |---------------------------------|-------------| | Thanksgiving/Week 13 Overview | 01:24–02:05 | | RBs to Stash (Rodriguez, etc.) | 02:08–05:50 | | QBs to Stash/Stream | 02:53–04:01 | | WRs to Stash | 07:05–08:37 | | TEs to Stash | 08:40–09:25 | | DSTs to Stash | 09:37–10:20 | | Closing/Holiday Banter | 10:37–11:29 |

Final Takeaways

• Running backs like Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Devin Singletary are priority stashes due to possible lead roles and playoff schedules.
• Check for late-season heroics from mid-tier QBs and WRs depending on matchups and injuries.
• Juwan Johnson and Darren Waller headline tight end stashes, especially for injury insurance.
• Target Jacksonville DST now for a likely top-10 week in a key matchup; Colts and Dolphins are deep sleepers.
• Always prepare in advance—both for fantasy rosters and for Thanksgiving sides!

For listeners who missed the episode:
This express, data-packed show is your cheat sheet for pre-week 13 moves. Prioritize the names and positions cited above to maximize your playoff odds. And remember to act early—before your league rivals catch on!