Only a few contenders are left in leagues vying for the championship, but regardless of the position your dynasty team is in, the constant drive to improve your team should never end even if the season is coming to a close. Each year, in each league some players stop paying attention as soon as they miss the playoffs, and they wonder why they lose year after year. The NFL doesn’t stop just because you didn’t make it to your fantasy football playoffs. Teams continue to change through this part of the year and give you glimpses into the future. I am going to try to decipher a few clues and give you a few tips for your team in this article. Hopefully, it’ll help you navigate to a better outcome next year. Some trends are more apparent than others, like Cam Akers taking over the Los Angeles backfield by handling over twenty carries the last two weeks. Others will take time, and we will dig to uncover them over the postseason as teams push for championships themselves.
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz – In most cases, people are looking at Hurts and trying to put him on their roster somehow since he has beaten out Wentz despite the team’s investment in him. For that exact reason, I urge you to try and get Wentz cheap before another team ponies up for his services. He will find another starting gig before the league moves on from him. In a Superflex league, acquiring him cheap now will pay dividends when he is starting somewhere and you can use him or trade him for more than you acquired him.
Jacob Eason – Rivers is being supported by his team’s plethora of running backs, amazing O-line play, and above-average defense. A strong-armed statue might be able to perform as well as he has, and eventually, the Colts will be forced to look for other options. Luckily, they planned ahead by grabbing Eason in last year’s draft later than most expected him to go, and have been able to let him slowly acclimate to the NFL speed. Grab the possible starting quarterback for the Colts before the offseason comes and Rivers’s contract is up.
Jameis Winston – It is hard to figure out who will start for the Saints next year, but regardless of the successor to Brees, Winston should find a starting gig after patiently waiting on the New Orleans sideline. Winston would be starting for the Saints and showcasing his abilities if not for Taysom Hill’s contract, but I also have a suspicion that by keeping Jameis from playing, the odds of his return are stronger. It should keep his price lower than if he was doing well on the field.
Running Backs
DeeJay Dallas – Dallas has found himself in a great situation on the Seahawks. Carroll is a run focused coach, and Chris Carson is finishing his contract with the team. Hyde is also departing, while Penny is just now returning from an ACL tear last season. Dallas has already gotten some work in his rookie season, accumulating three touchdowns on the year. Look for a few of the roadblocks to remove themselves this offseason allowing for Dallas to find the field more frequently next season.
AJ Dillon – An obvious selection with Green Bay’s refusal to re-sign Aaron Jones or Jamaal Williams. Even if they do retain one of the incumbent backs, expect Dillon to step up into a Nick Chubb style role with the other filling in more of a Kareem Hunt role. Green Bay set themselves up for the future with the last draft, and I’d expect to see their plan unfold a little more starting with Dillon taking over at running back. Overpay a little bit before he is the primary back in their offense.
Ronald Jones – Often disparaged and forgotten, Jones is still a young back at twenty-three years old and will be entering a contract year next year with the Bucs. Meanwhile, Fournette and Mccoy are both free agents after this season. Rojo should be back next year in the same role, and this year he finds himself tied as the thirteenth-overall running back with Jonathan Taylor. He shouldn’t be too expensive to acquire due to how he is viewed in the fantasy community, and he could be a big help for your RB2 or flex issues next year.
Wide Receivers
Denzel Mims/Michael Pittman – Wide receivers usually start slow in the NFL. Not everyone can be Odell, and I always try to get second-round guys from the year before that may not have produced due to various reasons. Both Mims and Pittman find their utilization increasing over the end of the season, and they can take over as a team’s main wide receiving option going into 2021. It’s hard to pick between the two, so I lumped them together. However, both should be great options moving forward. Hilton is aging and on his way into retirement. The Jets have been searching for a receiver and as good as Crowder has been this year, he is not the dominant receiver that changes a defensive gameplan.
Tyler Johnson – The Bucs decided to go all-in on their Superbowl odds this year, signing multiple pieces and pushing future players to the background. Antonio Brown joining the team put Tyler Johnson on a back burner, but before the acquisition, Johnson was showing flashes with two touchdown catches. With Godwin’s rookie contract ending and AB on a one year deal, Johnson may be able to step up in his sophomore season with more playing time. It’s a deep stash, but you have to strike before everyone else does in Dynasty or else you miss out.
James Washington – Washington was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft. The draft capital is there, but playing time hasn’t since he is surrounded by talented players in JuJu and Diontae Johnson. Player Profiler compares Washington to Hopkins. As much of a stretch that may seem, if there is some truth to it, then it should spark excitement for dynasty managers. Washington could be a contributor for your team next year and can be grabbed for cheap right now before Smith-Schuster lands somewhere else and while everyone is still focused on Claypool and Diontae.
Tight Ends
Adam Trautman – The usage of Trautman has slowly increased as the season has gone on, and should only grow more with Brees when he returns. Trautman is an athletic young tight end drafted in the third-round of the NFL Draft last year, pushing Jared Cook out when his contract ends after this season. Trautman should be an outlet option for Brees or whatever QB takes over next season and into the future.
Dawson Knox – Heading into the prime year for tight end breakouts, Knox has found his snap count increase with Tyler Kroft a healthy scratch the last few weeks. This bodes well since Kroft’s contract is up. Knox should claim the starting role from here on out. In an offense that knows how to move the ball and is helmed by a top-five fantasy quarterback, you can’t go wrong grabbing one of the weapons.
Mo Alie-Cox – The gigantic tight end that has seen the field in flashes when Jack Doyle and Burton have been hurt has done well when used as the starter. A definite red zone threat at his size, it’s a shame that the Colts continue to bench him when the others are healthy. On the season Alie-Cox is the 25th overall tight end and that’s with Doyle and Burton on the roster. Look for the team to let Burton go after the year and to let Alie-Cox get more involved.
Each year when my team exits the playoffs or is out of contention, I look for players available either through trade or the waiver wire to acquire based on potential moves by teams and future contracts. Building a dynasty happens with small, smart roster moves that allow you to keep growing and building your team. If your team has kickers and defenses, drop them for backups hoping for a bigger role next year like the ones I’ve listed above. Hopefully, this helps you get to the big dance next season or to continue your league domination. If you want a few more players to look for, follow me on Twitter @DFF_mattbull and #AlwaysBeBuilding.
