3 Players to Stash in Fantasy Football Entering NFL Week 2

Players to Stash at a Glance

• Woody Marks, RB, Texans
• Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs
• Sione Vaki, RB, Lions

If you're consistently a step ahead of the competition in your fantasy football league, it can help you win a title, and this weekly piece will aim to help you stay ahead of the pack.

The goal here is to help you identify players who could be hot waiver adds down the road as well as to point out week-ahead pickups who could prove useful.

Here are some players to consider adding now and stashing on your bench for the future.

All fantasy football projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Fantasy Football Stash Candidates: Week 2

Woody Marks, RB, Texans

David Montgomery had a huge fantasy day in his Houston Texans debut, scoring 28.9 PPR points.

Despite that, I think there are some reasons to try to stash Woody Marks if you can.

Montgomery was horribly inefficient with his carries, turning 20 attempts into just 60 rushing yards. While he’s certainly a capable pass-catcher, Montgomery’s huge fantasy day was mostly due to TD luck (as well as volume).

Marks, meanwhile, took nine carries for 42 yards and caught his lone target. Marks actually out-snapped Montgomery 51% to 49%, and if Montgomery isn’t able to be more efficient, Marks’ role could grow.

Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs

Kenneth Walker III stole the show in Week 1 and may be headed for a huge season. But I’m intrigued by what I saw from rookie Emmett Johnson.

Johnson played 39% of the snaps — which is likely elevated a bit by the blowout score — and logged eight carries plus two targets. He caught both targets for 44 yards, which is noteworthy.

Johnson was an All-American last year in college who caught 85 passes over his final two seasons. He can play, and while he’s not going to have any standalone value as long as Walker is healthy, Johnson showed enough in Week 1 to become a high-value handcuff.

Sione Vaki, RB, Lions

Sione Vaki is another handcuff RB who needs to be on our radar.

With Isiah Pacheco out for a while, Vaki was the only other Detroit Lions running back to take a snap in Week 1. Unless the Lions opt to bring in another back, Vaki looks like the clear-cut RB2 for one of the league’s best offenses.

That’s enough to get him onto the fantasy radar — even if he’d need a Gibbs injury to become a fantasy starter.

Fantasy Football Stashes FAQ

What is a stash in fantasy football?

A fantasy football stash is a player who may not have much immediate value but could become a useful fantasy starter later in the season. Stashes are typically backups, rookies, or players whose roles could grow as the year progresses. Stashing them allows you to acquire the player before he becomes a hot waiver wire pickup.

What types of players should I stash in fantasy football?

Prioritize players with clear paths to larger roles. Backup running backs, talented rookies, and wide receivers earning increased playing time are often strong stash candidates because their fantasy value can rise quickly.

How many players should I stash on my fantasy football bench?

That depends on your league and roster size, but using one or two bench spots on high-upside players is generally worthwhile. The deeper the league, the more valuable it becomes to identify potential breakout players before they become popular waiver-wire additions.

When should I drop a fantasy football stash?

Consider moving on if the player's path to playing time disappears or if a more valuable option becomes available. Stashes should offer meaningful upside, so there is little reason to hold a player whose role or opportunity is trending in the wrong direction. As we get closer to the fantasy playoffs, you may need to prioritize winning now over stashing someone for the future.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.