Who to Stash Now on Your Dynasty Roster Before it’s Too Late
For the dynasty fantasy football manager, this is an interesting stretch of the offseason. In contrast to redraft leagues, this isn’t draft season. However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t the time to work on your dynasty roster. With NFL cuts complete and Week 1 fast approaching, now is the perfect time to explore your league’s waiver to find upside players to stash on your dynasty roster.
Rosters in dynasty leagues are often quite large. For example, my dynasty leagues feature an average of 25 man rosters with five taxi squad spots. As a result, in a 12 team league, 360 players can be rostered in total. Thus, the waiver wire isn’t exactly brimming with surefire fantasy talent. For the dynasty newcomer or even the seasoned veteran, filling an open roster spot well requires a bit more research and thought. With this in mind, let’s explore some general strategies for stashing. From there, I’ll provide a list of players who I believe are stash-worthy.
Stashing Strategy
First, always utilize every roster spot available to you, including all taxi squad spots. Any empty roster spot is a waste. If you’ve targeted quality players to stash there is always a chance that player turns into a valuable fantasy player down the line. In the end, you never know if you’ve added the next Darren Waller, Logan Thomas, or James Robinson to your roster.
Embed from Getty ImagesSecond, target players that have an above-average skill or athletic profile. In addition, identity players with the potential for significant playing time and touches. Ideally, that path to opportunity should be one or two steps and not four or five.
Third and finally, keep the bottom of your roster as fluid as possible. However, be sure to avoid overreacting and swapping in every player with a positive news report. Constantly adding and dropping players is like continuously spinning a roulette wheel and never letting the marble land. To make matters worse, it’s a waste of your free agent auction budget (FAAB). If a more appealing stash comes along so be it, but have some patience and trust your evaluations.
Who to Target
The following is a list of nine players that I recommend potentially adding to your dynasty roster. In fact, they are all players I’ve added to dynasty rosters recently and are ideal for any team if they are available on your waiver wire.
Jaelon Darden, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are poised for a return trip to the Super Bowl. Thus, it’s pretty remarkable that much of the chatter coming out of preseason centered around the play of rookie receiver Jaelon Darden. The Buc’s fourth-round draft pick has played well all camp and earned significant playing time with the first-team offense. Darden has even earned the stamp of approval from quarterback Tom Brady. That is no small feat given Brady’s track record with rookie wide receivers.
In camp, Darden has stood out due to his quickness and an innate ability to separate from defenders. He is lightning fast in and out of his breaks. That should come as no surprise given his time of 6.67 in the three-cone drill at his pro day. In addition, Darden is a force with the ball in his hands. Darden returned kicks in college for North Texas and excelled at producing yards after the catch. The Buc’s core of wide receivers is an embarrassment of riches but could thin out a bit in the coming years. Chris Godwin is a free agent after this season as is Antonio Brown. Darden’s opportunity could come quicker than you think.
Darrynton Evans, RB Tennessee Titans
Darrynton Evans is a player I liked a lot during the 2020 draft process. Evans had a fantastic college career at Appalachian State tallying over 1400 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final season there. He possesses prototypical running back size with above-average speed (4.41 40 yard dash) and good hands. If the 2020 NFL draft went differently Evans would be seen in a far different light. Nevertheless, he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans and stuck behind Derrick Henry. All in all solid draft capital but a less than ideal landing spot.
To make matters worse his rookie season was derailed early by a hamstring injury. Evans ended the year with only 14 total carries. On the bright side, the majority of those carries came in Week 15 against the Lions where Evans scored 13.7 fantasy points. Altogether a solid performance but it was the only glimpse we got. Evans has, unfortunately, succumb to the injury bug to start this season as well. He will miss the first three games of the season after being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
On the bright side, Evans may be more acquirable with this development. When he returns, the backup role behind Derrick Henry should still be there for the taking. Henry is certainly in need of a quality backup given his massive workload the past two seasons. In that time, Henry has totaled 782 carries. The Titans would be wise to get a second running back more involved. In addition, Henry isn’t a third-down receiving back so there is opportunity in that role as well. Evans is my pick to lock down that job making him a valuable stash in dynasty. In the event Henry was to miss time, Evans would have significant upside.
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Michael Strachan, WR Indianapolis Colts
Michael Strachan is a player that slipped through the cracks during the 2021 NFL draft process. He is the product of a small Division II school, the College of Charleston, that didn’t have a season in 2020 due to the pandemic. When you look into Strachan it’s hard to believe there wasn’t more hype. During his final college season, he posted a 57.4 percent College Dominator Rating (per Player Profile). He is a tall (6 foot 5) and big-bodied (225 pounds) receiver with 4.5 speed. In fact, Strachan was a star track athlete and Olympic hopeful for his native Bahamas.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring the preseason, reports out of camp detailed Strachan flashing in practice and impressing the Colts coaching staff. In three preseason games, Strachan was second on the team in receiving with 10 receptions on 16 targets for 130 yards. The impressive camp led to Strachan making the Colts’ 53 man roster. With his roster spot cemented, Strachan will compete for targets with a wide receiver room that just lost 2020 target leader T.Y. Hilton to injury. Strachan has a chance to make a real impact and perhaps justify a spot in a fantasy football starting lineup.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR Cleveland Browns
Donovan People-Jones (DPJ) the prospect was a bit of an enigma. He crushed the NFL combine in 2020 with above-average measurables across the board. DPJ ran a 4.48 40 yard dash, made an eye-popping 44.5-inch vertical jump, and overall ranks in the 99th percentile for Burst Score at 145.2 (per Player Profiler). On the flip side, DPJ’s college production at Michigan didn’t line up with his athletic profile. Regardless, Jones was still selected in the 2020 NFL Draft albeit in the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn his rookie season, there were encouraging glimpses of DPJ putting it all together. He provided the Browns offense with a dangerous deep threat target and recorded some long highlight-reel touchdowns. In 2021, reports out of camp have heralded DPJ for improving his all-around game. If an athlete like Jones improves his route running and other aspects of his game that could a recipe for future success. That potential is enough for me to add DPJ to the end of my dynasty rosters if available.
Harrison Bryant, TE Cleveland Browns
Harrison Bryant was one of my favorite tight ends in the 2020 class. Bryant dominated at Florida Atlantic his senior season with 65 receptions, 1004 yards, and seven touchdowns. The John Mackey Award winner (college’s top award for a tight end) was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round. This was an interesting landing spot for Bryant given the Browns roster both Austin Hooper and David Njoku at the position.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite the crowd, Bryant was able to stand out in a couple of games last season. In Week 7, Bryant posted a 21.6 fantasy point performance in PPR scoring. Additionally, Bryant carved out a 10 percent target share, impressive for a rookie with significant competition at the position. By all reports the Browns like what they have in Bryant, who profiles as an athletic tight end that can excel in the blocking and receiving game.
Bryant’s true upside rests on a future where he is the lead tight end on the team. That situation could arise as early as the 2023 season when the Browns have an out in Hooper’s contract. Hooper himself had an 18 percent target share in 2020, thus if Hooper missed time or one day moved on to a different team Bryant could benefit substantially.
Quintez Cephus, WR Detroit Lions
On the offensive side of the ball for the Detroit Lions much has changed, but one holdover from 2020 is wide receiver Quintez Cephus. In 2020, Cephus saw limited action but was able to display solid downfield receiving ability. Cephus averaged 17.5 yards per reception which was good for fifth overall for receivers with over 30 targets. While not a burner, Cephus has adequate quickness, runs crisp routes, and is able to separate from coverage well. He also excels in the area of contested catches. Notably, teammate and former college opponent cornerback Jeff Okuda praised Cephus as the best receiver he faced in the NCAA.
Entering 2021, the role of alpha wide receiver for the Lions is wide open. The two other most notable receivers are rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown and veteran Tyrell Williams. New Lions quarterback Jared Goff should target star tight end T.J. Hockenson and the running backs plenty. However, opportunity awaits for any wide receiver that can perform. I believe Cephus can earn a role and potentially start for this team. If a healthy target share follows then Cephus has a chance to produce for your fantasy team.
Kylin Hill, RB Green Bay Packers
Everybody seems to love Kylin Hill. Thus, it was surprising that Hill fell all the way to the 7th round of the NFL draft where he was selected by the Green Bay Packers. Hill has all the tools to play on all three downs in the NFL. He has good speed, is elusive in the open field, and excels in the passing game. Hill reminds me of the running back he replaced on the Packers, Jamaal Williams. From all reports, the Packers are ecstatic with what they’ve found in Hill.
Beyond the 7th round draft capital, Hill’s fantasy outlook is hampered by his place on the depth chart. As of now, Hill finds himself third behind starter Aaron Jones and 2020 2nd round pick A.J. Dillon. Hills play however has already got analysts questioning if he could cut into A.J. Dillon’s backup workload. For running backs, there is always opportunity given the volatility of the position. For a running back with Hill’s skill set, it may only take one chance for him to prove he belongs.
Donald Parham, TE Los Angeles Chargers
Donald Parham is built to be a red zone problem in the NFL. He is 6 foot 8 and 237 pounds with solid speed for a player that size. In 2020, Parham only saw 20 targets in limited action. However, of those 20 targets, eight were in the red zone. Moreover, six of those eight were end zone targets. Overall, Parham had 10 receptions and scored three touchdowns, that’s a touchdown on 33 percent of his touches.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn year two, the word is the Chargers want to get Parham more involved in the offense. This makes a lot of sense given the changes at tight end for the Chargers. In the offseason, the Chargers lead tight end Hunter Henry signed with the New England Patriots. The Chargers added veteran tight end Jared Cook but there will be ample opportunity for Parham to earn additional snaps. On the whole, Parham is an intriguing tight-end prospect at a position lacking depth.
J.J. Taylor, RB New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have always featured a solid pass-catching third-down back with ample fantasy value. James White should begin 2021 in that role again, but next in line could be J.J. Taylor. Taylor has had a fantastic preseason. In the three games, Taylor had 23 rushes for 179 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and added 10 receptions. The Patriots have noted how much Taylor has improved in the passing game, and once the ball is in Taylor’s hands he can make defenders miss with an array of moves in the open field.
With the departure of Sony Michel, Taylor is locked into the Patriots’ rotation of backs. If White misses time, Taylor could have an instant impact in 2021. Going forward, Taylor has a chance to earn the White role in 2022 and beyond.
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