9 Fantasy Football Stash Candidates Ahead of Week 5

Stashing players ahead of your league mates is undoubtedly advantageous if you can make it happen, and this series does its best to provide you with some names to consider every week.

These are guys who may be potential league-winners at some point in the future, whether that’s next week or a handful of weeks down the road. They may make this list if the player above them on the depth chart is on shaky ground, might be nursing an injury, or possibly a matchup-based situation in the weeks ahead.

Clear out those benches (check out my Dead Weight Report on who to drop) and make room for this week’s emerging fantasy assets.

Editor's Note: Check out the Week 5 Waiver Wire Watch!

George Pickens, WR - Steelers

I was surprised to see only a 39% Yahoo rostership for the rookie, so George Pickens makes the cut this week as a stash candidate. He was the talk of training camp and has made some incredible plays thus far in 2022, but didn’t really put up solid fantasy numbers until his 6-102-0 line in Week 4.

With the QB change from Mitch Trubisky to Kenny Pickett, Pickens’ targets and volume increased in the second half against the Jets, and with a more aggressive QB at the helm, we should see more big games from the former UGA Bulldog. He’ll still be behind the clear alpha Diontae Johnson in this struggling offense’s pecking order which is why he’s only considered a stash at this point, plus the Steelers have a tough Week 5 tilt ahead in Buffalo.

Khalil Shakir, WR - Bills

Another rookie in a good spot, Khalil Shakir, could see increased playing time with Jamison Crowder sidelined due to a broken ankle and Isaiah McKenzie possibly in the league’s concussion protocol. It’s tough to gauge exactly how much work Shakir will get, but there’s a chance he could be the slot guy in three-WR sets as long as one or both are on the shelf.

Having a part of one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses is always advisable due to volume and opportunity, so snagging Shakir now could be a solid move ahead of the next few weeks, particularly because the Bills' next two opponents are the Steelers and Chiefs, who rank 26th and 22nd in aFPA to enemy wideouts in 2022.

Corey Davis, WR - Jets

While he’s the least sexiest Jet WR out of the trio with Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore, Corey Davis saw the most targets in Week 4 with Zach Wilson under center and doubled the output of the next best WR, Elijah Moore, with a very respectable 15.9 half-PPR points. Davis has quietly posted three double-digit half-PPR contests out of four in 2022 and could be in for even more volume with Wilson back at the helm.

We can’t ignore the chemistry here or the results, so stashing Davis or even adding him to start in your FLEX in Week 5 may be beneficial if your roster is in need of some WR love.

Desmond Ridder, QB - Falcons

Marcus Mariota played horribly in Week 4 to the tune of just seven completed passes for 139 scoreless yards and an interception. The Falcons won the ballgame, which may have bought the 28-year-old some time, but one would think that Mariota’s clock is ticking as the starter in Atlanta.

Grabbing the rookie now before the pitchforks come out and the screams get louder to see what Ridder can do for the Falcons could be advantageous for fantasy teams in need of QB help.

Kyle Philips, WR - Titans

With Treylon Burks dealing with turf toe for an undefined amount of time, rookie Kyle Philips could have an expanded role when he comes back from his own injury (shoulder). Your league mates most likely forgot about Philips’ opening day volume, where he saw a team-high nine targets (27.2%) since he’s been out for a few contests.

The Titans' offense is not the epitome of consistency thus far, but they have some favorable matchups on the horizon, making Philips a stashable option at WR. This week they get a Washington unit ranked 31st in WR aFPA so far in 2022; then, after their Week 6 bye, Tennessee faces the Colts and Texans, who sit 10th and 18th in that same category. Philips got in limited practices last week, so there’s hope he’ll be back as early as Week 5.

Jameson Williams, WR - Lions

The high-flying Lions, yes, I actually typed that out, are very happy with Jameson Williams’ recovery from an ACL tear he suffered in the CFB National Championship game back in January. There’s no exact timetable for his return, but the rookie is technically eligible to practice and play in Week 5. Detroit WR coach Antwaan Randle El has spoken highly of Williams as far as learning the playbook and schemes and compared him to fellow Lion Amon-Ra St. Brown when it comes to speed and cuts.

Realistically we are looking at a November date for his NFL debut, but getting ahead of the curve now with the way this Lions’ offense is humming could save you a high waiver claim and a decent chunk of FAAB.

Greg Dulcich, TE - Broncos

The Broncos love Greg Dulcich, and upon return from IR, he could emerge as the TE1 in Denver; however, he may not. They clearly aren’t into Albert Okwuegbunam, who has seen a decline in work every week of 2022, with a rock-bottom one snap and zero targets in Week 4.

They’ve been using a TE-by-committee approach thus far with Eric Saubert and Eric Tomlinson in the mix, but once Dulcich is eligible to play after his IR stint, we could see them roll with just the rookie. This stash is certainly not for everyone, but if you have a deeper bench and are hurting at TE, taking a chance that Dulcich hits could pan out in your favor.

Jacksonville Jaguars Defense

This is a great week to grab and hold the Jags, as they are coming off a tough loss with a beautiful schedule ahead of them. Their next four opponents sit 25th (HOU), 32nd (IND), 19th (NYG), and 30th (DEN) in total offense, and not one of these four teams is averaging over 19 points on the scoreboard per contest.

For now, Jacksonville is only on 14% of Yahoo rosters, but that will most likely change moving forward.

Cincinnati Bengals Defense

The Bengals' defense has been quietly producing from a fake football perspective, as they currently sit ninth in total fantasy points after four weeks. This week won’t be a great matchup as they face the Ravens on the road, but in Weeks 6 and 7, they get the Saints and Falcons, who sit 32nd and 17th in defensive aFPA, respectively.

If you stream defenses or are just looking to improve that spot for the next few weeks, consider grabbing this Cincy unit, as they are currently only rostered by 35% of Yahoo managers.