With dynasty leagues entering the playoffs, the waiver wire will soon close for the season. This is a crucial time to maximize the back end of your roster with players who can rise in value in the offseason. Below are some key players who are on waiver wires, and are important stashes before the season ends.
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A.J. McCarron (QB – CIN)
A.J. McCarron will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. While the Bengals will likely offer a high tender, teams are free to negotiate a contract with McCarron. While the Bengals can choose to match the offer, this could put the Bengals in a tough spot. They already have Andy Dalton on a cap number of $16.3 million which would likely be in the range of McCarron’s offer. The Bengals would then have over $30 million invested in the quarterback position with major questions on their offensive line to address. In short, bringing McCarron back seems unlikely especially considering they tried to trade McCarron prior to the deadline.
McCarron has solid pedigree and is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. Since 2000 only nine college quarterbacks drafted averaged more than 8.61 yards per attempt, a touchdown on 7% or greater attempts, and a 3.1 or better touchdown to interception ratio. These quarterbacks include Alex Smith, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Andrew Luck, and Marcus Mariota, all top two NFL draft picks. McCarron’s metrics are in rare stratosphere, and his contract situation points toward a starting opportunity in 2018.
Peyton Barber (RB – TB)
Fresh off Barber’s big Week 13, he is a prime target on waiver wires. He is a prototypically sized running back with a clear opportunity into the offseason. First, Doug Martin is due $6.75 million in 2018, and Tampa Bay can cut him with no cap hit. Second, Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims have proven they are not capable three-down backs, leaving Barber as the running back on the roster most likely to be the “starter” prior to free agency. Third, Barber has a compelling off-field story and has NFL bloodlines as Marion Barber‘s cousin.
All these facts point to a player who will have value early in the offseason and the potential for a narrative player. He may be a player to flip before the NFL Draft, but there is a clear trajectory for him to return a second-round rookie pick in the offseason.
Jonathan Williams (RB – NO)
Williams was discussed as a Day Two-type talent that fell to the fifth-round in the 2016 NFL Draft because of college injuries. He appeared destined to be LeSean McCoy‘s backup in Buffalo this season before he was surprisingly cut. Then he went unclaimed on waivers before signing with Denver’s practice squad. Then he was signed by New Orleans with a personal call from Head Coach Sean Payton.
The Sean Payton touch is the most significant aspect of the Williams signing. Pierre Thomas, Tim Hightower, and Travaris Cadet have all produced meaningful fantasy production under Payton without much pedigree. Like Andy Reid, Sean Payton has a proven track record of running back production. This is more of a move for rosters with more than 25 roster spots, but stashing Williams is a cheap investment in Payton’s history.
Leonte Carroo (WR – MIA)
The start to Leonte Carroo’s career has been a quiet one, with 10 catches, 98 yards, and one touchdown. However, Carroo represents a strong profile: a physically thick player (6’0″ and 211 pounds at the combine) who had good college production and decent athleticism. In the past two years, Davante Adams and Devin Funchess were players in a similar mold who had year-three breakouts after disappointing starts to their career.
Miami’s receiving corps is unsettled going into the offseason, with Jarvis Landry a free agent and DeVante Parker‘s underwhelming start to his career. There is an avenue for Carroo to be a WR2 in Miami in 2018, and he represents a cheap stash investment in a historically strong profile.
Chester Rogers (WR – IND)
Rogers is like Williams because he should be considered in leagues approaching 30 roster spots. He was an undrafted rookie out of Grambling in 2016 and saw time at the end of the 2016 season when Andrew Luck was healthy. What stuck out from his tape was the trust that Luck showed in Rogers, particularly in the red zone and on third down where Rogers succeeded. Rogers missed several weeks at the beginning of the season with an injury but has returned to a role in the Colts offense.
The Indianapolis receiving corps is in flux, with Donte Moncrief entering free agency and T.Y. Hilton the subject of trade rumors. Rogers is unlikely to ascend to WR1 territory in Indianapolis, but he has a possible WR2 or WR3 role in 2018 which is valuable if Andrew Luck returns to full health.
Vance McDonald (TE – PIT)
McDonald is currently going through a lost season. The late August trade to Pittsburg set McDonald behind the pace for picking up the offense. McDonald now has faced ankle, back and knee injuries that have forced him to miss four of the last five games.
McDonald is an athletic tight end that Pittsburg acquired to fill a hole at the position. He has not worked out thus far, but he is likely on waiver wires, and tight ends in good offenses are desirable fantasy assets.
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Jordan McNamara is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jordan, check out his archive and follow him @McNamaraDynasty.
