8 Fantasy Football Stash Candidates Ahead of Week 7

With bye weeks in full swing and injuries plaguing rosters across the league, grabbing and stashing the right players can be a difference-maker in the weeks to come.

So far this column has hit on some players who've put up big performances like Mack Hollins ahead of Week 3, where he was WR2 with 26.0 half-PPR points, Khalil Herbert’s 29.9 output in Week 3, and Week 5’s Khalil Shakir, who dropped 15.0 half-PPR points as the WR13. Hopefully, we can grab some more players before your league mates in Week 7.

Editor's Note: Check out the Week 7 Waiver Wire Watch

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

Jameis Winston, QB - Saints

New Orleans has been very cautious with the return of Jameis Winston after recovering from back and ankle injuries, and his Week 7 status is still to be determined. Andy Dalton isn’t exactly lighting up scoreboards for the Saints in his absence, so it would seem that the starting gig is still Winston’s when he’s cleared to play.

The upcoming schedule for Winston is drool-worthy from Weeks 8-10 with contests against the Raiders, Ravens, and Steelers, who sit 32nd, 26th, and 21st in QB schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed, or aFPA, through the first six weeks. If Winton is back, he should return to hucking the football for the Saints, which could help fantasy teams for a playoff run. For now, the 28-year-old is only on 28% of Yahoo rosters.

Jahan Dotson, WR - Commanders

The first-year pro was the WR24 in half-PPR points per game through the first four weeks of the season before a hamstring issue sidelined Jahan Dotson for the last two contests. He was averaging 5.5 targets per tilt and was coming on as a consistent starter at wideout for the Commanders.

There’s little reason to think Dotson won’t resume fantasy goodness when he’s back, and having a productive rookie WR on your fantasy squads is highly recommended during the latter part of the season when they tend to take it up a notch. He’s only on 35% of rosters, so beat your league mates to him before they remember Dotson exists.

Kyren Williams, RB - Rams

LA has a bye in Week 7, with rookie Kyren Williams eligible to return against the 49ers in Week 8. There’s turmoil in the RB room for the Rams, with Cam Akers falling out of favor for undisclosed reasons, leaving Darrell Henderson as the starter with Malcolm Brown and Ronnie Rivers also sort of in the mix.

Williams boasts pass-catching prowess and could be a factor in this offense once he’s cleared to hit the field. The Rams backfield hasn’t been the most efficient in 2022, but maybe the Notre Dame product is that spark they need to produce as a unit. Some fantasy managers grabbed Williams as soon as it was clear that this Akers kerfuffle was indeed real, but he’s only on 8% of Yahoo rosters, so if you can swing it, the rookie could prove stash-worthy long-term.

Tyquan Thornton, WR - Patriots

Since returning from a broken collarbone he suffered during the preseason, Tyquan Thornton has been second in the Patriots WR room in targets behind Jakobi Meyers with eight and produced a hearty 17.3 half-PPR points in Week 6.

He may not pay off right away, but grabbing the rookie speedster could behoove fantasy managers down the stretch as he gets more familiar with the New England offense.

D’Onta Foreman, RB - Panthers

The rumor mill is buzzing with activity surrounding trades for Christian McCaffrey, and the RB put in a solid Week 6 performance as a potential showcase. D’Onta Foreman nearly doubled the touches of other Panther RB Chuba Hubbard last week, 12 to seven, and seems the likely one to assume the lead-back role if McCaffrey is dealt to another team.

Of course, there’s always the possibility that another RB from the trading partner could be involved if a deal is made. However, adding Foreman may be a good idea as insurance for both injury and trade possibilities.

Van Jefferson, WR - Rams

The Rams WR3 could return in Week 8 after their bye, and it’s tough to predict what Van Jefferson’s role will be when he hits the field. Ben Skowronek has been a worthy replacement, but Jefferson is coming off a decent year for LA, where he ended with 802 yards and six scores on 50 receptions. The inconsistent play of Allen Robinson could spell even more work for Jefferson if he’s efficient in his looks.

With injuries piling up around the league and the bulk of bye weeks yet to come, Jefferson could be worthy of a stash and hold in the event the Rams get it together on offense and play at a similar level as in 2021. The 26-year-old is still on the waiver wire in 95% of Yahoo leagues.

Gus Edwards, RB - Ravens

It appears that Gus Edwards is close to a return from the PUP-R list to add another body to this struggling backfield. J.K. Dobbins is dealing with his own knee recovery and was not a factor in Week 6, where Kenyan Drake surprised the fake and real football world with a 10-119-1 stat line.

While your opponents spend their FAAB on Drake, quietly pick up Edwards and plan for a second-half surge for a guy who’s shown fantasy relevancy in the past. If Drake proves to be an actual thing which is still very much in question, then Dobbins, Edwards, and Drake could cannibalize each other’s values, but for now, if you have the room, stashing Edwards could prove beneficial in this cloudy and oft-injured backfield.

Younghoe Koo, K - Falcons

After a solid start to the season, Younghoe Koo has fallen off the fantasy map for the last two outings, posting just five total fantasy points. However, things are looking up for the Atlanta leg as the next four weeks feature teams that are allowing a plethora of fantasy points to opposing kickers. They get the Bengals this week, who are ranked 31st in K aFPA, followed by the Panthers (28th), who the Falcons face again in Week 10, with a tilt with the Chargers in between, who sit 17th.

Atlanta has been surprisingly decent at moving the football for the most part in 2022, which bodes well for their kicker putting points on the board for your fantasy squad. With Tyler Bass, Matt Gay, Greg Joseph, and Jake Elliot all out this week, and Harrison Butker and Dustin Hopkins sidelined in Week 8; you may want to grab Koo and hang on.