Happy New Year! I hope you were able to enjoy some time with friends and family and (more importantly) win some fantasy championships.
As we head into the final week of the regular season and subsequent offseason, here are four players I would be looking to stash on your bench.
For you dynasty managers, you may want to acquire these players before their value rises in the coming weeks and months.
Jameson Williams, WR - Lions
Second-year WR Jameson Williams was selected by the Lions with the 12th overall pick in 2022. After spending two quiet years at Ohio State, he wrapped up his collegiate career at Alabama in 2021 where he posted an absurd line of 79/1,572/15 (19.9 yards per reception).
Despite tearing his ACL in the national championship game against Georgia, Detroit had no issue spending an early first-round pick on Williams just a few months later. He only recorded one reception as a rookie (41 yard TD in Week 14) and didn’t see the field this year until Week 5. However, following their Week 9 bye, Williams has seen his usage ramp up.
Williams’ calling card has always been his big play ability. His near-20 yards per reception mark in his final season at Alabama, his lone TD last year (41 yards), and his 16.3 aDOT since Week 10 all highlight his downfield skillset. His 4.39 40-yard dash (94th percentile) doesn’t hurt either.
He could profile as the ideal post-hype sleeper heading into next year. The Lions surprised everyone (except themselves) by claiming their first division title in 30 years and have their sights set on a deep playoff run. The success of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, a high-end tandem at RB and an elite rookie TE means very few are looking at Williams.
We can exploit this in the weeks and months ahead.
Next season, Williams will essentially be two years removed from his ACL injury and we’ve seen just how important it is for players to have that extra year before getting back to full health. Aside from St. Brown, Williams is arguably the most talented wideout on the roster. He could take a big step next year.
Williams is currently the dynasty WR38. If I can land someone with his pedigree, profile, talent, and draft capital outside WR3 range, I’ll take that every single time. The Lions are building something special in Detroit and dynasty managers should be quick to stash Williams before he reminds everyone what he’s capable of.
Chuba Hubbard, RB - Panthers
Third-year RB Chuba Hubbard was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round in 2021. He posted a relatively solid rookie campaign that saw him finish as the RB35.
- 172/612/5 (rushing)
- 25/174/1 (receiving)
After a disappointing sophomore season, Hubbard began Year 3 with veteran Miles Sanders joining him in the backfield fresh off a Super Bowl appearance with the Eagles. From Weeks 1-5, Sanders dominated the backfield.
However, an injury forced Sanders (shoulder) to miss Week 5 and, following a Week 6 bye, Hubbard took control of the backfield and never gave it back.
Here is how much the script flipped from Weeks 7-17.
The difference is staggering. Hubbard (on his rookie deal) fended off the 2022 RB15 who signed a four-year, $25.4 million contract with the team in the offseason. Hubbard has earned double-digit carries in seven straight games and in 11 of his last 13.
The Panthers have admittedly struggled with rookie QB Bryce Young learning the ropes this season. While we’ve seen brief flashes of brilliance from the No. 1 overall selection this year, it’s been Hubbard who’s been the most stable and consistent fantasy performer for this team. Hubbard is actually the No. 15 RB per PFF.
The Panthers are in for another busy offseason as they attempt to surround their franchise-hopeful at QB with more talent and support while they hope he takes that next step. However, at RB, they appear to have a solid, cheap option in Hubbard who has one year left on his rookie deal.
Hubbard is currently the dynasty RB37. Dynasty managers shouldn’t overlook a two-win team as there is still fantasy value to be had. With a year remaining on his rookie deal, it’s a sort of “prove it” season coming up for Hubbard as he looks to earn a second contract. The Panthers have needs but RB doesn’t appear to be one of them.
Tank Bigsby, RB - Jaguars
Rookies have been the theme of some of my recent dynasty articles. At this point of the season, whether you are competing or not, it’s worth it to start looking at players who you think can increase in value in the coming months.
Without a doubt, rookies continue to be one of the safest bets from a value perspective.
Let’s take a closer look at the future dynasty prospects of Tank Bigsby. Selected in Round 3 by the Jaguars, Bigsby posted strong numbers during his three seasons at Auburn. He finished his collegiate career with a total of:
- 540 rushing attempts
- 2,903 yards
- 25 TDs
A solid production profile combined with Day 2 draft capital helped land Bigsby at No. 7 overall in our Rookie RB Model.
In his dynasty rookie profile, Jonathan Fuller highlighted the following positives about Bigsby’s profile and what he might bring to the next level:
Bigsby’s most impressive trait is his vision. He is consistently able to process the defense to find cutback lanes and gaps that his blockers have set up. Auburn ranked 92nd in run-blocking grade per PFF, so his ability to create yards on broken plays and avoid defenders in the backfield was often on display. His vision pairs well with his excellent jump cut to help him regularly evade the first defender and create more yards than are blocked for him, a valuable skill for an early-down runner in the NFL.
While veteran RB D'Ernest Johnson has filled in as the primary backup to Travis Etienne this year, Johnson is almost 28-years old and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Next season, Bigsby could slide in as a viable change-of-pace option to Etienne.
Bigsby is currently the dynasty RB48. That’s a fine enough price for someone who, at worst, is a high-end handcuff for Etienne. At best, Bigsby profiles as a viable flex option in deeper formats who could offer TD upside on a given week.
Israel Abanikanda, RB - Jets
The Jets selected Israel Abanikanda in the fifth-round of the NFL Draft last spring. A three-year player at Pitt, Abanikanda demonstrated the coveted blend of workhorse ability, high efficiency, and a nose for the end zone.
His final season line of 239/1,431/20 on the ground captures all of that. Not only was he well-north of 200 rushing attempts but he maintained a 6.0 yards per carry mark. Tack on 20 rushing TDs and that’s quite the profile.
Abanikanda checked in at No. 10 in our Rookie RB Model but was the youngest RB in our model. From a dynasty perspective, that’s never a bad thing.
In his dynasty rookie profile, Eliot Crist noted the following positives about Abanikanda:
In his junior year, Abanikanda established himself as a standout player, receiving third-team All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition. He dominated the stat sheet, amassing 1,431 rushing yards and an impressive 20 rushing touchdowns, which led the entire FBS…Standing at 5'10" and weighing in at 216 lbs., this former track star blazed through his pro day with an impressive 4.45 40 time, showcasing his exceptional speed. Additionally, his 97th percentile burst score is a testament to his explosiveness.
Fantasy managers have certainly needed to be patient with Abanikanda this season. He didn’t record his first touch until Week 11. However, he’s slowly overtaken veteran Dalvin Cook for the No. 2 spot behind. Over the last three weeks, Cook has been rendered almost obsolete.
Breece Hall is still the undisputed RB1 for the Jets. He has 54 touches and three TDs over his last two weeks and is very much looking like the overall dynasty RB1. Still, from a dynasty perspective, it’s worth noting how Abanikanda has earned his touches in recent weeks.
If you have Hall on your roster, Abanikanda is a must-add. He’s proven capable of handling a large workload and could work himself into a larger role in Year 2. Currently, Abanikanda carries a dynasty ADP of RB58. That’s certainly not a prohibitive price for dynasty managers.
