Justin Boone identifies hiding spots worth considering adding to your lineup before they become the top fantasy football players in the coming weeks.
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While the strip may move from time to time, the focus is on searching among a group of players who are in 15% of Yahoo leagues or less.
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Ray Davis, RB, Bills (13% of the composition)
James Cook finished last week's game but did not train on Wednesday due to foot and ankle soreness.
While he still has plenty of time to get back on the field and prepare for an exciting matchup with the Dolphins in Week 10, his status will need to be monitored throughout the week until we get clarity on the situation.
If Cook can't go, the Bills will likely turn to the combination of Davis as the lead cornerback and Ty Johnson as a change-of-pace option. In the only game Cook missed last season, Davis ran the ball 20 times for 97 yards and added 55 more yards on three receptions. He finished RB14 this week.
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Even if Cook is active, it's possible the Bills will ease his workload in a game where they are favored by 9.5 points.
For now, you should consider Davis as a potential fantasy RB2 if Cook is unable to play or, worst case scenario, remains on the bench with one injury.
Honorable Mention: Blake Corum, Rams (10% roster), Emanuel Wilson, Packers (7% roster), Isaiah Davis, Jets (11% roster), Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (6% roster), Terrell Jennings, Patriots (1% roster)
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DeMario Douglas, WR, Patriots (8% of the composition)
Kayshawn Boutte suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to leave last week's game early and could see him miss Week 10.
Douglas hasn't seen a significant increase in playing time in his absence, but he has earned his highest total since his first goal with six assists. Douglas made the most of the extra opportunity, catching four balls and scoring a touchdown en route to the first 100-yard game of his career.
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It was also his second top-15 fantasy WR finish in the last four games after he gained 71 yards and a score against the Saints in Week 6.
While Douglas may not see a significant increase in snaps if Boutte misses Sunday's game, he will offer an excellent WR3/flex ratio against a beat-down Buccaneers defense.
Honorable Mention: Tory Horton, Seahawks (12% rostered), Cedric Tillman, Browns (11% rostered), Luther Bearden III, Bears (6% rostered), Jalen Coker, Panthers (3% rostered), Pat Bryant, Broncos (1% rostered), Jack Beck, Raiders (1% rostered), Adonai Mitchell, Jets (1% rostered)
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Luke Musgrave, TE, Packers (11% of the composition)
With Tucker Kraft out for the season, Musgrave will have the opportunity to start the rest of the way in a productive Packers offense that prefers to distribute the ball.
However, Musgrave is very different from Kraft. He's not going to match Kraft's yards in agility or blocking prowess, but he could be a big vertical threat, using his speed to create big plays in the backfield.
You'll have to go back to Musgrave's rookie season to find an extended stretch of his start. In his first nine NFL games, Musgrave had four completions of at least 49 yards.
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While there are plenty of quality streaming options this week, Musgrave is definitely worth considering as a top-20 option with some upside.
Honorable Mention: AJ Barner, Seahawks (11% roster), Isaiah Lickley, Ravens (6% roster), Elijah Arroyo, Seahawks (1% roster), Brenton Strange, Jaguars (11% roster)
Marcus Mariota, QB, Commanders (10% of the composition)
The Chiefs are still weighing their options when it comes to Jayden Daniels' elbow injury, but no matter how they approach his recovery, it's clear he'll be out for some time, and possibly the rest of the season.
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That leaves Mariota as the starter for the foreseeable future, a role in which he has found success. as I discussed in Monday's waiver column..
In Mariota's last five games in which he played over 50% of Washington's snaps, he averaged 18.7 fantasy points per game while finishing as a top-10 QB three times.
While the matchup against the Lions isn't perfect, Detroit allows the 12th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and tends to give up getting into position quickly.
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Mariota will have an even easier opponent in Week 11 when he heads to Miami to take on the floundering Dolphins.
No matter how long Daniels is sidelined, Mariota will remain a low-tier QB1/high-tier QB2 thanks to his dual-threat potential.
Honorable Mention: Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (15% rostered), Mac Jones, 49ers (9% rostered), Bryce Young, Panthers (15% rostered), Dillon Gabriel, Browns (4% rostered)
