One of the most fun parts of managing a deep dynasty roster is cultivating value by planting seeds at the end of your bench during the offseason. We'll go position-by-position and separate players into Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine levels to serve dynasty players of all levels.
- Snorkel level players are available in some leagues, especially ones with more shallow rosters.
- Scuba-level players are usually available unless your league has very deep rosters.
- Submarine-level players are often widely available, even in leagues with deep rosters.
First up, quarterbacks, where the deep dive is more important than ever with the rise of 2QB/Superflex leagues. Sam Darnold was on this list last year.
Snorkel
Malik Willis, GB - Willis looked good in a small sample size earlier this season. Certainly good enough to get interest as a possible bridge quarterback or budget option for a quarterback-needy team that can use athleticism and running ability at the quarterback position. Willis also showed that he's a legit fantasy option for any games that Jordan Love missed. He's obviously worth stashing with the added value his running ability brings combined with passing skills starting to come online and take advantage of his arm talent.
Hendon Hooker, DET - Hooker will be on this list until he hits free agency. The Lions have been able to keep Jared Goff healthy, plus Goff has established himself as the team's long-term quarterback. Meanwhile, Hooker is completely healed from his 2022 ACL tear, and he has been developing in what is now one of the best organizations in the league. Hooker has running ability and deep passing ability, and there should be intrigue around the league about his potential to hit on a cheap prove-it second contract unless he gets extensive action via a Goff injury in the rest of this season or next season.
Tyrod Taylor, NYJ - Taylor is under contract with the Jets next year for $6 million, which is peanuts for a starting quarterback. He makes sense as a Week 1 starter for a team at a crossroads. This draft probably won't have more than 2-3 franchise quarterbacks, and the Jets may not pick high enough to get one or be sold on the one available when they are on the clock. We've already seen Taylor produce fantasy relevance in the past, and he can definitely be useful in a 2QB/Superflex league.
Justin Fields, PIT - Fields should be on a roster in dynasty leagues as he heads to free agency. While 2024 might have put a nail in the coffin of the case that most of his struggles were due to his surroundings, he's still going to be one of the better backup quarterbacks. And he's still going to have a very high ceiling for fantasy any time he gets to start.
Andy Dalton, CAR - Dalton is one of the veteran backup quarterbacks who is usually better than some starting quarterbacks. Maybe one of the organizations he would improve will add him this offseason when he becomes a free agent again. He'll be inexpensive, and who knows how much he has helped Bryce Young turn things around. Maybe Dalton will have extra appeal for a team drafting a quarterback if word is that he will aid a young passer's development. At the very least, Dalton will be a Jameis Winston/Joe Flacco lite - an experience quarterback who can at least be competent as a passer when asked that is targeted by organizations that may a short term fix at quarterback.
Scuba
Stetson Bennett, LAR - Bennett spent some time away from the team, but he's back and could be the backup to Matthew Stafford as we get into the sunset years of the starter's career. It's possible Stafford could retire going into his age 37 season, as the Rams don't have a lot of guarantees on the books on his contract going forward. Bennett was a Matt Waldman favorite and could click with Sean McVay.
Kyle Trask, TB - Once upon a time, the Bucs took Trask with a luxury pick at the end of the second round, coming off of a Super Bowl victory as a possible successor to Tom Brady. It ended up being Baker Mayfield instead, and everyone is happy except for Trask, who has to go into free agency with very little regular-season experience. It's possible another organization with a need at quarterback had a good grade on Trask and will sign up for the mystery box that he is almost four years into his career.
Marcus Mariota, WAS - Mariota didn't look half bad when he got in for the Commanders, and maybe the turn for the better that the organization has taken in the last year has rubbed off on him. He's still very athletic at 31 and has a lot of experience with different organizations and offensive systems now. The Commanders were more willing to use him as a runner by design earlier this year, reminding us that Mariota could have a shortcut to fantasy value if he gets a chance to start.
Submarine
Trey Lance, DAL - It's possible that the Cowboys are just being irrational about seeing what they got for a fourth-round pick last year, but it's also possible that Lance's limitations are so apparent that they don't need to see him to know what they have. He's entering free agency, and his market could be quiet with little development to show for being in the league for four years. Still, there is a package of traits/abilities that once garnered the #3 overall pick, and we haven't seen him get enough reps to find out if there's something beyond the awkward first impression. Let the amount of interest in the offseason be your guide on just how deep your league needs to be for Lance to be worth a roster spot.
Spencer Rattler, NO - Rattler was promising his debut, but things went downhill from there. He was still better outside of structure than Derek Carr, and inside of structure should get better with more time in the league. Remember, Rattler's benching came during the inexplicable Dennis Allen era, and we've already seen Kendre Miller get a shot at redemption since that ended. Carr is the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, but Rattler's debut is enough to merit stashing him in deep Superflex/2QB leagues while we wait for more information about his development.