Dynasty Waivers of the Future: Week 7

My colleague Josh Fahlsing and I gaze into our crystal footballs each week to find players who may become popular waiver targets in the future, so you can pick them up now for next to nothing. We typically start with our priority pickups for the week, then gaze deeper for lightly rostered gems who have been largely ignored by dynasty managers so far. This week, we're going to start by looking at two backfields that have bedeviled fantasy managers for several weeks, unless you have been reading this feature for the last few weeks.

In Week 4, we mentioned Kimani Vidal as someone to stash in the wake of Najee Harris's season-ending injury. The Chargers have since placed Omarion Hampton on injured reserve, meaning he will be out until at least Week 10, possibly longer. Vidal handled 75 percent of the RB touches, ran for a career-high 124 yards, and scored a touchdown on a reception this week. Hopefully, you picked him up before now, because he will cost a lot more to acquire now. 

Josh, you had some insight into another messy, injury-riddled backfield a couple of weeks ago.

Josh: When Trey Benson took over the backfield in Arizona before Week 4, we discussed adding the whole stable of Cardinals' backup running backs as insurance. Bam Knight was third in the pecking order, behind Emari Demercado and Michael Carter, and was rostered by zero percent of teams on Sleeper. We ended that section with a reminder to keep an eye on the news to see what kinds of moves the Cardinals made at running back. It wasn't yet clear who would be the backup to roster behind Benson. When he got hurt in that Week 4 game and made his way to IR, it opened the door for some or all of these running backs to score some fantasy points in the weeks to come.

In the two games since? Michael Carter has 27 carries, Bam Knight has 15, and Demercado has four. Going into Week 6, it looked like Carter was the starter and the most reliable choice, but in the hours before kickoff, it came out that Knight would start the game. He ended up out-carrying Carter 11 to 9 and scored a touchdown. This is why it's good to remind yourself to keep an eye on the news. Knight didn't have a touch until Week 5, but against the Colts, 55 percent of his runs came between the tackles. The other Cardinal running backs? Zero percent. Knight might be the running back with the most consistent role in Arizona until Benson returns.

We were looking at that Cardinal backfield and asking "what if?" This week I've got a few more choices along the same track.

Dynasty Waiver Priority Pickups

Jeff: Let's get to it, then. Who's your priority pickup this week?

RB Elijah Mitchell, Kansas City Chiefs (21% Rostered)

Josh: I love Mitchell as a stash right now if you are a dynasty contender and have the roster space. Heck, I love him as a stash even if you are in rebuild mode. When he can stay on the field, he's been productive, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and scoring 10 combined touchdowns in 12 starts and 27 games played over three seasons. But, man, his thing has always been health, because that is 27 games in the FOUR years since he joined the league.

Could the Chiefs know this, too, and are preserving him? The Isiah Pacheco/Kareem Hunt combination is fine, and the team seems content to bring Brashard Smith along slowly. The Chiefs also know it is a long season, and I suspect that is why the team kept Mitchell around but has kept him a healthy scratch so far this year. As we get later into the season, I won't be surprised to see Mitchell get some snaps. If something happens to Pacheco or Hunt, I bet he'll get the first chance to step in while Smith plays a supporting role. So you might think of Mitchell as more of a deep dart, and I get it, but I like him as a priority pickup because, as the Cardinals' backfield has shown us the past three weeks, things can change quickly in running back land.

Jeff: Life comes at us pretty fast in football, and we're constantly reminded that we can't have nice things. San Francisco is arguably our most dire example of that, but Tampa Bay's offense is not far behind. Baker Mayfield gave a performance for the ages while playing with his backup running back and his fifth, sixth, and eighth wide receivers. Last week, I made Tez Johnson my priority pickup. He went on to score a highlight-reel touchdown this weekend, and he adorably thought the crowd's "M-V-P" chants were for him. It was his only catch of the game and his first career touchdown. 

Josh: With Emeka Egbuka likely to miss time with a hamstring injury, Johnson may continue to receive significant playing time. However, I think you're going to highlight the other Johnson, who also caught his first career touchdown in that game, aren't you?

WR Kameron Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0% Rostered)

Jeff: You are correct, sir. This Johnson was the Buccaneers' leading receiver this week against those injury-cursed 49ers. Johnson hauled in four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown while playing a career-high 26 snaps. That's four more snaps than in his other five games this season combined. Tez Johnson operated as more of a deep threat with a 33 percent air-yard share and an average depth of target of 24.3 yards. He has the higher ceiling of the two, but Kameron Johnson may have the higher floor. 

The former undrafted free agent and Barton College Bulldog is averaging 15 yards per punt return, putting him among the league's leaders this season. Those return skills helped him secure a roster spot each of the last two seasons, and now he's getting more reps with the offense as injuries continue to bedevil the team's starting receivers. Once they return to action, both Johnsons will see their playing time diminish, but these next few weeks should serve as extended auditions for roles in this offense in 2026. 

He's probably more of a deep dart than a priority add for me. My priority this week is checking my leagues' waiver wires for higher-rostered players such as Kayshon Boutte (73% rostered), Pat Bryant (75%), DeMario Douglas (61%), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (67%), and Tyquan Thornton (74%). 

Josh: It's always good practice to look for players you would assume were already rostered, because that's far better than being surprised when someone else in your league claims them and you think to yourself, "I can't believe he was available."

Jeff: We've all shared that experience. Let's move on to people who are almost certainly still available. Who's your first deep dart?

Dynasty Waiver Deep Darts