While the annual rookie draft and trade market activity represents a strong majority of impact moves for a dynasty owner each year, the waiver wire is a key consistent area of potential roster improvement. The preseason is a critical time to optimize final roster spots. A good owner constantly wishes for more roster spots as there are my watch list options than available slots on a roster. The key is knowing when to toss a back end of the roster player back to the waiver wire and take a shot on an option more likely to hit sooner. As always, shopping for something of value on the trade market is preferred (if possible), but here are the key roster cloggers to cut bait on this preseason:
Quarterbacks
Mike Glennon (Start-1QB): Lacked strong feel or accuracy in Week 1 of preseason and Mitch Trubisky looks promising to start sooner rather than later.
Paxton Lynch (Start-1QB): Continues to show lack of refinement or feel for pocket, reads, etc. Clogs the back-end of roster in start-1 formats.
Running Backs
Matt Jones: This is more for shallow rosters (less than 25 roster spots), but Jones is buried in Washington with little chance to be even the grinder option (as Chris Thompson has the receiving role locked down). A team change is ultimately what Jones needs to up his value, but is a longer-term hold worthy of churning for a flavor of the week/month.
Jeremy McNichols: The late Day 3 rookie has an uphill climb for any role in 2017 with Doug Martin, Charles Sims, and Jacquizz Rodgers entrenched on the depth chart and Peyton Barber looked good in his playing time to-date in the NFL. Tampa Bay has a deep depth chart and McNichols is a longer-range hold where owners will miss out on more timely opportunities with the roster spot.
Christine Michael: Robert Turbin is a solid No.2 and Marlon Mark will have every opportunity to be the No.3 to open the season. Michael has bounced around the NFL lately on depth charts but is worth dropping safely at this point.
Brian Hill: Will have a tough time beating out Terron Ward for the No.3 job in Atlanta and extending the number of injuries needed to justify holding in these critical next 3-4 weeks.
T.J. Logan: Out for an extended amount of time, if league settings do not allow for an IR stash or taxi designation, Logan is a tough hold missing a good chunk of his rookie season and having David Johnson, Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, and Kerwynn Williams on the depth chart.
Devante Mays: Late round pick by Green Bay, Mays has some interest as a big frame with reasonable straight line speed, but is buried even if he sticks with the Packers.
Wide Receivers
Michael Floyd: Bouncing around the NFL and will be fighting for snaps at best in Minnesota, a lower-upside passing game.
Tajae Sharpe: Multiple notable additions to Tennessee depth chart, tough to justify holding.
Dorial Green-Beckham: Running out of NFL chances, time to move on for better flash chances in next month or two.
Pharoh Cooper: Best case is a team change as Rams are deep at receiver and Cooper is on outside looking in.
Adam Humphries: 'Cole Beasley East' has far more competition for targets than a year ago. Very tempered ceiling outlook and requires deep starting lineups to consider keeping.
Calvin Johnson: He is not coming back, let's move on.
Justin Hardy: Have seen him rostered in some leagues. The ceiling is so low and wide receivers are not strong stash plays in general.
Jeff Janis: He has been a roster clogger for years now.
Vincent Jackson: Had some hope to be a free agent signing of note, but running out of time and looked physically done last year.
K.D. Cannon: Bounced around teams already and clearly on NFL fringe.
Tight Ends
Tyler Higbee: May be Week 1 starter for Rams, but the ceiling is tempered and Gerald Everett will be the starter sooner rather than later. In stock start-1TE without premiums on the position, Higbee offers little upside on the roster spot especially with additions at wide receiver for the Rams.
Ladarius Green: One of the 'what could have been' specimens in recent years, Green is on the NFL fringe with his concussion history and current status.
Clive Walford: Tough to hold outside of deep premium formats for the tight end. 2016 was a rough one for Walford and Jared Cook halts opportunity this season.
Dennis Pitta: Like Ladarius Green in dynasty, clear the roster spot for a shorter term option.
Richard Rodgers: The Lance Kendricks signing was an ominous one for Rodgers in Green Bay and Martellus Bennett is already a sturdy starter there.
Bucky Hodges: Draft faller and Minnesota working him in-line in Week 1 of the preseason, where Hodges looked lost. Hodges looks like a long hold if there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Jerell Adams: Would only be owned in deeper premium formats, but low pedigree and multiple options ahead of him for Giants after a nondescript rookie season.
Crockett Gillmore: Unless stashed on IR, not worth holding outside of the deepest rosters of start-2TE leagues.