Forget the obvious waiver wire grabs this week; there are a few players flying so far under the radar that you’d swear they were invisible. While everyone scrambles for the big names with high FAB bids, savvy fantasy managers know that the real edge comes from spotting the deep sleepers before anyone else catches on. We’re talking about the guys who can totally flip your season if you snag them now.
Jonah Coleman’s Return From IR Is Imminent, And What He Showed Early
Remember Jonah Coleman, the rookie running back for the Denver Broncos? The dude looked like he was about to blow up in Week 2, stepping into a shared backfield when JK Dobbins left early and RJ Harvey was already out. Coleman was on 40% of snaps, logging 10 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for another 19 yards! The dude had *juice*. Then, boom: high ankle sprain against Jacksonville, straight to Injured Reserve. Total buzzkill.
But here’s the kicker: Coleman is now just a game away from being able to return from IR. Given Dobbins’ own injury history, that upside Coleman flashed is still very real. Right now, he’s only 20.9% rostered in ESPN fantasy leagues. If you’ve got a roster spot, adding him a week early could be huge. Imagine picking him up for free right before he steps back into a meaningful role. That’s how you win your league, my friend.
Kendrick Bourne Is Stepping Up In Arizona
Okay, this one is baffling. Marvin Harrison Jr. just got traded to the Houston Texans, right? So, yeah, Michael Wilson and Trey McBride are definitely going to see more action. But don’t sleep on veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. He’s about to be thrust into a seriously meaningful role, and he’s got the chops to be a consistent starter in your fantasy lineup.
In Week 5, Bourne pulled in five receptions on eight targets for 70 yards. That’s a solid day, especially when you consider the shifting landscape in Arizona. And this isn’t his first rodeo stepping into a bigger role; back in 2025, when he was with the 49ers and Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall missed games, Bourne took over in a major way. Over that span, he racked up a combined 15 receptions for 284 yards and was actually WR4 in PPR formats! He proved he can handle the volume. Now, get this: Bourne is currently rostered by a laughable 1.7% of teams in ESPN fantasy leagues. A veteran receiver with proven production getting a bump in targets due to a major trade, and nobody’s picking him up? Come on, this is free money!
Corey Kiner: The Patriots’ Next Man Up?
Then there’s Corey Kiner, the running back for the New England Patriots. TreVeyon Henderson just went down with a right ankle injury in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders. We know Rhamondre Stevenson is there, but whenever a lead back goes down, you have to look at who else is in that backfield. Kiner could be a sneaky play if the Patriots decide to give him a shot while Henderson is out.
With Week 6 on the horizon, these are the kinds of moves that separate the contenders from the pretenders in fantasy football. Snagging one of these guys could give you the depth or even the surprise starter you need to secure a win and keep that season rolling. Don’t wait for everyone else to catch on; grab them now!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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