One of the most fun parts of managing a deep dynasty roster is cultivating value by planting seeds at the end of your bench during the offseason. We'll go position-by-position and separate players into Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine levels to serve dynasty players of all levels.

• Snorkel level players are available in some leagues, especially ones with more shallow rosters.
• Scuba-level players are usually available unless your league has very deep rosters.
• Submarine-level players are often widely available, even in leagues with deep rosters.

This week, running backs, where rags to riches stories abound. 

Snorkel

Sione Vaki, Detroit - Vaki hasn’t gotten to do much on offense, although he did tackle two players at once on special teams. The Lions drafted him as a running back and are developing him as one. Dan Campbell loves him, and Vaki has untapped potential after playing more on defense in college. The combination of mystery box plus hyperefficient offense should be a priority to add to your bench if someone didn’t carry him through the season.

Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore - The Ravens have been able to ease Mitchell back in after his catastrophic knee injury ended his 2023 campaign. He looked like one of the most explosive runners in the league before going down, and he’s in an offense that can effectively leverage his abilities. Smaller players are increasingly finding fantasy relevance in the 21st-century NFL, so don’t let Mitchell’s lack of mass discourage you when looking for offseason stashes.

Khalil Herbert, Cincinnati - Herbert has had the look of a starting quality back at times, but that didn’t endear him enough to the Bears for him to play out his rookie deal to its finish. He’ll enter free agency, probably weighing potential opportunity, pay, or quality of the situation, so he could be in line to at least compete for a committee role that he could expand on if he regains the form that had him on many sleeper lists coming into this season.

Dameon Pierce, Houston - There was a point when the Texans saw Pierce as a starter. He has proven to be a terrible fit in Bobby Slowik’s running game, but that doesn’t mean the Texans were completely wrong about Pierce. He won’t be a free agent until 2026, but being the backup to a 29-year-old Joe Mixon coming off of a high-volume season is also a spot that could yield fantasy value if Pierce and Texans can figure out how to wire his decision-making for Slowik’s scheme. 

Audric Estime, Denver - Estime’s pro career got off on the wrong foot when he got hurt in camp and again in Week 1 and missed four games. He also had some fumble issues, and Sean Payton’s capricious running back usage has kept Estime from getting in a rhythm. Estime still fits what Payton wants to do, and Javonte Williams will be a free agent next year. Estime should have been taken in every rookie draft, but an impatient team might have dropped him.

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia - Gainwell has shown the ability to contribute as a committee back, but a team with a vacancy in the backfield could see him as more when he hits free agency this year. Gainwell still has a lot of tread left on the tires and should be a #2 back wherever he ends up next year.

Scuba

Rasheen Ali, Baltimore - The Ravens spent a fifth-round pick on Ali and kept him at final cutdowns even though he wasn’t healthy. Derrick Henry isn’t going anywhere. But injuries happen, and Ali would be in a position to split with Justice Hill (who signed a two-year extension earlier this season) in one of the best offenses in the league and position himself as part of the post-Henry plan with a good performance. 

Dylan Laube, Las Vegas - Laube fumbled away whatever opportunity he would get after Zamir White and Alexander Mattison went down. Still, he should start with a clean slate when the Raiders almost certainly bring in a new coach next year. Laube has a good skill set for the passing game and could be a part of a complementary duo with Sincere McCormick next year if McCormick finishes strong and the Raiders don’t invest in the backfield during a rebuilding year.

Will Shipley, Philadelphia - The Eagles took Shipley in the fourth round, but he hasn’t seen the field much because Kenneth Gainwell is a pretty good running back behind Saquon Barkley. Gainwell will be a free agent next year, so we’ll learn if the Eagles are ready to trust Shipley as a backup this offseason. Like Laube, Shipley can provide value in the passing game.

Chris Brooks, Green Bay - MarShawn Lloyd is the young Packers back most dynasty players are watching, but Brooks has risen up the depth chart to take significant passing down snaps and has pushed his way into a long-term spot on the team in the process. Brooks is a Matt Waldman favorite, and it would be no surprise if he’s the most valuable Green Bay back in any games they are without Josh Jacobs. 

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay - Tucker had almost 200 total yards in a game earlier this year and did it on 17 touches. I don’t care who you are; if you do that against an NFL defense, you have some talent. Rachaad White isn’t a free agent until next year, and Bucky Irving looks like one of the best running backs in the class of 2024. But Tucker is still a player to stash in deep leagues.

Submarine

Cody Schrader, LA Rams - Pay attention when a team claims a final cut of a division rival and then uses up a valuable roster spot to keep that player in their system all season. Schrader was the SEC’s leading rusher, but the NFL didn’t see enough to draft him, and the 49ers didn’t see enough to keep him. The Rams clearly saw more and are running Kyren Williams into the ground. Schrader is a name we may hear more about next year.

Israel Abanikanda, San Francisco - Abanikanda could rocket up a tier or two if he gets to play down the stretch. He was claimed and none other than NFL.com draft guru Lance Zierlein said he could hit because of the scheme fit with Kyle Shanahan. Hopefully the 49ers will sign Abanikanda to a future/reserve deal and let him compete for a roster spot next year after the Jets gave up on him.