As we conclude Week 7 of the NFL season it’s time to take a look at some of the players that are on the injured reserve. Some of these players have been out the entire season and have been long since forgotten. Stashing them in your IR slot can provide you with a nice boost to your fantasy football lineup; as was the case in Week 7 with the return of Gus Edwards.
I will run through some of my favorite stashes in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football leagues; and even throw in a handful of IDP stashes for the IDP crowd.
The Redraft Top 5
1- Deshaun Watson (QB- Browns) – Watson is eligible to return in Week 13 from suspension and not injury.
Watson is the savior you’ve been waiting for if you are currently struggling at quarterback; or lost Trey Lance for the season. Stash Value: 5/5
2- Marquise Brown (WR- Cardinals) – After suffering a foot injury in Week 6, Brown is expected to return in Week 12/13. He was a top 10 receiver in fantasy football before the injury. Even with the return of DeAndre Hopkins he is a must stash player if the team that drafted him dropped him after the injury. Stash Value: 5/5
3- Jameson Williams (WR- Lions) – Williams has yet to play a snap in the NFL after injuring his ACL in the CFP National Championship game. He is loosely projected to return in Week 10. Williams should be stashed in any fantasy football league where he went undrafted. He has immediate WR2 upside in a productive Lions offence. Stash Value 4/5
4- Cordarrelle Patterson (RB- Falcons) – Cordarrelle Patterson has missed two games with a knee injury and will miss two more before his likely return. The Falcons are determined to run the ball and he is their best rusher. He should return to immediately seize his sizeable role. Stash Value: 4/5
5- Treylon Burks (WR- Titans) – Burks will be out of the lineup with turf toe until at least Week 9. Burks has limited target competition in Tennessee and should be the defacto WR1 in the offense when he returns. Stash Value: 3/5
The Dynasty Top 5
1- Breece Hall (RB-Jets) – Hall is the first of three players on my fantasy football stash list that are guaranteed to be unavailable in your dynasty league. However, they can be had at a significantly lower price than at their peak value.
A week ago Breece was talked about as the potential 1.01 in leagues; but an impatient win-now manager may sell him at a substantially cheaper price than last week since he won’t play again in 2022. Stash Value: 5/5
2- Trey Lance (QB- 49ers) – Trey Lance also isn’t going to be on your waiver wire. But after two seasons of little to no production in the NFL, the fantasy manager who rosters him may finally have given up. This is a prime opportunity to acquire him at a discount and stash him for the future. Jimmy Garoppolo is not the long term solution in San Francisco and when healthy Lance will still get his shot. Stash Value: 5/5
3- JK Dobbins (RB- Ravens) – Dobbins is now going through another injury plagued season after being shut down to have surgery on his knee. This will likely end or significantly hamper his 2022 season; and much like with Lance his fantasy manager, the manager who has Dobbins may finally be fed up with his injuries. Go ahead and trade for him at the cheapest he will ever be and stash him for the 2023 season. Stash Value: 4/5
4- Tim Patrick (WR- Broncos) – Tim Patrick was a solid 1C in what looked to be a high powered Broncos offense. But between his season ending injury and the struggles of Russell Wilson, that never materialized. Patrick will return for the 2023 season and could be available on your fantasy football waiver wire. Patrick won’t light the world on fire, but will produce at a consistent level. He could see a significant increase if the trade rumors about Jerry Jeudy are true. Stash Value: 3/5
5- Daniel Bellinger (TE- Giants) – Bellinger has been the surprising tight end to emerge out of the 2022 Draft Class. Sadly, that was derailed by a freak eye accident that could sideline him for the remainder of the year. Bellinger was showing every sign of being a reliable every week tight end in a year where they are in short supply. He is likely to be on your waiver wire as he was on most waiver wires even when he was healthy and producing. Add him now and stash him for next season if you are in need of a tight end. Stash Value: 2/5
The IDP Trio
1- Jeremy Chinn (DB- Panthers) – Jeremy Chinn is the first of my three big name fantasy football IDP stashes. They are all of equal value, however I list Chinn first because he is likely to return first. Chinn has been out since early October with a hamstring injury but should return within the next two weeks. When healthy, he was quickly proving himself as an elite defender. If someone was impatient or short sighted and dropped Chinn in your IDP league, now is the time to stash this potential league winner. Stash Value 5/5
2- TJ Watt (LB- Steelers) – Watt is the second defensive superstar to stash in any fantasy football league where he was dropped. He has been out with a pectoral injury since mid-September, but is slated to return around Week 10. Watt could be the IDP superstar you need to fire up your defense for the playoffs. Stash Value: 5/5
3- Joey Bosa (DE- Chargers) – Bosa is the last of my three superstar IDP stashes. He will be the last of the three to return as he is recovering from a groin injury sustained a month ago. Bosa may not be back until the last week or two of the fantasy football regular season, but if he is available he too could be the tonic to cure your struggling defense for the playoffs. Stash Value 5/5
