FFT Express - Beat the Waiver Wire! MUST-STASH Players Before Week 13! Chris Rodriguez Jr, Juwan Johnson, Jags DST, & Others! (11/20 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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 |

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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!

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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!

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Adam. Hello.

[A]

Who do we need to go get and stash?

[B]

I am gonna put a big smile on your face because the player to go and get is 69 available, and his name is Chris Rodriguez Jr. Who you have been talking. That's a weird smile. He's. It's a tough schedule ahead, but he checks a lot of boxes. 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, especially at the running back position, maybe he's just a depth piece for your squad. Maybe he ends up starting for you. There are some matchups along the way where he can help you. And if he's the future back for an NFL team, you'd like to have that rather than some of these other ratty running backs that we will talk about on today's show.

[A]

Okay, so let's talk about quarterbacks. Go ahead and search your waiver wire just to see did someone drop Jackson dart? Is Joe Burrow still available? They're about 88 rostered. Good luck.

[B]

Same thing with Jacoby Brissette, 32 available. He's got Tampa. Trevor Lawrence is 30 available. We would never start Trevor Lawrence unless he was playing the Titans. And that's what he plays. That's who he plays next week. And by the way, in Week 13, tough matchups for Caleb Williams, Daniel Jones, Jaden Daniels. That's if he's back. The Steelers quote quarterbacks. So maybe if you've got one of those quarterbacks you can look to add Berset, Trevor Lawrence or potentially a week 13 replacement who you could use in week 12. Bryce Young, 68 available. I think he's going to have to throw a lot against the 49ers. I think he's going to have to throw a lot against the Rams next week too. Other than that, guys like Tour are out there. Tyler Shuck, Shuck's got Atlanta and Miami TUA next week against New Orleans. They're not great, they're not earth shattering to us especially, but they're, they're guys that are out there that could give you a pivot in case you don't love your quarterback in week 13. All right.

[A]

It's really hard to find good running backs to Stash, so Chris Rodriguez is a good call. 31 rostered, you said there's really not a lot. Not great names. Other than that, who are we looking?

[B]

No, I mean you should check for Basil Tootin and we've talked about him a lot as somebody that you can pick up in Stash basically since August. But he's got that matchup against Tennessee and if he's healthy, what if he splits 50 50? What if has an edge in terms of playing time and carries ahead of Travis edn? You've got to watch out for that. Devin Singletary is available in 58% of leagues. His next three games are. Well, he's got Detroit this week. That's bad. But then Washington, Minnesota and Las Vegas. A lot of those games are in the fantasy playoffs. That comes all three of them. Washington on after the week 14 by he's not a bad bench running back. Just in case of emergency. You can fling him into your lineup. I'd rather have Chris Rodriguez or but they're both. They're both bench worthy and they're both available north of 50% of leagues. Otherwise it's Tajie Spears and then just for week 13, Justice Hill, the Ravens taking on Cincinnati as he's 78 available. You want players that are taking on Cincinnati. Maybe he gets a couple of catches on route to garbage time. By the way, handcuff stashes AKA the next Emmanuel Wilson or Kenny Gainwell. Blake Corum is out there in 59 of leagues. I would get him. If you've got Kyron Williams, Tank Bigsby if you have Saquon Ali Gordon if you have Devon Hn, Ray Davis if you have James Cook. They're out there in a ton of leagues. Now's the time. If you're headed toward the playoffs and everybody is right because you wouldn't be watching otherwise, right? Yeah. Go ahead and get those stash running backs in case of emergency. They'll be 70% of what the starters were, maybe 60% in the case of guys like Gordon and Davis.

[A]

All right, take a break. We're about 50 done with our show, wide receivers, tight ends and DSTs after this.

[C]

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[A]

Okay. Do we have any good wide receiver stashes?

[B]

Dave? We've got some okay names first. Check for Christian Watson, K, Sean Booty, Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson. They're available anywhere from a quarter to about a third of CBS sports leagues. Some favorable matchups coming up and also opportunities, especially in the case of Watson. He would be my favorite of that group or four. Here are three wide receivers you can add and maybe even start in week. Number 12, Josh Downs leads the way, 40% available. He's got the Chiefs this week, the Texans next week. Those are tough defenses, but he plays in the slot. And before his last game he had four straight with at least 11 PPR points. You could do worse. And Darnell Mooney has been worse. But for week 12 there's no Drake London and so he's going to act as the number one receiver, seven plus targets in each of his last two games. I don't feel great recommending him as a start, but I might change my tune if it's week 13 against the Jets. Kirk Cousins actually looks halfway decent and Drake London is slow to come back from his injury. So Darnell Mooney is a stash candidate. And then one other guy that we've been talking about is a stash for a while. He was my favorite stash last week. I'm still going to bang the table for Luther Burden. 75% available. His route rate is rising. He could be useful down the line. That is a wide out I don't mind putting on my bench. I'd rather put some of those running backs that we talked about on the bench. But if I'm good at running back and I just want a wide receiver that's got some upside later on. Burden is trending toward being and every down player in Chicago's passing game.

[A]

All right, tight ends, let's go. Who we stash in there?

[B]

Do the check for Juwan Johnson, 30% available. And then Theo Johnson as well, 28% available. Don't like Theo's matchup as much against Detroit this week, but if Jackson darts back and playing then by all means he could end up being a good target. New England the week after a more favorable matchup for Theo Johnson, Breton Strange has been an IR stash. He could be coming back soon. Mind him if he starts this week against Arizona. Like him even more against Tennessee in week 13 and then in week 13 if you're kind of desperate for a tight end. TJ Hawkinson, Evan Ingram, they've got favorable matchups. One other IR stash at tight end. And this is for, you know, you just have an IR spot to burn. Darren Waller, it does sound like he's going to have a chance to come back and join the Dolphins offense. He's 71% available.

[A]

Yeah, he's interesting. I mean, he was doing some good.

[B]

Things and he was scoring touchdowns. That's good.

[A]

Yeah, they. They need. They need a number two target there, so that could easily be Darren Waller. Good call on him.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right, dsts, what do we got?

[B]

Tough matchups ahead for the Packers, Steelers and Vikings defenses in week 13. The big stash to get here is Jacksonville. We're just banging on this matchup against Tennessee. They're 59 available. You can get them now. Wait a week. You use them in week 13. They will be a top 10 DST then. And then if you're kind of desperate, you can look at the 49ers DST. They've got Cleveland, then a buy, and then Tennessee. So you can be a little patient with them then. They might not be so bad, even though they just are so beat up. But good matchups coming up. Colts DST against Houston, Dolphins dst. I know that sounds gross, but they've actually been playing better. Week 13 against New Orleans. Week 14 against the Jets.

[A]

Chargers also get the Raiders. You can look at them. And if you start the Chargers against the raiders in week 12, 13 rather, that will be the last time you play them. They have the Eagles, Chiefs and Cowboys after that. All right, Dave, Richard, thank you very much. Well done and good luck.

[B]

Good. Welcome.

[A]

Week 12.

[B]

Hey, Adam.

[A]

Yeah?

[B]

Happy Thanksgiving.

[A]

Oh, yeah, we're not there yet. I'm not. It's way too early to wish people happy Thanksgiving.

[B]

Hey, Adam.

[A]

Yeah?

[B]

Merry Christmas.

[A]

Happy, happy New Year. Dave.

[B]

What are you. What are you gonna do with your wife for Valentine's Day 2026?

[A]

I would quite figure that out.

[B]

You better figure out something because she's going all out for Thanksgiving this year.

[A]

Fishy. We're ordering, you know, so.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Yeah, we don't have to do anything.

[B]

You'll just, like, stream a movie off of Paramount plus or something for Valentine's Day. Be a real romantic.

[A]

Yeah. Naked Gun. What could be better?

[B]

Did you ever see the remake?

[A]

I liked it.

[B]

I did not see it, so do not spoil it for me.

[A]

There were probably five to 10.

[B]

You're spoiling it for me. Shut up. Stop now.

[A]

It was weird that he died. We'll talk to you later. See everybody. Paramount podcasts.