Welcome Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, Garrett Wilson, and Ja’Marr Chase managers! With six teams on bye this week and another abysmal waiver wire, many fantasy managers are looking to their benches hoping they can find some spot starts like loose change between the couch cushions. Here’s a list of players who I think fit that mold well. They’re currently ranked outside the top 24 in the Fantasy Footballers’ rankings, but I like their chances of cracking the top 24 this week. 

Dowdle found no running room last week against a tough Houston front seven, but he still got 67% of Dallas’ running back rushing attempts and drew five targets. It was the third consecutive game that Dallas has stuck to their commitment to Dowdle being the lead back, for whatever that’s worth in this lackluster (Dak-luster?) offense. The good news is that this week’s matchup against Washington is a favorable one. The Commanders are allowing 2.0 points over expected to running backs this season. With the consistent volume he’s been receiving, Dowdle should be able to gain some solid yardage this week and give you a solid floor in your flex spot.

You found a Texas state quarter that hasn’t been in your couch for long. It’s all shined up and ready to be spent—if only you had a quarterback that could take you to the store.

It’s a play your Packers wide receivers week in a 47.5-point over/under matchup with the 49ers. Romeo Doubs can also be started in this matchup despite his quiet play recently, but I prefer riding the hot hand with Watson if you have the choice. San Francisco’s defense is solid, but not dominant like they’ve been in other years. Green Bay will need to score points to keep up in this game, and I think Christian Watson has a good chance to help them out with that. He’s sporting a 20%+ target share over his last three games, and he finished as the WR10 last week despite not finding the end zone. Of course, there’s always the threat of a bust game from Watson, but I like him as a flex option with explosive upside this week.

Underneath the foot of the couch, you spot a dollar bill. You grab it but the corner rips off as you pull. It’s still going to help you buy a win… if the store will take it.

Moore bounced back a little last week after posting four consecutive weeks outside the top 50. He grabbed seven passes for 62 yards against the Packers, good for WR34 on the week. It’s not a head-turning stat line, but it’s a step in the right direction. Chicago also looked like a competitive football team in that game for the first time since Jayden Daniels daggered them with a game-winning Hail Mary in Week 8. This week, DJ Moore and the Bears face a Vikings defense that’s ranked 30th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. The game only has a 39.0 point over/under, but I like it to go over and I think Moore will crush his DraftKings yardage line of 45.5.

Moore was once a crisp $20 bill before you lost him in the couch and almost forgot about him. He’s a little wrinkly now from weeks of being sat on, but he’s still worth the same.

In a stunning turn of events, Quentin Johnston is approaching must-start territory in fantasy football. I wouldn’t put him in that category yet, because you still might need a special pair of iron underpants to put him in your lineup, but I’d start him this week for sure. He’s caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive weeks, finishing as the WR6, 28, and 26 in that time. Not only has he been hot, but his matchup with Baltimore is as juicy as it gets for fantasy WRs. This game has a whopping 51.5-point over/under, and Baltimore’s defense has been allowing 8.6 fantasy points over expected to wide receivers. You can start Johnston with confidence this week. No blacksmith needed.

You can’t quite get a grip on this coin. Each time you try to pull it out of the cushions it slips through your fingers and you drop it. 

The “Wan’Dale Robinson Line” is a good barometer for flex options in fantasy football. You pretty much know what you’re getting from Robinson every week, which is a handful of short targets that he’ll convert into roughly six catches for 40 yards—good for 7.0 fantasy points in half-PPR. If you’d rather start a given player over Robinson, they’re probably a good play that week, and vice versa. For the record, I’d rather start all the above-mentioned players than Wan’Dale Robinson, but I do think he’s got a little more upside than usual this week. With Tommy DeVito making his first start of the season, I expect him to frequently target his security blanket wide receiver. The opposing Buccaneer defense has been favorable to wide receivers, and we expect New York to be playing from behind as six-point underdogs. Robinson isn’t a sexy play, but he’s a viable one this week.

You reach into the couch cushions and grab what you recognize to be a small coin. You’re disappointed assuming it’s just a penny, but to your pleasant surprise it’s a dime!