Fantasy Football Week 11: Sneaky Saturday Stashes

Hit the waiver wire now, before your leaguemates do on Tuesday.

I hope you’ve been stashing wisely. Weeks twelve and thirteen will conclude the fantasy football regular season. If you have already cemented a playoff spot, congratulations. It’s time to gear up for the playoffs. If you are still fighting for playoff position, these last couple weeks will be life or death.

After Monday, every team’s bye week will be completed. For the first time since week five, everyone in your league is at full strength. Now it’s all about seeing who has built up the best roster over the course of the season.

The point of this article is to tip you off to the players you want, before you even know you want them. Waiting to add a player after they breakout is always a gamble, as the waiver wire order can often work against you. Rather than procrastinating, let’s pick up some players who will help you win week twelve before you’ve even played week eleven. Below are the top players you should stash away on your bench for future use.

Availability percentages are based on ESPN.com. This article excludes players who are available in less than 40% of leagues. Notable is defined as players who are owned in at least 50% of leagues.

Stashes

Andy Dalton – QB – Bengals

Availability – 60% of Leagues

The last time Dalton made this list he had his second best performance of the year, racking up 253 total yards and two touchdowns without a turnover against the Colts. His best performance of the season came in week four when he heaved four touchdowns in Cleveland. Next week Dalton will face the Browns at home. Hue Jackson’s defense has given up the second-most touchdown passes (19) and the third-highest completion percentage (68.5) in the league. Based on those stats, it’s easy to see why Cleveland has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. If you need to stream a quarterback for week twelve, stash Dalton now.

Samaje Perine – RB – Washington

Availability – 73.6% of Leagues

Starting running back, Rob Kelley, sprained his ankle and MCL on Sunday, and is expected to miss multiple weeks. While Chris Thompson will retain his role as the passing-down ‘back, Kelley’s injury opens the door for Perine to adopt the early-down work. Those responsibilities include goal-line carries, which led Kelley to score three touchdowns in the previous two games. Though Perine is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry, he faces a Giants defense next week that has allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league (132.6 YPG). Stash the rookie today and give yourself a valuable FLEX option for week 12.

Rex Burkhead – RB – Patriots

Availability – 60.1% of Leagues

Years of observing Bill Belichick’s offense have yielded two conclusions. 1: Trying to predict his backfield usage will only result in a migraine. 2: Patriots running backs score a lot of fantasy points. While I can’t promise that Vince Wilfork won’t come out of retirement to lead the Pats in rushing next week, Burkhead seems to be establishing himself. The fifth year ‘back led New England’s backfield in snaps this past Sunday (36). He turned his thirteen touches into 63 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos. What’s more assuring is former lead back, Mike Gillislee, was a healthy scratch for the Denver game, signaling a changing of the guard for the Patriot’s running game.

Josh Gordon – WR – Browns

Availability – 74.5% of Leagues

Talent was never the question with Gordon. The 26 year-old’s well documented struggles with substance abuse have kept him off the field since 2014. In the 35 career games he has played, Gordon averages over 78 receiving yards per game and has found the end zone fourteen times. Those numbers are more impressive when considering he was catching balls from the likes of Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, and Brian Hoyer. Gordon is expected to begin practicing on Monday and is eligible to return to game action in week thirteen. This stash is all about the immense upside Gordon possesses. Add him now in the hope he can return to form.

New England Patriots – 55.8% of Leagues

After surrendering 30.5 points per game (PPG) through their first four contests, New England has allowed just 13.4 PPG in their five games since. Next week they host a Dolphins team that is averaging a league low, 15.2 PPG. With each week becoming increasingly crucial, stash away this enticing defense for week 12.

Author

  • Fantasy football writer for Roto Street Journal. Freelance writer, Senior Podcast Producer and Production Assistant for FOX59 and CBS4. Indiana University graduate class of 2016. Follow on Twitter @fasttakefantasy

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