As we get to the weeks that are usually past the trade deadline in dynasty leagues (I am in one without a trade deadline, which is fun, but crazy during the playoffs when teams get into arms races), it’s time to look ahead to next year and target speculative players to fill end-of-the-bench spots when we are eliminated from the playoffs. We’ll go position-by-position over the next four weeks and separate players out into Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine levels to serve dynasty players of all levels.
This week, running backs, a position where players can go from practice squad/healthy scratch to firmly in a team’s future plans quick enough to give you whiplash
Snorkel
Pierre Strong, New England - We’re assuming here that guys like Zamir White and Isaiah Spiller are rostered and have been rostered since rookie drafts. The same probably was true of Strong in some leagues, but he was on the waiver wire in many until this week, when an injury to Rhamondre Stevenson got him on the field. He impressed, and the Patriots might not be able to put this genie back in the bottle. Try to get a buy-low trade offer in for him if you weren’t the lucky one to draft or pick Strong up.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland - Ford should be the backup to 27-year-old Nick Chubb next year. Chubb’s contract is up before Ford’s rookie deal, and if Chubb breaks down next year, the Browns can easily get out of the final year of Chubb’s contract. Ford looked great in the preseason and is still flying below the radar in dynasty leagues because he landed on injured reserve.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco - He had to overcome some resistance after making the final 53 and being active in Week 1. Still, the 49ers finally relented and gave him some work in the backfield recently. Mason has proven to be a very efficient, effective, and physical runner in this system. Third-round pick Tyrion Davis-Price has shown nothing that should make us think he’ll eventually overtake Mason.
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