In Part 1, we looked at the rookie pass-catching stashes dynasty leagues. This week, it’ll be running backs and quarterbacks. When looking for a player to stash in fantasy football dynasty leagues, I want someone who has the clearest path to opportunities in the future. I look for teams with injury history at the position, aging players, contracts, and of course, the overall talent of the player.
Jaret Patterson, RB Washington Football Team
Jaret Patterson, when standing on his tippy-toes, still has troubles reaching the top shelf in all kitchens. He stands between 5’6-5’9 (dependong on the site), but weighs in at just under 200 pounds.
Patterson tore apart MAC defenses for three years with the Buffalo Bulls. He broke out in his Freshman year rushing for 1,013 yards and 14 total TDs in 13 games. His Sophomore year he went berserk and rushed for 1,799 yards and 20 total TDs in 13 games. Finally, in his Junior year Patterson went for 1072 yards and 19 total TDs (in just six games). In one game in particular, he tied the FBS single-game TD record and was 18 yards short of breaking the rushing record. He only had 20 total catches for 271 yards (13.55 yards per reception), but obviously can put up yards after a catch.
Are we seeing the second coming of Maurice Jones-Drew? – Who has actually become a mentor and friend of Pattersons.
After going undrafted, The Washington Football Team signed Patterson. He hasn’t stopped impressing, and his preseason performance likely led to Peyton Barber being waived. J.D. Mckissic‘s contract is up at the end of the year. Antonio Gibson is a converted WR and has a lingering turf-toe injury. Patterson is one Gibson injury away from being relevant in fantasy football. Don’t get me wrong, Gibson could be special, but a one-two punch of Patterson and Gibson going forward sounds pretty good too.
Elijah Mitchell, RB San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers selected Elijah Mitchell in the sixth round. According to PlayerProfiler, he ran a 4.40 (97th percentile) 40-yard dash – and his speed and burst scores are 86th and 87th percentile, respectively. Even his agility score is in the 79th percentile.
Mitchell’s college stats (Louisiana Lafayette) don’t pop out. However, he had a nose for the end-zone – scoring 46 total TDs in 42 games. His best season came as a Junior, where he put up 1,147 yards and 17 TDs. Mitchell wasn’t used as a pass-catcher, only managing 49 receptions in college. However, when he was given a chance, he put up good numbers. His sophomore year he had 349 yards on only 20 receptions (17.45 yards per reception).
Now, let’s look at the 49ers backfield. Kyle Shanahan’s system is very friendly to RBs. His offense allows for multiple backs to succeed. This is particularly true when he was offensive coordinator with the Falcons. Raheem Mostert, JaMycal Hasty, and Jeff Wilson all are free agents at the end of the year. That leaves Mitchell and 3rd round pick Trey Sermon left in the 49ers backfield next year.
Sermon is getting all the hype, but look at the profiles. You can’t tell me Mitchell can’t use his speed to get onto the field. He can at least be the lightning to Sermon’s thunder next year, if not this year. Sermon also has an injury history coming from his college days.
Mitchell is dealing with a hip injury that has kept him out of preseason action, but he had a steller camp prior to the injury. He might not get his chance this year, but look for him to be a sleeper next year in fantasy football. You could be ahead of the game and get him on your rosters now!
Kyle Trask, QB Tampa Buccaneers
Five QBs went in the first round this year in the NFL draft. Three others went within four picks at the end of the second/early third. Davis Mills Houston Texans (3.03), Kellen Monds Minnesota Vikings (3.02), and Kyle Trask – who went with the last pick in the second round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All three players are worth a stash. Out of the three, I think Trask has the clearest path to succeed. Mills may get a shot at some point this year, but the Deshaun Watson situation still makes things messy. If Kirk Cousins can lead the Vikings to a playoff berth, it’s unlikely Mond gets a shot in the forseeable future.
Trask is playing behind arguably the greatest QB in history, Tom Brady. Trask will be able to sit behind him and learn – this can’t be taken lightly. Tom Brady is no Aaron Rodgers; he will take the kid under his wing. And unlike Rodgers, according to the Bleacher Report, Brady knew the Buccaneers plan to take a QB.
Brady shows no signs of slowing down, but we can’t deny his age (44). Tampa Bay’s head coach Bruce Arians is also known as a QB whisperer. He had influence in the careers of Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Carson Palmer. Although he couldn’t quite rein in Jameis Winston’s interceptions, he still ended up QB4 in fantasy football in 2019.
When it comes to college production Trask is no slouch. In his two years as a starter at Florida he put up 7,224 yards and 68 TDs in 24 games. He is your traditional pocket-passer. He doesn’t offer the potential upside of Monds as that new-age dual threat QB. However, his decision making and accuracy make him a trustworthy starter.
Trask will have a hard time breaking into the top-10 as a fantasy football asset because of the lack of mobility, but don’t let that discourage you from taking a chance on him. I think he will make a career of being a safe QB2. Think the likes of Derek Carr or Kirk Cousins. No one really wants them, but at the same time they get the job done.
I wish you all the best in your fantasy football leagues this year. Don’t hesitate to get one of these guys thrown into a trade. If you are rebuilding, these pieces are perfect additions. You might have to wait a year or two, but showing patience could pay off.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.