Anthony Richardson pinpoints hidden treasures to contemplate including on your squad prior to them becoming sought-after fantasy football waiver-wire acquisitions in the weeks ahead.
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Even though the benchmark might fluctuate at times, the primary intention is to explore within the collection of players who are rostered in 19% or fewer of the Yahoo leagues.
Michael Carter, RB, Cardinals (27% rostered*)
*Carter surpasses the typical boundary for inclusion in this analysis, yet I’m making an exception considering this scenario developed following waiver processing in the majority of leagues. Carter remains widely accessible and can be procured and deployed as an RB3/flex choice this week.
This week brought a deluge of injury updates, with Bijan Robinson joining teammate Tyler Allgeier on the injured list. Fortunately for Robinson, he is anticipated to make a comeback this season after a 5-7 week recovery following arthroscopic knee surgery on his meniscus. During this period, the Cardinals’ backfield will be entrusted to a combination of Carter and Cordarrelle Patterson, possibly with Godwin Igwebuike factoring in.
As Field Yates of ESPN observed, Carter was indeed the one receiving work behind Robinson in the first half. Patterson’s snaps only increased towards the game’s conclusion when Atlanta was attempting a comeback. Furthermore, Carter identified himself as the starter on Wednesday. The situation is sufficiently balanced that performance will partially dictate touches, but Carter is poised to serve as the new early-down back, with Patterson handling the majority of passing-down responsibilities. Manage your expectations for both backs, as they are likely to provide only RB3/flex value. Nonetheless, I will rank Carter ahead of Patterson in a favorable matchup against the Saints this week.
Honorable mentions: Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (9% rostered), Roschon Johnson, Bears (10% rostered), Kendre Miller, Saints (12% rostered), Chase Brown, Bengals (13% rostered), Zach Evans, Rams (4% rostered), Ronnie Rivers, Rams (5% rostered), Evan Hull, Colts (4% rostered)
Isaiah Bond, WR, Browns (5% rostered)
Bond inked a deal with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in mid-August and has been steadily ascending the depth chart ever since. In the past three weeks, the 22-year-old has unequivocally assumed the No. 3 receiver position, participating in 56% of the snaps and securing seven receptions for 81 yards on 12 targets during that timeframe. With David Bell anticipated to be sidelined for a few weeks due to a hamstring ailment, Bond is expected to witness even greater opportunities within the offense. While I would not advise starting him for fantasy in Week 5, Bond should be added to monitor if he can sustain his upward trajectory in production.
Honorable mentions: Dontayvion Wicks, Packers (8% rostered), Josh Downs, Colts (14% rostered), Puka Nacua, Rams (15% rostered), Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers (2% rostered), Noah Brown, Texans (9% rostered)
Mason Taylor, TE, Jets (11% rostered)
Despite being drafted a round later than the top tight ends in the class, Taylor emerges as the latest rookie making an impact in both real-world scenarios and fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old has overcome the preseason high-ankle sprain that hindered his initial progress and has been garnering targets at an impressive pace over the past three weeks. Taylor has been targeted with 15 passes in the last three games alone, corralling 10 of them for 89 yards. His 6-71-0 stat line in Week 4 was sufficient to position him as the TE16 in half PPR and the TE13 in full PPR without even reaching the end zone. The Jets lack a proven No. 2 wideout, paving the way for Taylor to experience consistent volume. He should be added as a streaming option and a potential fantasy starter for the remainder of the season.
Honorable mention: Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (14% rostered), Luke Musgrave, Packers (13% rostered), Donald Parham Jr., Chargers (4% rostered), Noah Gray, Chiefs (3% rostered)
Cooper Rush, QB, Ravens (4% rostered)
Quarterback represents the most challenging position to unearth deep stashes, as they are not typically necessary in traditional fantasy leagues. Therefore, consider Rush primarily as a two-QB or Superflex stash. Patrick Mahomes is reportedly week-to-week with a hamstring injury, as per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Mahomes will undoubtedly strive to avoid missing any playing time, but with Kansas City’s bye looming in Week 7, it is conceivable that he may not return until Week 8. As an injury-replacement for Sam Prescott last season, Rush compiled a 5-5 record in his starts, achieving three fantasy finishes within the top-18 quarterbacks and six within the top 22. He presents a viable streaming option in deeper formats if Mahomes is sidelined.
Honorable mention: Jake Haener, Saints (8% rostered), Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Browns (5% rostered)
