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 preferences made for players you can use in your lineup during the season.
Quarterbacks
Among the quarterbacks, there are two types of waiver options: those moving up this week and veteran backups.
Daniel Jones suffered a neck injury, and his week 6 status against the Buffalo Bills is in doubt. Jones had a neck injury that prematurely ended his 2021 season. Jones has struggled this season, which can be attributed to poor play and a struggling supporting cast. Taylor would be in a revenge game scenario against Buffalo this week and could be a candidate for starts later in the season if Jones's injury lingers. Monitor Jones's status before your waivers run this week. If it looks like he is unlikely to play, Taylor warrants something in the 5-10% waiver bid and more aggressively for dynasty teams in true need at quarterback.
Anthony Richardson suffered his third different injury this season, this time knocked out with a shoulder sprain in week 5 that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for an extended absence. Gardner Minshew is worth adding in your dynasty league where he is available. He is likely rostered in deeper Superflex leagues but warrants a 25% type bid for teams in Superflex formats with a quarterback need. In shallower leagues, Minshew will enter the streaming quarterback conversation.
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:
- Mike White, MIA
- Tyler Huntley, BAL
- Cooper Rush, DAL
- Jacoby Brissett, WAS
- Taylor Heinicke, ATL
- Teddy Bridgewater, DET
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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.
James Conner suffered a knee injury in week 5 that head coach Jonathan Gannon has suggested will keep him out for "a little bit of time." Prior to his injury, Conner was handling a 60-85% snap share each week, including more than 50% of the team's carries and running routes on 42% of the team's dropbacks on the season. This leaves a big hole in the backfield. Emari Demercado should get the first attempt to replace Conner. Demercado played 77% of the snaps in week five and handled 48% of the rushing attempts and 67% of the routes. Demercado had 28% and 38% route participation in the prior two weeks, showing he was carving out a role before Conner's injury. Keoantay Ingram has been out with a neck injury for the past two weeks and should return soon, but Demercado should get the first opportunity. The team also added Tony Jones, so the preparation is clearly beginning for an extended Conner absence. Consider something in the 10-20% budget range for Demercado if he is available in your league.
Khalil Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in week 5 that could land him on injured reserve, while backup Roschon Johnson suffered a concussion. The Bears played on Thursday, so the extra rest should help Johnson clear the concussion protocol. Either way, D'Onta Foreman warrants an addition. Foreman has been inactive since one, as he fell behind Herbert and Johnson on the depth chart and did not fit a special teams role. Foreman has consistently performed well during fill-in roles in prior stops during his career but has not aged well with those teams. This is the type of situation that Foreman appears destined for in Chicago. Johnson should get the opportunity to start if healthy, leaving Foreman as a pure injury-away player at this point.
Jeff Wilson Jr. is eligible to return from injured reserve, and it sounds as if he will soon. Miami lost DeVon Achane to an injury, leaving Wilson the opportunity to step in behind starter Raheem Mostert. Wilson should be a small 5% type waiver bid where he is available.
Eric Gray was active on offense for the first time this year and took over the rushing role ahead of Matt Breida, as both played with Saquon Barkley still out of the lineup. Gray still played behind Breida in the passing game, but his role in his first week within the offense was an eye-opener in this backfield. Gray could ascend to the backup role behind Barkley and up the rushing role in the Giants' offense this week. He warrants a small waiver bid where he is available.
Other Backups
Other backups or free agents with high availability include:
- Leonard Fournette (65% available)
- Keaontay Ingram (72% available)
- Trey Sermon (81% available)
- Trayveon Williams (79% available)
- Craig Reynolds (85% available)
- Jordan Mason (79% available)
- Ronnie Rivers (68% available)
Wide Receivers
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 Fulghams. Your strategies on the wide receiver position should be to find immediate lineup help or a flip candidate.
Tyquan Thornton has been on injured reserve and has begun practicing and could be ready to play in week 6. The Patriots have arguably the worst receiving core in the league, and JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas are both injured, leaving Thornton no obstacles to step into a role in the offense. He warrants a small waiver add where available.
Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve. This will give Jordan Addison an opportunity to take a step forward and lock K.J. Osborn into an every-down role going forward. Osborn has struggled this season, running routes on only 93% of Minnesota's dropbacks, and he is only targeted on 12% of his routes on the season, but that jumped to 18% in week five with Jefferson missing time. Osborn could have been jumped on the depth chart by Addison, but this should keep him locked into a starting role going forward.
Tight Ends
Tight end in changing circumstances who warrant waiver consideration include:
Much of the fantasy football frustration about Atlanta's offense is about the role of Kyle Pitts, which has overshadowed Jonnu Smith's role in Atlanta's offense. Smith is currently TE12 and ranks 9th among tight ends in receptions. Atlanta's offense highlights the tight end position, including running multiple tight end personnel among the most in the league. Smith has run routes on more than 60% of the team's dropbacks in each of the past four weeks and has 18% of the team's targets on the season. Smith may be available in shallower formats and has the usage profile to support top 15 production.