The 2024 season is upon us. Are you ready? Hopefully, you’re in for a winning campaign. But those of us who play Dynasty know it’s a 365-day-a-year endeavor. So, this is the time to make pickups and stashes that could pay off this season. Below are some players I think are worth stashing as we head toward the regular season. All roster percentages are courtesy of the NFL.
Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: .1
About: We all know that Drake Maye is the future. The former North Carolina QB was likely a high pick in your rookie drafts or a player you gleefully carried over from your college roster. But will he be the starter in Week 1? Signs are pointing to no. The Patriots don’t have a great roster. The offense is a work in progress, and it seems that the Patriots are one of a couple of teams that plan to start a veteran. Said veteran is Brissett. He won’t wow you, but in Superflex leagues, all starting quarterbacks should be rostered.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Roster Percentage: .2
About: Darnold is in the same camp as Brissett. He’s a veteran that won’t wow you, but it’s looking like he’ll be the guy in Week 1. J.J. McCarthy is the future, but Darnold could well be the present. And when a quarterback is throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, it’s worth keeping him on the roster.
Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders
Roster Percentage: .5
About: The Raiders quarterback battle is still ongoing, but Head Coach Antonio Pierce has hinted he’ll make a decision after next week’s game. Minshew looked like the better option in the first game and is a veteran who has plenty of starting experience. I’m not sure either Raiders quarterback is a lock to be in your lineup every week, but I’m leaning toward Minshew being the better option to roster.
Joe Milton, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: .6
About: It’s possible Milton was snagged late in your rookie draft. If not, I’d pick him up. I think he’s a long shot to start, but I liked what I saw in game one. There’s some potential there, and for now, I’d rather roster him and be wrong than have to scramble with the masses when he becomes fantasy-relevant.
Running Backs
Eric Gray, New York Giants
Roster Percentage: .4
About: Life after Saquon Barkley isn’t going to be easy for the Giants. Devin Singletary is the starter, but what after him? Well, Gray is a young player who is stating his case. In this week’s game, he rushed for two touchdowns and 52 yards on four carries, catching four passes. It was impressive efficiency and worth the stash.
Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota Vikings
Roster Percentage: .1
About: Veteran Aaron Jones leads this backfield but has some injury history. Ty Chandler is in the mix, but Nwangwu showed some promise in this week’s game. I’m not saying he’s a lock for a role but in a unit that feels wide open, I’m fine stashing players that have shown a spark.
Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers
Roster Percentage: 0
About: Wilson is something of a long shot. The Packers signed Josh Jacobs this off-season, then drafted MarShawn Lloyd. Beyond that, they brought back A.J. Dillon. But Dillon wasn’t impressive in 2023. Wilson, meanwhile, rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. He’s a long shot but worth a deep stash.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Roster Percentage: .1
About: Tucker was a trendy stash last off-season after being an undrafted free agent signed by the Buccaneers. It didn’t pan out. And yet, he’s giving us hope again. Sure, the Buccaneers have Rachaad White and drafted Bucky Irving. Veteran Chase Edmonds is also there in the mix. But Tucker looked good this week, rushing for 68 yards on 10 carries. I’m in the stashing business again with Tucker.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers
Roster Percentage: .3
About: This is about availability and opportunity. We’ve seen in the past you want a back playing for the 49ers. In this case, Mason is the next man up if Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell are banged up. He should be rostered.
Carson Steele, Kansas City Chiefs
Roster Percentage: .1
About: I’m sure a lot of guys in your league stashed Deneric Prince. I did it myself in a few places. But what about Steele? Not so much. And yet Steele rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown this week. There are a lot of options vying for relevance behind Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, so why not Steele as a stash?
Blake Watson, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: 0
About: Watson is a pure Taxi Squad stash for me at this point, but I liked his potential and his production in Week 1 for the Broncos. It’s a numbers game, and Watson is the longest of long shots to make the active roster, but he’s worth a stash.
Wide Receivers
Collin Johnson, Chicago Bears
Roster Percentage: .2
About: Call it the Hard Knocks effect, but I’m looking at stashing Johnson. He’s a big receiver who had two huge touchdown grabs in the team’s first game. He’s not likely to crack the starting lineup with Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, and Rome Odunze there, but he could step in and make an impact if given a chance.
Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: .2
About: We’ve seen young receivers make a splash with the Rams before. Whittington had some buzz in camp and fanned those flames with six receptions for 74 yards Sunday. The receiver room beyond Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp is wide open. I like Whittington as a stash.
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: 0
About: Someone has to catch passes for the Patriots. Boutte had some intrigue coming into the league but largely disappeared as a rookie and drew some grim off-field headlines. But he’s back on track and led the Patriots with three receptions for 53 yards this week. He’s worth a stash.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders
Roster Percentage: .1
About: We know Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson lead the Commanders’ depth chart, but who comes next? Brown has been stating his case, which got stronger after a 45-yard bomb this week on a long pass from rookie starter Jayden Daniels. Brown should be rostered.
Jalen Nailor, Minnesota Vikings
Roster Percentage: .1
About: The Vikings are another team whose competition for WR3 feels wide open. Nailor looked good this week, catching three passes for 63 yards. He’s one to keep an eye on as we move toward the regular season.
Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
Roster Percentage: .3
About: Tucker is looking like the No. 3 receiver and a deep threat for the Raiders. With Michael Gallup now retired, he could have the inside shot. He caught two passes for 73 yards, including a 44-yard bomb, in this week’s game. I like him as a deep stash.
Dontavyion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
Roster Percentage: 6.9
About: We hear a lot about Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed. Those guys are good, but we can’t forget about Wicks. He’s made the most of his opportunities, including a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love this week. Wicks should be rostered.
A.T. Perry, New Orleans Saints
Roster Percentage: .2
About: The Saints’ depth chart is paper thin. Chris Olave is the lead, and Rashid Shaheed has a role, but who starts on the outside? It could well be second-year man Perry. He caught four passes for 85 yards this week. He needs to be rostered.
Tight Ends
Lucas Krull, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: .1
About: Krull is part of a wide-open competition for targets at tight end in Denver. Greg Dulcich is a trendy sleeper, again, but Krull caught four passes on Sunday and showed good chemistry with rookie Bo Nix. He’s worth a stash.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
