Player value in dynasty football reminds me of watching ocean waves. They ebb and flow, always in a state of flux. Competitive dynasty players anticipate these movements before they happen and act by picking up, buying, or selling players as the situation demands. Dynasty general managers have previously been at the mercy of regular waiver segments to assist in dynasty pickups, but these fail to account for the long-term view necessary to dynasty success. This weekly column will focus on identifying assets that will help dynasty teams build for the future, as well as players that may plug a hole at a position of need on an otherwise strong squad.
Welcome to the eleventh week of Waivers of the Future! The waivers are pretty dry this week, especially at the quarterback position. The playoffs are rapidly approaching and you should have a good idea by now of whether you’ll be a part of the big dance. This is the time of year you may want to evaluate your team and decide if you have what it takes to seriously contend for a championship or if your team is unlikely to make a run. If your team is a strong contender, focus your pickups on guys who may have the ability to help you in the short-term. If you are out of it, it’s time to trade or drop the guys who have no shot at helping you next season and start stashing longer-term plays.
IN THE SKY
Players on this list have previously appeared in this article as pickups, but have had value spikes at points in the season that make them unlikely to be out there in your league. If they are still available and you need help contending, consider spending 30-50%+ of your budget on them.
Here are other players that have been featured in this article that are likely to be owned, but are worth only a smaller percentage of your budget.
- C.J. Beathard
- Case Keenum
- Ryan Fitzpatrick
- Frank Gore
- Peyton Barber
- Mike Davis
- Jalen Richard
- Keke Coutee
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Danny Amendola
- Ito Smith
- Gerald Everett
- Ian Thomas
- Vance McDonald
- Ben Watson
- C.J. Uzomah
RIDE THE WAVE
(These are plug-and-play options who might patch a hole on your team in the short-term.)
QUARTERBACK
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Nick Mullins, SF- It’s unclear if C.J. Beathard will be healthy enough to get a start against the Buccaneers in week 12. If not, Mullins makes a fine start against a defense that has no bite to its bark.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Cody Kessler, JAX- Blake Bortles is on a short leash going forward. That said, Kessler is worth a speculative add if you need help on a waiver wire that is incredibly thin at quarterback this week. The Jaguars will play against the Steelers in week 11.
RUNNING BACK
Contending and Rebuilding 1-5%| Elijah McGuire, NYJ- He’s getting the bulk of the work when you factor in his passing game contributions. Though the offense isn’t spectacular, he can be a spot starter for you while the bye-week crunch is on. The Jets will take on the Patriots in the upcoming contest.
Contending 1-5%, Rebuilding 1%| Devontae Booker, DEN- Royce Freeman has been sitting with an ankle injury and it appears you may be able to get one more start out of him in week 11 against the Chargers. Booker is by no means spectacular, but he has a chance to get work in both the rushing and receiving game.
Contending 1-5%, Rebuilding 1%| Josh Adams, PHI- There’s not a clear back to own in Philadelphia because of the changing week-to-week usage of these runners, but Adams is probably the best bet to do work at the goal line because of his size. The Eagles will play the Saints, which may not present the best game script for using Adams in week 11.
WIDE RECEIVER
Contending 1-5%, Rebuilding 1%| Adam Humphries, TB- The Washington defense surprisingly sandbagged the Buccaneers offense, but normally, the effectiveness of the offense and favorable play-from-behind game scripts are working out well for Humphries. Receiving help is hard to come by on dynasty waivers, so Humphries is a great plug-and-play option if your team needs assistance. This may be your last chance to snag him if he’s still on your dynasty waiver wire. This week, they’ll get a Giants defense that should present excellent opportunities for production.
Contending and Rebuilding 1-5%| David Moore, SEA- Moore didn’t come through for owners against the Rams but is still getting the most valuable deep targets. We’ve seen this team develop relatively unknown receivers in the past (Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin come to mind) and Moore may be the latest example of this. The Packers’ banged up secondary is next on the docket for the Seahawks.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Breshad Perriman, CLE- Dynasty owners who’ve been burned by Perriman before will scoff, but Perriman is getting a chance to show what he can do in a lost season for Cleveland. His raw physical skills are intriguing, and perhaps he can leverage this audition into a roster spot next year. The Browns are on bye this week but will be back in action against the Bengals in week 12.
TIGHT END
Contending and Rebuilding 5-10%| Jeff Heuerman, DEN- Heuerman had a touchdown in weeks eight and nine and continues to be heavily targeted. The offense will often play from behind, which is favorable for Heuerman’s prospects. The Broncos will once again be playing at a deficit against the Chargers.
CHANGING TIDES
(Pre-emptive running back options that will have value if the starter goes down and that are not as likely to be owned. I see them more as short-term options. For those that have long-term appeal, please see the other sections of this report.)
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Rod Smith, DAL- If Ezekiel Elliott were to miss time, Smith is the next man up. He did much better than you would think filling in for Elliott last year. On a bad offense, he scored five total touchdowns and logged over 430 total yards. Smith also tends to fill in for Elliott when he is winded, which is good for a few opportunities a game. There could be value here again if Elliott is out for any reason.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Malcolm Brown, LAR- For the time being, Brown, not John Kelly, is the primary backup to Todd Gurley. We saw this play out when Gurley left the game in Week 2 to get fluids for cramps. We’ve also seen Brown spell Gurley in recent games for a series or two when he needed a rest. While it is likely both would see work if Gurley were to miss significant time, it would be Brown who would lead that committee. Brown hasn’t gotten many chances because Gurley has been very healthy in his NFL career. However, when he has gotten an opportunity, Brown has flashed. He may have value after this year if he can go to another team in the restricted free agency process, but that’s tough to project at this time.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Cameron Artis-Payne, CAR- C.J. Anderson was cut, putting Artis-Payne directly in the number two role in a potent offense. He’ll get a few touches per game and has the chance to do more if Christian McCaffrey ever gets dinged.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Alfred Blue, HOU- Owners were able to get a start out of Blue in week five, but Lamar Miller was healthy enough to get back in the lineup in week six, sending Blue back into the backup role. At least we now know he’s the clear backup to Miller and would see significant carries if Miller gets hurt again.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Wayne Gallman, NYG- If Saquon Barkley gets injured, the Giants may have no choice but to turn to Gallman. He is unimaginative as a runner, but his no-nonsense, banging style can work well on goal-line carries.
THE SPLASH
(May be available in 30 or fewer roster spot leagues.)
QUARTERBACK
Contending 1%, Rebuilding 10-30%| Teddy Bridgewater, NO- A trade sent Bridgewater from the Jets to the Saints in exchange for a third-round pick. Bridgewater looks to be fully recovered from the horrific injury that cost him his starting spot in Minnesota and played well in the preseason. He even got some work in the blowout against the Bengals in week 10. He could be the heir apparent to Drew Brees, which is great for his long-term value. In superflex leagues, be willing to spend 50%+ percent on Bridgewater if he’s inexplicably still out there.
RUNNING BACK
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Ameer Abdullah, MIN- Abdullah still has a lot of the traits that draftniks love, but he needs the right opportunity to unlock his value. Perhaps it will be with the Vikings, whose runners have a history of injury concerns. Abdullah will merely be depth for them at this point, but if an injury occurs to Latavius Murray or Dalvin Cook, we need to keep Abdullah in mind.
WIDE RECEIVER
Contending and Rebuilding 1-10%, Rebuilding 15-20%| Josh Reynolds, LAR- With Cooper Kupp out for the remainder of the year, Reynolds has a chance to move back into getting usage each game as he did when Kupp was out earlier in the year. As Matt Waldman documented in an episode of the RSP Cast, Reynolds is very skilled and will have the chance to grow as a role player this year with perhaps more usage coming next year.
Contending 1%, Rebuilding 1%| Laquon Treadwell, MIN- Treadwell continues to be used more this year. While it’s a crowded passing game, one significant injury to Stefon Diggs or Adam Thielen could change everything for Treadwell’s career trajectory. We saw a little of that this past weekend when Diggs missed time. Treadwell should be rostered in dynasty leagues in which there are 40 or more roster spots.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Auden Tate, CIN- With lots of question marks at receiver on the roster, including A.J. Green potentially missing time, Tate is worth keeping in mind. He makes this list again because he has once again been promoted to the active roster. He showed flashes of what he can do as a big-bodied red zone threat this preseason.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Kevin White, CHI- White has been a scratch in recent weeks but has had flashes of potential during the season. He did a nice job high-pointing Trubisky’s Hail Mary throw in week seven and would have scored if he had gotten a better push from his teammates in the vicinity. He could be heading for a new team in the offseason, but he may gain enough traction this year to recover some of his dynasty value. Perhaps he is on Robert Woods’ career trajectory-- as an excellent blocker getting a chance on an emerging offense to showcase what else he can do with another team.
Contending and Rebuilding 1%| Chad Williams, ARI- Wiliams may not be able to flourish with the offense as it is. There could be a time coming when the offense is more potent and this is likely the last year Larry Fitzgerald will play. Keep an eye on Williams for next year.
TIGHT END
Contending and Rebuilding, 20-40%| Jonnu Smith, TEN- Smith had let us down up to this point in the year considering that Delanie Walker has been out for the year and Smith was primed to build on a strong rookie year. That may have caused some inpatient owners across more shallow dynasty leagues to drop him. We have begun to see him turn the corner in recent outings and become a trusted target for Marcus Mariota in the end zone.
Contending and Rebuilding 10-20% | Chris Herndon, NYJ- The Jets have started to give Herndon more high-value work in the last month and he’s come through for both the team and his fantasy general managers on most weeks. Herndon very well could be their future at the position and we need to treat him as such in dynasty leagues.
Contending and Rebuilding 1-10%| Jacob Hollister, NE- Hollister has some Gronk-like athleticism to his game and the Patriots have been grooming him for a while now. Gronkowski has missed three games with back and ankle injuries and doesn’t look like the player he once was. That fact makes Hollister a lot more interesting from a dynasty perspective.
THE DEEP
(May be available in 30 or more roster spot leagues or leagues with large taxi squads.)
QUARTERBACK
Contending 1%, Rebuilding 1-5%| Jacoby Brissett, IND- Brissett remains one of the few backups that may get another shot at starting down the road. He played well in a really bad situation last year and earned the respect of many around the league. There were rumors in the offseason that multiple teams tried to trade for Brissett, but the Colts declined their offers.
Contending 1%, Rebuilding 1-5%| Nick Foles, PHI- He was responsible for winning a Super Bowl and filled in for Carson Wentz in the first two games. Foles is back on the bench, but he’s done enough that another team may want to make him their starter during or after this season.
RUNNING BACK
Watch List| Chris Warren, OAK- He’s blocked by Doug Martin for now and was put on IR due to a knee procedure. However, both Marshawn Lynch and Martin are on one-year deals and Warren caught the eye of both his coaching staff and his fellow players with his preseason performances. Stash him in deep leagues if you have the room. You can let him ride in your IR spot in some leagues.
Watch List| Justin Jackson, LAC- He’s back on the active roster and has some very impressive college tape. Melvin Gordon missed time in week seven and though Eckler got the bulk of the work, Jackson got a few carries. With more opportunity, he may surprise the coaching staff with what he can do and earn a bigger chance down the road.
WIDE RECEIVER
Watch List| Richie James, SF- James made the final roster, possibly indicating that the 49ers didn’t feel he would make it on to their practice squad. James has the skills to eventually play from any receiver position in this offense. His trademark skills are being very shifty and great on contested catches, despite his smaller size. The players ahead of James have documented injury concerns and that may lead to an unexpected opportunity for him in the future. He still remains a long-shot to get playing time without more injuries in front of him, but in a lost season, the coaching staff may want to get a look at him later this year.
Watch List| Jordan Lasley, BAL- Lasley did not have a flashy preseason, but he did make the cut over first-round pick Breshad Perriman. It was obvious when watching practices that he and Lamar Jackson have developed a rapport, much in the way Phillip Rivers and Malcolm Floyd did years ago. It may be a year or two before Lasley has a big role, but he’s worth holding on to if you have the room and placing on your watch list if you do not.
Watch List| Justin Watson, TB- He made the initial 53, despite how crowded Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps already is. Watson impressed from the Senior Bowl on and made tough contested catches often in camp. If this is truly DeSean Jackson’s final year, Watson may have a chance to jump into his role next year if the same regime is still in power.
Watch List| Javon Wims, CHI- Wims was constantly making plays throughout the preseason, so much so that the Bears dared not put him on the practice squad. It’s a crowded depth chart at present, but Wims can easily work his way up, especially if Kevin White does move on in free agency next year.
TIGHT END
Watch List| Demetrius Harris, KC- If Travis Kelce gets hurt, we would want to pick up Harris. Harris has been simmering behind Kelce for years but is a similar talent. Harris served a short suspension to start the season, but now should be on our radar, especially considering the potency of the Chiefs offense.
LOST AT SEA
(Players who recently appeared in this column, but have had their value decrease to the point they hold no value in all but the very deepest of dynasty leagues.)
Brock Osweiler, MIA- He has played relatively well, but Ryan Tannehill is likely to be back after the team’s bye.
Derek Anderson/Nathan Peterman/Matt Barkley, BUF- Josh Allen is likely to be back after the team’s bye and this offense is not one about which to be excited. Additionally, Nathan Peterman was cut by the team.
Kenjon Barner, NE- He’s ceded his role to Cordarrelle Patterson, making him droppable. However, if one of the backs ahead of him gets dinged, Barner could have value again.
Austin Carr, NO- Carr is merely depth for the Saints right now, even with Ted Ginn Jr out for the year.
