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Our fantasy drafts are always just one piece to the bigger championship puzzle. Most fantasy rosters go through an incredible amount of turnover and as fantasy managers, we are constantly looking for a winning combination. Our benches are often a mixture of solid enough players we can throw into our lineup in a pinch or high-upside players that have the capability of winning your league. How you manage your bench, your waiver claims, and who you keep or cut can sometimes play just as big a role as the draft itself.
We all want upside on our bench. Those guys, that if things break right, can help win some championships. In all reality though, there aren't many players like that and they're incredibly difficult to predict. I mean, if it were easy, they'd be easy roster stashes in the first place, right?
We're going to be looking at some of the best players fantasy managers should be stashing on their benches right now. All of them – except one – have an ADP lower than 130, according to RotoBaller. These are some of the guys that even if you're not thrilled with the production to start the year, you should hold and have faith. There's an upside to be had. That's not to say it's a guarantee, but it's worth waiting to find out.
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Running Backs
Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams - RB42 (ADP: 130)
Okay, get your laughs out of the way. Are you finished? No, seriously... are you done? Okay, Sony Michel deserves a spot on your roster. Why?
ESPN Insider @AdamSchefter breaks down the Sony Michel trade to the #Rams and its impact on Darrell Henderson and the #Patriots backfield on #GuruInTheMorning!@Fantasy_Guru @PaulKellyTweets #FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/lVeLfo8oko
— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) August 25, 2021
Adam Schefter reported Michel was traded to a place where he could become the lead back and probably will become the lead back. Think about that. Look, Cam Akers was ranked as the RB10–12 most places. Henderson is currently viewed as a top-20 running back and Michel can't even crack the top-40. How much love have the Rams truly shown to Henderson?
After his rookie season, the Rams loved him so much that despite not having a first-round pick and having other needs, they used their highest draft pick on running back Cam Akers. With Darrell Henderson on the roster. That doesn't exactly scream "I trust you to be the guy." Then when Akers got hurt this offseason, the Rams didn't wait long before trading for Sony Michel. Another move that doesn't exactly scream "I trust you." And look at the compensation! It's not nothing. A fifth and a sixth-round pick, plus the fifth can turn into a fourth. All of that should, at the very least, tell you Darrell Henderson doesn't have a stranglehold on this job.
Sony Michel, despite the injuries, was actually quite effective last year. Are you ready to be blown away? Last year, according to PlayerProfiler, Michel averaged 6.55 yards per touch, which was first among running backs (not a typo). He was second in breakaway run rate. He was 16th in juke rate. He averaged 5.68 yards per carry. He created 3.45 yards per touch, which was fifth among running backs. Doesn't exactly sound like a guy who can't be productive. Prior to 2020, he had back-to-back 900-yard rushing seasons with six or more scores in both.
The Rams are expected to have one of the better offenses in the league. They combined for 81 red-zone rushes last year, which showcases ample scoring opportunity for the team's running backs. Michel is a little bigger than Henderson and could end up stealing goal-line touches away. In either case, Michel is looking at eight to 12 touches a game from the get-go.
Sean McVay has constantly said they don't want to overwork Henderson, a sign he isn't likely looking at a workhorse role. Not to mention, Henderson is already dinged up. Eight to 12 touches already puts Michel in the possible flex conversation, but if he's able to shift the workload more to a 50-50 split, he could be a solid RB3. If Henderson gets hurt or misses time, Michel jumps into the RB2 conversation off of volume alone.
Michel has the benefit of not only being a usable player during bye weeks, but he also has massive upside in the event of an injury. That's a hold, all day.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys - RB43 (ADP: 130)
Tony Pollard showed his worth last year and likely earned some additional touches this season as a result. He was electric despite the broken state of their offense last year. He averaged 4.31 yards per carry despite running behind an offensive line filled with second-stringers. He also averaged a very impressive 3.16 yards per touch, which was good for ninth among running backs. Pollard can play, no question about it. The question rather is, how much will he play?
When Dak and the offensive line were healthy, Elliott played 88% of the snaps – a workhorse role if there's ever been one. If there isn't a shift in playing time, Pollard isn't anything more than a handcuff. However, I expect Dallas to use Pollard more in 2021 in an attempt to keep Zeke healthy and fresh. Since his rookie season, Elliott has handled 1,654 touches, which amounts to 330 touches per year. He's been able to handle it thus far, but running backs have historically started breaking down under that kind of workload. To avoid that scenario, I expect the Cowboys to work Pollard into the game plan more frequently. If he can handle eight or so touches a game, primarily catching the ball, he could have some flex appeal on the right weeks.
But the real reason we're stashing and holding onto Pollard is in the event Zeke goes down. All running backs get hurt. Running backs who have handled the kind of workload Zeke gets tend to be hurt more often. I'm not predicting any injury – that's impossible – but Pollard has a week-winning upside if anything happens to Zeke. He would immediately jump into the top-12 and would be a must-start. Even if Zeke starts with that 85% snap share, don't drop Pollard loose.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles - RB48 (ADP: 174)
In 2018, Nyheim Hines finished as the RB27 in full-PPR scoring and averaged over 10 points per game. That season, Hines racked up 63 catches on 81 targets. He finished the season with 739 yards and four touchdowns. Now, you might be wondering why I'm talking about Hines under what appears to be a Kenneth Gainwell section, but here are the similarities.
In 2018, Hines was a fourth-round rookie. The Colts' offensive coordinator was Nick Sirianni who is, of course, now the head coach of the Eagles. Gainwell is a fifth-round rookie. Both players were praised for their pass-catching ability. There's a lot of similarities to find here.
Now, the major difference is the Colts in 2018 didn't have another player on their roster like Hines. The Eagles do – Boston Scott, and he's proven to be a quality pass-catcher in his own right. Still, however, Gainwell is worth holding a roster spot open for (only in PPR-scoring settings). Throughout the preseason, the Eagles have moved the former Tiger around and have found ways to get him the ball and he's been effective. He's likely earned a regular role in the offense, it's just unknown when that will be yet. Miles Sanders has hardly played at all, a sign that he's solidly entrenched as the No. 1 guy, but that can change.
Sanders has struggled to stay on the field since being drafted in 2019. Last year, he missed four games and if Sanders misses any time, Gainwell could be the biggest benefactor. In his second year in college, he racked up over 1,400 rushing yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. He's someone to keep an eye on with a new coaching staff coming in. Brighter horizons may be coming and it's worth waiting for.
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints - WR58 (ADP: 73)
Michael Thomas is the only player you'll find on this list with an ADP lower than 130, but he's here because he's absolutely worth it. He was just placed on the PUP list which means he won't be back until at least Week 6. There's no way around that, it stinks. It doesn't change the fact that he's got league-winning upside once he gets back on the field.
His sixth-round cost is a little rich for my particular taste, I'd prefer him in the seventh or eighth round, but there's no denying his upside. In 2019, from Weeks 2–7 with Teddy Bridgewater under center, the former Buckeye was the second-best fantasy wide receiver in the league under half-PPR scoring. He averaged 18 points per game. In 2020, from Weeks 11–14 with Taysom Hill under center, Thomas was WR16 despite scoring zero touchdowns. It should also be noted one of those games was against the Broncos when they didn't have a single quarterback and Hill didn't even complete nine passes. An odd game no doubt and one that certainly hurt his points per game average and he still finished as the WR16 during that time.
If you have an IR spot you should absolutely draft Michael Thomas in redraft.
If you can’t make the playoffs without a R7-10 pick then I’m sorry but you’re bad at fantasy football.
If you don’t have an IR spot it depends on bench size cuz the waiver flexibility is huge
— Jakob Sanderson (RTDB) ↗️ (@FF_RTDB) September 1, 2021
Jameis Winston might just be the best deep-ball thrower Thomas has ever had at quarterback. It sounds almost blasphemous to say that when he was catching passes from Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees, but it's true nonetheless.
Most of our sixth, seventh, and eighth-rounders are going to bust anyways. If you can, go back and look at your draft from last year and the year before that and look at how many six and seventh-rounders panned out and turned into weekly starters. The number is going to be smaller than you think. If Thomas is on your bench, hold onto him. He has top-12 upside when he comes back. That is 100% worth your bench spot.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens - WR61 (ADP: 207)
The passing volume in Baltimore is not ideal. The injury is also not ideal and yet, I suggest holding. I'm betting on talent here with Rashod Bateman. He was a first-round pick for a reason. As a sophomore in college, he racked up 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. That equaled a 20.3 yard per reception average.
Rashod Bateman with his current ADP of 198 on Underdog and 187 on DraftKings just feels like an absolute league winner in a top heavy tournament.
Someone you can pick up with your last few picks that can come in and make a splash when it matters most.
— Preston (@FF_Engineer_) August 26, 2021
The wide receiver depth chart in Baltimore is significantly lacking and it shouldn't take much for Bateman to climb to the top once he's healthy. Sammy Watkins, at this point of his career, is who he is, which is really nothing more than a depth piece. Marquise Brown is a role player, but Bateman was drafted to be the No. 1 receiver.
This passing offense might lack volume, but it's incredibly effective. It dipped a little bit last season, but Lamar Jackson has a career touchdown rate of 7.2%. Tom Brady is at 5.5% and Aaron Rodgers is at 6.3%. Jackson's yards per attempt average is 7.5, which is the same as Brady, while Rodgers is at 7.8. As fantasy managers, we'd love for there to be more volume and on the bright side, the Ravens talked about revamping their passing game this year, so there is some element of hope.
Still, efficiency is something we can hang our hats on. Bateman's college pedigree and draft status is another thing worth remembering. We continue to see rookie receivers bust out year after year and while it's unlikely Bateman busts out like CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he becomes a WR3 with upside by season's end. Considering his current draft cost is borderline free, it's worth the investment and the stash.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals - WR68 (ADP: 180)
A.J. Green's career is hanging onto a life raft at this point. While it's within the realm of possibility he's able to channel one more quality season, the reality isn't so bright. He was one of the worst receivers last year. Sometimes numbers can be deceiving, in Green's case, they're just telling us the truth.
Christian Kirk has been a big disappointment since the Cardinals drafted him. He's never gone over 710 yards in any season and wasn't selected with Kliff Kingsbury as the head coach. Kirk is a solid depth piece, but he's a below-average starter and Arizona knew that. That's why they used their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on the explosive receiver out of Purdue, Rondale Moore.
He's struggled with injuries a bit the past two seasons, but as a freshman, he had 114 catches and he turned them into 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added another 21 carries for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Throughout the preseason, Kingsbury has found ways to get the ball into his hands. Moore figures to be the slot receiver for Arizona. Kirk and Green have both been primarily outside receivers, along with DeAndre Hopkins. With Larry Fitzgerald's pending retirement, Moore figures to "slot" into that role. Get it? Okay, that was lame.
But, with no real tight end on the roster, Moore should be Murray's primary target on most of his short to intermediate routes. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see the former Boilermaker as the second most targeted receiver for the Cardinals by the season's end. He's more explosive than Green at this stage and flat-out more talented than Kirk.
Cardinals are going to be a lot of fun for fantasy to start the year. Fastest-paced offense in the league + a sketchy secondary = ???
Their first six games:
at Titans
vs. Vikings
at Jaguars
at Rams
vs. 49ers
at Browns— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) August 31, 2021
The Cardinals are going to be an explosive offense to boot. On top of that, they only have Chase Edmonds and James Conner at running back. Edmonds doesn't profile as a workhorse running back who can handle a lot of carries and Conner has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. If the Cardinals struggle running the football, it could lead Kingsbury to unleash an aerial attack on the rest of the league, which would only increase Moore's value. He's someone who I could see having a Curtis Samuel-esque type of role in year one. That would equal 75 catches, 850 yards, and another 150-200 yards rushing. His potential is sky-high and even if he starts slow, don't give up on him.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills - WR74 (ADP: 190)
The Bills continue to tell us exactly how they want to run their offense and it's not by actually running the football. In the third preseason game, Josh Allen and the starting offense threw the ball 16 straight times. They threw the ball just under 62% of the time last season and nothing about their offseason says we should expect anything different.
John Brown was cut in free agency, but they brought in Emmanuel Sanders and despite some lackluster returns on running backs, Devin Singeltary and Zack Moss, the Bills added zero talent to that group. This offense is going to continue operating and winning football games off the arm of Josh Allen, plain and simple. Davis has the potential to capitalize on that passing volume. Even last year, he was very effective. He had 10 red-zone targets last year, which was the same number as CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, and Diontae Johnson.
Gabriel Davis: 2020 season
?7 TDs, 1 less than Diggs ?
?4 games as WR22 or better?
?Weeks 12-16 = 94% of snaps
?11 end zone targets, lead the team?5 rec, 75 yards, 1 TD with Josh Allen in preseason. late-round sleeper?
pic.twitter.com/RmGVKpJKaW— Victoria (@ffb_victoria) August 30, 2021
He's competing against Cole Beasley who is 32-years-old and Emmanuel Sanders who is 34-years-old. If Sanders or Beasley gets into a fight this year with Father-Time and ends up on the losing side, it's very possible Davis could vault to being Allen's No. 2 or No. 3 target.
The other thing fantasy managers need to be cognizant of is Stefon Diggs' health. He's an amazing football talent, but last year was the first time he managed to play all 16 games. If he misses time, Davis' value goes up too. The Bills are going to be one of the most pass-happy offenses in the NFL if the third preseason game was any indicator. Davis is worth hanging onto just in case he leapfrogs Sanders or Beasley on the depth chart.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints - Unranked (ADP: Undrafted)
While everyone was lining up to draft Adam Trautman, the Saints pulled a fast one on us. It's been Juwan Johnson who has inherited the Jared Cook role in this offense. He has been more active in the passing game than Adam Trautman and the way he's been used projects better for future fantasy production.
Prior to the third preseason game, Trautman has played on 13 passing downs and blocked on five of them. On the opposite side, Johnson has been in on 49 pass plays and has only blocked on two of them. So far, it looks pretty clear Johnson is going to play the role of Jared Cook in this offense. In the past, it's been a very fantasy-friendly role in New Orleans.
WR turned TE Juwan Johnson was filling a version of the Jared Cook role for Saints even before the Adam Trautman injury. Johnson 60 snaps this preseason, 32 of them lined up slot or wide. Seen five targets.
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) August 24, 2021
Johnson is a former wide receiver and brings elite athleticism to the tight position. The other thing we can look back at is the fantasy success for tight ends in Sean Payton's offense. Not only that, but Jameis Winston has an encouraging history in targeting the position. With Michael Thomas on the PUP list for six weeks, Johnson has the opportunity to carve out a regular role in this offense.
Adam Trautman is locked in as the Saints starting TE. From 2016-2019 when Winston was the starter for the Bucs, his tight ends averaged 108 targets, 71 catches, 859 yards & 9 touchdowns. Trautman is an elite athlete whom the Saints moved up to get last year. Buy Adam Trautman.
— Rob (@RobFFAddict) June 15, 2021
Do me a favor if you can, just replace Adam Trautman with Juwan Johnson on that tweet above because everything else is exactly the same. I had the right process back there in June, just the wrong name. We need to be able to adapt to changing information and everything points to Johnson being the Saints' tight end fantasy managers will want to target. On top of all the positive signs in regards to Johnson's use, there's the Trautman injury that only increases Johnson's value.
It's been an encouraging preseason and even if Johnson starts off a bit slow, hang on. He might have a Logan Thomas type of upside. There's a ton of volume available in New Orleans.
Quarterbacks
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers - QB22 (ADP: 141)
This one shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but it's looking unlikely Trey Lance will start the season. Despite the 49ers being able to cut ties with Jimmy Garoppolo and save $24 million, free and easy, they still haven't done so. They haven't traded him. He's still on the roster. It's unlikely he's there to be a backup for 17 games. With Lance's recent injury – albeit a minor one – this opens the door for Kyle Shanahan to increase Jimmy G's trade value by trotting him out there for a few games, while simultaneously giving Lance some extra learning time.
Regardless, Lance absolutely is a bench stash. In one-quarterback leagues, Lance can be a league winner. To be able to say that about a quarterback, they need to be able to provide value with their legs and Lance can absolutely do that. It certainly doesn't hurt he has one of the most intuitive game-callers in the NFL with some explosive weapons to throw the ball to.
While all of that is enough as it is to be a league winner, you're getting even more.
The 49ers have a mouth-watering schedule from Weeks 14-17:
at CIN
vs. ATL
at TEN
vs. HOUTrey Lance is going to win you a fantasy championship this season.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) May 13, 2021
Look at that schedule! And the best part, it's actually even better than that. In Weeks 11–13, they play the Jaguars, Vikings, and Seahawks, who fielded terrible defenses last year. Then we get into the heart of the fantasy playoff schedule and fantasy managers are gifted the Bengals, Falcons, Titans, and Texans! You could not draw up a better schedule. Well, I guess we could have hoped to see the Lions, but that's just getting greedy.
Seriously though, it doesn't matter if Lance sits for 13 weeks, if you can cash in on those playoff matchups to end the season (unless you have one of the top-five quarterbacks), his upside is as high as anyone's and it's worth waiting on.
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