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.
Justin Fields suffered a dislocated thumb in week six, leaving Tyson Bagent to play in relief. Head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields is doubtful for week six and has no timetable for his return. Bagent took over for Fields and went 10 for 14 for 83 yards and an interception. Bagent is an undrafted free agent out of Division II Shepherd and only warrants an addition in the deepest of quarterback premium leagues.
Malik Cunningham was activated from the practice squad for week six to serve as the backup quarterback behind Mac Jones. Cunningham signed a three-year contract when activated from the practice squad, a sign the team has a commitment and wants to protect him from other teams. Jones has struggled and is on a shorter leash, so Cunningham's contract is notable. Cunningham warrants a deeper league consideration as a stash in the event Jones continues to struggle, and the team looks for a different option at quarterback.
Malik Willis entered week six in relief of Ryan Tannehill, who suffered an ankle injury, and his status is not certain. Tennessee is on a bye week in week 7, giving time for Tannehill to recover before week 8, but this marks a turning point in the Tennessee offense. The team is 2-4, having lost two straight games, and has only thrown for more than 227 yards once this season. Willis was the active backup in week six, but the team could also use the opportunity to audition the team's second-round pick, Will Levis. In deeper quarterback premium leagues, both are likely rostered. However, in shallower leagues, both warrant roster and waiver consideration.
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 Back
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.
Craig Reynolds was a recommendation of last week's Last Minute Moves to make. Jahmyr Gibbs missed week 6 with a hamstring injury, and David Montgomery suffered a rib injury. This leaves Craig Reynolds as the next man up in the lineup. Gibbs's injury status is uncertain for week 7, and early reports indicate Montgomery may face a multiple-week absence.
The Chicago backfield is a MASH Unit. Khalil Herbert has been placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Roschon Johnson did not practice last week because of a concussion suffered on Thursday Night Football in week 5. Travis Homer is also out with a leg injury. The Bears turned to D'Onta Foreman as their starter in week 6 and added Darrynton Evans, who worked in a tandem. Evans played 37% of the snaps in week 6 and ran routes on 27% of the team's dropbacks in his first action of the season. Evans has a receiving role that could tolerate Johnson's return to the lineup.
Zach Evans may be the big waiver addition of the week. Starter Kyren Williams and reserve Ronnie Rivers were both injured in week 6. Williams is dealing with a sprained ankle and Rivers a sprained knee, and both injuries are expected to keep them out of week 7. Rookie Zach Evans warrants a waiver addition of something in the 10-20% budget range.
Christian McCaffrey suffered a rib injury, and it could be a multiple-week injury. Jordan Mason played well in the week 5 blowout against Dallas and took over after McCaffrey's role in week 6. Week 6 marked the first game Mitchell has played since week 3, and he played 13% of the snaps behind Mason's 28% snap share. Mason figures to get the initial crack at replacing McCaffrey in the offense. Mason warrants a 10-20% type bid, with Mitchell in the 1-5% range where they are 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 Fulghams. Your strategies on the wide receiver position should be to find immediate lineup help or a flip candidate.
The good news is that Jalin Hyatt has become the WR2 in the New York Giants offense in the past week, with 60% route participation in week 5 and 80% route participation in week 6. The bad news is Hyatt has only been targeted four times in the past two weeks, good for only a 6.6% target per route run rate. The Giants offense is a mess, but Hyatt's step forward in playing time could allow him a showcase opportunity during the second half of the season.
Deebo Samuel suffered a shoulder injury in week 6, and it held him to only 10% of San Francisco's snaps. McCloud was the beneficiary, playing 81% of the team's offensive snaps. McCloud has not performed well and teammate Jauan Jennings has the better route passed production (15% target per route run) than McCloud (8%), but McCloud saw the uptick in work. Either warrants a monitor in deeper leagues, especially if Samuel's absence will be an extended one.
Brandon Powell ran a season-high 25 routes and saw 4 targets in Minnesota's first game without Justin Jefferson. Powell will run the WR3 role in the Minnesota offense behind Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn, who each saw 100% route participation in week 6. Powell is more of a desperation waiver add, but he is a candidate for route volume in a high-volume passing offense with Jefferson out.
Tight END
Tight end in changing circumstances who warrant waiver consideration include:
Trey McBride is likely rostered in deeper leagues but could be available in shallower leagues. McBride was a second route pick in 2022, but he struggled as a rookie and has played behind Zach Ertz through five weeks. McBride took a big step forward in usage, running a route on 48% of the team's dropbacks in week six, the most of the season. McBride was only targeted on 10% of his routes last season, but the number has jumped to 20% as a part-time participant in six weeks this season. The team should continue to feature McBride, so they know what they have for the future. He warrants an addition of 5-10% in smaller leagues where he was dropped.