In this weekly column we will examine players that you should be stashing or keeping an eye on in your dynasty leagues. The idea of dynasty is to form a team that you have, week to week, season to season, decade to decade. So each offseason we draft young players. However, throughout each season we need to find those gems. Each of us can be a Bill Belichick if we just look and see the players who both have the talent and the opportunity.
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Matt Breida – RB, San Francisco 49ers
This is basically a must own in Dynasty formats. Breida broke out onto the scene with the 49ers, making a name for himself, while flying low as an undrafted free agent. There was a ton of offseason talk about the 49ers backfield and what it would be with the new head coach, Kyle Shanahan. Throughout OTAs and training camp Matt Breida led the charge to being the 49ers back up, while Joe Williams got all the attention. There was even talk that Carlos Hyde would be cut and Williams would get the start. But time after time, Breida showed up and surpassed Williams. Hyde easily got the start. Then finally, this past week, Williams was placed on the injured reserve and the backup job was Breida’s for the taking. There are two reasons this is important. The first is that Hyde has a long history with injuries and has yet to play a full 16 game season. Second is the fact that he plays for Kyle Shanahan. We have seen Shanahan run two RBs and sustain them in fantasy. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, are just a recent example. The 49ers cut Tim Hightower, placed Williams on IR, and Matt Breida is now the RB2 there. I would steal him now and stash him before he gets super expensive.
Chris Carson – RB, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson is a very interesting stash right now. The Seattle backfield is one big “huh?!?!” that makes you wonder who will emerge. With Rawls being a constant injury risk and Eddie Lacy still showing no sign of taking that starting job, it was Carson who emerged as a favorite of coach Pete Carroll’s in the preseason. Carroll loves to play whoever, regardless of how much they are getting paid. So we could see Carson become the feature back at some point this season. I wouldn’t want to wait on a possible stud who can carry the team, in an offense that I have projected to blossom. Yes the offensive line is bad, but a healthy Russell Wilson helps the run game, and Carson has shown early he can do a lot with only a little.
Gerald Everett – TE, Los Angeles Rams
This is a player have been following very closely since he declared for the draft. Coming out of South Alabama, he is a TE stud who may break the TE trend of poor early career performance. Before and after the combine Everett was already drawing comparisons to the likes of Jordan Reed. Now fast forward to the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, The Los Angeles Rams draft him. The head coach there? Sean McVay, the former offensive coordinator in Washington. Basically the man who made Jordan Reed a household fantasy name. In addition, this was Sean McVay’s first draft pick as a head coach. So he clearly values a massive, 6’3”, 239 lbs., on his team to elevate a young Jared Goff. By this time next year Everett has the potential to be a TE1. Is he the next Hunter Henry? It’s very possible. I hope he was drafted in your rookie drafts, if not, and he is on waivers, Stash! Stash! Stash!
Tarik Cohen – RB, Chicago Bears
Tarik “The Freak” Cohen. Ok I know that name is currently being used for Tyreek Hill, but Tarik Cohen is not far from that. Cohen is no gadget player. He is no simple running back. After Chicago released Jeremy Langford earlier last week, Cohen now owns the backup job and can bring some good value even in his rookie season. It’s becoming evident that the Bears want to use Cohen not so differently than the Patriots use James White. A pass catching back, that has quick feet, great lateral movement, and can make plays when it’s needed. With the way this team’s offense looks, I think that Jordan Howard will see a stacked box. That being said, the offense will be playing from behind a lot, which means lots of passes. With Cameron Meredith out for the season, and the wide receivers options there being limited, Cohen could be in for a lot of great games scripts going his way. I love the way this guy looks and I would try and trade for him or pick him up if I could.
Paul Richardson – WR, Seattle
Paul Richardson was Seattle’s second round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. That year, if you remember, was the year of the wide receiver. Odell Beckham, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, and Brandin Cooks. Now fast forward to 2017, three years of injury and missed games, Richardson is finally healthy, on the field, and has found his way into the number two wide receiver spot in Seattle. With Seattle cutting Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett getting beat you by Paul, Richardson is set to make his NFL debut, so to speak. Let’s face it, after Baldwin, Graham, and maybe Prosise, Richardson is next in line for targets in an offense that is spearheaded by a healthy Russell Wilson. Owned in under 20% of leagues on ESPN, Yahoo, and Fleaflicker, Richardson is a name you should know, because he should be already on your team in most Dynasty formats.
Agree or disagree with my deep stashes? Let me know below, or on Twitter at @jon_margulis.
