Let’s just roll right into the regularly-scheduled programming here for fantasy football, shall we? We’ve already gotten concerning(/as of this morning, kinda reassuring?) news re. Christian McCaffrey’s “calf” (it’s his Achilles tendonitis, folks); we’ve seen an A.J. Brown dud; we’ve seen Jaydon Blue be a healthy scratch. Best laid plans, man. They’re toast already. But never toast are the Five Lists of Five, which feel a bit more important already before even the main slate of Week 1. We need to hunt for stashes, dart throws, breakouts, and, probably most importantly, running back sleepers.
The refrain remains the same—All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some.
I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The give-me-as-much-info-as-possible-as-fast-as-possible audience. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, ~250 words per player.
Below: Top five players to stash in fantasy football Week 1. End-of-bench dart-throws to consider if you have someone ruled out on Friday. Guys for whom you should drop backup QBs and TEs.
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 1 edition:
- Top five sleeper wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 1
- Top five sleeper running backs for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five WR/CB matchups to target in 2025 fantasy football Week 1
- Top five must-start players for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
Follow my handle @dansby_edits for all preseason and fantasy draft kit content—as well as plenty of NFL betting goodies—all summer long. All my other fantasy football draft kit content is at the bottom of this list!
Top five players to stash for Week 1 of 2025 fantasy football
Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars
Strange is no longer buried behind Evan Engram—he’s stepping into Jacksonville’s starting tight end role with a clear runway for usage. Liam Coen’s offense will keep leaning on 12 personnel and play-action, and Strange is the only tight end on the roster with full inline/slot versatility. Down the stretch in 2024, his route share quietly crept into the 55–60% range, and that number projects to jump above 80% with Engram gone. His Penn State pedigree matters here: he finished north of a 55% contested-catch rate in college and showed the same reliability on limited volume as a rookie.
Jacksonville has superstar WR Brian Thomas Jr. and added two-way phenom Travis Hunter, but Strange’s role is sticky because Coen’s offenses have historically weaponized tight ends on crossers, seams, and boot leaks. Last year, Strange averaged 1.67 YPRR in games where he cleared 50% of routes—right in streamer territory. With Trevor Lawrence’s trust, Strange profiles as more than just a stash. He’s damn near guaranteed a Cade Otton-esque role, and we’ll hope Coen has Lawrence utilize him just that much. But even without that, he can morph into a TE1 streamer by midseason. On a team projected to live in the high-20s in scoring most weeks, Strange is a cheap ticket to red-zone leverage and a possible breakout if Jacksonville’s other young receivers hit a learning curve, or get blanketed by secondaries up top.
Jack Bech, WR, Raiders
Bech’s profile got a major shake-up when Davante Adams was dealt. Suddenly, the depth chart is open behind Jakobi Meyers, D’onte Thornton, and Tre Tucker. Bech is the kind of prospect who thrives when asked to do the dirty work. At LSU, he led a receiver room featuring Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in catches back in 2021. At TCU, he refined into a boundary/slot hybrid with separation skills and elite contested-catch metrics: 74.5% success vs man and 79.4% vs press in his final charted sample. His 85.7% contested-catch rate and zero drops speak to hands you can trust on third down.
The Raiders will need someone who can win inside leverage when defenses shade coverage to Meyers, and Bech is primed for that role. He isn’t going to take the top off the defense, but his short-to-intermediate success rates—100% on outs and comebacks—fit the West Coast DNA Antonio Pierce is installing. Early usage will be rotational, but he’s the kind of stash who can force a route share climb. If Meyers is traded, Bech’s path to 6–8 weekly targets in the slot becomes immediate. Think 50–60 catches if the chips fall right, making him one of the most under-the-radar stashes in 2025.
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers
Coker’s rookie campaign was limited, but the flashes were undeniable. As an undrafted free agent, he forced his way into Carolina’s rotation and earned Bryce Young’s trust on contested plays. At 6-1, 208 with elite explosiveness (98th percentile vertical jump), he profiles as a big slot who can do more than just sit in zones. His 70.5% success rate vs man and 70.4% vs press as a rookie are strong numbers for a UDFA adjusting to the league. He was lethal on in-breakers: 88.1% success on slants and 73.7% on digs, staples of Dave Canales’ offense. The problem? He’s buried behind Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan. But that’s exactly why he’s a stash—you don’t draft for Week 1, you draft for November.
Coker’s contested-catch win rate (78.6% on a 30.4% contested-target rate) screams quarterback security blanket. If McMillan or Legette miss time, Coker steps into a role with 7–9 target upside. He won’t win on verticals—his 51.4% success rate on nines is poor—but Canales doesn’t need him to. The Panthers want leverage-based throws, and Coker is tailor-made for outs, slants, and crossers. If you’re looking for a stash in deeper PPR formats, Coker is the kind of player who can swing a roster late in the year.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Ravens
Mitchell is back from injury and faces competition from Justice Hill, but he’s the stash with league-winning speed. Baltimore’s backfield is crowded, yet Mitchell brings the one element Hill and Gus Edwards can’t: home-run juice. In limited 2023 work before injury, Mitchell averaged 8.9 yards per touch and ripped explosive runs at a 15% clip. His 3.9 yards after contact per attempt was top-five in the league. In 2024 camp, Mitchell consistently flashed his acceleration on outside zone and toss, logging multiple 20+ yard plays in preseason action. Coaches highlighted his burst in practice reports, noting he looked “as quick as ever” post-recovery.
The Ravens trust him in passing downs—he ran routes on 35% of his snaps in his rookie season and showed reliable hands. With Lamar Jackson’s gravity stressing linebackers, Mitchell’s cut-and-go style in wide zone is devastating. Yes, he’ll need to prove he can out-compete Hill for snaps, but the bet here is simple: stash the back with breakaway potential in an offense that lives in the red zone. If Mitchell earns even 8–10 touches weekly, he’s flex viable. If injuries strike, he’s a plug-and-play RB2 with top-15 weekly upside. Draft him now before the September waiver wire frenzy makes him unaffordable.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears
Monangai makes the stash list for a different reason than his Week 1 sleeper call. Against Minnesota, we flagged him as a possible touchdown vulture because of his short-yardage role. But long-term, Monangai’s stash appeal comes from context. Roschon Johnson is hurt, and that matters a lot on the depth chart behind D’Andre Swift. Ben Johnson (new Bears HC) wants a physical rushing identity married to play-action, and Monangai fits the hammer role. At Rutgers, he logged over 300 touches in 2023 with a 30% dominator rating, showing he can handle volume. His 28% broken tackle rate and 3.2 yards after contact per attempt speak to NFL-ready toughness. In preseason, he ranked top-15 in pass-pro efficiency, a trait that keeps backs on the field.
Chicago’s offensive line is built for inside zone and duo, and Monangai thrives in that space. Reports out of camp already note his physicality in joint practices and his red-zone work against starters, suggesting he’s more than just a depth piece. If Herbert falters or Brooks needs seasoning, Monangai could handle 12–15 touches as early as midseason. He isn’t flashy, but neither was David Montgomery—and that archetype is exactly what this staff covets. Consider him a stash with contingent value and sneaky standalone flex appeal if he forces his way into the rotation.
