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Waivers of the future will focus on making decisions that improve our odds of our dynasty championship. The back of your dynasty roster should be flexible, with preferences made for players you can use in your lineup during the season.

Quarterbacks

Among the quarterbacks, there are three types of waiver options: those moving up this week, veteran backups, and potential young players with future roles.

Moving Up this Week

The following players warrant waiver wire consideration this week.

Bryce Perkins, LAR

Matthew Stafford left week 11 in the concussion protocol. This is the second time in three weeks Stafford has been in the concussion protocol, including when he missed week 10. The second concussion in a month is certainly a concern and could present an extended absence for a team without much to play for the rest of the season. The backup situation is unclear, but it is Bryce Perkins that warrants the most dynasty consideration. John Wolford started week 10 in Stafford’s absence but missed week 11 with a neck injury. This led to Perkins playing in place of Stafford in week 12. Perkins has a rushing profile that would have a higher upside if Stafford has an extended absence. In six preseason games in the past two seasons, Perkins averaged 6.7 carries per game and 31.7 rushing yards per game. Perkins started two seasons at Virginia and ran for 1692 yards and 20 touchdowns in 27 career college games. The Rams offense is in bad shape, but Perkins could sustain fantasy viability with his legs.

Mike White, NYJ

Zach Wilson was atrocious on Sunday. In fact, the Jets punted more times (10) than passes Wilson completed (9). In a postgame press conference, White refused to take responsibility for the effort, which mirrored some of the maturity issues Wilson was criticized for in the pre-draft process. The team has a legitimate defense that is built to play in January, and the team would be in the playoffs if it started today. Early week reports suggest that head coach Robert Salah has not committed to starting Wilson in week 12. Mike White has recently been elevated to the backup spot behind Joe Flacco and would be the next in line if the Jets move off from Wilson. White had 953 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in four games, including three starts in 2021. He is more of a preemptive add than a high-cost waiver addition in a future week after he is named the starter.

Veteran Backups

As a general rule, you should have a limited amount of backup quarterbacks on your monitor list. With roster spots tight, optimized dynasty rosters under 25 spots in Superflex or quarterback premium. If you are in 25 to 35-man rosters and have a roster spot, these quarterbacks are the premium backups:

• Tyrod Taylor, NYG
• Tyler Huntley, BAL
• Gardner Minshew, PHI

In leagues deeper than 35 spots, consider:

• Colt McCoy, ARI
• Chad Henne, KC
• Chase Daniel, LAC

Younger Stashes

Stashing young quarterbacks can be tricky because it is rare quarterbacks without high draft pedigree will become fantasy starters. These options are more depth opportunities with the hope to include in a future trade than they are solutions to a quarterback issue.

• Desmond Ridder, ATL

There has been a drumbeat about Ridder starting for the past couple of weeks, but the Falcons remain committed to Marcus Mariota while in the playoff chase. Ridder remains more of a monitor in shallow leagues where he is available.

• Jordan Love, GB

Jordan Love is a pure stash behind Rodgers heading into the offseason. He will be in the final year of his rookie contract in 2023.

• Matt Corral, CAR (IR)

If you can roster Matt Corral as an IR stash, there is no clear QB1 in front of him for 2023.

• Sam Howell, WAS

Taylor Heinicke has been named the starter, and the team is in playoff contention. If that were to change, Sam Howell should get an audition in the coming weeks.

Running Backs

One of the keys to dynasty fantasy football is continuously optimizing your backup running back situation. The last five to ten roster spots on your roster should be very fluid, with little allegiance if the player does not offer the capacity to help your lineup. A constant churn on the back end of your roster is critical.

Moving Up this Week

The following running backs have improved this week and are available in more than 50% of MFL leagues.

• Samaje Perine, WAS (55% available)

Samaje Perine is a priority add this week. Cincinnati starter Joe Mixon has entered the concussion protocol, opening up the opportunity for Perine to start. Perine scored three touchdowns in Week 11 but faces a tough matchup in Week 12 against Tennessee.

• Benny Snell, PIT (92% available)

Pittsburgh Steelers backup running back Jaylen Warren suffered a hamstring injury in Week 11, which opens up the backup position for Benny Snell. Snell has been a replacement-level type player during his career but would be a Najee Harris injury away from relevance if Warren misses time. Snell is a small waiver add if you are curating the back of your roster.

• Marlon Mack, DEN (94% available)

The Denver Broncos waived Melvin Gordon this week after Chase Edmonds suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out for several weeks. This leaves Latavius Murray as the clear starter in Denver, with Marlon Mack an injury away from a starting role in Denver. He is a priority add this week as you attempt to curate and optimize the backend of your roster.

• David Johnson, NO (95% available)

David Johnson was signed off the Saints practice squad ahead of Week 11 and instantly played the backup running back role behind Alvin Kamara. Johnson played 10 snaps and ran 7 routes on 32 dropbacks. Johnson is closer to the end of his career than the start, but the late season start could be fresh legs for the stretch run of the season.

Other Backups

Other backups with high availability include:

• Matt Breida, NYG (74% available)
• JaMycal Hasty, JAC (77% available)

Wide Receiver

The odds wide receivers from the waiver wire will become a big difference maker on your dynasty roster are very small. For every Tyreek Hill, there are 100 Travis Fulgham. Your strategies on the wide receiver position should be to find immediate lineup help or a flip candidate.

Players who warrant addition include:

• Justin Watson (86% available)

Justin Watson led the Kansas City Chiefs in routes in week 11, running routes on 37 of 38 Patrick Mahomes dropbacks. This was ahead of both Marquez Valdes-Scantling (29) and Skyy Moore (16) with JuJu Smith-Schuster out for the game. Kadarius Toney also left the game with an injury, so the receiving corps is very stressed if Smith-Schuster does not return. Watson playing ahead of Valdes-Scantling is also impressive. Watson is a journeyman but has been praised in Kansas City. Watson is attached to the best quarterback in the NFL and has a good volume opportunity in the Kansas City offense as a streaming candidate.

• Denzel Mims, NYJ (80% available)

Denzel Mims has solidified himself as the WR2 in New York, ahead of Elijah Moore. Mims ran routes on 26 of 29 dropbacks and played all but 5 snaps. Mims has only averaged 25.7 yards per game in his career but is worth a roster spot in deeper formats.

• Richie James, NYG (90% available)

WanDale Robinson was in the midst of a breakout season but suffered a torn ACL on Sunday. When Robinson missed time earlier this season, Richie James became one of the leading wide receivers in the offense. The offense can struggle in the passing game, but James could be a high-volume player in the offense.

Tight End

Tight end in changing circumstances who warrant waiver consideration include:

• Jack Stoll, PHI (89% available)

Jack Stoll ran 21 routes on 30 dropbacks, ahead of Grant Calcaterra. Stoll only drew one target in the game. In deeper tight end premium formats, the routes can be steamable, but otherwise, Stoll is more of a desperation play in smaller and non-premium formats.

• Teagan Quintoriano, HOU (99% available)

Teagan Quintoriano has vaulted ahead of Jordan Akins and O.J. Howard in snaps in the Houston offense. Quintoriano was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and missed the start of the season dealing with a knee injury. Quintoriano only caught 40 passes for 512 yards and 6 touchdowns in his college career, so his value is tied to deeper tight end premium formats.