Smart Stashes

As the fantasy football season nears its end, every transaction becomes increasingly critical in your quest for league supremacy.

Whether you have the luxury of looking ahead and arming your roster with potential late-season lottery tickets or you’re battling for postseason positioning, the waiver wire has an abundance of quality options from which to choose.

Let’s explore some potential roster shuffling and lineup advice to consider as you prepare for your playoff push:

Getty Images: New Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson should see plenty of touches each week.

Waiver Wire

RB Jeff Wilson, Miami Dolphins: The thunder to Raheem Mostert’s lightning, Wilson has been a welcome addition to the Miami backfield, contributing 72 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in his Fins debut against the Chicago Bears. While Mostert likely remains the team’s primary runner, Wilson – a downhill bulldozer – should shoulder double-digit touches weekly while also handling short-yardage and goal-line duties.

RB Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens: Those in dire needs of roster spots may have ditched Edwards last week – he missed Week 9 with a hamstring ailment – but the shrewd move would be to add the Ravens’ lead runner one week early, during the team’s bye. Edwards, who returned from injured reserve in Week 7 and generated 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries over a two-game span, could factor prominently into your playoff push.

RB Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams: Appearing in his first game in weeks, Akers’ struggles persisted as the third-year running back failed to light up the stat sheet yet again, accumulating just three yards on five carries. But as long as the Rams backfield remains in flux, Akers represents value and viability.

WR Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs: Hardman has posted double-digit fantasy points in each of the past four games, but it was his breakout  six-catch, 79-yard, one touchdown performance against the Titans in prime time that placed the Kansas City speedster on the radars of fantasy managers everywhere. The Chiefs’ offense is firing on all cylinders, and it appears Hardman is finally growing into a more prominent fixture within the offense.

WR Terrace Marshall, Jr., Carolina Panthers: The former second-round pick reached the end zone for the first time in his career last week in a 42-21 loss to the Bengals and his recent uptick in usage has been notable. Over the past two games, Marshall has turned 15 targets into seven receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown despite less-than-ideal quarterback play. 

Keep An Eye On…

WR Odell Beckham Jr., FA: Beckham sustained a torn ACL nine months ago and could be eyeing a comeback upon clearance. Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer on Sunday reported that he expects the 49ers, Bills, Cowboys, and Rams to be among the primary contenders in the expected bidding war. If you have the space and want to beat the rush, Beckham would be a savvy addition.

RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers: As the Steelers’ season continues to plummet, Warren could conceivably carve out a more sizable role down the stretch to supplement an ineffective Najee Harris.

Starts

RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars: Etienne has been perhaps the NFL’s most consistent runner in recent weeks, racking up 66 carries, 379 yards and four touchdowns the past three weeks. The Jaguars face a red-hot Chiefs team, so there’s a chance the game script could render the second-year phenom a non-entity as a runner but he has quickly become a weekly must-start and surefire RB1.

RB Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles: Sanders has been remarkably efficient in a bell cow role on a high-powered Eagles offense, turning 44 carries into 244 yards and three touchdowns over the past three games. The fourth-year runner has reached the end zone in each of the past three games. Plug Sanders into your lineups and expect RB2 production on Monday night.

RB D’Onta Foreman, Carolina Panthers: A victim of game script one week ago, Foreman managed just 23 yards on seven carries against the Bengals. He also yielded minus-2 yards on three receptions. This week, however, Foreman figures to feast against a Falcons team in which he rolled up 118 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries merely two weeks ago.

WR Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars: With the exception of a handful of clunkers, Kirk has performed like a top receiver for the Jaguars, reeling in 43 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns on 70 targets through nine games. The game script figures to pivot in Kirk’s favor against a Chiefs secondary ranked 25th against fantasy wide receivers.

WR Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers: With fellow wideout Keenan Allen (hamstring) listed as day-to-day, Palmer could conceivably serve as the Chargers’ top wide receiver against a 49ers defense ranked 23rd against fantasy wide receivers. Last week, Palmer snared eight receptions for 106 yards (10 targets) in a featured role.

– Andrew DiCecco (@ADiCeccoNFL) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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