FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast Summary Episode: Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire: Must-Have Players to Add to Your Roster (Ep. 1873) Date: December 1, 2025 Hosts: Joe Pisapia (“Joey P”), Derek Brown (“DBro”), Pat Fitzmaurice (“Fitzy”)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into Week 14's waiver wire priorities as the fantasy playoffs approach, with actionable advice on must-have players, positional rankings, and strategic roster management. The panel also debates coaching decisions, player value rest-of-season, and offers candid, entertaining riffs on Thanksgiving football fallout and quirky NFL moments.
Main Themes & Key Takeaways
- Debating the impact of situational coaching on player (and fantasy) outcomes.
- Comprehensive discussion and rankings for waiver wire running backs, wide receivers, and handcuffs.
- Practical advice on both player pickups and strategic, even controversial, fantasy drops.
- Streamer picks at each position for leagues facing bye week crunches.
- Emphasis on the importance of playoff readiness & roster optimization.
- Fantasy playoff mindset: “Now is the time to cuff your studs and hunt for upside.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Coaching, Aggressiveness, & Thanksgiving Fallout
- “Situational football is something I teach the 12-year-olds that I coach... you kick the field goal... there’s aggressive and then there’s stupid.” — Joey P, [01:11]
- “You live by the sword, you die by the sword... If they’re gonna be aggressive, they’re always gonna be aggressive.” — DBro, [02:04]
- “Dan Campbell is aggressive to a fault.” — Fitzy, [02:55]
Waiver Wire Priority Breakdowns
Wide Receiver Spotlight
Adonai Mitchell, Jets (7% rostered on Sleeper)
- Why Add: Emerging as Tyrod Taylor’s go-to deep threat & snapping up consistent targets (24 over the last three weeks).
- Rest-of-Season Outlook: High upside, WR3/flex play; favorable playoff schedule (Jaguars, Saints).
- “Mitchell’s a special athlete... If the light is switched on for him, look out.” — Fitzy, [06:13]
Jaden Higgins
- Steady role & volume: Two top-24 finishes since Week 11, WR31 last week ([21:57]).
- Pat sides with Higgins > Mitchell, stating Higgins is "a more complete receiver" ([22:33]).
Devon Bailey (Saints)
- Notable performance: 8 for 93 and a TD. “This feels like an Elik Ao Manor type of situation where it’s a bad offense, got volume, outlier game.” — DBro, [24:14]
John Metchie (Jets)
- Still worth adding as a “possession guy” in PPR. “Still a really narrow target tree with the Jets—it’s basically Metchie, Mitchell, and Mason Taylor.” — Fitzy, [26:01]
Jalen Coker
- Fitzy: “Potential two-week window... stash him, see how it develops.” ([26:58])
- DBro: “My problem is not with Coker, it’s with Bryce Young... I don’t know what to do with this freaking offense, man.” ([27:29])
Handcuff & RB Ladder
Chris Rodriguez (Commanders)
- “Two and a half stars... RB3/flex bucket.” — DBro, [09:27]
- “Complete zero in the passing game—one reception in 10 games.” — Fitzy, [10:09]
Bam Knight (Cardinals)
- “Worth more than people realize right now.” — DBro, [11:49]
- Monitoring Trey Benson’s health is crucial; value could rise if Benson lands on IR.
Blake Corum (Rams)
- Only high-value if Kyren Williams goes down. “If Kyren goes down, we’re ranking him as a top-10 running back.” — Fitzy, [13:40]
- “He’s a five-star handcuff.” — DBro, [14:02]
Tyler Allgeier (Falcons)
- “About three and a quarter stars... Not quite as good an offense but maybe a little bit of standalone value (TD upside).” — Fitzy, [14:43]
- “I just look at him in the same area code as Blake Corum.” — DBro, [15:18]
Bashel Tootin (Jaguars)
- “Handcuff class, maybe a three... If anything happened to Etienne, LaQuint Allen could sneak the pass-catching work.” — Fitzy, [16:10]
Notable Drop Candidates
- Isaiah Pacheco: “I think you can probably [drop] him. He was a strict backup to Kareem Hunt…We have not gotten the same Pacheco.” — Fitzy, [17:31]
- Jerry Jeudy: “Gone.” — DBro, [31:30]
- Trey Tucker: “Drop.” — Fitzy, [31:34]
- Sean Tucker, Rashad White (with Bucky back): Drop.
- Controversial (and possibly reckless) drop: Justin Jefferson as a “sabotage drop” in the playoffs—hosts advise against it (“That’s the sort of move that could haunt you for the rest of your… You would never hear the end of it...” — Fitzy, [34:00])
Streamers of the Week
QB Streamers
- Tyrod Taylor (Jets, vs Dolphins): “QB1 upside; brings enough as a rusher.” — DBro, [37:47]
- Tyler Shuck (Saints, vs Bucs): “He’s put up 18+ points in two of the last three… look for defensive matchups.” — Fitzy, [38:09]
TE Streamers
- Colston Loveland (Bears): “Talent is just showing through, Bears’ receivers are AWOL.” — Fitzy, [38:58]
- Brenton Strange (vs Colts): “Just stream against the Colts…third most FPPG to tight ends.” — DBro, [39:13]
DST Streamers
- Buccaneers: “The quarterback can be turnover-prone and be good for fantasy—play the Bucs D.” — DBro, [39:39]
- Commanders: “We are targeting the Vikings’ QBs… J.J. McCarthy has thrown 10 picks and taken 20 sacks in six starts.” — Fitzy, [39:57]
Kicker Streamers
- Will Lutz (Broncos): “Dependable, 27 points last two games, in a dome vs Raiders.” — Fitzy, [41:21]
- Evan McPherson (Bengals): “8, 12, and 24 points last three. Check weather for Buffalo.” — DBro/Fitzy, [41:37-41:59]
Hosts’ Top 5 Pickups: Week 14
Pat Fitzmaurice
- Jaden Higgins
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense
- Blake Corum
- Tyler Allgeier
- Bam Knight ([42:22])
Derek Brown
- Jaden Higgins
- Adonai Mitchell
- Chris Rodriguez
- Bam Knight
- Brenton Strange ([43:16])
Entertaining & Informative Side Notes
- Broad, lighthearted debate about which rookie wideouts to trust and annual struggle playing the “game of handcuffs.”
- Riffing on “The Luther Burden Project is a band that definitely opened for Rush.” — [23:44]
- Raucous banter about QBs wearing double ankle braces, “faces for radio,” and “you live by the sword, you die by the sword.”
- “I’m gonna go to Wawa and get a large hoagie and just drown my sorrows.” — Joey P, [37:33]
Strategic Advice
- Start prepping for playoffs NOW—roster your handcuffs, cut dead weight, and grab upside stashes.
- Play the matchups with streaming QBs/TEs/DSTs, especially with byes and injuries.
- Be cautious with “sabotage drops”—don’t let league-mates beat you with your own cut stars.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:11]–[04:06] — Thanksgiving Football Recap & Coaching Decisions
- [06:13]–[09:01] — Adonai Mitchell / Jets Target Tree Breakdown
- [09:27]–[16:58] — RB Handcuffs Tiered Star Ratings
- [21:57]–[26:00] — Wide Receivers: Higgins, Burden, Bailey, Metchie, Coker
- [31:30]–[34:00] — Drop Section, Jefferson "sabotage drop"
- [37:47]–[39:36] — Streamers (QB, TE, DST)
- [41:21]–[41:59] — Kicker Streamers
- [42:22]–[43:16] — Top 5 Waiver Adds
Final Thoughts
The hosts’ advice: maximize your roster for playoff upside, don’t get cute with sabotage drops, and always “kick the field goal”—in football and in fantasy strategy. With one more key waiver week left, now’s the time to get aggressive with upside adds and lock in insurance for your key starters.
For more, catch the full episode and join the conversation live Tuesdays at 3 pm ET on YouTube.