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 week three of Waivers of the Future! Whether you are a contender or rebuilder, this article will seek to help you put yourself in the best position to have success in your dynasty league by helping you to make preemptive pickups.
Injuries began to really pile up this week on the offensive side of the ball. Among the largest were significant injuries to quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. If you were impacted by one of these injuries and don’t have a quality backup at quarterback, you may want to spend more than the recommended budget amount to make sure that you secure one of the options recommended in this column.
Budget percentages are to give the reader guidance regarding how the writer would prioritize these players. However, you know your league best. If you think you can get away with bidding less than recommended or nothing at all, go for it!
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.
IN THE CLOUDS
Players on this list are probably also rostered but are worth less than 30% of your budget.
RIDE THE WAVE
(These are plug-and-play options who might patch a hole on your team in the short-term.)
QUARTERBACK
5-10%| Joe Flacco, DEN- Flacco is the bridge option to Drew Lock, but Lock likely won’t see the field this year. The Broncos face a surprisingly stingy Packers defense this week, so play Flacco only if you need help.
1-5%| Eli Manning, NYG- Manning’s receivers may be banged up, but Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram are helping to keep the offense viable. The Buccaneers are an exploitable passing matchup for Manning and company.
Tuesday Update: Eli Manning has been benched for Daniel Jones.
1-5%| Trevor Siemian, NYJ- Siemian will be starting in place of Sam Darnold as he recovers from mononucleosis. Siemian is clearly a caretaker quarterback for fantasy teams, but he’s at least responsible with the football and won’t throw many interceptions.
Tuesday Update: Siemian appeared to injure his ankle and was relieved by Luke Falk in Monday night's contest. If Siemian can't go, Falk isn't an ideal choice to start against the Patriots this week.
1-5%| Case Keenum, WAS- Keenum is also a game manager, but Washington’s offense has been somewhat better than expected. They’ll be put to the test against the Bears this week, so avoid using Keenum unless you have no other options.
1-5%| Gardner Minshew, JAX- Nick Foles is out until at least week eleven, so Minshew will have an extended runway to show what he can do. The Jaguars will face the Titans on Thursday Night Football this week. It is as good a matchup as any against a group of corners that allow completions frequently.
1-5%| Mason Rudolph, PIT- Roethlisberger will miss the rest of the season and Rudolph will get the nod. The 49ers are not a vaunted matchup for the Steelers, but Rudolph is a limited passer.
RUNNING BACK
(This position is razor thin on the waiver wires the writer has looked over…)
30-50+%| Adrian Peterson, WAS- Peterson scored in week two and is running hard. Washington’s offense hasn’t waved the white flag the way many of us thought they would. This is probably the last chance you have to get him.
20-40%| Matt Breida, SF- This is likely your last opportunity to snag Brieda, who is the lead in a valuable committee. He logged over 100 total yards against the Bengals and will face a Steelers team that hasn’t quite figured things out on defense and just lost their starting quarterback for an indeterminate length of time.
10-15%| Raheem Mostert, SF- While not nearly the runner Breida has proven to be, he will get some opportunities in the passing game. He scored a 39-yard touchdown against Cincinnati.
10-15%| Frank Gore, BUF- Gore is still being rostered in most dynasty leagues, but there are a few shallow formats in which he might have been dumped. The uncertainty around Devin Singletary’s injury is enough reason to give the savvy veteran runner a roster spot. Buffalo will face the Bengals, who just gave up a big day on the ground to San Francisco.
WIDE RECEIVER
1-5% Demarcus Robinson, KC- Robinson was this week’s beneficiary of Patrick Mahomes II’ statistical outburst. While it won’t happen every week, Robinson is worth putting in the lineup if you need a big day to take down your opponent. The Chiefs will draw the Ravens in week three.
1-5% Ted Ginn Jr Jr., NO- Ginn has been solid, if not spectacular, coming up with a few catches and usually a long gain each week. The Saints will face the Seahawks this upcoming week.
TIGHT END
10-20%| Jason Witten, DAL- There’s a possibility he’s still floating around in your player pool, but this is probably your last shot at rostering him. Witten caught two touchdowns in the first two weeks and has a juicy matchup against the hapless Dolphins defense this week.
5-10%| Vernon Davis, WAS- As Jordan Reed continues to be held out with concussion symptoms, Davis has proven to be a viable stand-in for an offense that uses its tight end position often. However, the Bears could give Washington some trouble, so Davis is not ideal for this matchup even if Reed sits.
1-5%| Will Dissly, SEA- Dissly was hot early last year before getting hurt, but appears to be back to form. They’ll have to pass against the Saints, which is a good thing for Dissly if you need to start him this week.
1-5%| Jordan Akins, HOU- The Texans are not a team that utilizes their tight ends, but Akins is truly the only pass-catching tight end on the roster right now due to injuries. He’ll net a couple of catches a game if you desperately need help at the position. The Texans face a battered Chargers secondary this week.
THE SPLASH
(Might be available in 30 or fewer roster spot leagues.)
QUARTERBACK
20-50%+| Teddy Bridgewater, NO- Bridgewater becomes a must-add after Brees suffered a throwing thumb sprain that may keep him out for 6-8 weeks. Bridgewater is also on track to be a starter for this or another team at some point in the future. His audition starts this week.
RUNNING BACK
1-5%| Chase Edmonds, ARI- David Johnson’s wrist injury early in the game proved to be nothing to keep him out, but it is a good reminder for us that Edmonds is the next man up. Known for his receiving ability, Edmonds might be more valuable in PPR formats than some anticipate.
1%| Rod Smith, NYG- Smith landed behind Saquon Barkley and though he is not a special athlete, he is a runner who would be competent on his touches in the way that he was when Zeke was suspended in 2017. He would probably be functional as a potential flex play if Barkley were to go down, albeit in a poor offense.
WIDE RECEIVER
1-5%| Justin Watson, TB- Watson isn’t making an impact on the stat sheet yet, but he took over the slot role with the departures of DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries. Jameis Winston prefers short-to-intermediate throws, meaning Watson could get more work than we anticipate this season.
TIGHT END
10-20% Adam Shaheen, CHI- Trey Burton continuing to struggle with health issues may open the door for Shaheen. He has had his own troubles staying healthy but has flashed when he has been on the field, especially in red-zone work. He’s been kicked to the curb in many dynasty leagues. However, now that Shaheen is entering his third year, this could be the time we see him come into his own.
10-15%| Ian Thomas, CAR- Thomas has been tossed back out on some waiver wires. However, when the box score is examined it is clear that he actually acquitted himself well when Greg Olsen was out last year. Thomas will need seasoning, but with Greg Olsen near the end of his career, Thomas is worth holding.
THE DEEP
QUARTERBACK
Watch List| Jared Stidham, NE- It is notable that New England cut backup Brian Hoyer and will roll with the rookie. Stidham performed well in preseason and shows promise to be the next in a long line of developmental quarterbacks for the Patriots. He is worth rostering in deep leagues because his perceived value will only grow with time.
Watch List| Chad Kelly, IND- It is a long shot, but if Brissett drops the ball, a talented Kelly waits in the wings. The only downside is that Kelly has had a variety of character issues both in college and the NFL that suggest he might not be mature enough to handle the opportunity, which is why he is not higher on the list.
RUNNING BACK
Watch List| Jordan Wilkins, IND- Wilkins has the misfortune of being behind Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines in the pecking order. However, Wilkins, when developed, should be a more promising do-it-all back than Marlon Mack or Nyheim Hines. He had a few nice runs against the Titans this past week and seems to be getting some increased opportunities.
Watch List| C.J. Procise, SEA- The skill is there, but at this point, it will take some injuries to Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny to get Procise a chance. Chris Carson’s fumbling issues might also open the door for an increased role. On a run-heavy offensive team, that could pay off for fantasy general managers willing to add him should one or both get hurt.
WIDE RECEIVER
Watch List| Richie James, SF- James is buried on the depth chart but remains one of the author’s favorite deep stashes. He 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.
Watch List| Deon Cain, IND- Cain got his chance with Devin Funchess’ injury and has so far made good on his elevation to the active roster. He drew a critical pass interference penalty that set his team up for a touchdown. We’ll see if his role continues to build in the coming weeks.
Watch List| Juwann Winfree, DEN- With an injury to Tim Patrick, Winfree will get his chance to play a part. He was a camp standout who may have more upside for the team long-term than DeSean Hamilton.
Watch List| Emmanuel Butler, NO- Like Winfree, Butler made a name for himself in camp practices and has a disappointing role player in Tre’Quan Smith ahead of him on the depth chart. Butler currently resides on the practice squad. If he can stick with this team for another year or two, he has a great chance to step into that role.
Watch List| Auden Tate, CIN- Tate has not been able to make his mark yet. However, heading into his second season and with an often banged-up A.J. Green ahead of him, Tate is likely to get to show off his prowess as a big-bodied red-zone threat.
Watch List| Robert Foster, BUF- He is currently in a reserve role, but the writer trusts that the team will see that Foster is a better fit for the offense than the unreliable Zay Jones.
Watch List| Javon Wims, CHI- Wims was constantly making plays throughout the preseason last year, so much so that the Bears dared not put him on the practice squad. He was doing the same in camp again this year and there may be more opportunity for him with Kevin White gone and if injuries should strike.
Watch List| Byron Pringle, KC- With Tyreek Hill sidelined for weeks with a collarbone injury, Pringle could get an increased opportunity. He was moved up to the active roster this past week. He’s a very good route runner and the coaching staff was complimentary of his improvement and professionalism towards improving his game this offseason.
TIGHT END
Watch List| Demetrius Harris, CLE- Harris was stuck behind Travis Kelce but landed behind David Njoku in free agency. We have heard reports that Njoku is not growing the way we had hoped and with him headed into his third year, that is concerning. Harris is an underrated talent, one that has traits similar to Kelce. If Njoku were to get hurt or was not able to complete his assignments, Harris is a name we want to keep on waiver wire speed dial.
Watch List| Jeremy Sprinkle, WAS- Jordan Reed cannot stay healthy, Vernon Davis is aging, and Sprinkle is an able blocker and receiver. He is someone we want to monitor for now and pick up if we see him start to get more opportunities.
Watch List| Anthony Firkser, TEN- Could the Titans have made a significant discovery last year with the undrafted Firkser? It’s a possibility. He has size, reliable hands, and the ability to box out defenders in the middle of the field. Jonnu Smith and Firkser could become quite the duo when Delanie Walker moves on in a few years or if Walker once again fails to complete the year due to injury.
Watch List| Foster Moreau, OAK- Moreau should at least be on our radar. He is a good pass catcher and a great blocker. Jon Gruden has shown the propensity to target his tight end heavily and there is no one on the roster that is a long-term lock to hold the job.
Watch List| Alizé Mack, NO- Mack is now on the practice squad but impressed over the summer as a receiving tight end. With Jared Cook in the later stages of his career, things could time out right for Mack to take his place when Mack is more developed.
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.)
Ameer Abdullah, MIN- Alexander Mattison’s role continues to grow and Abdullah appears to be relegated to getting just the occasional touches. It’s time to toss him back.
Dontrell Inman, LAC- Mike Williams was able to play through his knee issue. We’ll bring Inman back if Williams gets hurt again.
