Dynasty Waiver Wire: Week 16
Another awesome year of fantasy football is in the books. Even though I was eliminated in a couple of my dynasty leagues over the last couple of weeks, week 16 was still one of the more fun fantasy football weeks I have watched in a while. Fantasy playoffs matchups can always be swung one way or the other from your studs balling out… or disappearing.
I am sure many matches went your way if you started Devonta Freeman, Saquon Barkley, or Tyler Boyd. I am also certain that a lot of people lost their championship matchups counting on players like Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, DJ Moore (unfortunate) or any other studs who had quite a “down” week. But chin up… dynasty is “forever”. So although you may have lost the battle, you have not lost the war. By simply reading this article and staying informed for the upcoming year, you have a leg up on the competition.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these articles every Sunday night over the past 16 weeks and look forward to many more. Dynasty League Football has a ton of great content to keep you up to date and informed on all the latest and breaking news around the fantasy football world. DLF is where I started researching dynasty and finally ended up committing to my first dynasty league which happened to be a Devy, IDP, PPR league (started off with a bang). Needless to say, I had no idea what I was doing.
I have come a long way. From a guy who had done redraft/keeper for about eight years before ultimately committing to dynasty, I went from knowing absolutely nothing to having a decent amount of knowledge and being able to write about something that I am very passionate about. I feel very blessed to be able to do this, and I am very thankful for all of you who have read these articles, any of my other DLF pieces, or simply reached out to me on Twitter. Thank you.
But enough with the sappy chit-chat. Did you win your first championship? Did you repeat and establish dominance over your subordinates? Good for you! Were you chilling on the couch not worrying about championship week because you didn’t make the cut? Join the party. Either way, as we head into the off-season, it is crucial to gather as much information for the upcoming fantasy season. Who knows… maybe you can pick up the next DJ Chark from waivers (a forgotten man this past off-season).
So without further ado and for the last time in 2019, here are some names to keep track of.
Shallow (18-22 man rosters)
Benny Snell, RB PIT
Snell has appeared here and there on the waiver wire articles. James Conner’s injury-plagued season continued in week 16 when he was unable to reenter the game due to a thigh injury. Snell is a name to monitor over the off-season as a young RB who has been able to fill in for Conner when needed. If we know one thing, its that RBs shelf lives are very short.
Rex Burkhead, RB NE
Burkhead might be the most versatile RB on the Patriots roster. While Sony Michel was supposed to lock up the early-down work, while James White takes over all passing down work, it is Burkhead who continues to keep showing up and producing. While this backfield is still a committee moving forward, Burkhead carries much more value than most gave him credit before the year started.
Greg Ward, WR PHI
The Eagles wide receivers have been decimated by injuries this year. This has forced younger players to step up and make a difference. One of the players who has seized the opportunity is Ward. He has been the most productive wide receiver over the past couple of weeks. The future is uncertain for players like Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, which could mean extended playing time in 2020. Keep an eye on Ward.
Alex Erickson, WR CIN
Two factors may play a large part in Erickson seeing the same or even more playing time in 2020. AJ Green is most likely not a Cincinnati Bengal in 2020, and there is a good chance that there is a fresh new rookie throwing passes in Cincinnati. I’m not sure a rookie QB is a fantasy upgrade over Andy Dalton, but a fresh start could be good for everyone in Ohio. Erickson had a really nice season, almost out of nowhere. He is not a flashy player, but one keep on eye on for the upcoming season.
Other “Shallow” roster players to keep an eye on:
- Malcolm Brown, RB LAR
- Nyheim Hines, RB IND
- Steven Sims, WR WAS
Average (23-27 man rosters)
Myles Gaskin, RB MIA
The Dolphins backfield has been a disaster the entire year. First, it was Kenyan Drake, then Kalen Ballage, then Mark Walton, then Patrick Laird, and now Myles Gaskin. Gaskin is a solid prospect I liked coming out of college and who really knows what the Dolphins will look like next year? Gaskin may be given a shot to compete as the starter in Miami. He is worth a stash on a dynasty team.
Justice Hill, RB BAL
Hill got a lot of buzz after the NFL combine and became a dynasty darling. The season did not pan out as many had hoped, and it took him 16 weeks, but he finally found the end zone. Mark Ingram was knocked out of the game, and Gus Edwards and Hill took over the running back duties. With the Ravens playing for nothing in week 17, the team may want to see what they have in the rookie with a more extensive workload.
Hunter Renfrow, WR OAK
Renfrow missed the last three games with a rib injury but came back in week 16 with a bang. Renfrow has had a solid rookie season, with solid but modest numbers. He has played more of the fourth-fifth option on offense behind Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, and Tyrell Williams. He was a safety blanket for Derek Carr on Sunday, and will look to develop even more chemistry over the off-season with his QB.
Kaden Smith, TE NYG
Smith has filled in for the injured Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison pretty darn well over the last five weeks or so. The rookie out of Stanford has been a nice surprise for the Giants. Engram will resume his role as the TE1 and will be a focal point of the offense, but Smith has shown enough for the Giants to keep him around in 2020. Engram doesn’t always have the cleanest bill of health, so there may be future opportunities for Smith.
Other “Average” roster players to keep an eye on:
- DaeSean Hamilton, WR DEN
- Isaiah Ford, WR MIA
- Kelvin Harmon, WR WAS
Deep (28+ man rosters)
Travis Homer, RB SEA
Over the span of a couple of weeks, the Seattle Seahawks running backs have been wiped out due to injuries. Rashaad Penny is done with a torn ACL, and now Chris Carson and CJ Prosise were both knocked out of the game in week 16 and both are said to be done for the year. This leaves Travis Homer as the only healthy running back on the roster. Homer has been a solid special teams player when called upon but has seen very few offensive snaps. The Seahawks will call up a player from the practice squad or sign someone out of free agency, but Homer will be the guy moving forward for the rest of 2019.
Ishmael Hyman, WR TB
Just like the Seahawks running backs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers are dropping like flies. First Mike Evans, then Chris Godwin, then Scott Miller. This has forced Breshad Perriman and Justin Watson to take over the starting duties.
I won’t sit here and tell you that I knew who Ishmael Hyman was before this past weekend… because I did not. Hyman played at James Madison University, and also played in the league once known as the AAF. I wouldn’t expect much from Hyman… but then again, what do I know?
Jake Kumerow, WR GB
I hear about Kumerow every year. The Packers are still looking for a number two receiver opposite Davante Adams. At times it has been Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, or Geronimo Allison. All have shown flashes, but Kumerow is someone many fantasy owners have been hoping can make an impact for some time. He seems to be behind Allison in playing time, but ahead of MVS. If Kumerow can gain the trust of Aaron Rodgers on a weekly basis, he may stick around for 2020.
Blake Jarwin, TE DAL
When I look at Jarwin, I see an athletic tight end who can make plays once the ball is in his hands. Jarwin was supposed to take a step forward and become a weapon for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Then Jason Witten decided to trade his boring colored tie for some cleats and put a damper on the outlook for Jarwin.
Who knows what the future will hold for the future Hall of Famer Witten? No one would be surprised if he ended up retiring after this year for good, and Jarwin would jump to the front of the line for tight end duties on the Cowboys. He is worth a speculative add for the off-season.
Other “Deep” roster players to keep an eye on:
- Tajae Sharpe, WR TEN
- Malik Turner, WR SEA
- Byron Pringle, WR KC
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