Dynasty Waivers of the Future: Week 5

Every week, I gaze into my crystal football to find deep-league and dynasty waiver darlings who could emerge in the coming weeks, so you can acquire them now for practically nothing. I'm looking for players with a plausible path toward playing time for at least a few weeks, but not necessarily this season. I'm only looking for players who are rostered in fewer than one-third of Sleeper dynasty leagues, because players above that threshold are typically already gone in deeper leagues.

Even the deepest rosters don't have unlimited bench space, so look ahead for potential holes as injuries mount and bye weeks take healthy players out of your lineup as you decide whether to take a flier on these potential dynasty stashes.

Deep-Bench Quarterback Strategy

In deep Superflex leagues, particularly those with 10 or more starters, playing a second quarterback is often better than a low-ceiling bench player, but backup quarterbacks can quickly become roster cloggers if they may never see the field. Knowing which backup quarterbacks to roster isn't so much about their playing time this season as it is about betting on their potential to stay on rosters and play competently when their number is called.

When I'm looking to add a backup quarterback, I look for these specific types of players in this priority order:

• Veterans who would be starters if they played anywhere else, such as Mac Jones or Drew Lock

• Veterans who are on a second contract with the same team, like Tyson Bagent or Davis Mills

• Former starters who have fantasy upside when they play, such as Justin Fields or Anthony Richardson Sr.

• Developing but unproven talents who have consistently made their teams' initial 53-man rosters, such as Tanner McKee or Joe Milton III

• Day 3 or undrafted rookies who beat out veterans to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster, like Jalon Daniels, the Buccaneers' QB2 (now starter), or Joe Fagnano, the Ravens' QB3.

The first three kinds of quarterbacks are rarely on the waiver wire, but examples of the other two categories are often cheaply available, right up until the week that they get thrust into the spotlight because a quarterback higher up the depth chart is injured.

This week, I'll focus on several options who are likely sitting on your waiver wire right now.

QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Washington (1% Rostered)

I had been planning on highlighting Kaliakmanis as a deep-league waiver target this week, but that cat's out of the bag. 

With Jayden Daniels sidelined by an elbow injury, Marcus Mariota started Sunday's game against the Colts in London, but he suffered a sprained MCL. That opened the door for Kaliakmanis, who completed 15-of-33 passes for 186 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to Treylon Burks. Kaliakmanis consistently showed his willingness to throw deep. He finished fifth in air yards (403) and second in average depth of target (13.9 yards) for the week. Kaliakmanis is Washington's starting quarterback until Jayden Daniels returns. That could be as soon as this week against the Giants or a Monday night game at San Francisco in Week 6.

Kaliakmanis wasn't on many radar screens coming out of Rutgers. As a two-year starter there, he completed 58 percent of his passes for 5,820 yards, 38 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 2025, he completed nearly 30 passes to targets at least 20 yards downfield. He showed similar range throughout training camp and the preseason, including a 55-yard bomb to Nick Nash. Kaliakmanis beat out Sam Hartman, who had been on the team's practice squad since 2024, to make the team as QB3. Daniels is a franchise cornerstone, but Mariota is a free agent after this season, which could make Kaliakmanis the Commanders' QB2 in 2027.

Nick Nash making plays ‼️ 📺 #WASvsDET @wusa9 https://t.co/Vz5jtyKZis

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 22, 2026

Though he's rostered in just 1 percent of Sleeper dynasty leagues, the window to acquire him for nothing is closed. The play is to let a leaguemate overspend on him now and wait for that manager to drop him later this season.

QB Haynes King, Carolina (8% Rostered)