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Andy's must-have fantasy football bench stashes and waiver wire sleepers ahead of Week 13 (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.
Earlier in the season, we examined some must-have handcuffs and upside players who already showcased their upside in the opening weeks, such as Tyrone Tracy Jr., Drake Maye, and Jameis Winston. 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 13 kicks off. All players will be below a 25% Yahoo! roster percentage.
Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
15% rostered
The rookie running back took a step back this past weekend. He tallied just one rushing attempt, a drop from the five he saw in Week 11. In addition, he also logged four fewer offensive snaps.
Even though Kyren Williams continues to dominate touches in the backfield, no other Los Angeles running back has seen an offensive snap since Week 4.
If Williams were to miss time, Corum could be a league winner despite not seeing much work throughout his rookie season, as he would likely assume a massive opportunity share as the starter.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
6% rostered
For the third straight week, the Tennessee product saw more attempts than Raheem Mostert and should be viewed as the No. 2 option out of the Miami backfield going forward. This past weekend, Wright tallied 28 yards off seven attempts and could not connect on his lone target.
In addition, Wright has continued to see increasing opportunities and only saw a slight drop in work on Thursday evening.
Jaylen Wright had a couple of impressive runs against the Patriots pic.twitter.com/HVwHLKVBFR
— FinsCentral (@finscentral) November 25, 2024
While De'Von Achane will continue to see the vast majority of work out of the backfield, Wright could become a viable flex option in deeper formats, similar to Benson, if he can reach digit attempts weekly.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
3% rostered
Last weekend, Kenneth Gainwell tallied his first touchdown of the season as the Eagles cruised to a victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Over the past six games, Gainwell has been deployed as the clear No. 2 option behind Saquon Barkley and has averaged just 6.5 attempts per game with 29.8 rushing yards per game.
Despite the minimal standalone value, he is currently the handcuff to one of the most valuable assets in fantasy football. While Gainwell would have a daunting task of replacing Barkley’s value if he were to miss time, he would provide at least RB2 production if he misses time.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
20% rostered
Another high-upside stash is Trey Benson. Benson had a bit of a disappointing showing this past weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, as he saw just four rushing attempts. However, he was fairly efficient on them, tallying 18 yards.
In his previous two games, Benson averaged 5.5 yards per carry with nine rushing attempts per game. This slight drop in opportunities could be due to the Cardinals trailing for most of the game, as they held a sizeable lead in their previous two.
.@AZCardinals rookie RB Trey Benson takes the carry in for his first career NFL TD!
📺: #CHIvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/W9HRN9YnfN— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Despite the slight drop in opportunities in Week 12, Benson was on an upward trajectory and could even become a low-end flex option by the end of the season before even moving to the top of the depth chart.
Other RB stashes (Cam Akers MIN, Khalil Herbert CIN, Keaton Mitchell BAL, Braelon Allen NYJ)
Devaughn Vele, WR, Denver Broncos
5% rostered
The rookie continued to impress as he tallied a season-high 80 yards in their victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. He brought in six of his nine targets, setting a new season-high.
Over his past three contests, Vele has scored at least double-digit PPR points and averaged 61.7 yards and 6.0 targets per game during this stretch.
While Courtland Sutton will continue operating as the lead wideout, Vele has established himself as a reliable No. 2 option in this offense. Given his current trajectory, Vele could finish the season as a solid contributor in all formats.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
10% rostered
Jalen Coker (quadriceps) could not suit up this past weekend to face the Kansas City Chiefs, but he is still worth stashing on your roster.
Before his injury, Coker began to find his footing in the Carolina passing attack. During Weeks 8 through 10, he averaged 5.7 targets per game and 51.7 yards per game, setting a high of 78 yards in Week 8.
First career TD for the rookie Jalen Coker!
📺: #CARvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/eX1RwOTzp9— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
While Adam Thielen returned to action this weekend, the Panthers may continue to give one of their younger players more opportunities down the stretch.
Note: Coker will not suit up this weekend. Fantasy managers in shallower formats should continue to monitor his status throughout the week.
Other WR stashes (Jalin Hyatt NYG)
Arizona Cardinals DF/ST
With the fantasy playoffs on the horizon, it is wise to stash a defense that has favorable matchups down the stretch, as it could be the deciding factor in your matchup.
This Arizona defense has not allowed more than 16 points in each of their past three contests and is slated to face a struggling New England offense in Week 15 and the Carolina Panthers in Week 16.
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