The Wire: Week 2

Welcome back, DFF family! In this new series, I will review three or more 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 more long-term upside rather than a one-week situational 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!

Rico Dowdle | RB | Dallas Cowboys 

48% Rostered

This past Sunday night, we saw Dowdle in the backfield for the first time since 2020, where the Cowboys humiliated the Giants on SNF by a score of 40-0. Dowdle had six carries for 24 yards in this contest, outplaying Deuce Vaughn, who managed only eight yards on the same number of carries. Dowdle appears to be the clear RB2 ahead of Vaughn, at least after one week, as Vaughn didn’t see a snap until Dak Prescott was taken out for Cooper Rush. 

Dowdle will be playing second fiddle to Tony Pollard as long as he’s healthy, but the contingent value is there if Pollard goes down to injury at some point. Deuce doesn’t have the size or build to take on a 3-down workload, but Rico does. He’s listed at 6’0″, 215 lbs, in line with Pollard’s measurables (6’0″, 209 lbs). Dowdle has yet to catch a pass in the NFL, but he was a serviceable pass catcher in college, hauling 62 receptions over his four years at South Carolina. 

Dowdle is a free agent in 2024, so there’s a chance we won’t hear his name again after this season, but it’s also an incentive for Rico to showcase his ability and earn another contract extension with Dallas or perhaps sign elsewhere. As of this season, Rico is shaping up to be the primary backup in a high-scoring offense. Scoop him up if you can, and wait for the opportunity to arise. 

Demario Douglas | WR | New England Patriots

38% Rostered

The rookie WR from Liberty made a big splash in his first NFL game this past Sunday, corralling four receptions on seven targets for 40 yards. Coming from a small college and being a Round 6 selection in the NFL Draft, Douglas wasn’t on many fantasy owners’ radars this offseason. On top of this, Douglas stands at just 5’8″, so size was also a concern. Teammate and fellow rookie Kayshon Boutte was a Round 6 selection as well, but Boutte was the one who got national attention, as he was once a freshman breakout for a Power 5 school in LSU. 

Douglas’ collegiate career at Liberty went largely overlooked despite some truly impressive numbers. As a junior, Douglas totaled 79 receptions and finished with 1,098 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. He also had the highest career PFF grade amongst all 2023 draft-eligible WRs. Chris Museezer of our DFF team has been pounding the table in favor of Demario Douglas all offseason and may be onto something here. HC Bill Belichick has had a history of success with shorter WRs in New England. Could Douglas be the next in line?

Kylen Granson | TE | Indianapolis Colts

22% Rostered

Earlier this offseason, there were rumblings that Granson may be a cut candidate in Indianapolis. However, Granson made that 53-man roster and came out with an excellent outing in Week 1 versus the Jaguars, totaling four receptions and 39 receiving yards on six targets. QB Anthony Richardson looked Granson’s way often in his NFL debut, which is promising for the young tight end trying to secure an everyday role. 

The Colts’ presumed TE1 this offseason, Jelani Woods, is starting the year off on the IR. 2023 rookie and Round 5 selection Will Mallory was a healthy scratch in Week 1, so he doesn’t appear to be a serious contender for that starting role now. Veteran Mo Alie-Cox was active but failed to record a reception on his two targets. Granson now has the opportunity to create some space between these other two tight ends and be in the discussion to remain the Colts’ starting TE going forward, even after Woods returns from the IR. 

Remember, Kylen is only 25 and entering his third year in the NFL. He’s shown some promise and improvement in his first two seasons in Indianapolis, and typically, it takes a while for tight ends to fully blossom at the NFL level. To be clear, I don’t believe “future TE1” in fantasy is in Granson’s range of outcomes. Still, he could become an NFL starter and be a player you can start on bye weeks or during injuries for your fantasy team. 

Conclusion

I highly encourage you to check these names on the waiver wire in your Dynasty leagues and see if they are still available heading into Week 2. I fully expect both Rico Dowdle and Demario Douglas to be well over that 50% ownership mark this week, so grab them before it’s too late! As a reminder, the players in this article series aren’t league-winners, let alone guys you can plug and play immediately. Rather, they are guys with a foreseeable path to a larger, sustained role in the near future. If nothing else, their potential increase in value could help you complete a trade you otherwise wouldn’t have by adding that waiver pick-up as a sweetener. Every inch matters in fantasy football; don’t overlook the importance of the waiver wire! 

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