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 four 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.
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 won’t see the field this year due to being on injured reserve. The Broncos will get a resurgent and rested Jaguars defense, so it may not be best to put Flacco in your lineup this week.
5-10%| 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. Minshew has played well so far and left some asking questions about whether or not Foles will be the starter upon return. They’ll play a Broncos defense that has so far been a toothless unit.
1-5%| Case Keenum, WAS- Keenum is a game manager, but Washington’s offense has been somewhat better than expected. They will play the Giants, who are one of the most exploitable defenses in the NFL currently.
1-5%| Kyle Allen, CAR- Allen will likely have a couple of starts due to Cam Newton’s foot sprain aggravation. He played with poise against Arizona, but will have a harder test against the Texans next week.
1-5%| Mason Rudolph, PIT- Roethlisberger will miss the rest of the season and Rudolph has taken his place. The Steelers will play the Bengals, who seem to be having trouble stopping the pass.
1-5%| Luke Falk, NYJ- Falk has been pressed into duty because of Trevor Siemian’s season-ending ankle injury and Sam Darnold’s recovery from mononucleosis. Falk is very unrefined and should be used only as an emergency option for your team. The Jets are on a bye this week.
1%| Taysom Hill, NO- Hill was already getting his own package of snaps when Brees was healthy and Sean Peyton has indicated that will continue. He’s a last-resort option only, but one that has a high upside to score on any given week. Unfortunately, the Saints will get a tough Cowboys defense this week.
RUNNING BACK
(This position is razor thin on the waiver wires the writer has looked over…)
20-40%| Wayne Gallman, NYG- Gallman landed behind Saquon Barkley and though he is not a special athlete, he is going to get the bulk of the carries while Barkley is out, albeit in a poor offense. This week, the Giants play a Washington defense that isn’t particularly fierce against the run.
15-20%| Darrel Williams, KC- With significant injuries to Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy, Darrel Williams becomes moderately interesting. He’ll likely split the load with Darwin Thompson, but the offense’s potency means he has a better chance than most to get into the end zone weekly. The Chiefs will face off against the Lions this week.
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. If he’s out there, this is likely your last chance at snagging him. Devin Singletary may still be a couple of weeks away from playing again and the Bills have an important game against a tough Patriots defense.
1-5%| C.J. Procise, SEA- The door might be open for Procise to land work in a committee with Rashaad Penny due to Chris Carson’s fumbling issues. On a run-heavy offensive team, a cheap addition could pay off big for fantasy general managers willing to stick him on the back end of their roster.
WIDE RECEIVER
5-10%| Phillip Dorsett, NE- Dorsett has a better chance of being relevant with Antonio Brown’s dismissal from the team and Julian Edelman’s chest injury. The Patriots face stiff competition from the Bills’ defense this week, however.
5-10%| 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 stingy Cowboys secondary this upcoming week.
5-10%| Chris Conley, JAX- Conley seems to be a favorite target of Gardener Minshew and the offense has been competent when playing inferior teams. The Jaguars take on the reeling Broncos this week, so Conley could be a decent play.
TIGHT END
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. Washington gets a good matchup for Davis when they play the Giants this week.
1-5%| Will Dissly, SEA- Dissly was hot early last year before getting hurt, but appears to be back to form. The Seahawks draw the Cardinals, who have problems defending against tight ends.
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 will play a Carolina defense that hasn’t been sharp against tight ends.
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 the next 5-7 weeks. Bridgewater is also on track to be a starter for this or another team at some point in the future.
RUNNING BACK
1-5%| Chase Edmonds, ARI- David Johnson’s wrist injury early in the game in week two 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.
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%| Demetrius Harris, CLE- Harris will get an extended audition as the starter with David Njoku’s broken wrist. Harris backed up Travis Kelce for years and showed he has the ability to carry the load when asked to do so.
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. He has been moved to the practice squad recently, which does not bode well for him getting a shot this year.
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 Mack or Hines. He had a few nice runs against the Titans two weeks ago and seems to be getting some increased opportunities.
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. With T.Y. Hilton’s quad injury, we’ll see if his role continues to build in the coming weeks.
Watch List| Juwann Winfree, DEN- With a recent 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, in 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 is 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| 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.)
None this week!