High-Upside Bench Stashes: Sneaky Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds Before Week 3

September 20, 2025

Andy's must-have bench stashes and sneaky fantasy football waiver wire adds, sleepers ahead of Week 3 in 2025. Pick up these high-upside players before Week 3.

Hey RotoBallers! Two weeks of NFL action (and the opening game of Week 3) are already in the books. Even though we are just a few games into the season, several young players have already begun to climb the depth chart and are making a push to earn a starting job.

This week, we will look at two rookie running backs and an injured wide receiver who could have a substantial role awaiting him once he returns from the injured reserve.

However, these suggestions are not meant to be your "one-week" replacement players. The vast majority of these players hold minimal standalone value but could become must-start players as soon as they receive a boost in the depth chart. All players suggested are available in at least 70% of all Yahoo! leagues. Let's dive in!

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Running Backs

Woody Marks, Houston Texans

10% rostered

The Texans' rookie was included in my column leading up to Week 1. However, after ceding more work to Dare Ogunbowale in this contest and splitting the No. 3 role with Dameon Pierce, he fell off the stash list leading up to Week 2. However, in their Monday night loss to the Buccaneers last week, Marks was given an unexpected boost.

Leading up to this contest, Pierce was listed as a healthy scratch, which allowed Marks to jump up to the No. 3 spot immediately. In addition, during this contest, Marks logged 28% of the team's snaps, more than Ogunbowale's 20%. While Nick Chubb dominated the workload, the fourth-round rookie appears to have claimed the all-important handcuff role.

More importantly, Marks was given more opportunities than Ogunbowale, further suggesting he has surpassed him on the depth chart. In this Week 2 loss, the rookie logged three carries for 14 yards and caught his lone target for 37 yards. Ogunbowale logged only 10 offensive snaps and did not receive a rushing attempt or a target.

Once viewed as a potential second-half breakout, Marks could be in them to make an impact much earlier than expected. So far, Chubb has been very inefficient in his workload, posting a low 4.1 YPC, and could be in danger of losing more opportunities as the season progresses.

Marks is a priority stash in all standard formats heading into Week 3.

Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders

5% rostered

With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) slated to miss the remainder of the campaign, many expect rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to take the lead in the backfield. While he may lead the team in rushing attempts, I do not expect him to have the highest ceiling.

According to reports in Washington, the challenge for the rookie is to play "without the ball." He has shown high upside as a rusher, but has still shown significant growing pains in pass-blocking situations.

Kingsbury said for Croskey-Merritt the challenge will be "playing without the ball." He said "every time he's touched it good things happen" but that pass protection or just running his routes properly is a big deal. Kingsbury said he's "impressed by his work ethic."

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 18, 2025

Enter Jeremy McNichols. McNichols logged a career-high 55 attempts during his debut season in D.C. in 2024. He posted an impressive 4.7 YPC, punched in four scores, and caught nine passes for 27 yards. While his statsheet does not blow you away, McNichols consistently saw opportunities on the field, despite sharing a backfield with Brian Robinson Jr. and Ekeler.

With Ekeler now out of the picture and only a rookie standing in his way, there is a strong chance this backfield will become a committee. With Croskey-Merritt stumbling against the Green Bay defense in Week 2 (17 yards on four attempts), McNichols could carve out a sizeable role that would make him worth rostering in 12+ team formats.

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

1% rostered

My final running back is a target for deeper leagues. The Chiefs selected Brashard Smith in the seventh round of this year's draft. Through the first two weeks, Smith has taken just one rushing attempt (for two yards) and seen just one target (on 11 routes).

However, Smith has a viable path to seeing a key role in this offense. Currently, the backfield is dominated by Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Neither has looked particularly impressive, and they are holding this offense back (at least for now). Since returning from his fractured fibula in the second half of the season, Pacheco has not looked as explosive as he once did.

On 15 attempts, he has averaged just 3.1 YPC, which is on pace to be the lowest mark of his career. After returning late in 2024, he posted a slightly higher 3.6 YPC over the final five weeks of the regular season.

Hunt has not fared much better, posting a 3.6 YPC on 13 attempts this season.

While Smith will need to surpass both on the depth chart, he has already taken the No. 3 job from veteran Elijah Mitchell. If Pacheco and Hunt stumble once again in a favorable match against the Giants on Sunday night, Smith could push the team's hand much sooner than expected.

Other RBs to stash - Kyle Monangai CHI, DJ Giddens IND

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Wide Receivers

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers

8% rostered

The second-year wideout is currently on the IR with a quadriceps injury. However, he can return as early as Week 5; however, reports suggest he may be sidelined slightly longer than the minimum. Despite this, he is still worth stashing in 12+ team 3-WR formats given the lack of playmakers the Panthers have.

Throughout the first two weeks, rookie Tetairoa McMillan looks like a rising star, and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has shown flashes. Outside of them in the passing attack, Bryce Young does not have much to work with. Veteran Hunter Renfrow has filled in nicely, but there is still a sizable role awaiting Coker.

Currently, the team's No. 2 WR, Xavier Legette, has been significantly disappointing, catching just four of his 15 targets for eight yards. Yikes.

Leading up to the season, Coker received some positive buzz from his coaching staff, and he appeared poised for a large role. Once he returns, he should immediately fill the void in this offense and complement the deep threat of McMillan very well.

Jalen Coker In Line for Huge Role Once He Returns https://t.co/jqBIkKju6l

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 17, 2025

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears

10% rostered

The second-round rookie has had a disappointing start ot his NFL career but appears to be in line for a second-half breakout. Despite only catching two of his three targets for two yards, the Bears have suggested they want to get their rookie wideout involved more in the offense.

Following their 51-21 loss to the Detroit Lions, head coach Ben Johnson said that "we're going to have a lot more competition," which could open the door for Burden to jump underperforming veterans such as DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus in the depth chart.

While Rome Odunze is the team's clear WR1, Burden could find a role as the team's primary slot option in the coming weeks. He is worth a stash leading up to Week 3. Once he earns a larger role and produces, it will be hard to keep him off the field.

Bears Want to Get More Packages for Luther Burden III https://t.co/jQCWaZwNyl

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 15, 2025

Other WRs to stash - Isaac TeSlaa DET, Dont'e Thornton Jr. LV, Malik Washington MIA

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Tight Ends

Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers

5% rostered

Last week, I recommended Isaiah Likely, and he will be my priority TE stash once again. However, if he is already rostered, consider taking a flyer on Sanders. With the Panthers locking much upside in the passing attack outside McMillan and Renfrow, the young tight end enjoyed a breakout game in Week 2. Sanders brought in seven of his nine targets for 54 yards.

In Week 1, he saw only three targets but was deployed as the clear TE1.

Before suffering a neck injury in his debut season, Sanders appeared to be on track to find a role in the offense. From Weeks 6 through 12 (six games), Sanders averaged a solid 88 PPR points and saw 4.0 targets per game. During this stretch, he eclipsed that mark in three games.

He is named to monitor, but those in deeper 14-team leagues looking to replace the injured Tucker Kraft (knee) or the underwhelming Mark Andrews should look to stash Sanders before Week 3 lineups lock.

Other TEs to stash - Isaiah Likely BAL

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Quarterbacks

Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

5% rostered

Rounding things out will be our QB to stash. While I have recommended Jaxson Dart be the primary quarterback stash (and he still is) for superflex managers, for one-QB leagues, Spencer Rattler could be a viable injury replacement for those leagues that have lost Joe Burrow (toe) and J.J. McCarthy (ankle).

Despite losing the opening two games, Kellen Moore has shown no signs of dialing back the passing attack. Through two games, Rattler has attempted 80 passes but averaged just 210.5 passing yards per game.

Despite his struggles, Moore is continuing to lean on his young QB. While it may take time for him to develop in this system, seeing the Saints continue not to shy away from pushing the ball downfield is an excellent sign. Rattler could carry sneaky steaming upside later in the season if he can continue to form a connection with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

If you need a QB, there is likely not one with as much upside as Rattler on your waiver wire.

Other QBs to stash - Jaxson Dart NYG

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