In today’s climate, with more content generated than one person could ever realistically consume, the term sleeper is glossed over more than it was in previous years. For fantasy football managers playing in dynasty leagues, the top players at their respective positions are discussed ad nauseam. It’s objectively harder to find players that the competition in your league does not know about than it was even just five years ago.
One way to gain that potential edge over your competition is to be mindful of who the players are that you’re stashing on the back end of your fantasy rosters. Roster construct plays into these decisions, of course. Fantasy managers in a championship window may be more amenable to rostering older, proven players even if they don’t possess the highest ceilings to have the depth necessary to make a championship run. For managers who have torn down a roster and are amidst a full-blown rebuild, you’re likely to gravitate towards younger players who may not be as proven but could still ultimately have a higher ceiling. Here are three players to consider stashing in your dynasty league.
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The Cardinals' running back room seems to becoming more and more set by the day: James Conner, Eno Benjamin, Darrel Williams and Jonathan Ward.
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) August 8, 2022
The Arizona Cardinals offense is one that we know will want to run the football. They were in the top 10 in rushing attempts in 2021, and there’s no reason to expect that philosophy to shift significantly in 2022. James Conner was the primary source of fantasy points for fantasy managers one season ago, but it was not on the back of high-level efficiency. Conner did rack up double-digit rushing touchdowns (15) on the second most attempts of his career (202), but it was all while averaging a career-worst 3.7 yards per attempt. This backfield is tough to predict after Conner. Darrel Williams was signed in the offseason and figures to be involved, and Keaontay Ingram could be tough to leave off the 53-man roster. But Eno Benjamin has been getting praised consistently through training camp thus far. There wasn’t much production to analyze for Benjamin just a season ago. Still, he’s a player who had double-digit rushing touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons, including his sophomore season at Arizona State, which saw him eclipse 1,600 yards on the ground. Conner has missed time in every season of his professional career, so the smart move is to find an insurance policy in the same backfield.
Russell Wilson connects on the long ball with rookie WR Montrell Washington ?
(? via @Broncos)#PFNTCTour | #Broncos pic.twitter.com/UobFq4VVip
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) July 30, 2022
The Denver Broncos suffered a blow to their wide receiver depth following Tim Patrick‘s season-ending knee injury, but they have a few candidates on the roster to help fill that void. While Montrell Washington is a different type of receiver than Patrick, he has impressed so far during training camp. The Broncos selected Washington in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft primarily based on his ability as a dynamite return man. Contributing to special teams is another critical area to be mindful of when looking for worthwhile dynasty stashes that are rookies or just young players. When players can solidify themselves as a returner or contribute in other ways on special teams, it only increases their chances of making the 53-man roster come the regular season. A player who makes some splash plays during training camp but doesn’t play on special teams has a much more difficult path to surviving final cuts. Washington has a fantastic shot at landing return duties for the Broncos. He’s a shifty athlete who possesses plenty of quickness to make up for what he lacks in stature.
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With Derrick Henry inactive for team drills, and a light day for Dontrell Hilliard, it’s notable that #Titans rookie RB Hassan Haskins is having a nice day while working in with the 1s.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) August 7, 2022
Hassan Haskins is a powerful downhill runner who the Tennessee Titans selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan. While he won’t ever be mistaken for the most dynamic athlete, he has the build (6’2″, 228 pounds) and physicality to withstand a sizable between-the-tackles workload in the NFL. Of course, the Titans’ backfield is headlined by Derrick Henry. Henry is an anomaly and should not be written off simply because he’s getting older. Still, when identifying players worth stashing on your dynasty roster, it’s imperative to monitor the contract status of players at the same position. Henry is under contract with the Titans for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but the team can move on from him following the 2022 season and only withstand a $3 million dead cap hit per Spotrac. If Henry misses time in the short term, Haskins is a logical fill-in with his bruising running style. In the unlikely event that the Titans opt to move on from Henry following the 2022 season, Haskins can absolutely play a part in filling that void. He proved a reliable, solid runner in his final collegiate season, racking up 1,327 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 270 rushing attempts. He has a shot at carving out a role in 2022 if the Titans focus on ensuring Henry remains healthy for the stretch run.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
