Final roster spots are the most liquid commodity for dynasty teams. The tide of the weekly churn for those spots due to the waiver wire points to a transient approach. Unlike future rookie picks, which have no limit on the number a team can collect, roster spots are finite. Each week of the regular season and periodically with waiver runs in the offseason these roster spot players will be tested to justify their continued spot. With trading paramount over the next six weeks in dynasty leagues, picking a team direction with trade targets is key. But final roster spots are pivotal to align with team direction in the second half of the dynasty regular season as well.
Contending Teams
Insulation and Upside
These are the tenets for contending teams to maximize their final roster spots. Especially once the trade deadline has passed, the trade value of those final players is not as important. Plenty will change before trading opens up in the offseason. Protecting and insulating your contending roster and lineup is paramount.
Truly strong teams, I refer to the principle of the double lineup as a goal. Essentially, you want to get to the point of having a decent lineup on your bench most weeks. If the lineup is 1-2-3-1 with a flex at the skill positions, for example, there would still be a mirror lineup on your bench, which can compete with plenty of teams in the league after setting your actual starters. This insulates your team, especially in-season and in the closing weeks, from 1-2-3 injuries that could derail non-insulated playoff teams at a critical moment.
The other tenet is upside. The 'What if?' of one thing occurring (typically an injury) on the player's depth chart and your stash player surging to prominence. You want a shot-in-the-arm type appeal from your bench-stash spots to both aid your own team pushing for a title but also play keep away as this type of player on the waiver wire means they could be picked up by your competition in the playoff push or the postseason itself.
Finally, here is a list of contending team-centric players at the skill positions to fit the criteria above for final roster spots. Shallow-league availability was not considered, but rather 25+ man roster availability in at least a cross-section of dynasty leagues and going deep enough to provide options for the consumption of all dynasty teams:
Quarterbacks
The low-level current starting quarterbacks available in 1QB formats are likely low-upside options in general. Targeting Matthew Stafford or Russell Wilson are examples of underrated upside without a high cost. Wilson has one of the best playoff schedules in aSOS. Another even lower-cost name is Jimmy Garoppolo, who has the best playoff schedule in the NFL as long as he (and his weapons) are healthy for the stretch run. Jared Goff is another name to consider with a strong closing schedule once past their most difficult matchups over the next month.
Running Backs
Primary backup running backs are the theme here. This week's backup could be next week's strong streamer (or for the rest of the season). Ensure no primary backups are available on the waiver wire in your league. With bye weeks already in full swing, monitor drop players from other teams in the league meticulously over the next two months. Roster spot pressure to fill bye weeks and injury vacancies means more primary backup running backs will float to the waiver wire.
Some of the lower Roster Rate backs (outside of RB60 on MFL) with upside in their profile and/or situation include:
RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys: The clear RB2 behind Tony Pollard and Dallas is a strong HLO (high-leverage opportunity) backfield.
RB Rashaad Penny, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are an interchangeable machine, and only a D'Andre Swift injury stands in Penny's way from being hyper-interesting and filled with later-season upside.
RB Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders: Not the strongest upside situation with Ameer Abdullah likely siphoning much of the receiving work from White, but a very low-cost bet on an RB2.
RB D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears: Both running backs notably ahead of Foreman are already dinged up. Foreman has shown success in a lead-back role before.
RB Leonard Fournette, Free Agent: The notable looming free agent to mop up any overt starting job opening going forward.
RB Ronnie Rivers, Los Angeles Rams: Rivers is one of the best running back stashes due to a likely huge edge over any other back on the Rams' roster should Kyren Williams miss time.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins: Wilson has league-winning potential returning from injury soon. De'Von Achane is already out with injury, and Raheem Mostert is the lone roadblock to Wilson being an auto-start player.
RB Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals: A popular (and warranted) pickup this week with James Conner heading to IR. Demercado might change your season starting this week in a perfect storm outcome.
RB Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers: Elijah Mitchell is on the shelf, and Mason is already the RB2 on a strong offense.
RB Trayveon Williams, Cincinnati Bengals: One of the lowest-cost RB2 types in the NFL and a clear favorite over Chase Brown (and Chris Evans) in backfield share behind Joe Mixon.
RB Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins: Sagging a minimal-cost piece of the Dolphins' backfield is prudent for future upside and Ahmed has 4.3x speed.
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Monitor this RB2 role, as Vaughn was the preferred option before their Week 5 bye over Sean Tucker.
Wide Receivers
Wide receivers are more nuanced as simply an injury in front of them on the depth chart is not enough for many ancillary options in the NFL to be strong streaming candidates in dynasty leagues. Be selective with which offenses and high-upside for the rest of the season stash you make via trade or waiver wire additions. Some that warrant consideration on the lower end of the Roster Rate (or cost) spectrum include:
- WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
- WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
- WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
- WR K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
Heading even deeper into the pool of cheaper trade targets and possibly off the waiver wire in shallower formats includes:
- WR Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
- WR Robert Woods, Houston Texans
Tight Ends
For tight ends, we are looking for the highest upside injury-away options or underrated starters who could get on a run of production late in the season.
- TE Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders
- TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
- TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
All three have conducive schedules late in the season and offer reasonable upside with their lead tight end roles.
Non-Contending Teams
For non-contending teams, the theme is talent and/or pedigree to stash into the offseason. If there are notable free agents on the depth chart, including themselves, this is also a factor. The key is getting a probability chance they are worthy of keeping through your annual rookie draft or having clarity if you want to keep them after the NFL free agency and the NFL Draft periods are complete in the next 5-6 months.
Quarterbacks
- QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
- QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- QB Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
- QB Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
- QB Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions
- QB Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers
Running Backs
- RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
- RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
- RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
- RB J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
- RB Isaiah Spiller, Los Angeles Chargers
- RB Zach Evans, Los Angeles Rams
- RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
- RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders
The theme here includes injured backs, upcoming free agents, or benefactors from free agents on their current depth chart.
Wide Receivers
- WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
- WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
- WR Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
- WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
- WR Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills
- WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
- WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
The theme here is injured players, distressed asset profiles, or murky situations likely to be clarified in the offseason. The top-half of the list includes higher-cost additions via trade, while the bottom half could be add-ons to bigger trades if selling current producers for a 2024 target producers plus additional assets.
Tight Ends
- TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
- TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
- TE Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
- TE Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
- TE Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys
- TE Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots
- TE Josh Whyle, Tennessee Titans
- TE Jeremy Ruckert, New York Jets
Similar to wide receivers, projecting potential future starting roles, especially in 2TE and premium formats for the tight end position, is key. Kyle Pitts is a high-cost addition, but worthwhile should Atlanta upgrade at quarterback in the offseason.
Check out all of Chad Parsons' content at Footballguys
