The fantasy football playoffs are finally here, so every matchup is life or death! Hopefully, your team made the cut; if not, good luck next season! From this point on, every single decision could either extend your season or send it crashing down, so adding some high-upside options off of the waiver wire is a great way to stay afloat!
The following four players are great assets to stash at the end of your bench in case something goes awry during your playoff run. Injuries during this point in the season can be especially devastating, so having some capable backups who have caught statistical fire at the right time in the season can be unbelievably beneficial.
In this article, we’ll be going over the top four options available on waivers in over half of all fantasy football leagues! Good luck this week, and go win that championship!
Tyler Shough (QB, NO)
5.7% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough put on an absolute show against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, helping his team to pull out an upset victory over a division rival and making the NFC South even more muddled in terms of playoff outlook. Of course, the Saints have already been eliminated from playoff contention, but it was still a good win for them as a team, and Shough further established himself as New Orleans’ starting quarterback.
The former college journeyman only passed for 144 yards and threw an interception, but the real value came with what he was able to pull off on the ground. Shough rushed seven times for 55 yards and a whopping two rushing touchdowns. This marks the third game in a row in which he’s logged at least six rushing attempts, placing his upside at an all-time high.
Quarterbacks with consistent rushing volume have significant value in fantasy football, and if Shough can keep getting into the end zone using his legs, fantasy managers will have nothing to worry about.
On top of this, the rookie quarterback’s playoff schedule isn’t especially difficult. He plays against the Carolina Panthers, the New York Jets, and the Tennessee Titans in that order, making him a strong streaming option heading forward.
Overall, Tyler Shough has the chance to become one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football to close out the season, so pick him up while you have the chance!
Jayden Reed (WR, GB)
42.2% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Packers speedster Jayden Reed saw his first action since Week 2 after suffering multiple injuries that kept him sidelined for months. Because of this inactivity, Reed was dropped by most fantasy managers, making him available in most fantasy leagues.
It’s important to remember that Reed finished as a top-30 wide receiver in fantasy football in each of the last two seasons, so if he’s able to put up that kind of production in the coming weeks to finish out the season, he could absolutely have some value.
Jordan Love’s strong play as of late (seven touchdown passes over the last two weeks) only increases Reed’s potential value as he continues to get settled back in. He’s always been able to make the big plays happen and could be a solid flex option if you’re dealing with some injuries.
Reed is an under-the-radar type of addition who could really come up big if you are in need of solid receiver play. His presence on an explosive offense adds to his potential as a waiver option, and his history of production should provide some confidence.
Isaac TeSlaa (WR, DET)
7.8% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
The last two entries on this list are the biggest long shots to add value. However, there’s always a chance of a breakout, and they also happen to be the lowest-risk additions due to their lack of ownership in fantasy leagues. They won’t be hard to acquire, so you can put these claims fairly low on your list of priorities.
Rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa is the exact type of player to break out during the fantasy football playoffs. He’s relatively unknown at this point in the season, with only eight receptions to his name, but he’s a big-play threat at all times, and the rookie has also shown the ability to find the end zone, converting half of his receptions this season into touchdowns.
It’s also important to note that TeSlaa has logged the most targets during a two-game span of his rookie year over the last two weeks, registering five targets in Weeks 13 and 14 combined. That doesn’t seem like much, but he’s turned two of them into touchdowns, which is significant.
The rookie out of Arkansas is the perfect example of a low-risk addition. If he finds himself more involved in the offense, he could earn himself a starting spot in your fantasy lineup. If not, it won’t be too difficult to send him back into free agency.
Isaac TeSlaa could provide tremendous upside if he sees more targets going forward.
Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN)
1.1% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has shown great chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow over the last few years in Cincinnati, so it’s no mystery why he’s logged 16 targets over his last three games, even going as far as to record 86 yards and a touchdown off of six receptions against a stout Buffalo defense in Week 14.
Ever since Burrow’s return from injury, the veteran tight end has seen an uptick in volume. Gesicki missed several games of his own earlier in the season, but could return to his rightful role as a consistent contributor if Burrow continues to look his way, which seems to be happening often.
In fantasy football, volume is king. If your current tight end is cutting it, Gesicki could be a great option on one of the best offenses in football. He’s very under-the-radar at the moment, so adding him should be extremely easy.
Mike Gesicki could finish the season as one of the best tight ends in fantasy football after a rocky start to the 2025 fantasy football season. He could be a bright spot at one of the most volatile positions in fantasy football.