Final roster spots are the most liquid commodity for dynasty teams. The tide of the weekly churn for those spots due to the waiver wire points to a transient approach. Unlike future rookie picks, which have no limit on the number a team can collect, roster spots are finite. Each week of the regular season and periodically with waiver runs in the offseason these roster spot players will be tested to justify their continued spot. With trading paramount over the next six weeks in dynasty leagues, picking a team direction with trade targets is key. But final roster spots are pivotal to align with team direction in the second half of the dynasty regular season as well.
CONTENDING TEAMS
Insulation and Upside.
These are the tenets for contending teams to maximize their final roster spots. Especially once the trade deadline has passed, the trade value of those final players is not as important. Plenty will change before trading opens up in the offseason. Protecting and insulating your contending roster and lineup is paramount.
Truly strong teams, I refer to the principle of the double lineup as a goal. Essentially, you want to get to the point of having a decent lineup on your bench most weeks. If the lineup is 1-2-3-1 with a flex at the skill positions, for example, there would still be a mirror of that which can compete with plenty of teams in the league, on your bench after setting your lineup. This insulates your team, especially in-season and in the closing weeks, from 1-2-3 injuries that could derail non-insulated playoff teams at a critical moment.
The other tenet is upside. The 'What if?' of one thing occurring (typically an injury) on the player's depth chart and your stash player surging to prominence. You want a shot-in-the-arm type appeal from your bench-stash spots to both aid your own team pushing for a title but also play keep away as this type of player on the waiver wire means they could be picked up by your competition in the playoff push or the postseason itself.
Finally, here is a list of contending team-centric players at the skill positions to fit the criteria above for final roster spots. Shallow-league availability was not considered, but rather 25+ man roster availability in at least a cross-section of dynasty leagues and going deep enough to provide options for all dynasty teams for consumption:
QUARTERBACKS
The low-level current starting quarterbacks available in 1QB formats are likely low-upside options in general. Targeting Matthew Stafford or Russell Wilson in an affordable trade is an example of adding potential upside in the future and as early as a few weeks from now. Both are prime bounce-back candidates within the position. Another option is Deshaun Watson, who is out until essentially the fantasy playoffs, but fits the shot-in-the-arm potential now and in future seasons if operating without a strong quarterback at present.
RUNNING BACKS
Primary backup running backs are the theme here. This week's backup could be next week's strong streamer (or for the rest of the season). Ensure no primary backups are available on the waiver wire in your league. With bye weeks beginning this week, monitor drop players from other teams in the league meticulously over the next two months. Roster spot pressure to fill bye weeks and injury vacancies means more primary backup running backs will float to the waiver wire.
Some of the lower Roster Rate backs (outside RB60 on MFL) with upside in their profile and/or situation include:
RB Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos: Signed post-Javonte Williams injury, chance to surpass Mike Boone as the primary backup to Melvin Gordon as the weeks pass.
RB Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills: The clear RB2 in Buffalo with James Cook still sparsely playing.
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