RADIO
Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 14 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
This is it. The final week of the fantasy football regular season. It has flown by, but it is not quite time to look back just yet. For those fighting for a playoff spot, this week is everything.
To make this week even tougher, there are four teams on bye and a number of significant injuries. That means some of you may be fighting for your playoff life without your full roster. I have that situation myself in a league.
Don’t worry, there are always options you can elevate from your bench or waiver wire to help you get by.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
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Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for Week 14
Jacoby Brissett is far too available for a QB who has averaged 20.7 fantasy PPG as the starter. He has thrown multiple touchdowns in all but one game, has topped 18 fantasy points in every start, and is even running a bit. He is extremely underappreciated. While the Rams are a tough matchup, the Cards are expected to be trailing. That means Brissett should have to throw plenty, which is exactly why he has had so much fantasy success. He remains in play despite the matchup.
Jacoby Brissett has thrown for 2,188 yards in his 7 starts. That is the most by any Cardinals QB in a 7 game span in the last 10 seasons
His 109 completions in his last 3 games are the 4th-most in any 3 game span in NFL history https://t.co/NboQf6T1QM
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 1, 2025
Tyrod Taylor scored 21 fantasy points last week and finished as the QB6. He has started three games, and in two of them, he ran for over 40 yards and topped 16 fantasy points. Plus, he gets the Dolphins, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy PPG to QBs, including the third-most rushing yards. Plus, the Jets could be in catch-up mode. Taylor is a safe floor streaming option with some sneaky upside this week.
Joined @RapSheet on The Insiders to talk Week 14 waiver wire targets! pic.twitter.com/du7YaNOhdL
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 3, 2025
Tua Tagovailoa brings a very low floor, which makes it tough to trust him in fantasy. This week, though, he gets a Jets defense that is extremely depleted. Tagovailoa got the Jets for two touchdowns earlier this season and in his prior matchup against them. This is not a great QB week, and if you have to dive a bit deeper, Tagovailoa is in play in what could be a back-and-forth game.
Super Flex: For those of you who are in a pinch in two-QB formats, Tyler Shough is in play. Shough has thrown multiple passing TDs and topped 17 fantasy points in two of his last three games. He has run for 40 yards in his last two games combined. Plus, he gets the Bucs, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs this season. It is deep, but there is upside here.
Kyle Monangai has averaged 14.4 PPR PPG in his last five. He has seen 12-plus carries in three straight and four of his last five. Plus, for much of the year, the Packers were tough on the run. However, they’ve allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and five rushing TDs to RBs since Week 9. In that span, they have struggled to limit explosive runs. He remains a strong flex option.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has taken over as the RB1 in the last two games. He has played 45 percent of the snaps, handled over half the RB carries, and is getting the goal-line work. He is a safe floor flex play, but there could be more upside as the game script could be on his side. No team has been run against more than the Vikings.
Devin Neal is in play if Alvin Kamara is out this week. He has seen enough volume in the last two weeks to be a safe floor play. There is more upside this week, though, as the Bucs have allowed the most receiving yards to RBs. If the Saints are in catch-up mode, which seems likely, we could see him rack up receptions.
There are several backup RBs you could throw a dart at if you are in a pinch. First, Jordan Mason would be a strong pivot option if Aaron Jones Sr. sits this week. The Vikings are facing the Commanders, who have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to RBs.
Blake Corum has been more utilized as of late, and there are reports that the Rams are trying to keep Kyren Williams fresh for the playoffs. The floor is low since the goal-line looks are likely to go to Williams, and he is not used a bunch as a receiver. Still, he is a safe bet for eight to 12 touches in a game; the Rams could be playing with a lead, meaning more running in the second half.
Lastly, there are Bills backup RBs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. They face the Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to RBs this season. Davis was more utilized on the ground this past week. Johnson has played more this season and will be used more in the passing game. Due to that, I lean toward Johnson, but both are options for those diving deeper.
Christian Watson leads the Packers in routes, targets, receiving yards, and touchdowns since Tucker Kraft was injured. He also has been highly effective against man coverage, which the Bears play at an above-average rate. Chicago has allowed the most yards to out wide receivers since Week 9 and the second-most yards on deep targets. This is another opportunity for Watson to go off.
An absolute beauty from Jordan Love
GBvsDET on FOX/FOX One/Tubi
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/CC43HanBzs— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2025
Alec Pierce has topped 17 fantasy points in three of his last four games. Do not look now, but he leads the Colts in receiving yards. He always brings a high ceiling due to his downfield usage. While the Jags have been better as of late, on the year, they still have struggled most against out wide receivers, especially downfield. If you are searching for someone to elevate to your lineup, I like the high-upside options.
A Danny Dime to Alec Pierce!
HOUvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/u2q5bEM5FO
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025
Adonai Mitchell has seen a huge opportunity as of late. In the last two weeks, he has led the NFL with 360 air yards (no one else has 275). He has 19 targets in that span. We got to see how high the upside was last week when he went for nearly 25 PPR points and was the WR6. The floor may be low, but like with Pierce, when going deeper, you are looking for upside. His teammate John Metchie III is also in play as he has 15 targets in his last two games. He has scored a touchdown in two of three.
Tyrod goes DEEP to AD Mitchell for the 52-yard TD!
ATLvsNYJ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/1Vn37w4nNN
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025
Jayden Higgins has averaged seven targets and 12.5 fantasy PPG in his last four games. In that span, he has four end-zone targets, which ranks top six in the NFL. He has been overlooked because he has not had a huge game, but he has been reliable. Plus, the Chiefs have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to receivers in the last month.
Devaughn Vele has seen 15 targets in his last two games, showing that Tyler Shough clearly trusts him. He finished as the WR7 last week. Tampa Bay has struggled against receivers all season, and in the last month, it has allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to receivers. Plus, the Saints could be chasing points and forced to throw a lot. If you need to dive deep, Vele brings upside, which is all you can ask for.
Brenton Strange has topped 13 fantasy points in both games since returning, finishing as a top-7 TE in each week. In his seven games this season, he has scored 9.9-plus PPR points in five of them. That is a safe floor, which is huge for a tight end. Plus, the Colts have allowed the second-most yards and fifth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends this season.
Darren Waller led the Dolphins in receiving yards last week. Sure, it was only 47, but hey, he led them. More importantly, he just missed a touchdown but clearly is the top red- and end-zone option for the Dolphins. Now, he gets the Jets, who have allowed the third-most touchdowns to tight ends. They were just lit up last week by Kyle Pitts Sr. Waller also has a favorable playoff schedule, so he is not just a one-week streamer.
Dalton Schultz is such a safe TE play. He has scored eight-plus fantasy points in seven of nine games. He has scored 11-plus in four of his last five. That is the upside of going with the safe floor. The Chiefs have struggled as of late against tight ends as well. He remains an underrated TE1 play.
Harold Fannin Jr. is the only Browns pass-catcher you can trust for fantasy purposes. Part of that is because he is a tight end, and the bar for success is lower there. But regardless of who the QB has been for Cleveland, they have featured Fannin. His floor seems to be around eight fantasy points, which is enough to have him in play each week.
Dawson Knox is in play if Dalton Kincaid is out this week. Knox has not done much in Kincaid’s absence, but this week he faces the Bengals. They have allowed the most targets, catches, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy PPG to tight ends. That alone has him in play as a streaming option. Plus, this has a high-scoring matchup written all over it.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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