A featured posts section on your site can be a great way to drive traffic to specific articles. It also helps users find main content on your site more easily, improving their experience.
Featured posts should generally be timeless “main content” that is always relevant and serves the primary purpose of your site. There are exceptions, of course, one could be if you want to present a recent, high-profile story. However, in general, you will want your featured posts to represent the main content of your site.