Week 9 reminded fantasy managers just how fast depth charts can change. Injuries, shifting workloads, and midseason fatigue are creating new opportunities — especially for hungry rookies and young backups making the most of limited touches.
If you’ve got a bench spot or two to spare, these are the players you’ll want to stash now before they become next week’s hot waiver adds.
Blake Corum, RB – Rams (9% Rostered)
It’s rare this deep into the season to find a rookie running back with a clearly defined handcuff role, but Blake Corum fits that mold perfectly. The third-rounder out of Michigan has been steadily involved all year and just turned in his most efficient outing yet, rushing 13 times for 58 yards in the Rams’ 34-10 win over Miami.
Kyren Williams remains the unquestioned lead back, but Los Angeles has quietly started to monitor his workload. Through Week 5, Williams handled two-thirds (≈67%) of the team’s rushing attempts; over the last three games, that share has dipped to roughly 53%, with Corum taking on a bigger slice of early-down and late-game work. That may partly be game-script related — the Rams have outscored opponents 86-20 during that stretch — but it also signals that Sean McVay trusts his rookie enough to keep the offense rolling while resting his starter.
Corum’s running style mirrors the toughness he showed in college: decisive cuts, excellent balance, and relentless second-effort yardage. He’s averaging 4.5 yards per carry and ranks top-five among rookie backs in yards after contact per attempt. More importantly, he’s earned all of L.A.’s “closer” snaps when they’re protecting leads.
For fantasy managers, that makes Corum one of the cleanest insurance policies available. If anything happens to Williams — or if McVay continues to distribute carries to preserve him for a playoff push — Corum would instantly slot into RB2 territory behind one of the league’s most efficient offenses. Even without an injury ahead of him, he’s the type of desperation flex you can plug in when the Rams enter a game as heavy favorites.
Verdict: A true high-leverage stash — low floor week-to-week, but league-winning upside if the depth chart opens.
Tank Bigsby, RB – Eagles (27% Rostered)
We’re entering the stretch of the fantasy season where every smart manager should be loading up on high-upside insurance backs — and Tank Bigsby is near the top of that list. The rookie has carved out a firm hold on the No. 2 role in Philadelphia’s backfield and looked explosive before the team’s Week 9 bye.
In Week 8, Bigsby logged a 26.3% snap rate and turned 9 carries into 104 rushing yards, showcasing the same blend of patience and downhill power that made him a standout at Auburn. The context matters: Saquon Barkley exited that game briefly with a groin injury, and while he’s trending toward suiting up in Week 10, soft-tissue injuries can linger — especially for a player who’s handled 500+ touches since the start of 2024.
Philadelphia’s offensive line has been in vintage form again, ranking top-five in run block win rate, and the coaching staff has leaned heavily on the ground game to set the tone early in games. That makes Bigsby a perfect fit for their rotational approach. Even if Barkley returns fully healthy, expect the Eagles to manage his workload more carefully down the stretch to keep him fresh for a postseason run.
Bigsby’s efficiency numbers back up the eye test: he’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry and ranks top-10 among running backs in yards after contact per attempt (3.8), per Fantasy Points Data. He’s shown he can run through arm tackles and hit cutback lanes with authority — traits that translate directly to fantasy upside in this offense.
If Barkley were to miss any time, Bigsby would immediately project as an RB2 with touchdown upside in one of the league’s most efficient rushing schemes. For now, he’s a textbook playoff stash — the type of player you’ll wish you’d grabbed when the waiver wire thins out in December.
Verdict: One of the best “next man up” backs in football, with both short-term flexibility and league-winning contingency value.
Dylan Sampson, RB – Browns (17% Rostered)
The Browns have been one of the pass-heaviest teams in football this season — throwing on just over 60% of offensive snaps — and that gives rookie Dylan Sampson a path to relevance as a passing-down weapon. With Quinshon Judkins nursing a shoulder injury, Sampson’s workload spiked before the bye: he played 19 of 27 snaps after Judkins exited in Week 8, catching five passes for 29 yards while operating as the clear receiving back in comeback mode.
Cleveland’s offense has quietly relied on its running backs in the passing game more than most realize. Between screens, angle routes, and outlet checkdowns, Sampson fits the archetype of a player who can deliver sneaky PPR value if injuries persist or game scripts tilt negative. His short-area quickness and burst out of the backfield give him a different skill set than Judkins, and the staff clearly trusts him in two-minute situations.
Judkins’ return will likely push Sampson back into a rotational role, but his usage as a pass-catching specialist gives him an open lane to fantasy relevance if the backfield thins out again. For now, he’s a deep-league stash or emergency PPR flex, particularly in formats that reward receptions.
Verdict: A low-end stash with clear contingency upside — one injury away from weekly PPR viability.
Isaiah Davis, RB – Jets (14% Rostered)
Isaiah Davis is the kind of stash who could pay off in multiple ways — both through opportunity and circumstance. The rookie has flashed big-play ability whenever he’s touched the ball, most notably in Week 8, when he totaled 76 yards on just six touches, including a 50-yard run and a 26-yard catch. His power-speed combination has translated well to the pro level, and the Jets’ coaching staff seems increasingly comfortable giving him situational work.
With Braelon Allen sidelined indefinitely due to a knee injury, Davis currently sits as the clear No. 2 behind Breece Hall. That alone gives him contingent value in an offense that still wants to lean on the ground game. But there’s another wrinkle: the trade deadline. Hall has been the subject of light speculation, given his expiring rookie contract and the Jets’ 1–7 record entering Week 10. If New York were to entertain offers — or simply shift its late-season focus toward evaluating young talent — Davis could find himself leading the backfield sooner than expected.
Even if no trade materializes, Davis remains one of the more intriguing developmental stashes in deeper formats. His vision, burst, and receiving chops give him a three-down skill set that could translate into steady fantasy production with the right opportunity.
Verdict: A high-upside lottery ticket with multiple paths to value — worth stashing now before the Jets’ backfield picture changes.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB – Jaguars (6% Rostered)
The “post-bye rookie bump” didn’t quite deliver fireworks for Bhayshul Tuten, but there were still encouraging signs for his rest-of-season outlook. The undrafted rookie found the end zone for the second time this year in Week 9, punching in a short touchdown after being subbed in at the goal line — a subtle but noteworthy development for his usage profile.
Tuten’s overall workload was limited — 9 carries compared to Travis Etienne’s 22 — yet Jacksonville clearly trusts him in key situations. His efficiency remains solid, and he’s now averaging 4.7 yards per carry on the season while handling red-zone work in consecutive games. Etienne continues to dominate snaps and touches, but with the Jaguars eyeing a playoff run, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team ease his load slightly down the stretch.
Tuten brings a different element to the backfield with his combination of burst and low pad level, and Jacksonville’s coaching staff has praised his energy and vision between the tackles. If Etienne were to miss any time — or if the Jaguars start managing his workload late in the year — Tuten would immediately slot in as an upside flex option in a strong offensive environment.
Verdict: A pure contingency stash with touchdown potential and growing trust from the coaching staff — keep him on benches as one of the better deep-league handcuff backs heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB – 49ers (41% Rostered)
San Francisco traded for Brian Robinson Jr. during the offseason to provide insurance behind Christian McCaffrey, and that move is starting to look smart as McCaffrey’s workload reaches unsustainable levels. Through nine weeks, CMC leads all NFL running backs in snap rate (85.1%), route participation (75.3%), and adjusted opportunities per game (36.4) — a staggering workload for any player, especially one with his history of soft-tissue injuries.
Robinson has operated as the clear No. 2, and when called upon, he’s made the most of his chances. In Week 9, he turned five carries into 53 yards and a touchdown, showing the same physical, downhill running style that defined his Washington tenure. He’s handled all of the second-team work and short-yardage reps when games get out of hand, and his success rate between the tackles continues to complement McCaffrey’s all-purpose versatility.
While McCaffrey has been as dominant as ever — currently sitting as the RB2 in half-PPR formats entering Week 10 — the 49ers have every incentive to keep him healthy for a postseason run. If that means scaling back even a small portion of his volume, Robinson stands to benefit. And if an injury were to strike, he’d immediately become a plug-and-play RB1 behind one of the league’s best run-blocking units and most creative play-callers.
Verdict: One of the best handcuffs in fantasy — elite system, proven talent, and a direct path to league-winning upside if McCaffrey misses time.
Emanuel Wilson, RB – Packers (12% Rostered)
Green Bay’s backfield hierarchy is clear, but the workload gap between Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson has been quietly narrowing since the team’s bye. Before Week 5, Jacobs was handling a true bell-cow role — 72.8% snap share, 47.4% route rate, and nearly 79% of the team’s red-zone carries. Since returning from the bye, however, those numbers have dipped sharply: 61.5% snap rate, 41.4% route rate, and just 64% red-zone share, per Fantasy Points Data.
That’s not a coincidence — Emanuel Wilson’s role has grown meaningfully in that span. Over the last four games, he’s averaged a 31.4% snap share, 24.3% route participation, and 10.5 adjusted opportunities per game, including 32% of red-zone rushes. The coaching staff clearly trusts him to spell Jacobs in key situations and preserve the starter’s health as the season grinds on.
Jacobs has already battled through a calf issue this year, and while he avoided a Week 9 injury designation, the Packers are taking a long-term approach with their backfield rotation. Wilson’s compact frame and burst between the tackles fit perfectly in Matt LaFleur’s zone scheme, and he’s shown soft hands out of the backfield, catching multiple passes in each of the past two games.
If Jacobs were to miss time, Wilson would instantly inherit a near three-down workload in an offense that loves to feed its RB1. Even without that scenario, he’s one of the best insurance backs in deeper leagues — the type of player who can step into 15+ touches at a moment’s notice.
Verdict: A strong stash for Jacobs managers and savvy depth builders — his role is already growing, and his ceiling is starter-level if the opportunity opens.
Jack Bech, WR – Raiders (1% Rostered)
The Raiders finally kicked off their rebuild at the trade deadline, shipping Jakobi Meyers to Jacksonville and clearing the way for their younger wideouts to get legitimate snaps. That shift puts rookie Jack Bech in position to see his first real opportunity in the offense after spending most of the early season buried on special teams.
Bech, a 2025 second-round pick out of LSU, was one of the most polished route runners in his draft class — capable of lining up both outside and in the slot — and the Raiders have every reason to evaluate him down the stretch. In Week 9, he was relegated to special teams duties while Las Vegas leaned on its veterans in a desperate attempt to steal a win, but that approach clearly isn’t sustainable for a team sitting at 2–6 and shifting focus toward 2026.
With Meyers gone and Dont’e Thornton having been a healthy scratch, there’s a clear opportunity for Bech to climb the depth chart behind Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. His blend of size (6’2”, 215) and hands make him a natural fit as a possession target, especially if the Raiders turn to a younger quarterback later in the season.
Bech isn’t a plug-and-play fantasy option yet, but in deep dynasty or 14+ team redraft formats, he’s an intriguing speculative stash. If Las Vegas commits to seeing what it has in its rookie class, Bech could quickly become a weekly name in the box score.
Verdict: Deep-league stash only — but a rookie with real opportunity ahead as the Raiders pivot toward youth and future evaluation.
Kyle Williams, WR – Patriots (2% Rostered)
New England’s passing attack has been inconsistent under rookie quarterback Drake Maye, but an injury may have just opened the door for another rookie to make his mark. Kayshon Boutte exited Week 9 early with a hamstring injury after playing just 18 offensive snaps, paving the way for Kyle Williams to see his largest workload of the year. Williams’ snap rate jumped from 25.0% in the first half to a season-high 45.6% overall, and he handled nearly all of Boutte’s perimeter routes after the injury.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has already hinted that Williams’ role will continue to expand moving forward — and with the Patriots sitting near the bottom of the AFC standings, it makes sense for them to evaluate their younger players down the stretch. New England could still add a depth receiver before the trade deadline, but even if they do, Williams’ developmental trajectory points toward more consistent usage as the season progresses.
Williams’ college production supports his upside. Among FBS receivers with 75+ targets in 2024, he ranked 17th in yards per reception (17.1), 3rd in receiving touchdowns (14), 2nd in yards after catch per reception (8.4), and 17th in yards per route run (2.71). That combination of downfield explosiveness and run-after-catch ability makes him a natural fit for a Patriots offense looking to create more vertical chunk plays.
With New England’s bye not until Week 14, Williams has several upcoming games to establish a foothold while Boutte recovers. If he flashes in the interim, he could easily carve out a rest-of-season role — and potentially earn a post-bye rookie surge similar to what we’ve seen in past Vrabel-led offenses.
Verdict: Deep-league stash with legitimate short-term opportunity — especially if Boutte’s hamstring keeps him out multiple weeks. A strong speculative add in dynasty and deeper PPR formats.
Cheat-Sheet: Why these stash bets work
- Clear handcuffs in premium systems: Robinson (SF), Corum (LAR), Bigsby (PHI).
- Already seeing touches (not just theory): Tuten (41/159/2), Wilson (recent ~20+ snaps), Davis (Week 8 spike + RZ in W9).
- Injury/rotation openings: Sampson (Judkins shoulder), Williams (Boutte hamstring), Bigsby (Barkley management).
