Welcome back to another weekly edition of “The Wire”. In this series, I review three players each week that you should target on the waiver wire for your Dynasty teams. To keep the information in this series consistent, I will only refer to players with an ownership percentage of less than 50%, according to Sleeper Dynasty leagues. I’ll do my best to provide you with players that have a more long-term upside rather than a one-week ceiling, seeing that this is a Dynasty series and not Redraft. So, sit back, relax, and let me find you some diamonds in the rough!
Greg Dortch | WR | Arizona Cardinals
39% Rostered
Dortch was a player I had high hopes for heading into the 2023 season after several impressive showings in 2022. His opportunities were limited last season, but in the games he saw more than a 75% snap share, Dortch averaged ten targets per game. He was an integral part of this passing attack, and not all of this was when Kyler was healthy; Dortch was producing late in the season with Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley, and David Blough as his quarterbacks. With only Marquise Brown clearly ahead of him on the depth chart, I thought Dortch had a real shot to earn himself an every-down role in this offense. However, that was far from the case when the 2023 season started.
Dortch was a healthy scratch for the first few games to start this year and still saw limited action even when he suited up beginning Week 4. Through ten weeks, Greg Dortch had just one reception on two targets for two yards. He was not viewed as a legitimate option, waiting behind Hollywood, Rondale Moore, Michael Wilson, and even Zach Pascal on the WR depth chart.
However, Dortch’s opportunity has increased significantly in the past two weeks, and he’s made the most of it. Michael Wilson, the rookie WR from Stanford who surprised many with his production in Year 1, suffered a shoulder injury and missed Week 11 and Week 12. Dortch has taken over Wilson’s role in his absence, seeing 17 targets in those two weeks and recording double-digit fantasy performances in each game.
If Wilson can return in Week 13 against Pittsburgh, it’s likely that Dortch will return to his reduced role in this offense. That said, Greg has proven over the past two seasons that he is an efficient target hog on the field; he just needs to get the snaps. Arizona still seems to prefer Rondale Moore, so Dortch may not see a breakout while both are on the roster. Dortch is a free agent after this season, though, so another NFL team may sign him in 2024 and put his efficiency to better use.
Joe Flacco | QB | Cleveland Browns
11% Rostered
You may have read that name and thought, “Joe Flacco? What year is this?” For those unaware, Joe Flacco signed with the Browns’ practice squad last Monday after news that Deshaun Watson was missing the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery. The Browns have had a combination of P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center during Watson’s absence, both of which have been equally terrible from a real-life and fantasy football perspective. Today, the Browns sit at 7-4 and have the second wild card spot in the AFC. They’re in a position where they need to keep competing this year, and it’ll be tough to do so with Walker or DTR as your quarterback.
I could be wrong, but I can’t imagine the Browns signing Flacco to be the QB2 or QB3 on their roster. Very few people are talking about Flacco as a fantasy option right now, as confirmed by his 11% Sleeper ownership in Dynasty leagues. If Flacco gets the nod this week, he could be a free “plug-and-play” Superflex option for your team if you are struggling with QB injuries or have upcoming bye weeks.
Now, Flacco isn’t an elite fantasy option if he’s starting, nor has he ever been elite in fantasy. He gives you zero rushing upside and has only finished as a QB1 in fantasy once in his 15-year career. At best, I think you’re looking at a mid-QB2. But that may be all you need to help with your playoff push. Flacco has little long-term value (there’s no way he’s starting for anyone in 2024), but he is certainly worth the add as a contending team.
Payne Durham | TE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6% Rostered
Okay, this waiver add would only be for those deep Dynasty leagues, specifically if you are rebuilding and looking to add any rookies with foreseeable fantasy upside. The rookie from Purdue spent the early portion of this year as a healthy scratch, listed as the TE4 on this Tampa Bay depth chart. Since the bye week in Week 5, though, Payne has suited up each game and has started to get involved in the passing game a bit. Cade Otton is the TE1 in this offense, but the only other tight end suiting up is Ko Kieft, who is purely a blocker and has no role in the receiving game.
I’ll admit, it may be difficult for Durham to get consistent snaps moving forward, seeing that Cade is the preferred receiving option and Kieft is their blocker. But did you see that catch he made over Darrell Baker Jr. this weekend?! It was one of the best contested catches by a tight end I’ve seen in a while, and Durham had the awareness and body control to stay in bounds and spin toward the end zone, nearly securing his first career NFL touchdown. It’s just a single play, but it gives me confidence that Durham can be a competent tight end or slot guy at the NFL level. Have some patience while he develops his game, and he may grow into a viable fantasy asset in the near future.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
