The trading season is over for most leagues, so at this point in the year, this column shifts its focus to the future. Starting in Week 13, I’ll write up my favorite players to stash at snorkel, scuba, and submarine level in dynasty position by position through Week 16. This week, I wanted to create a preliminary list of players who are rostered already but should have a big arrow pointing up for 2021. Think of it as a buy-low list when offseason trades start, of course pending what happens from here on out.
Preston Williams, WR, MIA - Somehow for the second straight year, Williams suffered a season-ending injury during his breakout game. This time it was a foot injury and while he can technically return this year, I wouldn’t count on it. Williams' best half of the year - he had four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in the first twenty minutes of the game - just happened to coincide with Tua Tagovailoa’s second start, pointing towards a budding connection between the two. He was also just rounding into form after his 2019 ACL tear during his first two-touchdown game. Williams fell out of the draft because of character concerns, but he is projecting as a future alpha outside and downfield. As long as these injuries don’t rob him of anything, he is destined to be a foundational piece in this offense.
Phillip Lindsay, RB, DEN - Lindsay can’t do any more to show that he’s the best back in Denver than he has. He has also shown he can be a receiving back again this year, but the playcalling hasn’t embraced him in the passing game. Every move the Broncos have made indicates that they don’t believe him in as a lead back, but his next time might feel differently. He might even draw a restricted free agent offer sheet if the Broncos don’t protect him with a first-round tender. If Lindsay lands in the right place, his value could take off.
Parris Campbell, WR, IND - It’s possible that Campbell is just fatally injury-prone after how his first two years ended (there are no signs that he’ll be activated this year), but the little we saw of him this year gave us a glimpse of a receiver playing with speed and precision who was ready to replace T.Y. Hilton as the primary target in the downfield passing game. He appears to have graduated quickly from underutilized Ohio State receiver to NFL matchup winner like Michael Thomas and Terry McLaurin. He just needs to stay healthy.
D.J. Chark, WR, JAX - Chark will have to sail some rough waters at quarterback, but he has the talent to emerge as a #1 who can transcend his passer just like the player who preceded him in Jacksonville, Allen Robinson. Chark’s skill level is way ahead of schedule and he is a vertical threat with so much more value to be created and harnessed when he is married to a competent quarterback.
Mecole Hardman, WR, KC - Hardman is raw and frustrating, but his speed is so lethal when paired with Patrick Mahomes II, and he flashes very advanced ability as a receiver at the catch point. At some point, the powder of his speed and flame of Mahomes game are going to really combine and ignite.
Tyler Higbee, TE, LAR - This was a letdown year for Higbee as his early three-touchdown game was a tease and he ended up blending back into the Rams pass offense. It’s unlikely that the team brings back Gerald Everett and Brycen Hopkins is an unknown, so Higbee has a lot of room to grow. He doesn’t appear to have lost any skill or physicality as a receiver from what he displayed in his league-winning run last year and should have a bigger slice of the pie next year.
Chase Edmonds, RB, ARI - Edmonds has shown enough as a receiver and runner to be considered as at least a co-lead back in a committee going forward. He’s going to be 25 and has his best football ahead in an offense that could continue to blossom as Kyler Murray develops as a quarterback. There’s a realistic chance that Edmonds is the lead back going into next season and that will give him the opportunity to have his value grow by multiples if he seizes the moment.
Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI - Just like Chark we have to say quarterback be damned and collect the talent here. Mooney could be the #1 receiver next year if Allen Robinson walks in free agency. He looks like Darius Slayton, with a precocious presence of mind driving abundant young quickness and speed. If and when he plays with a good passer, he’ll light off fireworks in the deep passing game.
Darius Slayton, WR, NYG - Speaking of Slayton, he has the makings of a deep threat with easy acceleration and his route running continues to progress well ahead of schedule. He’s another victim of Jason Garrett, but eventually, he’ll be freed in one shape or form. The Giants hit big on him, but don’t have the wherewithal to maximize the value of what they found.
Michael Gallup, WR, Tony Pollard, RB, DAL - He’s good. So is Dak Prescott. The quarterbacks behind Prescott… not so much. Gallup is an obvious buy-low so it might not happen but ask just in case. Like Gallup, the team that has Pollard in your dynasty league probably knows that he’s better than his numbers indicate. Still, impatience can get the best of us when we know there are two more seasons before you can really enjoy what you have in him. Do a price check in January.
Miles Sanders, RB, PHI - The Eagles are so hopeless on offense right now that it is overshadowing Sanders' weekly demonstration of special agility, speed, and urgency. He has been forgotten in the passing game after making his initial impact as a receiver downfield during his rookie year. For some reason, the team has not attempted to make Sanders foundational as they did in the December run that got them the division championship. A perennial first-round redraft pick is in Sanders' range of outcomes.
Raheem Mostert, RB, SF - Breaking free for a long score came as naturally to Mostert this year as any back this side of Derrick Henry. Kyle Shanahan basically committed to Mostert as a lead back before his rash of injuries, and he’s signed for cheap next year. Great things could be ahead if he can just stay on the field.