As the NFL season progresses, fantasy football managers should be scouting the waiver wire for injured players who could provide significant value later in the season.
With injuries mounting across the league, several high-upside players sit on waivers in many leagues. Here are eight players worth considering as long-term stashes, depending on your roster construction and available IR spots.
For a full report on all players on IR, check out the IR Injury Report. This article differs in focusing on players who might be dropped and whether you should stash them.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have opted not to place CeeDee Lamb on IR. Even though it’s only been a week since he got hurt, this heavily implies they won’t.
The initial expectation regarding Lamb’s high ankle sprain is that it will sideline him for three to four weeks. Placing him on IR would ensure that it is at least four weeks. If they do it next week, that would mandate a total of five games missed. It feels like something they would either do immediately or not at all.
Nevertheless, the fantasy platforms should acknowledge that Lamb is not playing for at least two to three weeks and not make fantasy managers play the weekly game of removing him from IR on Tuesday and having to wait until Friday’s final injury report for him to get that “Out” label.
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There have been many underperforming top wide receivers in fantasy this season. Lamb was not one of them. He posted games of 18.0 and 20.2 in each of his first two. We obviously will not count Week 3 when he left the game on his first touch in the first quarter.
Lamb is an elite WR1 and a sure thing every week on a team that will throw the ball a lot and have to try to overcome a terrible defense. For fantasy managers with teams sitting on winning records, kick the tires on Lamb. See if you can pry him away at a discount and stash him until he returns.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk remains on the PUP list recovering from torn ACL and MCL injuries suffered in Week 7 of last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan initially mentioned Week 6 as a potential return date for the veteran receiver. Unfortunately, recent reports suggest Aiyuk is nowhere close to returning. We could be looking at Week 12 and beyond.
The apparent upside is that Aiyuk has been a high-end WR2 before, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023. While Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are solid players, neither possesses true WR1 capabilities.
If Aiyuk can return to 75% of his pre-injury form by Week 13-14, he could be a difference maker during the fantasy playoffs when healthy players become increasingly scarce. But that prospect is becoming increasingly dim.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
According to recent reports, Brock Purdy is dealing with turf toe and is expected to miss only another week or two. Initially projected to miss up to five weeks, the timeline has become more optimistic, with NFL insiders suggesting he could return as early as Week 4.
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With Joe Burrow now requiring season-ending surgery, Jayden Daniels dealing with a knee sprain, Justin Fields sidelined with a concussion, and J.J. McCarthy expected to miss a month with an ankle injury, the quarterback position has become decimated league-wide.
It’s entirely possible Purdy was dropped in some leagues due to the initial pessimistic timeline. However, he should return to fantasy QB1 status when healthy, making him an excellent stash candidate if available.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones Sr. injured his hamstring in Week 2 and was pretty quickly diagnosed with a serious enough strain to sideline him for a while. The Minnesota Vikings veteran running back is currently on IR and is not eligible to return until Week 7.
Given that it’s only been a week, we will likely not start to hear anything regarding Jones’ potential return until closer to Week 7.
Fantasy managers can consider kicking the tires on a Jones deal in an effort to secure him at a discounted rate. However, it would not be at all surprising if Jordan Mason wound up maintaining the lead-back role if he continues performing well. Jones is a low upside stash, at best.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears suffered a high ankle sprain during preseason action against Tampa Bay on August 9 and was placed on injured reserve. Although the typical recovery time for high ankle sprains is four to six weeks, nearly 10 weeks will have elapsed by his Week 5 eligibility date.
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Tony Pollard’s unexceptional performance to start the season creates an opportunity for Spears to assume a larger role upon his return. Fantasy managers witnessed Spears’ ceiling in Week 17 of last season when he handled a feature workload. If available, he represents excellent lottery ticket value for the stretch run.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon remains on the NFI list with a mysterious foot/ankle injury he sustained during offseason workouts away from the team facility. While he’s eligible to return in Week 5, the lack of progress updates and concerning comments from coaches suggest a more prolonged absence is likely.
The earliest realistic return would be Week 7 following Houston’s bye week, but even that isn’t certain. If he does return healthy, Mixon would immediately reclaim his workhorse role, given the lack of quality alternatives in the Houston Texans’Â backfield.
Mixon represents the most speculative of these stashes. The most likely scenario this season is that he doesn’t play at all, making him only worthwhile for managers with abundant roster flexibility.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Jayden Reed underwent surgery earlier this week to repair his broken collarbone suffered against Washington. Given that he is now forced to miss two months, he had his Jones fracture fixed as well. The timeline for return potentially brings him back in November.
While Reed has shown explosive potential with three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, he’s not an every-week fantasy starter caliber player, making him a speculative stash at best.
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The Packers have adequate depth with Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Matthew Golden to weather his absence. Fantasy managers should not burn a valuable roster spot on Reed unless they have an open IR spot for the extended wait.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson seems to be flying under the radar while recovering from his injury. Between Reed’s extended absence, Matthew Golden’s limited involvement, and Watson’s proven weekly upside when healthy, he could end up with a more prominent role than anticipated upon his return.
Watson is expected to return to practice around Week 6 following Green Bay’s bye, which could put him back on the field in the Week 8-10 range. His big-play ability and red-zone target potential make him intriguing in an offense that should be more efficient this season.
However, like Reed, Watson should only be stashed if managers have an open IR spot. His injury history and the depth chart situation make him a risky hold on active rosters.
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Jalen Coker represents one of the most intriguing under-the-radar stash candidates available. The Panthers have a clear WR1 in Tetairoa McMillan, but lack a viable WR2 option.
That role belongs to Hunter Renfrow, whom Carolina cut after the preseason because Coker had won the WR2 job outright. The team only brought Renfrow back due to Coker’s quad injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined until Week 7. When Coker returns, he should be able to reclaim the WR2 position he earned in camp.
Xavier Legette certainly isn’t doing anything to prevent Coker’s return to prominence, and the organization already made its feelings clear about the Coker versus Renfrow competition. He could emerge as a sneaky WR4/Flex play during the peak bye week and injury period later in the season.
