I hope you heeded my advice in last week’s Sneaky Stash column, because not to pat myself on the back but, wait, has the mole always been there? I’ll have to get that checked out. Anyway, several of last week’s stashes became waiver wire darlings. Alexander Mattison was a top Week 6 waiver add of the week after Dalvin Cook’s groin injury, Justin Herbert lit it up on Monday Night Football, and Chase Edmonds once again out produced Kenyan Drake. I’ll try to keep it going this week with more stashes so sneaky your league might place a restraining order on you.
For those unfamiliar, the goal of Sneaky Stashes is to get ahead of the Week 7 Waiver Wire. By identifying valuable players before they break out, we can avoid dipping into that precious FAAB budget or getting beat out by someone with higher priority on waivers. However your league handles it, we get a leg up by stashing fantasy assets on our bench before they become hot commodities. The players featured below are prospects who either have juicy matchups awaiting them in the weeks ahead, have immense talent that is primed to break out sooner or later, or possibly a combination of both.
Nonetheless, the guys you’ll see on Sneaky Stashes are players we recommend considering if you have dead weight at the end of your bench.
Criteria for sneaky stashes require players to be available in 40% or more of ESPN leagues.
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Week 7 Bye Weeks: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans
QB — Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
Week 7 Matchup: vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Available in 54.4% of leagues
A COVID-induced schedule change moved the Chargers’ bye to week 6, prompting those looking to stream a quarterback this Sunday to avoid Herbert. Because of this, the rookie is still available in nearly half of ESPN leagues. This is absurd for a player who ranks ninth among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game. What’s more absurd is L.A.’s mouthwatering schedule. Herbert comes off a bye in week 7 to face the Jaguars’ 29th ranked pass defense. He then has the Broncos, Raiders, Dolphins, and Jets down the pipeline. Buy now.
WR — Mike Williams — Los Angeles Chargers
Week 7 Matchup: vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Available in 58.1% of leagues
If you’re hurting at wide receiver, take a peek and see if Williams is available. The 2017 first-round pick balled out Monday with five catches for 109 yards and two scores. Of course, much of that production came after Keenan Allen left the game with back spasms. Head coach Anthony Lynn this week said Allen will be “fine,” implying the Chargers’ top receiver will ready to roll after the team’s bye. Still, Williams prospered with Herbert pushing the ball down the field and will be a solid WR3/FLEX option during L.A.’s upcoming slate vs soft pass defenses. Stash Williams away while you can.
WR — Laviska Shenault Jr. — Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 7 Matchup: at Los Angeles Chargers
Available in 58.3% of leagues
His name might sound like a foreign beer, but Shenault Jr. is one of the more exciting, young receivers in the league. The tackle-breaking specialist has quickly become integrated in Jacksonville’s pass-heavy offense and has seen at least six targets in each of his last three games. The rookie played a career-high 52 snaps last week and came away with seven receptions, the most of his brief career. Shenault Jr. is one target behind Keelan Cole for the team lead and also has nine carries on the year.
The playmaker faces a Lions defense this Sunday that has given up the 10th most PPR points to receivers and could see more looks with fellow WR DJ Chark dealing with an ankle injury. Shenault Jr. gets a Chargers defense in week 7 that has given up the fifth-most passing yards per game (273).
RB — Zack Moss — Buffalo Bills
Week 7 Matchup: at New York Jets
Available in 54.3% of leagues
Many fantasy owners have dropped Moss after the rookie missed the last three games with an injury. Moss practiced fully for a second straight day Friday and appears to be on track to suit up Monday against the Chiefs. This was a split backfield through Buffalo’s first two games, with Moss seeing 17 carries to Devin Singletary’s 19. Both players were third-round picks of the Bills, who wouldn’t have spent that kind of draft capital on another RB if they considered Singletary to be an every-down back.
Moss figures to get 10-13 touches per game in a much-improved Bills offense, and with 20 pounds on the 5’7″, 203-pound Singletary, Moss should see plenty of work near the goal line too. Buffalo faces a Jets defense in week 7 that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs.
