Fantasy Football Bench Stashes & Waiver Wire Pickups (2026)

Below are four names to add to your fantasy football waiver wire watchlist as potential bench stashes before the season kicks off.

Fantasy Football Bench Stashes

Tank Bigsby (RB – PHI)

Tank Bigsby is the No. 1 running back handcuff to target in fantasy football this season.

Why? Because in limited opportunities last season, Bigsby was incredibly efficient. Among 65 qualifying running backs, he ranked fourth in explosive run rate, second in missed tackles rate and first in yards after contact per attempt, according to the Fantasy Points Data Suite.

Bigsby isn’t simply a backup who would inherit touches — he has the talent to create production when given the opportunity.

If Saquon Barkley misses any amount of time, Bigsby would have a legitimate opportunity to step into a significant workload behind one of the better offensive lines in football.

Ja’Kobi Lane (WR – BAL)

I expect to see a more aggressive Ravens passing attack this season, and I’ve already been very bullish on Zay Flowers having a true breakout year in 2026. But another Baltimore receiver I’m targeting late is rookie Ja’Kobi Lane.

There has been plenty of positive buzz surrounding Lane, and more importantly, there appears to be a realistic path to early playing time. Outside of Flowers, Baltimore doesn’t have an established target hog blocking Lane from earning a meaningful role.

Rashod Bateman and an aging Mark Andrews are his main competition. While Andrews will always be a trusted safety blanket for Lamar Jackson, Bateman could receive an early suspension due to off-the-field issues. If that’s the case, you could see Lane step up as the No. 2 WR as early as Week 1 or Week 2.

Jordyn Tyson (WR – NO)

Jordyn Tyson was one of my favorite mid-round targets early in draft season. After being selected by the Saints, it was pretty evident that Tyson would become the No. 2 WR opposite Chris Olave in what should be a faster-paced Saints offense.

The concern with Tyson coming out of college was durability. Unfortunately, another hamstring injury will sideline him for at least the first four weeks of the season. That lowers his immediate fantasy value, but it doesn’t necessarily eliminate his season-long upside.

If Tyson can fully recover and eventually take over the Saints’ No. 2 WR role, he has the talent and opportunity to develop into a top-25 fantasy receiver down the stretch.

Most leagues have one or two injured reserve (IR) spots, so rather than using that roster spot on a low-upside veteran, draft Tyson late and stash him.

Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)

It’s no secret that the Denver Broncos’ backfield is crowded, with J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman all competing for touches. But Coleman is the player I’m particularly interested in targeting late.

Coleman has already received plenty of praise from head coach Sean Payton, including comparisons to teammate Dobbins. At 5-foot-8 and roughly 220 pounds, Coleman brings a powerful, wrecking-ball style run game while adding value in the passing game

If Dobbins misses time (which he has a history of doing), Coleman becomes Denver’s primary early-down and goal-line back, while Harvey would remain involved in passing situations. That gives Coleman significant upside in touchdowns and volume if the depth chart opens up.

Over Coleman’s last three collegiate seasons, he ranked 54th, 13th and first in yards after contact per attempt and 61st, sixth and fourth in elusive rating, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). In two of those three seasons, he also ranked in the top 24 in yards per route run. Coleman is a wonderful late-round dart throw.