FantasyPros: 5 Players To Stash Ahead of Week 15 (Ep. 1897)

Host: Lucas Wentzel
Date: December 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into actionable fantasy football strategy for the 2025 playoffs, with host Lucas Wentzel revealing his top five players (and one defense) to stash ahead of Week 15. The goal: help listeners secure an edge for the final waiver runs of the season and make deep playoff pushes, whether fighting for a ring or avoiding a last-place punishment. Lucas focuses on high-upside handcuffs and potential breakout players rostered in less than 30% of leagues.

Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

1. Brian Robinson (RB, San Francisco 49ers)

• Rostered in: 30% of leagues
• Timestamp: [01:06] – [03:40]
• Summary:
  • Robinson is positioned as the premium handcuff behind Christian McCaffrey.
  • He's recently averaged over seven carries per game and is the clear next man up due to the absence of meaningful competition.
  • Other top handcuffs—like David Montgomery and Blake Corum—are widely rostered, but Robinson remains available.
  • Contingency angle: If McCaffrey were to miss time, “it’s worth having your CMC insurance policy locked down” ([03:03]), and Robinson would see a massive workload in an elite offense.
  • Not just for McCaffrey managers; Robinson is “a stash for anyone with a bench spot” ([03:33]).

2. Tank Bigsby (RB, Philadelphia Eagles)

• Rostered in: 13% of leagues
• Timestamp: [03:41] – [05:21]
• Summary:
  • Even with the Eagles’ underwhelming rushing attack, Bigsby is a prime stash with a soft end-of-season schedule (Raiders, Commanders, Bills—each in the top 10 for points allowed to RBs).
  • Bigsby gets contingency value: “I think Tank Bigsby gets the majority of the 16 to 17 carries that Saquon Barkley is averaging per game” if Barkley were sidelined ([04:40]).
  • Will Shipley’s role is strictly as a receiving back, further solidifying Bigsby’s upside if elevated to the lead runner.
  • Advice to listeners: Even non-Barkley managers should consider Bigsby for the “contingent upside stash” ([05:00]).

3. Jalen Coker (WR, Carolina Panthers)

• Rostered in: 9% of leagues
• Timestamp: [05:22] – [06:38]
• Summary:
  • Coker blossomed prior to the Panthers’ Week 14 bye, ranking as WR20 over the three-game sample.
  • Solid if unspectacular stat line: 11 catches, 158 yards, 1 TD on 14 targets in that span.
  • Panthers QB Bryce Young is surging, “trailing only Dak Prescott in passer rating and highly accurate throw percentage,” with two top-five fantasy finishes in three games, bolstering Coker’s outlook ([05:55]).
  • Favorable Week 16 matchup vs Tampa Bay, with the division still very much in play for the Panthers.
  • Contingency upside: If Tee McMillan goes down, Coker’s role becomes even more valuable.

4. Ray Davis (RB, Buffalo Bills)

• Rostered in: 9% of leagues
• Timestamp: [06:39] – [08:10]
• Summary:
  • Don’t chase the box scores: Davis has six games with zero carries; the appeal is pure handcuff upside if James Cook goes down.
  • Buffalo’s backup RB situation is fluid, with Ty Johnson still in the mix, but Davis projects for “the majority of the 19 carries James Cook is averaging per game” should the opportunity arise ([07:40]).
  • Cites last year’s 20-carry, 97-yard, 55-receiving-yard, RB13 finish in a spot start.
  • This is about “getting your insurance policy stashed now, or be a menace and stash your league mates’ handcuffs to benefit you” ([08:06]).

5. Isaiah Likely (TE, Baltimore Ravens)

• Rostered in: 19% of leagues
• Timestamp: [08:11] – [09:34]
• Summary:
  • Likely has produced back-to-back top-10 TE weeks, with 6 targets per game, 95 yards one week and a TD the next.
  • Faces the Bengals next, who “as mentioned above, Isaiah Likely went for 95 yards against and finished as the tight end nine on the week” ([08:50]).
  • Baltimore’s postseason schedule is soft for tight ends: Patriots in Week 16 and Packers in Week 17 have both struggled to contain the position.
  • Great stash for fantasy managers streaming at tight end or seeking playoff upside.

6. Atlanta Falcons DST

• Rostered in: 18% of leagues
• Timestamp: [09:35] – [10:19]
• Summary:
  • The Falcons have generated 5+ sacks in four of their last six games and have a juicy matchup in Week 16 (vs Cardinals, a top defense matchup per points allowed).
  • Lucas: “This Falcons unit... will be overlooked until everyone reads their weekly streaming articles for week 16. So now’s the time to outwork your league mates in every facet of fantasy football” ([10:08]).
  • Defensive streaming is key during playoff weeks—stash ahead of the rush.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On handcuffs:

  • “The 49ers may have only traded a 6th round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for B Rob but they did so with the exact intention that we are stashing Brian Robinson for.” ([02:27])
  • “Why wait until we have another scare similar to Devon H’s last week to roster your handcuff running back? Get your insurance policy stashed now...” ([08:02])

• Bold advocacy for stashing:

  • “Sometimes with stashing players you just need to look at the current weak matchup, predict it to be a smash spot, and beat your league mates to the waiver wire before the game even happens.” (on Isaiah Likely, [08:28])

• On staying ahead:

  • “Every edge matters in the fantasy football playoffs, right? That includes stashing defenses with juicy upcoming matchups.” ([09:36])

Main Players & Teams Discussed (with Segments)

| Player | Team | Segment Start | |----------------------|-------------------------|---------------| | Brian Robinson | SF 49ers (RB) | 01:06 | | Tank Bigsby | PHI Eagles (RB) | 03:41 | | Jalen Coker | CAR Panthers (WR) | 05:22 | | Ray Davis | BUF Bills (RB) | 06:39 | | Isaiah Likely | BAL Ravens (TE) | 08:11 | | Atlanta Falcons DST | Atlanta Falcons (DST) | 09:35 |

Summary Table: Waiver Wire Stash List

| Player | Position | Team | Roster % | Playoff Value | |---------------------|----------|------------------|----------|-----------------------------------------| | Brian Robinson | RB | SF 49ers | 30% | Top insurance for CMC, clear handcuff | | Tank Bigsby | RB | PHI Eagles | 13% | Best backup for Barkley, soft schedule | | Jalen Coker | WR | CAR Panthers | 9% | WR2 upside, offense heating up | | Ray Davis | RB | BUF Bills | 9% | Handcuff to James Cook, big role if needed | | Isaiah Likely | TE | BAL Ravens | 19% | Closing stretch: soft matchups, great form | | Atlanta Falcons DST | DEF | ATL Falcons | 18% | Week 16 streamer vs ARI, sack upside |

Actionable Advice

• Proactively add these stashes—don’t wait for injuries or breakout games.
• Look ahead to favorable fantasy playoff matchups, not just immediate need.
• Consider stashing for both personal insurance and in hopes of weakening your opponents.

Final Thoughts

Lucas hammers home that the margin for victory in the fantasy playoffs is razor-thin: “Every edge matters.” Whether holding high-upside handcuffs, emerging wideouts, or the best streaming defenses, make your moves before your competition gets wise.

Go check your waiver wire—these stashes could make all the difference!