Sports

Justin Boone identifies under-the-radar stashes to consider adding to your roster before they become top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups in future weeks.

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While the bar might move occasionally, the general focus is to search among the group of players who are rostered in around 15% or less of the Yahoo leagues.

Greg Dortch, WR, Cardinals (6% rostered)

With Marvin Harrison Jr. set to miss his second straight game after an appendectomy, fantasy managers will be excited to get Michael Wilson into their lineups again — but he shouldn’t be the only Cardinals’ wideout on your radar.

Though Wilson drew all the attention for his 15-catch, 185-yard performance in Week 11, his teammate Dortch wasn’t far behind with six grabs for 66 yards and a touchdown. Wilson finished as the WR2 overall in half PPR scoring, while Dortch came in as the WR11 on a season-high 68% of the snaps.

Next up is another favorable matchup with a Jaguars' defense that has allowed the fourth-most receiving touchdowns, the 10th-most receiving yards and the 13th-most fantasy points to wideouts.

Dortch’s fantasy viability might be short-lived since it’s directly tied to Harrison’s health, but in the meantime he can be started as a WR4/flex option with the kind of upside he displayed last week.

Honorable mention: Chimere Dike, Titans (10% rostered), Luther Burden III, Bears (10% rostered), Pat Bryant, Broncos (1% rostered), Andrei Iosivas, Bengals (10% rostered), Jalen Coker, Panthers (3% rostered), Adonai Mitchell, Jets (2% rostered)

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Commanders (15% rostered)

Rodriguez was a name I covered in Monday’s waiver wire column, but he still remains available in 85% of leagues.

It’s understandable that fantasy managers are overly excited about a player on bye who’s in a three-man committee on a struggling offense. However, prior to the bye, Rodriguez was emerging as the lead back in a trio that also includes Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols.

Over their last three games, Rodriguez posted 65 yards and a score against the Seahawks, a touchdown versus the Lions and 85 yards on 16 touches in a loss to the Dolphins.

While that isn’t the kind of production that’s going to win you a title, Rodriguez can certainly step in as an RB3/flex option who can be a bye week or injury replacement.

It’s worth noting, the Commanders face the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys in the fantasy playoffs, all plus opponents for running backs this season. New York and Dallas are especially enticing since both land inside the top seven for fantasy points allowed to running backs.

Honorable mention: Blake Corum, Rams (15% rostered), Michael Carter, Cardinals (4% rostered), Keaton Mitchell, Ravens (3% rostered), Devin Neal, Saints (2% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos (1% rostered)

Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars (12% rostered)

Strange was back at practice last week and got in two limited sessions before eventually being ruled out. He began this week with another limited practice and appears close to returning to the Jags’ lineup.

In the opening month before he got hurt, Strange had three productive games in the first four outings with 59 yards, 61 yards and 45 yards. He failed to reach the end zone during that span, but was getting the kind of volume that would lead to touchdowns.

With the Jaguars’ receiving corps dealing with injuries and trying to acclimate newly-acquired Jakobi Meyers, there’s a path to Strange picking up where he left off as a meaningful part of Jacksonville’s passing attack.

The 24-year-old could jump back onto the fantasy radar as a TE2 streamer as early as this week.

Honorable mention: AJ Barner, Seahawks (15% rostered), Terrance Ferguson, Rams (0% rostered), Noah Fant, Bengals (4% rostered), Darnell Washington, Steelers (1% rostered), Colby Parkinson, Rams (0% rostered)

Bryce Young, QB, Panthers (18% rostered)

Young finished last year strong, averaging the ninth-most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks over the final seven weeks. That performance over nearly half of the season gave hope that he could become a fantasy option in 2025 if his development continued.

Unfortunately, Young has struggled through most of this season so far, only throwing for more than 200 yards in one of his first nine games.

So it was a complete shock when he nearly tripled his season average for passing yards in Week 11, tossing 448 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Falcons.

Obviously, we’re not expecting that kind of production moving forward, but there were some changes that occurred in the game which could provide hope for Young.

Head coach Dave Canales spoke extensively about how the team moved star wideout Tetairoa McMillan around the formation to get him some easier looks and the result was a career day for the rookie wideout with eight catches, 130 yards and two scores.

The Panthers also leaned more into the pass with 45 attempts after averaging 26 per game over his last seven contests.

Now, Young will get an opportunity to keep the momentum going against a 49ers’ defense that is the sixth-best matchup for fantasy QBs. In the last two weeks alone, San Francisco has given up 452 yards and two scores to Jacoby Brissett and 280 yards and four touchdowns to Matthew Stafford.

You can treat Young like a solid streaming option this week and we’ll hope he can get hot down the stretch like he did last season.

Honorable mention: Marcus Mariota, Commanders (12% rostered), Tyler Shough, Saints (7% rostered), Tyrod Taylor, Jets (2% rostered)

Week 11 was a sleeper win for most of us, as Michael Wilson came through as an obvious selection. The rest of our page was underwhelming, although Tyler Allgeier stole another touchdown and Luther Burden III did see a season high in targets.

We’re onto Week 12.

WR Andre Iosivas vs. Patriots (10%)

He’ll see more opportunity with Ja’Marr Chase (suspension) unavailable, and perhaps the Bengals will also have Joe Burrow on Sunday. But even if it’s the Joe Flacco show again, note that the Patriots are weaker against the pass — and Cincinnati will likely be playing from behind.

QB Bryce Young at 49ers (18%)

You’ll need to monitor the practice reports, with Young nursing an ankle injury in advance of the Monday game at San Francisco. But he’s coming off a surprising 448-yard explosion at Atlanta, and the Niners are missing several key players on defense. Young rarely offers a fantasy floor, but this week is a rare exception.

RB Devin Singletary at Lions (24%)

The Detroit front seven has been stingy most of the year, but Singletary is coming off a two-touchdown week and he has 40 touches over three games. The New York backfield is obviously a two-man platoon, giving Singletary a surprising floor.

TE Mason Taylor at Ravens (22%)

The New York passing game has a better chance at survival now that Tyrod Taylor is starting, and Taylor is the most reliable target who’s currently healthy. Those with receiver problems in deeper pools might also consider John Metchie III or Adonai Mitchell.

WR Tyquan Thornton vs. Colts (2%)

The Kansas City passing game is struggling for splash plays, but here is Thornton, hiding in plain sight (24.8 YPC). He had a 61-yard grab in the loss to Denver, and he also popped for a 39-yard catch in the win over the Raiders. With Xavier Worthy struggling and also dinged up (ankle), it’s possible Thornton is ready for an opportunity bump. Thornton is more of a proactive stash than Week 12 starter, but he’s a great target for deeper leagues.

D/ST Las Vegas Raiders vs. Browns (26%)

This unit has only made it to double-digits three times this year, but after watching Shedeur Sanders struggle in his extensive playing time last week, we can’t ignore the upside here. Sanders should improve after a week of preparation, but he’s always struggled with pocket decisions, dating back to his Colorado days.