The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo’s fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here.
Building the perfect fantasy bench is maybe 90% about upside and 10% pragmatism. We must think mostly about collecting high-ceiling players with game-breaking potential, but, as a practical matter, we may actually need to start one of two of them at some point early in the year. So we can’t simply have a bench full of dudes who are anchored to the sideline.
Here’s my ideal six-player bench for a fantasy league of typical size and shape, consisting entirely of players available beyond the ADP top 115…
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars: He’s an explosive rookie with size and super-mutant athleticism. Thomas is gonna play immediately for the Jaguars, so he’s approved for early-season use in fantasy. We’re drafting him for upside, but he offers a reasonable floor, too.
Blake Corum, RB, Rams: Another rookie, which may scare some of you. Corum should open the year as a rotational back in an offense that’s repeatedly delivered league-tilting fantasy RBs under Sean McVay. The news that Kyren Williams will return punts is clearly a positive sign for Corum.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills: Among all receivers who saw at least 40 opportunities last season, Shakir posted the highest passer rating when targeted (133.6) and the third-highest YAC/reception (7.3). The Bills have over 240 vacated targets this season, so the situation is nearly perfect.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers: Yep, another rookie — and we’re not yet done. Vidal is coming off a terrific preseason and enters the year as the No. 3 back on a Jim Harbaugh-Greg Roman team, behind a pair of high-mileage vets.
This embedded content is not available in your region.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Dolphins: Like pretty much all Dolphins skill players, Wright is blisteringly fast (4.38), a threat to score on every touch. His situation is similar to Corum’s in that both rookies are connected to offenses that produced essential fantasy backs last season.
Taysom Hill, QB/TE, Saints: I wouldn’t typically recommend burning a bench spot on a tight end, but there’s a very good shot Hill is actually going to be the Saints’ goal-line back on top of his other assorted roles. He may just be a position eligibility glitch, a scandalous cheat code. (Or he’s just the same old Taysom and you’ll drop him in October. But hey, he’s fun.)