By: Malcolm McMillan

Well it is finally here. The end of the road. Week 17 (for most) represents the final week of the fantasy football season. After this, it is booking tickets to Cabo to celebrate the end of an exhausting 2021, and if you are lucky getting to watch your NFL team make a run at the Super Bowl.

Unless you play in a dynasty league.

If you play in a dynasty fantasy football league, you know that the season never ends for you, even if it is””admittedly””about to slow down significantly. Before that happens though, there is still a week to make some significant moves, and some players that could boost their stock going into 2022. This week the focus is going to be on those players; guys who could boost their stock for 2022 with a good Week 17 performance. Dynasty managers can then either hold these assets or flip them for a nice return on investment before the offseason gets underway.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn: RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ke’Shawn Vaughn has arguably been a bust so far in his career. Does it help him to be on a win-now team with two talented veteran running backs ahead of him in the depth chart? No, be even with that caveat it has still be disappointing. Last week though, there were finally signs of life. With starter Leonard Fournette out, Vaughn put in a solid relief performance behind Ronald Jones II. In fact, it was more than solid. In point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, Vaughn finished RB21 with 13 points. This week, Fournette is still out, and Vaughn gets an even better matchup against the abysmal New York Jets. So the stage is set for him to boost his stock.

This opportunity could not come at a better time. Last year, Fournette played well with Jones II injured, and turned it into a starting role this year. Now it could be Vaughn’s turn to shine, and given he is the only running back on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster in 2022 (for now), capitalizing on that opportunity could turn his career around.

Jaret Patterson, RB: Washington Football Team

While he was an impressive college player, Jaret Patterson was never expected to be a star in the NFL. He is undersized, and his athletic profile is nothing impressive despite his gaudy college stats. Plus, he is strictly a downhill runner, so the odds were against him to break through the Washington Football Team depth chart. However, he did just that, making it onto the 53-man roster despite his undrafted free agent status. Since making it that far though, he has stalled out as an occasional relief runner for starting running back Antonio Gibson.

Week 17 could change all that. Pass catching running back J.D. McKissic is already on injured reserve, and now Gibson is out on the COVID-19/reserve list. That leaves the backfield””potentially””solely in the hands of Jaret Patterson against a Philadelphia Eagles run defense that gave up two rushing touchdowns to the Washington backfield just two weeks ago, but not much else. If Patterson has a good performance against the Eagles, he could boost his stock going into 2022, when he and Gibson are the only running backs (currently) on the roster.

Deonte Harty: WR, New Orleans Saints

2021 has been a wild year for Deonte Harty, who started the year as Deonte Harris. The New Orleans Saints wide receiver has been suspended, been on the COVID-19 reserve list and changed his name and that was just in the past month. Prior to that, he flashed as one of the two wide receivers of note for the Saints (the other being Marquez Callaway). Now that he is back off the COVID-19 list for Week 17, he has a change to flash again against a reeling Carolina Panthers.

There are a couple of things going for Harty going into 2022. First, the Saints have a potential opening for a top wide receiver with Michael Thomas doing his best to be off the team in 2022. If they cannot trade Thomas, it may be worth it to cut the bridge-burning veteran receiver, as a post-June 1st cut would save the cap-starved Saints $15.8 million against the cap. Harty, as a restricted free agent, would be easy (and cheap) to bring back for 2022. His top HOG rate and targets per route run certainly indicate the Saints see something in him, and it would be surprising if they did not bring him back.

If the Saints do not bring Harty back for 2022, a great Week 17 performance would entice teams currently window shopping for a wide receiver. The 24-year old is currently trending up, and would be an attractive option for any team needing an intermediate to deep threat at wide receiver.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 17 (and Beyond!) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

It is officially the fantasy football playoffs. I can only assume that you made it into the fantasy football playoffs or are preparing for next year. In either case, congratulations on doing the right thing. Prepping ahead of the competition and being active in your dynasty league will pay off next year. You know you can wait until after the Super Bowl to take a break from fantasy football.

This week’s article will be a little different. Like in previous weeks, these players are still widely available, though one of them is only available in about 40% of Sleeper dynasty leagues. The goal is to find players with 50% rostership or less, but after last week two sets of players stand out. One set of players for those managers still making their playoff run, the other for dynasty fantasy football managers looking beyond the 2021 NFL season (though redraft people can pay attention too).

First up, two running backs that could make a difference in the 2021 fantasy football playoffs.

Jermar Jefferson vs Craig Reynolds vs Godwin Igwebuike: Which Detroit Lions Running Back Do You Want?

Last week everyone thought that they made a killer waiver wire addition in Jermar Jefferson. After all, both D’Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (COVID-19) were out for the Detroit Lions Week 14 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Sure, Jefferson had been sick in the lead-up to the game, but plenty of experts assumed he and fellow running back Godwin Igwebuike would see the work out of the Lions backfield.

Unfortunately, neither Jefferson nor Igwebuike saw meaningful work in Week 14. Igwebuike at least got to touch the ball; Jefferson was on the field for a mere six snaps. Instead, Craig Reynolds stole the show (relatively), with 11 rushing attempts and a pair of receptions that resulted in an RB20 finish in half-point-per-reception (half-PPR) formats. Williams and Swift are both out again for the Lions Week 15 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, so the pressing question is: which Lions running back do you trust?

In terms of athleticism, betting on Jefferson is not smart. Per PlayerProfiler he lags behind both Reynolds and Igwebuike in every athletic metric. Igwebuike is the most athletic of the three, though Reynolds does have some mildly impressive agility. The problem is that none of that has mattered all season. All three running backs have been anything more than bench depth until now. Jefferson had a brief flash in Week 10, and Igwebuike has been involved regularly on special teams, but Reynolds made his season debut in Week 14.

Unfortunately for Jefferson and Igwebuike, Reynolds made the most of that debut and probably qualifies as the “hot hand” going into Week 15. If you have to trust a Lions running back in the fantasy football playoffs, Reynolds is the player to roster, though do not be surprised to see Igwebuike cut into Reynolds’s workload. Detroit is not seeing what they have here. All three of these running backs are undrafted or seventh-round picks firmly behind Swift and Williams on the depth chart. The Lions just need a body to carry the ball, and that body will look like Reynolds’s until Swift or Williams returns.

Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer: A Dynamic Dynasty Duo

If Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer are still available in your dynasty leagues, they need to be on your roster. Now. The Los Angeles Chargers passing attack has become red hot with Justin Herbert under center, and it is not just the usual suspects that are benefiting. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams still dominate the wide receiver room. The Chargers’ current studs each have over 100 targets after 14 games. However, both Guyton and Palmer are flirting with fantasy football relevance recently.

Let us start with Guyton. Guyton showed a connection with Herbert in 2020, but things have heated up over the past few weeks. In half-PPR fantasy football leagues, Guyton led the Chargers wide receivers in fantasy football points from Week 12 to 14. Week 15 was more subdued but still saw Guyton score a touchdown for the third game in a row. With Mike Williams headed for free agency after this season, the Chargers may make Guyton the next man up. He already has a connection with Herbert and an impressive athletic profile. At just 24 years old, what is not to love?

But Guyton is not the only intriguing up-and-coming wide receiver on the Chargers roster. While not as athletic as Guyton, Palmer was the Chargers’ third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which is not insignificant. Plus, while Guyton has been the third wide receiver this season, Palmer did fill in for Allen in Week 14 to great success. Palmer’s seven targets that week led all Chargers players, and the five receptions, 66 yards and a touchdown were enough to finish WR16 on the week. The best part is Palmer is flashing this production all before turning 23. He will be just 25 when his and Allen’s contracts expire at the end of 2024. The Chargers bringing back their 25-year-old WR rather than the 32-year-old wide receiver will not be a surprise, and this role seems to be Palmer’s for the taking. Worst case, he should become one of the top three wide receivers in Los Angeles when Williams leaves at the end of the year.

The Chargers already have their quarterback of the future in Herbert, but it is expensive (if not impossible) to acquire that piece of their offense if you are a dynasty manager. However, you can get either””or both””of their wide receivers of the future for dirt cheap right now. The return on investment will not be instant, but it will be worth it.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 15 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

This week the three players are more likely to be relevant. In fact, one player is a potential FLEX option rest-of-season, who is still available in nearly 60% of all Sleeper dynasty fantasy football leagues. That an NFL team’s starting running back is still so widely available is an unexpected surprise this late in the season, but it is also the truth. Read below to see who it is.

Gardner Minshew II: QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts’ status for Week 13 is currently up in the air, but if the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback is out, then Gardner Minshew is the next man up. If Minshew gets the start, he immediately becomes a streaming quarterback option in 1 QB leagues, and a FLEX in Super Flex leagues. Why? Well, because he gets to play the New York Jets, who are awful. So in 1 QB leagues fantasy football managers would be wise to stash him now, and then cut him on Sunday morning if Hurts gets the start. Same with those in redraft Super Flex leagues. Minshew is not worth stashing in those situations due to the Eagles Week 14 bye.

In dynasty Super Flex leagues though, it may be worth it to hold Minshew until next season. The former Jaguars starter was pretty good last year before the Week 8 bye. Through seven weeks in 2020, Minshew was QB12 overall and QB16 in points per game (PPG). In 1 QB dynasty leagues that may not be worth using a roster spot for, but in Super Flex leagues those 19.34 PPG in a FLEX spot matter. The 2022 NFL draft class is not the deepest at quarterback, and an NFL team may want to start Minshew for a year rather than reach for a rookie quarterback if they miss on a big free agent/trade target like Aaron Rodgers. Stash Minshew until the free agency carrousel wraps up in the offseason, and then cut him if he is still a backup.

Kene Nwangwu: RB, Minnesota Vikings

Picking up Kene Nwangwu could ultimately be a total bust for fantasy football managers. However, if he sees time with Dalvin Cook out, the Minnesota Vikings rookie backup running back could return a nice return on investment. Of course, the main hurdle will be getting around Alexander Mattison, who is ahead of Nwangwu on the Vikings depth chart.

The argument for Mattison: Mattison is ahead of Nwangwu on the depth chart (as previously mentioned). He has filled in for Cook on several occasions, mostly doing well with the opportunity. He also has one more year on his contract, so Minnesota may want to see what they have with him in case they need to rely on him in 2022 (due to injuries for Cook or Cook’s potential legal trouble), or even want Mattison to replace Cook in 2023 (the Vikings have a potential out in Cook’s contract in 2023).

The argument for Nwangwu: Mattison’s athletic measurables are nowhere near Nwangwu’s athletic measurables. They are both 23, both former middle round picks (Mattison in the third and Nwangwu in the fourth) but Nwangwu is under contract for two years more than Mattison. Finally, when Nwangwu has touched the ball he has been explosive. He is currently averaging eight rushing yards per attempt, 41.25 yards per kick return and a touchdown every four kick returns. Are those numbers sustainable? Of course not, but they highlight an explosive ability that Minnesota may shift to if Mattison struggles as the fill-in starter these next two weeks. All it would take is one big game from Nwangwu for dynasty fantasy football managers to trade a waiver pickup for draft capital.

Rex Burkhead: RB, Houston Texans

Remember in the introduction when it was mentioned that an NFL starting running back was still available in free agent pools? Well, wait no longer, because that running back is Rex Burkhead, who may shockingly be the Houston Texans starting running back for the rest of the 2021 season. Yes, Burkhead is 31, which is ancient for a running back, let alone in dynasty fantasy football. However, sometimes fantasy football managers need a win now rental, and Burkhead is an excellent candidate for that. The past two weeks he has seen over 15 opportunities per game, and his snap count went from 42% of offensive snaps and 24% of special teams snaps in Week 11 to 61% and 0% respectively in Week 12. Typically, that trend indicates the team needs the player more on offense and does not want them out there to get hurt on special teams.

Again, it is understandable for fantasy football managers not to want Burkhead on their rosters, especially in dynasty leagues. But with his work increasing and an excellent Week 14 matchup coming up, Burkhead is worth stashing on a roster.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 13 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

Good thing this week was a quiet week in the NFL right?

All joking aside, Week 9 is shaping up to be interesting. No Aaron Rodgers. No Calvin Ridley. No Saquon Barkley or David Montgomery still, though they seem to be turning the corner. Jeff Wilson Jr. may finally be back for the San Francisco 49ers, though his likelihood of playing seems directly tied to Elijah Mitchell’s injury status. At any rate, none of those players matter for this article””well, one does””because too many people already have them on their fantasy football rosters. That’s not why people read this article. They read it for the deep cuts. Luckily for them, there are still a few players out there that merit consideration in the deepest of redraft leagues and dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Tajae Sharpe: WR, Atlanta Falcons

So remember that part about Calvin Ridley’s absence not mattering?

Well, that was a bit of a lie. While Ridley is not someone that fantasy football managers can pick up off of waivers, his potential replacement is still widely available. Per the Atlanta Falcons latest depth chart, Tajae Sharpe is now the “backup” to Calvin Ridley as the team’s primary wide receiver. As Ridley is not out, that makes Sharpe (theoretically) the Falcons new top wide receiver. While Sharpe has been a bit of a journeyman in his career, he started as a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans while Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was the Titans tight ends coach. That familiarity is what likely led to Sharpe being signed by the Falcons this year, and is also giving him a leg up against the competition on the Falcons roster. At 26, it is not too late for Sharpe to establish himself as a target in the Falcons offense, and that could translate to fantasy football production this year and beyond.

Jamal Agnew: WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Herms NFL (my partner at The Lateral) recently wrote an article over at Football Absurdity on Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jamal Agnew. Agnew was not a player that anyone was keeping an eye on going into this season unless they played in a league where return yards count as fantasy football points. Even then his involvement in the offense has historically been so low, that Pro Football Reference lists Agnew’s kick and punt return stats ahead of his receiving and rushing stats on his player page. This is in no small part because Agnew was a cornerback for most of his career. However, as Herms highlights, that all changed in Week 5 when Agnew’s targets skyrocketed. He is now averaging over eight targets per game and is a key part of the Jaguars offense.

In reality, Agnew is more of a deeper redraft league pickup than a dynasty league pickup in fantasy football, though he is relevant in both. The Jaguars situation is messy, and they are still clearly rebuilding. Approaching 27 years old, Agnew may not be part of those plans, especially if head coach Urban Meyer is not given a second season. While Agnew is under contract till the end of 2023, there is a potential out for the Jaguars after this season. Despite this uncertainty, Agnew’s current production makes him worth stashing on fantasy football rosters.

Foster Moreau: TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Full disclosure, this is a deep stash. It will not pay off this year unless Darren Waller is injured. However, if Darren Waller is injured, Moreau has shown as recently as Week 7 that he can be an adequate replacement. Given Waller’s valuable role in the Las Vegas Raiders offense, Moreau is arguably a tight end handcuff in fantasy football.

But Moreau’s value becomes even more interesting next year. This past off-season, there were rumors that Waller was unhappy with his contract. While currently unsubstantiated, there is a chance these same rumors could pop up again this upcoming off-season. Even if they do not though, the Las Vegas Raiders are in a state of flux. Their head coach just resigned. Their first-round pick from 2020 was just arrested and released from the team. They are a team on the precipice of contending, while simultaneously teetering on a rebuild. Waller has no dead cap hit in 2022, and if this team shifts into rebuild mode or Waller wants out, Moreau is almost certainly Waller’s replacement.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 9 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

Just when the Byepocalypse was finally behind fantasy football managers, a slew of injuries came out of nowhere. Well, maybe not nowhere. After all, this is fantasy football; injuries are to be expected. However, it is always the worst when an injury hits in conjunction with a bye week. Last week, fantasy football managers had to deal with the absence of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller, which thanks to a bye is now continuing for a second week. This week, fantasy football managers get the unpleasant surprise of missing out on star Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler. Ekeler was on a bye in Week 7, and now a sudden injury may have him absent for their game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Again, this really should be nothing new, but it still feels like a total surprise when it happens. Luckily, even in dynasty fantasy football and deeper redraft leagues, there are still some players that could merit rostering this week. If fantasy football managers are desperate, they could even play these guys in Week 8.

Joshua Kelley: RB, Los Angeles Chargers

For the first two weeks of 2020, Joshua Kelley was a fantasy football darling. 12.6 point-per-reception (PPR) points per game, double-digit rushing attempts, he felt like the Robin to starting running back Austin Ekeler’s Batman. Unfortunately, the next two weeks Kelley had two key fumbles are never returned to the same prominence for the Chargers. However, 2021 is a new year, with a new coach, and Brandon Staley may be starting to increase Kelley’s opportunities. Kelley has only played in two games so far this season; a Week 5 shoutout win against the Cleveland Browns and a blowout loss in Week 6 to the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the drastic differences in the two games, one thing remained constant: Kelley had the second-highest snaps of any Chargers running back.

There is no guarantee that this trend will ultimately result in a valuable standalone role for fantasy football managers. However, fantasy football managers that pick him up may have the backup to Ekeler on their roster. That is a role that could be valuable as soon as this week.

Freddie Swain: WR, Seattle Seahawks

At the beginning of the season, fantasy football managers were getting hyped about second-round draft pick D’Wayne Eskridge. Nobody was even thinking about Freddie Swain. Unfortunately, Eskridge’s rookie season has been marred by a serious concussion problem, and he may not even play this year. Swain has filled in Eskridge’s stead and has had an okay season. He even had an incredible Week 2 performance against the Tennessee Titans defense, where he scored over 20 fantasy football points in PPR leagues.

Luckily, Swain gets a chance to repeat that performance against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense in Week 8 that is””well””not great. Plus, unlike his teammate Tyler Lockett, Swain has seen his targets increase since backup quarterback Geno Smith took over from Russell Wilson partway through Week 5. If Smith feels more comfortable with Swain versus Lockett, that is huge for Swain’s potential as long as Smith is the Seattle Seahawks quarterback. Even when Wilson takes his job back though, Swain has been the Seahawks’ third target so far this season. That is a role that could be valuable going forward.

Mo Alie-Cox: TE, Indianapolis Colts

Over the past four weeks, the Indianapolis Colts have really caught fire. They are 3-1 during that stretch and it has coincided with Mo Alie-Cox taking over as their starting tight end. Seriously, from Week 4 to Week 7, Alie-Cox has been TE9 in PPR fantasy football leagues, averaging over 12.1 points per game. During that same time, fellow tight end Kylen Granson has been TE63, and veteran tight end Jack Doyle has been just behind Granson at TE65. That is a massive gap. Doyle admittedly still sees a fair amount of snaps per game, but he has not seen more than a single target in a game since Week 3. Alie-Cox is relevant for fantasy football managers as long as he holds onto this role, and as long as Colts quarterback Carson Wentz continues targeting him inside the 20-yard line.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 8 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

The Byepocalypse is upon us and fantasy football managers are currently scrambling to roster anyone with a pulse. Luckily, there are still some names out there that even in the deepest of leagues, are still widely available. None of these players are lock-it-in studs. They do not even necessarily have the most promising long-term futures. However, each one does have at least one major reason for consideration to be included on the rosters of fantasy football managers.

DeeJay Dallas: RB, Seattle Seahawks

DeeJay Dallas has had a fairly quiet season so far. However, the past two weeks have seen a noticeable uptick in work since Chris Carson has been absent with a neck injury. Carson is still guaranteed to be out for two more weeks due to his stint on the injured reserve list, and that means there is a definite window for Dallas to shine. Fantasy football experts have expected him to solidify a role as Seattle’s third-down back, and with Carson out and running back Alex Collins banged up, there is no time like the present. Especially, since Dallas is under contract until the end of the 2023 season. If he is performing well, Seattle will use him, which is exactly what they have done. Plus, in point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football leagues, Dallas’s noticeable increase in the receiving game is incredibly promising. There may not be another running back with this much potential still available to fantasy football managers. Full stop.

Dante Pettis: WR, New York Giants

There is a saying in fantasy football, “The best ability is availability.” Well, given that most of the New York Giants wide receivers are injured, Dante Pettis’s availability could be a serious ability. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, Pettis capitalized on that ability””plus the absences of wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Darius Slayton””and saw 11 targets. Did those targets only turn into five receptions and just shy of 10 fantasy football points in PPR leagues? Yes, but that is still 11 targets, which cannot be overlooked. Especially since the injury situation for the Giants wide receivers may not be improving.

Pettis is a former second-round NFL draft pick and already the team has leaned on him when players have gone down. Fantasy football managers in desperate need of a wide receiver could do worse. There are not many widely available wide receivers who have seen 11 targets in a game this season.

Chris Moore: WR, Houston Texans

Look, the article is deep fantasy football stashes, right? Is it likely that Moore, at age 28, is suddenly breaking out into an NFL deep threat? Probably not, but there is something there. Moore was largely an afterthought on the Baltimore Ravens for the first five seasons of his career. Since arriving in Houston though, he has developed a surprising connection with Texans quarterback Davis Mills. Over the past two weeks, Moore has seen an average of five targets and 64% of the offensive snaps, which have turned into a total of 27.3 fantasy football points in PPR leagues. In Week 5 in particular, Moore scored 21.9 PPR fantasy points with 21.8 yards per reception on his five targets. While that number is astronomically high and probably not sustainable, it is not wholly unexplainable. Moore did produce fairly elite yards per reception at the University of Cincinnati and has good athletic measurables that support the ability to catch the ball deep.

Is he still 28? Yes. Is he tied to the skills of Mills, who might not be good as a quarterback? Also yes, unless Tyrod Taylor resumes his duties as the starting quarterback for the Texans. Taylor has no connection with Moore, so that does not necessarily help Moore’s case as a stash either. However, if you need a deep fantasy football stash, there are some reasons to consider Moore, at least for the 2021 season.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes for Week 7 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

With the news that Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb is out for Week 6, fantasy football managers are presented with a problem. Kareem Hunt is the next man up in Cleveland’s backfield. Given Hunt’s near-universal rostership in redraft fantasy football leagues, trading is the only way managers will acquire him. If they do, it will be at a premium.

So what is the contingency plan if fantasy football managers still want a piece of the Browns backfield? After all, the combination of Chubb and Hunt was averaging 35.3 fantasy football points per game in point-per-reception (PPR) scoring. Getting a piece of that could be incredibly valuable if Hunt does not simply earn all the work. Well, there are two options out there. So this week, Football Machina will examine both options, and then also give fantasy football managers a wide receiver that merits a deep stash this week.

Demetric Felton & D’Ernest Johnson: RBs, Cleveland Browns

First thing first, the rostership percentages for these two players are not the same. Demetric Felton is rostered in about half of Sleeper dynasty fantasy football leagues. D’Ernest Johnson is only rostered in a bit over 10% of those same fantasy football leagues, and most of that figure has come since the news of Nick Chubb’s injury. Given that neither of these players has seen even 10% of the Cleveland Browns offensive snaps so far this season, fantasy football managers would be right to question why there is such a significant difference in rostership percentage.

Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, Felton has dual position eligibility in some leagues. This makes him a more coveted fantasy football asset because he can be played in more lineup slots. A more notable example of this would be Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson, who can similarly be played as either a running back or a wide receiver. Second, Felton has been relevant in fantasy football already this season. In Week 2, Felton finished RB19 in PPR fantasy football leagues. When a player has a performance like that, people take notice. The reason that Felton is still so widely available is probably that in the following three weeks he only scored 6.5 PPR fantasy football points. Combined. Not exactly electric stuff. Finally, Felton is the younger of the two running backs and therefore is more likely to have long-term value. Felton is under contract for the next three seasons (though cutting him would not exactly be a financial hit for the Browns). Johnson, meanwhile, could be looking for a new team as soon as this offseason.

“Okay. I get why you would roster Felton,” you say. “But why would you roster Johnson? Does it not seem like he has become useless for fantasy football?” To be fair, that is not an unreasonable conclusion. However, there is a reason to suggest that Johnson is the Browns running back that fantasy football managers will want””usage. While Felton has the higher snap count, he has seen a total of zero rushing attempts. Johnson, despite not seeing the field outside of special teams usage, actually has been used as a running back this season. Much how like he was used as a running back last year, totaling 33 rushing attempts and just four targets. 27 of those 33 targets came while Chubb was out last season from partway through Week 4 until Week 10 when he resumed his starting role. Therefore, it makes sense that the logical fill-in for Chubb is Johnson and not Felton.

In reality, the real fill-in for Chubb is going to be Kareem Hunt. While Johnson did see usage with Chubb out last season, that usage decreased greatly after two weeks. So if fantasy football managers pick up either player, they should do so knowing neither may ultimately breakout with Chubb out. Still, both merit rostership, especially in deeper redraft leagues or dynasty fantasy football leagues. Especially since Chubb going on the injured reserve list and missing significant time is not off the table.

DeAndre Carter: WR, Washington Football Team

If DeAndre Carter was not on your radar this season, nobody would blame you. After all, the fourth-year veteran wide receiver saw two targets last season. However, in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, Carter was third in targets for the Washington Football Team. He even quietly finished as top-36 fantasy football wide receiver in PPR scoring.

Is Carter a long-term investment for any fantasy football manager? Probably not. He has never been a long-term investment for an NFL team, and his relevancy beyond next week is still suspect, let alone beyond this year. Still, as long as the second wide receiver position is up for grabs in Washington””and it is”” Carter has a chance to produce. The Kansas City Chiefs defense is an excellent matchup in Week 6. Fellow wide receiver Curtis Samuel is still out, and Terry McLaurin may also miss this prime matchup. If Carter can capitalize on this opportunity, he could maintain his borderline top-36 wide receiver value beyond just Week 6. Fantasy football managers in need of bench depth at wide receiver should look at the Washington Football Team wideout.

The post Deep Fantasy Football Stashes For Week 6 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Malcolm McMillan

Welcome to Week 5. This is both the last week before bye weeks begin and the first week with a game in London. It is also officially difficult to find deep fantasy football stashes out there. Especially those stashes that are still available in the majority of dynasty fantasy football leagues. Luckily, Pro Football Mania was able to scour the deep recesses of the free-agent pool and found three players that are still relatively available for fantasy football managers in deep leagues.

Jeremy McNichols: RB, Tennessee Titans

For most dynasty fantasy football managers, Darrynton Evans, not Jeremy McNichols is the more attractive prospect of the Tennessee Titans running backs. Evans is younger and is guaranteed money beyond this season. However, this is already reflected in their rostership percentage, as McNichols is the only one still available in over half of Sleeper dynasty fantasy football leagues.

So why pick up McNichols then? Well, for a start, he is the only one of the two that is healthy. Evans on just activated Evans from the injured reserve list. In his absence, McNichols has carved out a role in the offense and was even the RB18 in point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football leagues. This is a role that could continue even with Evans back, as McNichols was the better receiver in the college of the two running backs. Their athletic profiles are also not too dissimilar. Evans is faster, but McNichols has decent speed and agility. McNichols may not be the long-term stash, but for running back depth in 2021, he provides a solid option to fantasy football managers in deeper leagues.

Olamide Zaccheaus: WR, Atlanta Falcons

Chances are that many fantasy football managers are now looking to scoop up Olamide Zaccheaus for Week 5. Especially now that fellow Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage will be out for their game against the New York Jets. But at the moment Zaccheaus is still rostered in less than 50% of Sleeper dynasty fantasy football leagues. So the question is, can he be viable for more than Week 5?

So far this season, the answer is a resounding maybe. Zaccheaus is currently the second-most targeted wide receiver on the Falcons, but just the fifth-most targeted player on the roster. Add in that Russell Gage has seen slightly more targets per game (four to five versus just over four), and there are reasons to be concerned. However, Zaccheaus is a solid stash in deeper leagues given his potential role in the offense after Week 5. Given their relative ages and costs, Zaccheaus could be the wide receiver that returns in 2022, not Gage. If fantasy football managers can, they should either pick up Zaccheaus now or wait for their league-mates to drop him once Ridley and Gage are back. Either way, in deeper leagues he should be on rosters.

Darnold Parham: TE, Los Angeles Chargers

A decade separates the Los Angeles Chargers tight ends Jared Cook and Donald Parham. The good news for Parham is that not much else separates these two players. Yes, Cook is admittedly seeing nearly five times the targets that Parham is seeing, but they are producing similar results when targeted. Both players are averaging 11 to 12 yards per reception, catching approximately 60% of their targets, and each has a receiving touchdown.

So if the results are similar, and the players have similar builds, why bring back the older more expensive player in 2022? Based on their current salaries, Parham (who will be a restricted free agent) will cost more than four times less than Cook, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Unless Cook goes down with an injury in 2021, picking up Parham would be a long-term move for any fantasy football manager. However, given how tough it is to find a player at the position that is viable week-in and week-out in fantasy football, it could pay off to stash Parham now and see what happens in the offseason. Especially if the Chargers continue to target the tight end at the rate they have so far in 2021.

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By: Malcolm McMillan

The fantasy football season is almost a quarter of the way done. It feels like only yesterday that #RhamondreStevenSZN was trending and that The Sun God was ascendant. Unfortunately, now that fantasy football managers have three games under their belt, they know exactly what they got wrong in their drafts. Hopefully, not a lot still needs fixing on your roster, but just in case, there are some incredibly deep stashes still out there.

All three of the players below are posied to have an impact not only in Week 4 but potentially the rest-of-season and beyond. They are also all available in approximately 50% or more of dynasty fantasy football leagues on Sleeper. That means once you read this article, there is a good chance you can take action and scoop one (or more) of these players up.

J.J. Taylor: RB, New England Patriots

In my “A Week Too Early Waiver Wire” article this week at The Lateral one of the players highlighted was J.J. Taylor. The New England Patriots running back has real potential to cement a role in their rebuilding offense with fellow running back James White out for the season. For dynasty fantasy football, this could have huge implications, as White held a valuable role in Bill Belichick’s offense for years. Especially in points-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football scoring formats.

White never had the most impressive rushing stats (though his 4.0 career yards per carry is surprisingly good). However, he saw massive work in the receiving game. In fact, from 2015 to 2020, White played just under 15 games per season with an average of 60-61 catches on 82 targets each season. That means White had a floor of 60 points in PPR fantasy football leagues just by being reliable in Belichick’s offense. White will be a free agent next year, and given the similarities in White’s athletic profile and Taylor’s athletic profile, the Patriots may already have their replacement.

Kalif Raymond: WR, Detroit Lions

Most fantasy football managers were surprised to see Kalif Raymond leading the Detroit Lions wide receivers in targets in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. He currently leads all Lions wide receivers in targets through three games. Still, despite his fantasy football-relevant performance in Week 3, he remains an afterthought to most fantasy football managers other than a streaming option. This is understandable given Detroit’s instability at wide receiver. A different player has led the Lions wide receivers in targets each week.

However, this instability also provides opportunity. Yes, Raymond is a career journeyman aged 27. He also is not guaranteed to be on the Lions roster in 2022, which is not the case for four of the Lions other wide receivers. But, there are still bright spots. First, Raymond does have excellent speed. Second, wide receivers typically peak at around 27. So it could be that Raymond is now in his prime and finally has a chance to break out in a rebuilding Lions offense. If he is the wide receiver that quarterback Jared Goff locks onto, there is no reason head coach Dan Campbell will force him out of the lead wide receiver role. Raymond is a highly speculative play, but given the cost, he is very much low-risk.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: WR, Tennessee Titans

Kalif Raymond was not the only surprise fantasy football-relevant wide receiver last week. Just ahead of him was Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (in PPR fantasy football scoring), who took advantage of an injury to fellow Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown. Westbrook-Ikhine is going to have a chance to take advantage of Brown’s absence in Week 4 against the New York Jets. Both Brown and Titans wide receiver Julio Jones will be out Week 4, giving Westbrook-Ikhine a rare opportunity to be the lead wide receiver.

Most likely, Westbrook-Ikhine is fighting to become the permanent third option for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, even if he is the top wide receiver in Week 4. Luckily for Westbrook-Ikhine, Tannehill already is developing a connection with the sophomore wideout. Plus, that position is relatively wide open at the moment and has the potential to be valuable for fantasy football managers. Dynasty fantasy football managers should look to roster Westbrook-Ikhine. He could be solid bench depth, or if things continue to break his way, a possible starter or trade asset for dynasty fantasy football managers.

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By: Malcolm McMillan

Week 3 is just around the corner and already injuries are playing a massive role in fantasy football. These injury issues are always impactful, especially in redraft fantasy football leagues. Still, even dynasty fantasy football managers feel the impact of a major injury despite the deeper rosters.

If any reminder of that was needed, Thursday night’s game gave fantasy football managers one in a big way. In the third quarter against the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey went down and never came back. Now he is out for multiple weeks, and dynasty fantasy football managers rostering his backup, Chuba Hubbard, are rejoicing. They now either have a valuable trade asset or someone that can plug a hole in their lineup for a few games (at least).

All the players listed below are worth considering for exactly this reason. Either they could be valuable due to an injury, or they already are valuable due to injury. Either way, there is a good chance they should make it onto their roster.

Dwayne Haskins: QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been dealing with a left pectoral injury all week. He missed the first practice of the week, and even Head Coach Mike Tomlin thinks that the hits are wearing on Roethlisberger. The combination of an existing injury, Roethlisberger’s (relatively) advanced age, and the weakness of the Steelers’ offensive line make Roethlisberger missing time a real possibility. His backup could be a valuable fantasy football asset, especially if they can play their way into becoming Big Ben’s successor.

Which is why you want Dwayne Haskins. The former first-round draft pick signed with the Steelers back in January after being cut by the Washington Football Team. If Roethlisberger were to miss time, Haskins and fellow backup quarterback Mason Rudolph would be duking it out to replace him. Rudolph has already been benched once as Roethlisberger’s backup for poor performance, and Tomlin going back to him by default is not a guarantee. Bet on Haskins instead of Rudolph if you are looking for a cheap fantasy football asset whose value could skyrocket if the player ahead of him goes down.

Jacques Patrick: RB, San Francisco 49ers

We have already seen an undrafted free agent journeyman and a sixth-round draft pick excel as the running back in Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers offense. Why not another undrafted running back signed off another team’s practice squad? The 49ers have some serious issues at running back right now. Raheem Mostert is out for the season, JaMycal Hasty is out for multiple weeks, Elijah Mitchell is “very questionable,” and Trey Sermon is recovering from a concussion. Since the 49ers signed Patrick from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, he is already on the 53-man active roster and will be suiting up for a Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. If Sermon were to go down again, that would leave Patrick in line for a lead-back role with Mitchell out.

A word of caution, Patrick is likely not a long-term asset. He is more likely a weekly rental and then a sell-high candidate if he plays well. Mitchell and Sermon are likely the future of this backfield, and unless Patrick can outperform his career backup role and his below-average athletic profile, he will not supplant them. Even if he did turn some heads with his rushing ability this preseason.

Braxton Berrios: WR, New York Jets

Unlike the other two names on this list, Braxton Berrios is already succeeding this season. Despite being rostered in less than half of all dynasty leagues on Sleeper, and barely any redraft leagues, the New York Jets wide receiver is fantasy-relevant. Yes, Corey Davis may be leading the Jets wide receivers in fantasy football points in point-per-reception (PPR) formats, but Berrios is leading the team in targets. That target share is a big reason why Berrios has yet to have a game with less than 10 PPR fantasy football points this season.

While this workload feels doomed to regress, it is not a guarantee that Berrios is not already locking down a role. With a 57.97% snap share, he is definitely behind Elijah Moore and Corey Davis on the wide receiver depth chart in New York. However, everyone assumes that once all the Jets wide receivers are healthy, that Berrios will take a backseat. So far though, Keelan Cole failed to supplant him in Week 2, and Jamison Crowder struggles to even make it onto the field. At 25, Berrios is still young enough to have room to grow as a player, and the new regime in New York has no reason to be loyal to any players that cannot perform. Berrios is worth a stash as long as his connection with rookie quarterback Zach Wilson is intact.

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