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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

• Sam Ehlinger, IND

The Indianapolis Colts have pulled the plug on the Matt Ryan era after seven games. The Colts made the decision to turn to Sam Ehlinger as their starter for the remainder of the season. Ehlinger was a sixth-round pick out of Texas in the 2021 draft and has not attempted a pass in the NFL.

Our Matt Waldman broke Ehlinger down this week here, including a portion from his pre-draft RSP, where he wrote in part:

Ehlinger has improved every year and plays with a physicality and poise that could translate well to the NFL if he can continue to develop his accuracy and improve the speed of his processing, so he’s getting the ball out accurately at the end of his initial drop more often.

Carson Wentz thrived for a year or two behind an Eagles scheme predicated on short drops and quick decisions with zone read decisions from pistol and shotgun. David Garrard would have done the same if in this scheme, especially with a far superior deep game than Wentz.

Ehlinger could be a good understudy for a team that wants to incorporate the offensive principles we’ve seen in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. He’s a sturdy runner with good athletic ability. He handles pressure effectively, and he’s an underrated off-platform passer.

He’s like a third-day selection if he gets drafted, and that gives him a longer window to develop behind the scenes. In 2-3 years, he could earn an audition as a second-contract starter or develop into a valued backup.

Ehlinger ran for 1903 yards in his four years at Texas, which could provide early fantasy viability. This move screams franchise reset. The move will audition Ehlinger for the long term while increasing the odds of a high pick in the 2023 draft.

Ehlinger is worth 15-25% of a budget in waivers in Superflex leagues but is more of a monitor in start-one leagues.

• Malik Willis, TEN

Ryan Tannehill suffered a high ankle sprain in week seven, but our Dr. Jene Bramel projects Tannehill to be probable for week 8. Backup Malik Willis is likely rostered in Superflex leagues but could be available in shallower formats. Willis fell much further than expected in the NFL draft but has the rushing ability that could provide a good floor of fantasy production. Willis is certainly worth adding in shallow Superflex leagues where he is not rostered. Willis warrants monitoring in shallow start one quarterback leagues if Tannehill misses time.

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
• Tyler Huntley, BAL
• Gardner Minshew, PHI

In leagues deeper than 35 spots, consider:

• Colt McCoy, ARI
• 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.

• 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.

• Jamycal Hasty, JAX (92% available)/Snoop Conner, JAX (90% available)

The Jacksonville transition to Travis Etienne was full and complete in week seven and led to James Robinson’s Monday trade. This is a pure whirlwind that leaves the injury-away role open behind Etienne. Hasty has been getting the game action, but Conner is the more prototypically-sized back. Both would likely form a committee if Etienne were injured.

• DErnest Johnson, CLE (69% available)

There are rumors Kareem Hunt may get traded before the November 1 deadline. With Cleveland falling out of contention in the AFC North and Hunt a free agent in the offseason, an early parting of ways could occur. DErnest Johnson is the major beneficiary, as he could be the injury-away back behind Nick Chubb if Hunt leaves.

Other Backups

Other backups with high availability include:

• Justice Hill, BAL (69% available)
• DeeJay Dallas, SEA (74% available)
• Sony Michel, LAC (58% available)
• Jaylen Warren, PIT (56% available)
• Samaje Perine, CIN (57% available)
• Matt Breida, NYG (74% available)
• Caleb Huntley, ATL (62% available)

Wide Receiver

The odds wide receivers from the waiver wire will become big difference makers on your dynasty roster are very small. For every Tyreek Hill, there are 100 Travis Fulgham. Your strategies on the wide receiver position should be to find immediate lineup help or a flip candidate.

Players who warrant addition include:

• Braxton Berrios, NYJ (73% available)

The Jets are in a bit of a shambles offensively. Zach Wilson has not been good since returning from injury, Breece Hall is now out for the season, and Elijah Moore is demanding a trade as was left behind on the team’s trip to Denver. In the game, Corey Davis was injured, and he is unlikely to play in week 8. Moore is expected to return, but this should open an opportunity for Braxton Berrios. Berrios has been a high-level player on limited routes in his career, and an opening for him could be very valuable if Wilson takes a step forward while Corey Davis is out.

• Darius Slayton, NYG (69% available)

Darius Slayton has found himself in the top three wide receivers in the New York Giants offense, averaging 5.3 targets per game in the past three games. The offense is not going to be a highly proficient passing offense, but Slayton has proven to be one of the top two options in the offense with Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney injured.

Tight End

Three tight ends in changing circumstances include:

• Greg Dulcich, DEN (60% available)

Greg Dulcich has taken over as the starter tight end in Denver in the two games he has played since returning from injury. He is unlikely available but is a priority add in premium formats and a quality option on smaller rosters without premiums where available.

• Cade Otton, TBB (68% available)

In two games without Cameron Brate, Cade Otton had averaged six targets, five receptions, and 48.5 receiving yards. Otton has 1.30 yards per route run, a good sign for a rookie tight end. Otton is a stash in dynasty leagues and should be a streaming option if Brate misses additional time.