Risers and Fallers: Some Dynasty Players to Watch this Weekend

The fantasy season is over, but playoff time is here, and along with it plenty of value-altering football.  Just last year we saw Raheem Mostert level up during the playoffs, going from a string of usable fantasy games to dropping 220 yards with 4 TDs on the Packers in the NFC title game.  Players still have plenty of opportunities emerge and a dynasty manager can capitalize on those windows.  Without further ado, let’s dive into some under the radar players who could be worth a bench stash and emerge as 2021 fantasy assets:

Darwin Thompson / Damien Williams, Kansas City, RB

The Chiefs started the season looking as they intended for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to earn his way into a true feature back role.  However, after the addition of Le’Veon Bell, his snap count went above 60% in only one game.  At this point, the Chiefs appear committed to a committee approach, which may have always been the intention as Damien Williams had yet to opt-out when CEH was selected.  It’s fair to question the value of a Chiefs RB in fantasy currently, but Darrel Williams and Bell are both slated for free agency and Thompson (who posted 110 yards – 2 TDs in a meaningless week 17 game) or Williams are potentially in your free agent pool and could see themselves with a fantasy-relevant role in 2021.

Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo, WR

Anyone who played week 17 DFS knows McKenzie’s name after the performance he put on against Miami, scoring 3 TDs.  Typically used as a gadget player, McKenzie was the only player in the NFL this year to score a TD receiving, passing, and on a return.  McKenzie has posted solid advanced numbers in his limited role, placing 4^th in the league in passer rating when targeted at 140.8.   An injury to Cole Beasley could open up a role as the Bills slot receiver and with UFA looming, McKenzie could earn himself some money and a meaningful role on a team looking to fill that roster need in 2021.

James Washington, Pittsburgh, WR

At this point, I think we can safely assume we will not see the true breakout for Washington many were hoping for when he went in the second round after posting 4,472 yards in college.  However, there’s a real separation between him and the next WR on a Pittsburgh offense we have seen support three fantasy WRs this season.  Juju Smith-Schuster is slated for free agency and while Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool are the clear top two WRs in line, baring another WR added to the room in the draft Washington could find himself playing starter minutes in 2021.  His big-play ability and looming depth chart ascension portend the type of player who could see buzz and value grow over the offseason.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans stand as a team in potential flux, but I am skeptical any meaningful stashes are looming with this team.  Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and AJ Brown are well-established fantasy stars and nearly their entire fantasy roster is slated for free agency.  Darrynton Evans received preseason buzz but battled injury through the course of the season, given his rookie status, I do not believe his owner would be willing to give up on him, and absent an injury to Henry, a path to meaningful fantasy relevance is cluttered.

Justice Hill, Baltimore, RB

Hill was a buzzy 2019 preseason name that never received a real opportunity to emerge.  He’s found himself buried on the depth chart.  That could change in the 2021 offseason.  Gus Edwards is slated for free agency and Mark Ingram has fallen out of the rotation, despite his leadership, his $5 million in potential cap savings could stand as a clear-cut candidate.  We know the Ravens are going to run successfully and while that very likely leads to a true JK Dobbins breakout season, the Ravens’ actions in the draft and free agency could very quickly reveal Hill’s status on the depth chart.  Absent a meaningful addition, he could be a guy that stands an injury away from being a league-altering player.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland, WR

DPJ is a player I’ve previously mentioned as a stash and it’s unlikely he’s still floating as available in your league, but after a conversation with a Browns fan this week it seems few are grasping how quickly he could find himself on top of the depth chart.  Rashard Higgins is the true breakout, but at 26 with looming UFA and a drag racing citation before the playoff game, it’s easy to question his status with the team moving forward. With Khadarel Hodge ruled out for Covid, playing time against Pittsburgh is available but DPJ is currently dealing with a concussion.  However, DPJ could find himself the clear WR3 and an injury to Odell Beckham (or an OBJ trade, something in the realm of possibility) or Jarvis Landry away from never leaving the field.

Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis, TE

Alie-Cox looked prime to be an early-season “late TE” savior, posting 111 yards in week 2 and procuring red zone touchdowns in weeks 3 & 4.  But as Jack Doyle and Trey Burton came back healthy, he found himself marginalized in a loaded TE room.  I expect we see something different in 2021.  Alie-Cox is slated for UFA and one’s imagination does not need to get too wild to see the connections between Zach Ertz and the Colts as a possibility.  Alie-Cox is hitting prime TE age and a late-comer to the position after playing basketball in college, he could find a team willing to take a chance on making him 2021’s version of Logan Thomas.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers stand similar to Tennessee, I know that’s a shock given Matt LaFleur, as a team that orbits around known fantasy stars and lacks clear stash candidates.  AJ Dillon already has his fan club and popular preseason target Jace Sternberger has been completely eclipsed by Robert Tonyan.  Unless you are bullish on Equanimeous St. Brown finally staying healthy, just enjoy the Rodgers to Adams show on this postseason run.

Marquez Callaway, New Orleans, WR

Callaway flashed in week 7, going 8-75 before getting hurt and ultimately plummeting back down the depth chart and battling injuries the rest of the season.  The Saints have loaded up for one more run with Drew Brees in the 2021 postseason and could be a team to see major changes after the season.  The cap situation and looming quarterback change could necessitate playing time for younger players.

DeeJay Dallas / Travis Homer / Rashaad Penny, Seattle, RB

Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde are both slated for UFA and carries are going to open up.  Given draft capital, Penny looks to be the lead horse but Dallas flashed in spurts when given a chance.  Homer likely stands as a 3^rd down back at best, but again, an opportunity should open up with this backfield.  If you have the roster space and one of these guys is available, it may be worth grabbing a lottery ticket and seeing how things play out.

Kyle Allen, Washington, QB

Alex Smith is the best story in the NFL this year.  But it’s fair to wonder how much football he has left.  Ron Rivera has a soft spot for Kyle Allen, who has shown flashes of being a usable Superflex QB in the past.  Making the playoffs was a great story for the franchise, but they could see 4 or 5 QBs off the board before they hit the clock and it’s fair to wonder if the quarterbacks available at that spot would represent a dramatic upgrade on the QB situation, vs fortifying the roster elsewhere.  Allen may end up in a camp battle with a chance to hit week 1 as the starter, holding value in Superflex.

Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay, WR

The Buccaneers have restructured Mike Evans’ contract twice in the last three years, pushing money into the future.  Chris Godwin’s looming free agency sets up an interesting situation in the WR room.  Johnson was a college star who flashed in limited opportunities as a rookie, his current standing on the depth chart may have caused an owner to move on.

Van Jefferson, Los Angeles, WR

Jefferson is another stash I have previously mentioned.  He led the team in targets in week 17 and has continually carved into Josh Reynold’s role, another player slotted for free agency.

Artavis Pierce, Chicago, RB

We are fully living in the time of “David Montgomery RB1 SZN!”.  Montgomery has been great and Pierce certainly is not a threat to knock down his playing time. Pierce went from an undrafted rookie to scoring a touchdown in week 16’s blowout of Jacksonville.  Cordarrelle Patterson and Ryan Nall are both entering UFA, and Pierce has the opportunity to step into the direct handcuff to Montgomery’s role.  He was a buzz preseason name who was promptly buried but a touchdown in a blowout and minimal involvement in a high leverage week 17 game could portray to a more valuable role in 2021.

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