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.
Quarterback
Among the quarterbacks, there are two types of waiver options: those moving up this week and veteran backups.
Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in week 8, and Minnesota traded for Joshua Dobbs before Tuesday’s trade deadline. The team has announced that Jaren Hall will start week 9 as the team prepares Dobbs to take the reigns in the coming weeks. Hall warrants an addition in Superflex or 2QB leagues with 30 or more roster spots as a speculative option. Dobbs and Cousins are free agents after the season, so Hall could be a name of interest in the offseason. He warrants a minimum-level bid in such leagues.
Desmond Ridder left week 8 in the concussion protocol. He was cleared, but head coach Arthur Smith decided to play Heinicke in the second half instead of turning back to Ridder. Smith said the reason was out of an abundance of caution, but it has left an open question about whether there is a quarterback controversy. Heinicke has been a veteran backup of interest in prior weeks of this article but warrants a minimal bid this week if he is named the starter.
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
- Teddy Bridgewater, DET
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.
Leonard Fournette was signed this week by the Buffalo Bills. There is uncertainty in his immediate role. James Cook is the incumbent start and has 54% of the team's rushing attempts and runs a route on 50% of the team’s dropbacks. Behind Cook, the Bills have used both Latavius Murray and Damien Harris. Harris is on injured reserve, and Latavius Murray is the oldest running back in the league.
There are questions about Fournette’s immediate fitness and role, but your waiver bids should not be for immediate reward. Your bid on Fournette should be made with the fantasy playoffs in mind. Fournette is the type of back who can play nearly every down as a runner and receiver. If there is an injury, Fournette could consolidate a difference-making role in the fantasy playoffs that could have a major impact. Fournette warrants an addition of 25%+ percent, with patience and long-term payoff in mind.
Other Backups
Other backups or free agents with high availability include:
- Trayveon Williams (83% available)
- Ke'Shawn Vaughn (88% 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.
Josh Downs has averaged 6 receptions, 98.5 receiving yards, and 0.5 touchdowns the past two weeks and is a top 10 scorer during the stretch. Downs has benefitted from Gardner Minshew taking over at quarterback and could be a WR3 option over the rest of the season. Where Downs is available, he warrants a 5-10% bid.
Demario Douglas had a season-high 84% route participation in week 8 as he consolidated the top role in the New England offense. New England’s offense is very bad, and Kendrick Bourne suffered a torn ACL that will keep him out the remainder of the season. Douglas will be the top option, with the likes of Jalen Reagor, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Devante Parker working in a rotation among the other receiving snaps.
Tight Ends
Tight ends to monitor on your waiver wires include:
Darren Waller has been suffering from a hamstring that aggravated in week 8. In his place stepped Daniel Bellinger. The Giants offense was an abomination in week 8, but Daniel Jones should be back and a massive upgrade. Bellinger will enter an offense without a clear pecking order. Bellinger had 35 targets, 30 receptions, 268 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 12 games during his rookie season and could produce TE2-level production with Waller out.
Pat Freiermuth was placed on injured reserve before week 8 with a hamstring injury that would keep him out for at least four weeks. Connor Heyward has stepped into a nice situation, running routes on 96% and 80% of Pittsburgh’s dropbacks through the past two weeks. Heyward is averaging 4.5 targets per game the past two weeks for 7 receptions, 47 receiving yards, and 0 touchdowns. Heyward is a streaming option with Freiermuth out based on his route participation and warrants a small bid if you need an option at the position.