We are on the cusp of the fantasy playoffs and Dynasty managers have long ago decided if they have a contending roster. With some eyes to the future, we looked ahead at pending 2025 free agents and the values their departures could create.
Who is a player you want to stash based on the contract status of the starter in front of him?
RB Audric Estime, Denver
Matthew Montgomery: Javonte Williams has been a disappointment in Denver, and they will move on from him and invest the time and effort into developing Estime into the every-down back, with Jaleel McLaughlin being a change of pace. Sean Payton typically uses two running backs, and the two mentioned will have lower salaries and fewer injury concerns to boot. We are beginning to see Estime become a more significant part of this offense, and that is no coincidence as the games become more critical and the margin for error decreases.
WR Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati
Ryan Weisse: While he's been hit or miss this season, I'll buy Iosivas based on Tee Higgins likely leaving Cincinnati in 2025. In four games without Higgins, Iosivas has scored three touchdowns, including a two-touchdown game back in Week 2. The volume and efficiency could be better, but he's also just in his second season and first year as a starter. In 2025, he'll be in his third year, a notorious breakout year for receivers, and will likely enter the season as the starter. He's already shown the capability for big games, just not with any consistency; another year of experience should help. You can land for him next to nothing right now, and that could pay off big time next season.
WR John Metchie III, Houston
Zareh Kantzabedian: Metchie's professional career has only known turbulence until recently. Metchie was selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was an early selection in Dynasty league rookie drafts. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a form of leukemia before his rookie season began, halting his development and forcing him to catch up quickly once healthy.
Fast-forward to mid-season 2024, and Metchie has finally arrived. He recently had his NFL break-out game against the Detroit Lions, catching six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs is 30 years old and coming off of an ACL injury, and Robert Woods is a free agent after the 2024 season. Xavier Hutchinson has shown little outside of being a fringe contributor. Metchie may stick as the Texans' WR3 going into the 2025 regular season.
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