9 Fantasy Football Stash Candidates Ahead of Week 3

Sep 22, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Two weeks into the season, some of our favorite preseason sleepers have already graduated into weekly lineups, while others are still sitting on fantasy benches waiting for the opportunity to catch up with the underlying usage.

That’s where we want to live with this column. Rather than chasing every player who happened to score a touchdown on Sunday, we’re looking for expanding roles, injury-created opportunities, and players whose routes, targets, or workload suggest the production could be coming next.

Editor's Note: Check out the Week 3 Waiver Wire Watch!

Darren Waller, TE - Panthers (3%)

The touchdowns are going to grab attention after Darren Waller caught all three of his Week 2 targets for 33 yards and two scores, but the more interesting development is that his role is moving in the right direction.

Waller’s route participation climbed from 37.2% in Week 1 (fifth on the team) to 56.4% in Week 2 (fourth), which tends to make sense considering he just signed with the team halfway through August. His red-zone involvement also appears to be legitimate after he had a touchdown called back in the opener before converting both of his Week 2 end-zone opportunities.

The larger offensive environment might be even more encouraging. Ben Gretch noted that Carolina finished Week 2 with a +5.6% pass rate over expectation, third-highest on the slate, and threw on 10 of its 13 green-zone plays. That's a pretty appealing setup for a 6-foot-6 tight end who has quickly established himself as the third receiving option behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.

There is still a potential route ceiling here, as Carolina continues to rotate Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. Waller could also remain somewhat touchdown-dependent if McMillan and Coker continue dominating targets. At 3% rostered, though, we don't need to know exactly where the ceiling ends before putting him on our bench.