Last week the subject matter was evaluating your dynasty team direction plus some win now targets without breaking the bank. This week will focus on looking ahead to 2016 for some undervalued assets not currently producing for building dynasty rosters:
Quarterbacks
The quarterback market, outside of premium formats for the position, is typically easily accessible. There are bound to be additional quarterbacks floating on the backend of other teams’ rosters. A fungible current or future starter at quarterback is probably the most affordable across the positions.
Tony Romo
An older option is not typically ideal to stash for a future year of dynasty service, but injuries are the exception. Unlike Ben Roethlisberger, Romo still has a few weeks left before returning. The Romo owner may have found a quality option in his absence, making Romo more expendable. Romo with a healthy Dez Bryant has a far different look than the painful Dallas passing game in recent weeks. Ideally target Romo with a third round rookie pick.
Jameis Winston, Johnny Manziel
Derek Carr and Blake Bortles have progressed to QB1 land, but Winston and Manziel remain undervalued. Winston has shown plenty of growing pains through seven weeks, but the flashes are substantial. His deep ball prowess and connection with a young thoroughbred like Mike Evans for the foreseeable future. Winston will cost a second round rookie pick equivalent. Manziel has shown flashes of progression and Josh McCown has lived off high-volume more than high-efficiency this year. Manziel will get another shot and is a cheap upside shot for a team looking towards 2016.
Running Backs
Primary backups with starter-level talent are an ideal source for future dynasty value escalation. Even a game or two of missed time by the incumbent starter can give a peek into what the young backup can do with an expanded role. Of this list, Karlos Williams is the most expensive with the rest costing a late-second round rookie pick level price at most.
Karlos Williams
Williams was the talk of dynasty at a moment in time early this season. Since Williams has sustained a concussion and LeSean McCoy is back in action for Buffalo. Williams was going for Round 1 picks in September, now a second rounder plus lower level player may get it done.
Javorius Allen
Justin Forsett is playing well after a slow start, but Allen continues to simmer with upside as the primary backup. Allen moves well (and catches the ball competently) for a big back and any crack in the armor of Forsett or offseason buzz will increase his market value substantially.
Jerick McKinnon
Adrian Peterson is back, but McKinnon looks even better than his impressive 2014 rookie season. McKinnon has shown power, dynamic lateral movement, and overt burst in limited touches this season. McKinnon is one of the premiere backups in the NFL to track for an expanded opportunity.
Zac Stacy
Chris Ivory is working through an injury (shocker) and Stacy is the most complete back behind Ivory on the Jets depth chart. Stacy was once a top-75 dynasty asset as the starter in St.Louis, resurfacing in New York. Stacy has a quality pad level and can catch adequately. Stacy is near-free in most leagues or even on the waiver wire – the perfect running back stash.
Robert Turbin
Turbin has been integrated into the Browns offense quickly since returning from injury. Isaiah Crowell is losing early down snaps to Turbin. Remember Turbin was an outstanding and well-rounded prospect back in Seattle. Turbin, like Stacy, is a minimal cost upside play with starter-level talent and regular snaps.
Wide Receivers
Targeting young pass-catchers with a blocked depth chart or limited snap counts is the ideal way to stack the back-end of a dynasty roster for the upcoming season. All four of these targets have played minimally, if at all, through seven weeks in their rookie seasons. Strong and Coates have strong No.1 options on the depth chart, while Smelter and McBride have minimal resistance to a larger role with proper development.
Jaelen Strong
Strong flashed with two touchdowns on his first two NFL receptions, but this year will be a slow-developing one for the metric Day 2 favorite from back in the draft process. Strong is the perfect wide receiver to add on to a bigger deal as the trade deadline approaches.
Sammie Coates Jr
Coates is in red-shirt mode for his rookie season with Martavis Bryant back in the mix and Markus Wheaton still soaking up snaps. Coates has enviable athleticism and betting a bench spot on an upside Day 2 prospect paired with Ben Roethlisberger is a worthy gamble.
DeAndre Smelter
The theme of red-shirt rookie seasons continues with Smelter. Smelter was a mid-round selection with prototypical size and quality athleticism and collegiate production. The 49ers have little on the receiver depth chart to prevent Smelter from emerging in 2016. Colin Kaepernick may be a limiting factor in the short-term, but Smelter has No.2 NFL receiver, or better, upside ramping up for 2016.
Tre McBride
McBride fell down the NFL draft board after being rumored in the Day 2 mix for much of the pre-draft process. No Tennessee receiver is standing out through nearly half the season and McBride has a well-rounded profile in the mold of Roddy White. For teams churning their final roster spots for 2016 speculation, McBride fits the criteria.
Tight Ends
Rookie tight ends are low-probability plays to offer much of anything in terms of production, but glimpses into their skill set are a top priority in Year 1. Walford and Pruitt have positive prospect profiles and lackluster veterans on the depth chart. Both have made splash plays in 2015, simmering with longer-term TE1 upside.
Clive Walford
Mychal Rivera is nothing but a placeholder and Walford is already carving out more snaps and market share in the rising Oakland offense. Walford is a handful after the catch dating back to his Miami collegiate days. He flashed with a terrific touchdown in Week 7 as the window to stash Walford for nearly nothing continues to shut.
Mycole Pruitt
Pruitt made a highlight contested reception in Week 7. Kyle Rudolph has done little as the incumbent starter in Minnesota. The buzz out of Vikings camp is they view Pruitt as a future difference-maker. Pruitt was the combine star of tight ends in 2015 and also the go-to receiver for Southern Illinois. For leagues where a third or fourth tight end fits into roster allocations, Pruitt is an upside play for 2016.