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Waivers of the future will focus on making decisions that improve our odds of our dynasty championship. The back of your dynasty roster should be flexible, with preference made for players you can use in your lineup during the season.

Quarterbacks

Among the quarterbacks, there are three types of waiver options: those moving up this week, veteran backups, and potential young players with future roles.

Moving Up this Week

Beneficiaries of the week include Teddy Bridewater and Bailey Zappe.

• Teddy Bridgewater, MIA

Last week in this article, we wrote:

Tua Tagovailoa appeared to hit his head on the turf in Week 3 and stumble when he got up. Tagovailoa was announced as questionable to return with a head injury. He returned to the game, with the team explaining it was a back injury instead of his head. Tagovailoa is not in the concussion protocol, but the back situation warrants monitoring, as Teddy Bridgewater would have an opportunity in a good offense.

The situation has gotten more complicated after Tagovailoa was concussed in a scary scene on Thursday night football, four days after his Week 3 incident. Tagovailoa is already ruled out for Week 5, and this situation could drag out. Bridgewater slots into a good offense and can be a streamer in start 1QB formats or a QB2 in quarterback premium formats. He warrants more than 25% of a waiver budget for teams with a need at quarterback in premium formats.

• Bailey Zappe, NEP

Bailey Zappe was a fourth-round selection by the Patriots in the 2022 draft. He was thrust into action after Brian Hoyer suffered a concussion in Week 4 at Green Bay. Hoyer himself was starting in place of Mac Jones who suffered a high ankle injury. Zappe is a low-level bid in quarterback premium formats.

Veteran Backups

As a general rule, you should have a limited amount of backup quarterbacks on your monitor list. With roster spots tight, optimized dynasty rosters under 25 spots in Superflex or quarterback premium. If you are in 25 to 35-man rosters and have a roster spot, these quarterbacks are the premium backups:

• Case Keenum, BUF
• Tyrod Taylor, NYG

Tyrod Taylor played in place of an injured Daniel Jones before himself suffering a concussion and exiting the game. Taylor’s concussion status, along with Jones’s injury, are both watches ahead of placing waiver claims this week. If Jones is projected for an extended absence, Taylor should be worth up to a quarter of a waiver budget in premium formats for dynasty GMs with a need.

• Tyler Huntley, BAL
• Andy Dalton, NO

Jameis Winston has struggled to start the season. Head Coach Dennis Allen gave him a vote of confidence after Week 3, but Winston was not able to play in Week 4 because of a back injury. Winston’s status for Week 5 is unknown, so Dalton should be added. He is worth 5 to 10% in formats where you have the roster space to hold backup quarterbacks (28+ spots).

• Gardner Minshew, PHI

In leagues deeper than 35 spots, consider:

• Colt McCoy, ARI
• Nick Foles, IND
• Chad Henne, KC
• Chase Daniel, LAC

Younger Stashes

Stashing young quarterbacks can be tricky because it is rare quarterbacks without high draft pedigree will become fantasy starters. These options are more depth opportunities with the hope to include in a future trade than they are solutions to a quarterback issue.

• Desmond Ridder, ATL

Marcus Mariota is playing well enough to hold off Ridder for the foreseeable future.

• Sam Howell, WAS

Carson Wentz has been erratic to start the season, but Washington is still in contention. Howell has a low draft pedigree, but Washington may want to see what they have later in the season.

• Jordan Love, GB

Jordan Love is a pure stash behind Rodgers heading into the offseason. He will be in the final year of his rookie contract in 2023.

• Matt Corral, CAR (IR)

If you can roster Matt Corral as an IR stash, there is no clear QB1 in front of him for 2023.

Running Backs

One of the keys to dynasty fantasy football is continuously optimizing your backup running back situation. The last five to ten roster spots on your roster should be very fluid, with little allegiance if the player does not offer the capacity to help your lineup. A constant churn on the back end of your roster is critical.

Moving Up this Week

The following running backs have improved this week and are available in more than 50% of MFL leagues.