Dynasty Waiver Wire: Week 17
Hey, subscribe to the DLF YouTube channel! Thanks to all of you, we just surpassed 4,000 subscribers on Sunday! Now, we begin the path to 5,000! So if you are not subscribed and would like MORE FREE content from the DLF team, the YouTube channel is the way to go! I won’t stop promoting the channel in this introduction until we hit 5K, so either subscribe to help the cause or stop reading these introductions.
In case you are reading this, there is one bit of information to know before you start reading names. Just like last year’s series, we will be utilizing player rostership percentages, courtesy of dynasty rosters from SafeLeagues and the great Scott Fish. Using that data, I developed an app to view rostership data from over 600 SafeLeagues dynasty leagues, all using the same format and scoring (2 PPR tight end premium). While this may not be entirely accurate for every individual league, it is very reflective of how managers view who is worthy or not of a roster spot. Now that that is covered, let’s dive into the waiver wire after week 17!
Players to double-check availability and immediately add:
- Jaret Patterson, RB WAS
- Rex Burkhead, RB HOU
- Justin Jackson, RB LAC
- Boston Scott, RB PHI
- Laquon Treadwell, WR JAC
- Braxton Berrios, WR NYJ
Mason Rudolph, QB PIT, Marcus Mariota, QB LV, and Mitchell Trubisky, QB BUF
I get it, why am I advising picking up backup quarterbacks, especially when one of them is Mason Rudolph? Well, it’s actually fairly simple. I expect at least one, if not all, of these QBs to find a starting role in 2022 given the number of teams that should be in the market at the lack of QB talent available in the draft and free agency. If that happens, these players will quickly gain value in superflex leagues just by being starting quarterbacks, which can then be easy pieces to flip for solid ROIs. We saw this happen last off-season with Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and even Cam Newton to some degree during the season.
Rudolph might be the easiest of the three to project – if Pittsburgh does not sign or draft a replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, the keys are handed to Rudolph (unfortunately). Mariota and Trubisky are in a different boat than Rudolph, as both are free agents, and I expect one of them to land a bridge QB deal with a new team next year. It could be Pittsburgh, Washington, Denver, Houston, Carolina, New Orleans, or maybe even Seattle, Atlanta or Minnesota if they cut or trade their current starters.
So, if any of these three guys are available (I can add Gardner Minshew to this list as well), add them now and wait to see if they become starters and flip for a future second, or that QB and a second for the 1.12, or anything along those lines that can get you a quick buck.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB TB
It’s crazy how far we have come on almost both sides of the spectrum on Vaughn in his short two-year career. From being a huge draft day riser as a rookie first-round pick, to falling on the Bucs depth chart and now being on waivers in a lot of leagues is just an insane ping pong of events. But now, Vaughn could have a chance in 2022 as an actual piece in this Bucs offense, as he is the only running back currently signed after this year.
While I expect them to re-sign one of, if not both Leonard Fournette or Ronald Jones, adding Vaughn now is an easy way to beat the market if he somehow is the RB1 or RB2 heading into the summer. Bruce Arians even talked up Vaughn last week, going as far as calling him a “lead dog” and noting that his hands are significantly better since last year. If he is still available, go out and stash Vaughn now before the season ends.
Cedrick Wilson, WR DAL
In a similar boat as Vaughn, Wilson could stand to benefit from teammates leaving in free agency. He is a restricted free agent in 2022, but I expect him to be tendered and stay with the Cowboys for next year. His teammate, Michael Gallup, is an unrestricted free agent and could be on the move in the spring. Even if Gallup does stay with the Cowboys, he just tore his ACL this week against the Cardinals, meaning he could miss a large amount of the 2022 season just from recovering from the injury, still leaving the door open for Wilson.
Wilson has done well in games without some of the Cowboys’ starting receivers, which gives me confidence he can continue playing well next year without Gallup. Like Vaughn, if Wilson is available, he is a fantastic add right now.
Zay Jones, WR LV
Jones is an enigma to me, but sometimes enigmas are good things. He has become a focal point of the Raiders offense since both Henry Ruggs and Darren Waller started missing time. Since week 12, Jones has totaled 46 targets (7.7 per game) and is averaging double-digit fantasy points over that stretch without scoring a touchdown.
Jones is a free agent in the spring, but I would bet he gets another deal with the Raiders to maintain their depth at wide receiver and keep the familiarity heading into next year. If that happens, and the Raiders don’t bring in a high-profile free agent or draft pick receiver, Jones could be in line for a similar WR2 role next year, which again, is very beneficial to add to your roster now.
Kristian Wilkerson, WR NE
If you’re like me, you have no idea who this guy is. Wilkerson was a 2020 UDFA as a fifth-year player out of Southeast Missouri State. For what it’s worth, he set records in college for the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a receiver in their career at that school, so there’s that. Wilkerson was called up from the practice squad this week because of N’Keal Harry’s absence, and in his stead, he caught four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets, and nearly missed on a third touchdown that hit his hands.
Wilkerson is only the fifth Patriot this season to see eight targets in a game, so that target share is fairly significant. This could be a major flash in the pan performance for Wilkerson, or it could lead to something more in the future on a team that does not care where you come from or how much money you make, you have to produce. Given his situation, however, I would only go after Wilkerson if you are in deep leagues (30+) and have an extra roster spot.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: 2025 Stashes - December 30, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17 - December 23, 2024
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 16 - December 16, 2024
