We’re two games into Week 1, and I’m ready to start calling to the masses to bring me your tired, your poor, your weary—etc. The fantasy football community has dealt with enough injury frustration, injury-reporting sketchiness, injury volume, and general personnel/roster mess-abouts that it already feels like setting a lineup is a vaudevillian event. Circus type stuff out there, right now, guys. A silly kind of bad.
So no pageantry this week, and even less so as we go throughout the season. It’s Friday, and Five Lists of Five is back like baggy jeans, man.
Soundbite-length blurbs with advanced analysis on my favorite plays of the week. We begin now with my Top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of Week 1. Here are my other offerings for the week:
- Top five must-start wide receivers for fantasy football Week 1
- Top five must-start RBs for fantasy football Week 1
- Top five FLEX plays for fantasy football Week 1
- Top five fantasy defenses to start for NFL Week 1
Fantasy football Week 1: Top five players to stash
Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos
We need to give Jonah Coleman time to earn his way into Denver’s backfield, but his future role is all but prophesied, especially after a gangbusters camp. His final Washington season included 15 rushing touchdowns and 31 catches, so Sean Payton has several ways to use him. Ideally, J.K. Dobbins gets the early carries, and RJ Harvey has the receiving work. If Dobbins misses time, though, Coleman would inherit enough rushing attempts to become an RB2. And that’s even despite Harvey’s established passing-game role. I’d hold onto him through a potentially-quiet season-opener; he’s a pure stash.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Eleven of Keaton Mitchell’s 59 carries gained at least 10 yards last season. Now Mike McDaniel gets to arrange a few more opportunities for him to accelerate. Mitchell is off the injury report, and I’m stashing him for the carries and catches available behind Omarion Hampton. An ancillary role could grow into legitimate flex production over time if McDaniel keeps getting him open for Herbert space. Hampton missing time would add considerably more work, although Kimani Vidal would share it. The speed alone deserves a trial on the bench; we’ve seen his potential in Baltimore.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets
Adonai Mitchell caught just 24 of his 58 targets after joining the Jets last season. Geno Smith should improve the quality of passes, but Mitchell has to get better at finishing his own work, too. He’s got known drop issues, but he can separate downfield and already holds a starting job alongside Garrett Wilson. I’m stashing him to see whether those open routes lead to good separation, scaleable completions, etc. His WR71 draft price left plenty of room for useful WR3 production if the connection develops; heck—he’s probably on the wire in your league. Stash away.
Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Ja’Kobi Lane dragged two Eagles defenders toward the end zone on his first preseason touchdown. I’d give that receiver a bench spot while Lamar Jackson gets acquainted with him. Lane caught 49 passes for 745 yards at USC last season, and his wingspan makes him an immediately-lucrative goal-line asset for the Ravens offense. Rashod Bateman remains ahead of him on the depth chart, but that’s just for now. If Lane starts taking more outside routes under Declan Doyle, though, he could become a WR3 later this year. I’m watching his playing time before expecting much production, and for that reason, we stash.
Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins
Malik Willis ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Baltimore last December—18 fantasy points before chucking a singe pass. If I waited at quarterback, he’s the one I want on my roster. I think all the ballyhoo about Miami’s putrid offense is hogwash, fantasywise. Miami’s $45 million guarantee literally bought him time to develop, and his legs can keep an untidy passing afternoon viable for your fantasy team. Good rushing work week-over-week could push Willis into the 2026 top 12. I’d hold him while the young receivers settle in. Imagine if Miami lets him keep the ball near the goal line.
