Harris: Stashable Sleepers For Your Fantasy Team
By Adam Harris-
(CBS) You should always be preparing for the future for your fantasy team.
Whether it be immediately or for the playoffs, stashing players who are backups or injured right now, can really make or break your season once playoff time comes.
Below is a list of players worth stashing away or picking up because of their potential. These players are not start-worth right now, but will be in the future, pending health or a teammate's injury.
Shane Vereen (RB-NE) - Remember the Patriots pass-catching, third-down extraordinaire? Remember all the way back to Week 1 when Vereen caught seven balls for 58 yards, rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries, scoring 19 fantasy points without even getting into the end zone?
Vereen then broke his wrist, and was put on injured reserve, with eligibility to return in Week 11. All indications out of New England say he could be back for Week 11 and should be in good enough shape to hit the ground running. Vereen is an impact player that will be returning to a soon-to-be-thriving Patriots offense. Veeren is my favorite stash of this list and should be owned in most leagues, even 10-team leagues.
Percy Harvin (WR-SEA) - Another injury-plagued player, Harvin hasn't stepped foot on the field because of the hip injury he suffered in the offseason. Harvin has been in New York all this time, but returned to the team this past week. He is eligible to play in Week 7 but because it is a short week (Thursday Night Football), the Seahawks will not play him. Harvin should be owned in all leagues and will have an impact in a few weeks.
He will give the Seahawks passing game an option over the middle and in the slot, something quarterback Russell Wilson can thrive with. It will take a few weeks for Harvin to become acclimated, so I wouldn't recommend playing him until he has some time under his belt.
Roy Helu Jr. (RB WAS) - If Alfred Morris (RB WAS) gets inured, Roy Helu owners will be so happy they decided to drop the likes of Marlon Brown (WR BAL), to stash him. He is a great pass-catching running back, and is quick and decisive when receiving hand offs. Helu works perfectly in this Washington offense, and would be a top-10 running back every week if given RB1 touches. Plus, Helu can be used as trade bait for the Alfred Morris owner who should have already had Helu on his/her team.
Donald Brown (RB IND) - Trent Richardson owners should handcuff with Donald Brown. Brown received a goal line carry two weeks ago, and is a legit RB2 if TRich goes down to injury. Brown is someone TRich owners should be trading for as well.
Andy Dalton (QB CIN) - In smaller leagues, I imagine Andy Dalton is not owned. That needs to change, as Dalton is going to rise to the form we all thought he would in preseason. Dalton will become great trade bait as the year goes on and other quarterbacks either come down to earth, cough cough, Phillip Rivers (QB SD), or get injured. Dalton has already begun his rise to prominence with last weeks three-touchdown, 337-yard performance, so get on his bandwagon quick.
OBVIOUS HANDCUFFS
Joique Bell (RB DET), Bryce Brown (RB PHI), Kendall Hunter (RB SF), Bernard Pierce (RB BAL), Michael Bush (RB CHI), Christine Michael (RB SEA),
The names above are all backup running backs in common situations. They should be owned in all leagues because you don't want to be scrambling for a waiver pickup if/when one of the starters get hurt. They are listed in order of preference as far as potential and likelihood their RB1 becomes injured.
These are minor moves, but if anticipated correctly, grabbing one of the players above can make or break your season. Bite the bullet and drop your WR4 and grab potential for the future. Everyone above is great trade bait as well.
Follow Adam Harris on Twitter @AHarris670 and ask him Fantasy Football questions. Also, listen to the Friday Fantasy Nerd Herd Hour on Friday nights/Saturday mornings with Joe Ostrowski.
