Justin Boone identifies under-the-radar stashes to consider adding to your roster before they become top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups in future weeks.
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While the bar might move occasionally, the general focus is to search among the group of players who are rostered in 15% of the Yahoo leagues or less.
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Ray Davis, RB, Bills (13% rostered)
James Cook finished last week’s game, but didn’t practice on Wednesday due to foot and ankle soreness.
While there is still plenty of time for him to get back on the field and suit up for an enticing Week 10 matchup with the Dolphins, his status will need to be monitored all week until we get clarity on the situation.
If Cook is unable to go, the Bills will likely turn to a combination of Davis as the lead back and Ty Johnson as the change-of-pace option. In the lone game that Cook missed last season, Davis ran the ball 20 times for 97 yards and added another 55 yards on three receptions. He finished as the RB14 on the week.
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Even if Cook is active, it’s possible the Bills reduce his workload in a game where they are favored by 9.5 points.
For now, you should be scooping Davis up as a potential fantasy RB2 if Cook is unable to play or at worst a one-injury away stash.
Honorable mention: Blake Corum, Rams (10% rostered), Emanuel Wilson, Packers (7% rostered), Isaiah Davis, Jets (11% rostered), Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (6% rostered), Terrell Jennings, Patriots (1% rostered)
DeMario Douglas, WR, Patriots (8% rostered)
Kayshon Boutte suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to leave last week’s game early and could lead to him missing Week 10.
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In his absence, Douglas didn’t see much of an increase in playing time but he did earn his highest target total since the opener with six passes thrown his way. Douglas made the most of the added opportunity, catching four balls and a touchdown en route to the first 100-yard game of his career.
That was also his second top-15 fantasy WR finish in his last four outings, after he put up 71 yards and a score on the Saints in Week 6.
Though Douglas might not see a significant uptick in snaps if Boutte sits out Sunday’s game, he’ll offer boom-to-bust WR3/flex value versus a beatable Buccaneers’ defense.
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Honorable mention: Tory Horton, Seahawks (12% rostered), Cedric Tillman, Browns (11% rostered), Luther Burden III, Bears (6% rostered), Jalen Coker, Panthers (3% rostered), Pat Bryant, Broncos (1% rostered), Jack Bech, Raiders (1% rostered), Adonai Mitchell, Jets (1% rostered)
Luke Musgrave, TE, Packers (11% rostered)
With Tucker Kraft out for the season, Musgrave will have an opportunity to start the rest of the way in a productive Packers’ offense that prefers to spread the ball around.
Musgrave is a much different player than Kraft though. He’s not going to match Kraft’s yards after catch ability or blocking prowess but he can be more of a vertical threat using his speed to create big plays downfield.
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You have to go back to Musgrave’s rookie season to find an extended stretch with him starting. In his first nine NFL games, Musgrave posted at least 49 yards four times.
While there are a lot of quality streaming options at tight end this week, Musgrave is definitely worth consideration as a top-20 option with some upside at the position.
Honorable mention: AJ Barner, Seahawks (11% rostered), Isaiah Likely, Ravens (6% rostered), Elijah Arroyo, Seahawks (1% rostered), Brenton Strange, Jaguars (11% rostered)
Marcus Mariota, QB, Commanders (10% rostered)
The Commanders are still weighing their options when it comes to Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury, but regardless of how they approach his recovery, it’s clear he’s going to be out a while and maybe the rest of the season.
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That leaves Mariota as the starter for the foreseeable future and it’s a role he’s had success in — as I discussed in Monday’s waiver wire column.
In the last five outings where Mariota has played more than 50% of Washington’s snaps, he’s averaged 18.7 fantasy points per game, while finishing as a top-10 QB three times.
Though the matchup against the Lions isn’t perfect, Detroit is allowing the 12th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have been susceptible to giving up rushing production to the position.
Mariota will have an even easier opponent in Week 11, when he heads to Miami to take on the floundering Dolphins.
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For however long Daniels is sidelined, Mariota will be a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 thanks to his dual-threat potential.
Honorable mention: Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (15% rostered), Mac Jones, 49ers (9% rostered), Bryce Young, Panthers (15% rostered), Dillon Gabriel, Browns (4% rostered)
