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The arrival of Week 4 in the NFL has teams beginning to reveal their play calling tendencies. While the data continues to pile up, putting too much stock into a coaching scheme and ignoring opponent matchups and the potential for injuries often results in talented players available on league waiver wires.
Understanding which of these waiver wire players to stash on your bench is the key to building quality depth and increasing the likelihood of making the fantasy playoffs. Stashing players for upcoming production can feel uncomfortable at the moment, especially if you've been holding onto a player based on their 2020 production. However, capitalizing on future usage opportunities, particularly with Bye Weeks set to begin in Week 6, is a great way to prepare for upcoming weeks.
Let's assess a few players who qualify as must-have bench stashes. Take advantage of their availability before it's too late.
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Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
Departing the New York Jets via trade this offseason has allowed fourth-year quarterback Sam Darnold to get a fresh start on a talented roster and an improved coaching staff in Carolina. Under former Jets head coach Adam Gase, Darnold struggled to deliver consistent production as a passer. However, through three games this season, he has the 10th-most passing yards (888) and has added value as a ball carrier, racking up three touchdowns using his legs.
Darnold has only thrown three touchdowns and one interception, so expect positive regression to occur soon. He will see the schedule toughen across the next three weeks, but consecutive road games against the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants beginning in Week 7 make him a must-have bench stash.
Mark Ingram II, Houston Texans
Yes, it's the Houston Texans. Yet Mark Ingram still has something left in the tank and has taken 38.1 percent of the team's snaps, making him the RB1 just ahead of David Johnson (35.6%), while Phillip Lindsay remains an afterthought with 22.2 percent of snaps on the season.
While he hasn't found the end zone since Week 1, Ingram carries a decent floor with a team-high 53.5 percent rushing share. You aren't stashing Ingram for his 4.7 percent target share, but none of the Texans' running backs have above a seven percent target share on the season. Ingram is the primary candidate to see valuable goal-line touches, making him a solid running back stash moving forward.
Damien Williams, Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy needs to figure out his game plan moving forward with a quarterback carousel shrouded in drama. David Montgomery is the workhorse in the Bears' backfield with a 63 percent rushing share. However, Damien Williams holds value as the fifth receiving option in the offense. The veteran running back still has an elusive burst in the open field, which Nagy could lean into more as the season progresses.
Montgomery is barely outpacing Williams in target share on the season. A brutal Week 3 loss that saw Chicago held under 50 total yards of offense derailed Williams' role. He will have higher-usage games as the Bears sort out their offense, meaning Williams is a solid bench stash considering the lack of running back upside on waiver wires.
Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions
Week 3 saw nearly all of Jared Goff's targets go to Kalif Raymond and D'Andre Swift, with second-year wideout Quintez Cephus a mere afterthought. However, don't be discouraged by the performance, as Cephus saw seven targets in each of his first two games, yielding a pair of touchdowns.
A demanding October schedule for the Lions means that the passing game will be prevalent, as Detroit's defense has surrendered the fourth-highest yards per play (6.7) in the league. Cephus has two receiving touchdowns, tied with star tight end T.J. Hockenson. He's a big, reliable target for Goff, making Cephus a must-have bench stash.
Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp has been the star of the Los Angeles Rams' high-flying offense to start the season, leaving many fantasy managers distraught over Robert Woods' lack of usage. Quietly with a 12.9 percent target share sits second-year wideout Van Jefferson.
Jefferson has more receiving yards (136) than Woods through three games and has found the end zone once, making him a great stash that can be inserted into lineups sooner than later.
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
The oft-injured Parris Campbell is on an Indianapolis offense that has yet to find its rhythm. He was ruled out with an abdomen injury in Week 2 and returned in Week 3 with a disappointing two receptions for nine yards.
When taking a closer look, the third-year receiver saw 80 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps in his return, which is encouraging. However, an opportunity for Campbell to produce could soon arise, as Jack Doyle and Jonathan Taylor are a bit banged up heading into a Week 4 road contest against a gritty Miami Dolphins defense. So stash Campbell and prepare for a good stretch in the schedule beginning in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Surprisingly, the Dallas Cowboys' top tight end, Dalton Schultz, is available on 82 percent of ESPN waiver wires. This means he is an immediate must-have bench stash, especially considering he's third in receptions for the Cowboys after a strong performance in Week 3 resulted in six receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
This season, Dallas is seventh in total offensive yards (1,250), and Schultz has solidified himself as the TE1 over Blake Jarwin, out snapping him by roughly 15 percent. Dak Prescott has only rushed for 19 yards on 13 carries. He will rely on Schultz as a safety valve in the middle of the field instead of scrambling when the pocket breaks down. So stash Schultz on your bench and consider him a solid TE1 who can be inserted into lineups moving forward.
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