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Andy's must-have fantasy football bench stashes and waiver-wire sleepers ahead of Week 2 (2024). He picks high-upside NFL players to stash on your fantasy teams.
Mastering the waiver wire is a crucial skill that can lead you to a fantasy football championship. It's not just about strategically placing your FAAB budget on specific players but also about knowing when to stash players. This dual strategy keeps you engaged and focused on your ultimate goal of winning a fantasy championship.
As the season progresses, injuries occur or rookies begin to break out. Many of these NFL players are often drafted but dropped after the first handful of weeks due to impatient league managers. This article will pinpoint which players we’d want to stash on our bench as fantasy football waiver-wire pickups to power us down the stretch.
Last week, we examined some must-have handcuffs that already showcased their upside in the opening week such as Isaiah Likely. This week, we will discuss some more rookies and a few veteran players who could eventually grow into starting roles and who you should consider stashing before Week 2 kicks off. All players will be below a 50% Yahoo! roster percentage.
Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.
Alexander Mattison, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
10% rostered
Surprisingly, Alexander Mattison was the lead back in Las Vegas in Week 1, out-snapping presumed starter Zamir White 35 to 23.
However, White did see 13 rushing attempts compared to Mattison’s mere five. However, Mattison dominated the passing work with an impressive six targets to White’s two.
Mattison caught four passes for 43 yards and a score. 31 yards came on one play where the 26-year-old found the end zone. This gives him a nice boost in PPR leagues, especially if he becomes a favorite checkdown option for Gardner Minshew II.
Zamir White could never…
I’ve been saying all offseason I’m not sure if he’s better than Alexander Mattison. pic.twitter.com/znkcDHjBPY
— Joshua Cho (@jbchoknows) September 8, 2024
Keep a close eye on this backfield, especially if you didn't prioritize the RB position in your draft. While Mattison might not be a starter in your lineup just yet, he's a promising stash option. There's a good chance he could gradually transition into the starting role, making him a valuable addition to your roster.
Week 1 was a big step in that direction.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos
35% rostered
After hearing positive signs regarding Javonte Williams during training camp, the UNC product seemed like a lock to lead the backfield.
However, in the season opener, Williams did see more snaps (36 to 24), but McLaughlin saw more touches. McLaughlin received 10 carries to Williams’ eight and five targets to Williams’ two. However, both could have done more with their work, as neither could eclipse 30 rushing yards.
The Broncos offense is a work in progress with rookie Bo Nix. I still expect Williams to be at least the 1A of this backfield, but seeing McLaughlin get utilized more in Week 1 is a telling sign.
Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina Panthers
5% rostered
The Carolina Panthers' performance in Week 1 was not positive. They traveled to New Orleans, surrendered 47 points, and tallied only 193 offensive yards.
A lone bright spot was Miles Sanders. Sanders surprisingly led the team in rushing (22 yards) while seeing fewer snaps than starting running back Chuba Hubbard. Sanders also saw two targets in the passing game but did not catch either.
If this was a teaser for what the 2024 season will be like in Carolina, it would be best not to roster any of these players. However, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as they have a new coaching staff and a sophomore quarterback who is still experiencing massive growing pains.
If Sanders could emerge as the lead runner in Carolina, he could become a low-end flex play just on mere volume. Most game scripts will not be in his favor, but if you want a pure volume option, Sanders is worth a stash.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
25% rostered
Jaylen Wright of Miami is the final running back on the upside stash list this week. This weekend, Wright was a healthy scratch, but that should not deter you from taking a flier on him. For context, De'Von Achane was a healthy scratch in Week 1 of last season, and look how that turned out.
Wright is currently the No. 4 option in a deep Miami backfield. However, Achane (ankle) and Mostert (chest) got banged up a bit in the season opener and had to cede some fourth-quarter duties to Jeff Wilson Jr.
With Mostert already ruled out for Thursday's game and Achane a game-time-decision, Wright could easily find himself in a favorable offense with immense upside. If you have room on your roster, play the long game and add Wright.
Other RB stashes: (Bucky Irving, TB, MarShawn Lloyd, GB, Ray Davis, BUF, Blake Corum, LAR)
Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
15% rostered
Bateman caught just two passes in the season opener, but that should not deter you from stashing him on your roster. He saw five targets and 43.7% of the team’s air yards.
While it is still a minimal sample size, it is worth monitoring. Bateman consistently served as the No. 2 wideout opposite of Zay Flowers throughout the first game, and seeing that he was the "deep threat" could set him up for numerous spike weeks.
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Washington Commanders
6% rostered
Heading into the season, the Commanders needed a proven No. 2 option at wide receiver. Their season opener could have provided more clarity to the situation, but Rice product Luke McCaffrey was surprisingly quite involved in the offense after being in a reserve role during the preseason.
He led all receivers with a mere 18 yards on three catches. He also logged the second-most snaps at the position, only behind Terry McLaurin. The 23-year-old is a name to watch as he could slowly secure a starting role.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8% rostered
The third-round pick saw three targets his way in Week 1 but only connected on one. Fortunately, the one he caught was a 32-yard touchdown pass.
Jalen McMillian’s first NFL catch goes for 6!#GoBucs | #RatedRookie
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) September 8, 2024
What is more impressive is that McMillan had a large presence in the Tampa passing attack in his regular-season debut. He played the most snaps among Tampa wideouts on Sunday but, unfortunately, saw just 10% of the team’s targets.
When it comes to McMillan, it's important to play the long game. Don't expect him to be a guaranteed fantasy starter by the end of the month. It will take time for him to develop, and Week 1 was just a glimpse of what he could potentially offer later in the season.
Tyler Johnson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
1% rostered
With the multi-week injury to star pass-catcher Puka Nacua (knee), someone in the Rams receiving corps will have to emerge. Tyler Johnson ran an eye-catching 2.47 yards per route run (YPRR) and saw an excellent 11.29 yards per target (YPT) on Sunday night.
In comparison, the now No. 2 wideout on the depth chart, Demarcus Robinson, held a mere 0.95 YPPR and a 6.00 YPT. Robinson may be the floor play, but if you want an upside play, take a flier on Johnson. He may emerge as a strong flex/ WR3 option while Nacua remains sidelined.
Other WR stashes (Jalen Tolbert, DAL, Mike Williams, NYJ)
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
8% rostered
The other potential beneficiary of the Nacua injury is tight end Colby Parkinson. Parkinson caught four passes on Sunday night off five targets. He ran a route on 86% of team dropbacks and averaged a modest 1.09 YPRR.
Parkinson spent the first four seasons of his career in Seattle, so his first regular-season game in Los Angeles went quite well. Even though Tyler Higbee (knee) will likely claim the starting role once he returns from the PUP list, Parkinson could have some immense upside in the short term.
With Nacua sidelined, Parkinson could emerge as the weekly No. 2/No. 3 target in this offense.
Other TE stashes (Taysom Hill, NO, Tucker Kraft, GB)
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
12% rostered
Lastly, our upside QB to target this week is Derek Carr. Carr looked unstoppable on Sunday as the Saints dominated their division rival. He went 19-of-23 for 200 yards and three scores. He added 13 yards with his legs. While this performance may have been more telling of his opponent's skill, it is worth investigating.
Carr posted an impressive 10.7 average target depth of target (aDOT) in the opening week, which was fourth among all QBs. In addition, he held the best completion percentage over expectation based on depth of throw (CPOE) at 15.6%.
Saints never looked back after Derek Carr unleashed this perfect deep ball from a muddied pocket - credit where it's due pic.twitter.com/ii906vesWW
— JohnnyLFootball (@JohnnyLFootball) September 10, 2024
This is worth emphasizing, as Carr's 7.5 aDOT last season was the worst of his career. If the Saints want to push the ball downfield more often, it will significantly boost Carr’s fantasy potential. With two elite deep-threat wideouts in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, he could be in store for a big 2024.
Other QB stashes (Will Levis, TEN, Drake Maye, NE)
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