Here are players to consider stashing ahead of this weekend’s slate of games.
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QUARTERBACKS
Trey Lance vs. Cardinals in Week 9
I’ll continue to bang this drum until Lance is rostered in at least 40% of CBS leagues. (He’s currently at 37%.) It’s only a matter of time before the 49ers move on from Jimmy Garoppolo and turn to Lance, the guy for whom they sacrificed three first-round picks plus a third-rounder so that they could move up to No. 3 in this year’s draft. Lance will need some seasoning as a passer, but he’ll provide major rushing value right away. Subbing for Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 4, Lance produced 20 fantasy points in the second half. When he made his first NFL start in Week 5, Lance threw for 192 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, but he ran 16 times for 89 yards. Eventually, Lance is a potential solution for the QB have-nots.
Tyrod Taylor at Dolphins in Week 9
There aren’t many great QB streaming options who are available in at least 60% of CBS leagues, but Taylor could be a sneaky-good choice. This assumes he’ll be ready to return from a hamstring injury. Taylor was apparently close to returning in Week 8, but the Texas chose to play it conservatively, and Week 9 now looks like his return date. Taylor adds value with his legs, and he’ll be facing a Dolphins defense that’s giving up 23.0 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the third-highest number in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
Boston Scott vs. Chargers in Week 9
Miles Sanders was just placed on IR, so he won’t be back until Week 11 at the earliest. After Sanders went down in Week 7, Scott out-carried rookie Kenneth Gainwell 7-5 even though Gainwell has been playing ahead of him all season. Both backs are going to be involved while Sanders is out, and Jordan Howard might get some carries, too. But it’s possible the Eagles will simply keep Gainwell in the passing-down role he’s been playing all season and slide Scott into Sanders’ early-down role. Rostered in only 33% of CBS leagues, Scott gets an appealing Week 9 matchup against a Chargers defense that’s giving up a league-high 5.4 yards per carry and is allowing 26.5 fantasy points per game to running backs.
Marlon Mack vs. Jets in Week 9
Mack isn’t fantasy-viable as a member of the Colts, but the NFL trading deadline is Tuesday afternoon, and Mack has been rumored as a trade candidate. It’s unrealistic to think that Mack would go to a team that would feature him, but he could at least be part of a committee somewhere rather than buried behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. But let’s be clear: Don’t drop a quality player in order to add Mack. If you have a roster vacancy, sure, go for it, and you can drop Mack next week if he isn’t moved before the deadline. But don’t sacrifice anything of value to add him.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Gallup vs. Broncos in Week 9
I’m cheating by including Gallup in this week’s waiver stashes column. Technically it’s supposed to be limited to players who are rostered in 40% or less of CBS leagues. Gallup is rostered in 45% of CBS leagues, but there’s no way he should remain on the waiver wire in leagues with 12 or more teams. Gallup is expected back in Week 9 after missing nearly half the season with a calf injury he sustained in Week 1. Yes, Dallas has two other terrific WRs in CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper, plus a breakout TE in Dalton Schultz. But Gallup is a talented young receiver playing in one of the league’s best offenses, if not the best. And if one of the other Dallas receivers were to go down, Gallup’s fantasy value would go through the roof.
Van Jefferson vs. Titans in Week 9
Jefferson has played 74% of the Rams offensive snaps this season, and with 21-304-3, he currently ranks WR41 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring. For those who need to fill a Week 9 hole at receiver, Jefferson could be a sneaky-good play against a Tennessee defense that’s giving up 28.4 fantasy points per game to wide receiver. As noted by JJ Zachariason of numberFire, 77.7% of the receiving yardage against the Titans has gone to wide receivers – the highest percentage in the league.
TIGHT ENDS
Dan Arnold vs. Bills in Week 9
Arnold has been with the Jaguars for three games. In his last two, he’s had 8-91-0 on 13 targets. Arnold is an athletic tight end with career averages of 13.5 yards per catch and 8.8 yards per target – both exceptional for the position. His quarterback, rookie Trevor Lawrence, is starting to figure out NFL defenses and look like a credible passer. Maybe it’s not a complete coincidence that QB Sam Darnold‘s recent collapse coincided with the trade that shipped Arnold out of Carolina.
Pat Freiermuth vs. Bears in Week 9
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is out for the season with a shoulder injury, and TE Eric Ebron is dealing with a bad hamstring. Freiermuth, a second-round rookie from Penn State, had a season-high seven catches for 58 yards last week against the Seahawks, and his increased usage in the passing game could stick now that JuJu isn’t around to be QB Ben Roethlisberger‘s safety blanket on shorter throws. Freiermuth played a season-high 60% snap share in Week 7, and that percentage is going to spike while Ebron is out. This seems like a good time to invest in the talented young tight end.
DEFENSES
Miami Dolphins vs. Texans in Week 9
If you’re streaming defenses, the Texans’ offense is a good one to target. Defenses are averaging 10.6 fantasy points per game against Houston this season. Granted, they’ve been picking on rookie QB Davis Mills, and the Texans might be slightly more competent with Tyrod Taylor at the helm, but this should still be an offense we can pick on for fantasy purposes.
Las Vegas Raiders at Giants in Week 9
The Raiders rank a respectable 16th in defensive fantasy scoring, and we know that Giants QB Daniel Jones is a turnover factory. Led by Edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders have recorded 18 sacks this season, just three off the league lead.
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