Now that the playoffs have started, many of our dynasty teams have packed up shop, and even if we are still in the playoffs, part of our minds should be looking ahead to our 2015 offseason roster management and players who could gain value in the coming months by generating buzz and trying to work themselves into their team’s future plans. I’ll run down QBs and TEs this week, RBs next week, and WRs in Week 16. We’ll separate the prospects into three tiers for leagues of all size: Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine. Players that went in early rounds of the most recent fantasy draft won’t be included as they are assumed to still be owned.
Snorkel
Bryce Brown, BUF - Brown is a gaudy physical talent, but his ball security and discipline leave something to be desired at times. Even if the Bills bring back CJ Spiller or if Fred Jackson is still on the roster in 2015 or if the Bills draft a running back early, Brown should get a significant opportunity to show what he can do.
Jonas Gray, NE - Unfortunately for Gray, LeGarrette Blount signed a two-year deal, but things happen, and Gray did flash in his limited duty this year. He’ll still be a Patriot in 2015, and while the offense may degrade a bit, we all learned to not underestimate the ability of their offense bounce back or sustain excellence. He could be finisher for this team in the future.
Theo Riddick, DET - Riddick has looked as good or better than Reggie Bush when he has gotten on the field, and the Bush role could easily be his in the offense next season. The Lions like him and he has a clear path to value in PPR leagues.
Khiry Robinson, NO - Robinson has looked promising at times in 2013 and 2014, and 2015 could bring his opportunity as Mark Ingram is a free agent. He’s a no nonsense back, but Mark Ingram has shown that that can work in this offense.
Scuba
Lache Seastrunk, TEN - There’s clearly something about Seastrunk that rubs teams the wrong way. He’s a tremendous talent in the open field as a natural runner, but he fell to the sixth round of the draft. Washington didn’t even sign him to the practice squad after drafting him, but Carolina did. Then Carolina was struck by running back injuries, but instead of calling up Seastrunk, they cut him. Now Seastrunk is on the Tennessee practice squad. The Titans long term running back situation was far from settled by Bishop Sankey’s performance this year, so you have to keep tabs on a natural talent like Seastrunk this offseason.
Ryan Williams, DAL - Williams was once a second-round pick ticketed for stardom in Arizona. A torn patellar tendon and rocky stay in the desert later, he finds himself on the Cowboys practice squad. He looked like a reasonable facsimile of his old self this offseason, and Demarco Murray is a free agent, so you never know…
Rex Burkhead, CIN - Burkhead has some excellent physical tools, and the Bengals must like him because they held onto him this year coming out of camp even though he was hurt. His path to playing time is blocked in Cincinnati, but he could always be the subject of trade talks, or otherwise create buzz to increase his value in the offseason.
Marion Grice, ARI - Grice is a good all-around back who might figure into the backfield picture in Arizona next year with a good offseason. He’s better than Stepfan Taylor, and Kerwynn Williams is limited by his size and lack of power.
Kerwynn Williams, ARI - I see Williams as more of a passing down type, but he did run tough between the tackles against the Chiefs and he’ll have a chance to build some momentum entering the offseason.
Submarine
Tyler Gaffney, NE - Gaffney, a 2014 sixth-round pick, was the latest Bill Belichick sneaky pickup, yoinked from the Panthers when tried to waive him during training camp after he tore his ACL to stash him on injured reserve. He has size and straight-line speed, and mere competence can be very productive in the Patriots offense.
James Wilder, CIN - Wilder is a big, bruising back who provides a commodity Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson loves in a running back. He is on the Bengals practice squad right now, and they have their solution in Jeremy Hill, but Wilder can still develop into a top-end backup for Hill as the hammer in the Bengals offense, or get a look elsewhere if the Bengals don’t keep him on the active roster next year.
Edwin Baker, NO - Baker seems like a classic “good enough to hang around but not good enough to take a job for good” kind of back. He’s currently on the Saints practice squad, and they could easily decide to move on from Mark Ingram in free agency this year. Khiry Robinson is still there, but Baker could win a role like Robinson’s this year with a good offseason in the organization.
Glenn Winston, CLE - Winston is a big back with decent explosion who was coveted by the San Francisco 49ers, but stolen away by Cleveland. Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West own that backfield right now, but neither is entrenched. West, in particular seems to get on the coaching staff’s bad side now and then. The Browns running game is also one of the best in the NFL once Alex Mack comes back, so owning any share of this backfield in deep dynasty leagues is a good idea.
Cedric Peerman, CIN - When Matt Waldman loves a back as much as he loves Peerman, I’ll make a spot for him in the offseason of my deepest dynasty leagues.