Dynasty Fantasy Football Notebook: Clever Stashes for Future Years
Jake Trowbridge shares several under-the-radar players to stash on your dynasty bench.
The hardest thing to do in dynasty leagues is to find legitimate diamonds in the rough. It’s getting tougher than ever to find bench stashes that aren’t super obvious or exceedingly expensive. That’s why I went spelunking into the depths of my leagues to find some names that aren’t being talked about enough as future assets.
Whether you’re already rebuilding and looking ahead to next season or just have some extra bench space to work with, these players are worth adding to your rosters.
I should also note that some of these guys are worth a stash if only because you can flip them for a bigger return down the road. After all, we’re not always looking for players who will produce. Sometimes it’s enough to grab a player now that a leaguemate will later EXPECT to produce.
Tyler Allgeier, RB - Falcons
Like the nerdy girl in a teen movie who takes off her glasses and is suddenly the belle of the ball, Tyler Allgeier could look much better to fantasy managers this time next year.
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and we’ve already seen that he can be productive as a workhorse. Prior to Bijan Robinson’s arrival in Atlanta, Allgeier put up a 1,000-yard rushing season with a hefty 4.9 yards per attempt in one of the league’s worst offenses. It’s not his fault that he’s stuck behind an elite talent, but even despite that, Allgeier averaged more than 800 scrimmage yards in his two full seasons playing second fiddle in the Falcons' backfield.
Considering how much teams value proven assets, it’s not unthinkable that Allgeier takes over a backfield in Tennessee, Arizona, Chicago, or Kansas City. Or that he’s brought in as a relatively cheap insurance policy for Baltimore if Derrick Henry continues to run hot and cold.
While everyone else is frothing at the mouth over bigger names on the running back market, scoop up Allgeier at a bargain basement price.
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Jaylin Noel, WR - Texans
This is probably the most obvious stash option on this list, but I fear some dynasty managers aren’t seeing the big picture and are already getting impatient with this rookie. Don’t be like them. This was always the plan!
The Iowa State to Houston receiver pipeline went into overdrive this offseason, with the Texans drafting both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to pair with incumbent Cyclone Xavier Hutchinson.
Houston likely envisioned Noel to be the slot replacement for non-Cyclone Christian Kirk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. And while it’s a bummer that the rookie didn’t do much in his first three games with Kirk out of the lineup…it was also his first three games. As a rookie.
As C.J. Stroud continues to fight for his life behind an O-line only a mother could love, Noel has the chance to become a trusted and very necessary asset for him next year.
In short, Noel is probably a grower, not a shower. Give him time.
Braelon Allen, RB and Arian Smith, WR - Jets
The Jets are … oh, what’s a nice way to say this … A CALAMITY OF EPIC F**KING PROPORTIONS. They’re a “football team” the same way you and your drunk family members are technically a football team during your Thanksgiving day game of 3-on-3.
If you’re looking for a flashier pickup from the Jets, Sam has you covered. But for my fellow dumpster divers, hold your noses and let’s scrounge.
Garrett Wilson’s recent contract extension ensures he’ll have to deal with the headaches of this organization for years to come, but everybody else is either on the hot seat or on a one-year deal that probably feels six months too long at this point.
Rookie Arian Smith led Georgia in receiving yards his senior year, primarily because — and you won’t get this level of fantasy analysis anywhere else, so listen up — he’s real fast. Smith could be a Tutu Atwell-ian player if Justin Fields’ average depth of target wasn’t ten feet in front of his face. But that’s probably his ceiling.
Meanwhile, Braelon Allen is still one of the youngest players in the league and can be kept in an IR spot for now, which is a major plus. Whether Breece Hall gets traded in the next few weeks or walks in free agency, someone in your league will eventually overvalue the young plodder.
Both players have an obvious “path to hype” but are unlikely to give you starter-worthy production. Stash them now and trade them for a profit at the first sign of hype.
Pat Bryant, WR - Broncos
This offseason, I did everything short of erect a statue for Pat Bryant in my front yard, so I’ll keep this one brief.
A Day 2 pick by Denver, Bryant walked into one of the more ambiguous depth charts in the league. And even more importantly, he became a big-bodied receiver in a Sean Payton offense. We know that man has a type. And that type tends to pay off for fantasy football…
As Dwain McFarland noted in his Utilization Report takeaways, Bryant’s route participation has drastically increased over the last four weeks. The targets aren’t there yet, but if he keeps siphoning playing time from Troy Franklin (and blocking his ass off), good things should be on the horizon. Get him off waivers now if he’s out there.
Malik Willis, QB - Packers
Calling all Superflex managers! One of the quickest ways to rebuild a struggling dynasty team in this format is by landing a quarterback before they become a starter. And there’s a decent chance Malik Willis does just that.
Although it’s possible he’s re-signed by the Packers, quality backups at the position aren’t as cheap as they used to be, and Willis could be looking for a bigger contract. The former Titan proved he can efficiently orchestrate the Green Bay offense when Jordan Love missed time last year, totaling 434 total yards, 3 TDs, and no turnovers in two starts.
If he wants another chance at a starting gig, Willis could have plenty of suitors. Las Vegas could once again be hunting for a capable starter. Kyler Murray could be on the wrong end of a shakeup in Arizona, provided someone takes on the rest of his juicy contract. The Jets always need a different quarterback than the one they have. Throw in Jacksonville, Carolina, and Miami as potential landing spots, too. Suddenly, it seems feasible that Willis could be the league’s next reclamation project.
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