In-Season Dynasty Roster Maintenance for 2023 (2024)

This is the time of year where dynasty players who aren’t making a championship run should be loading up on potential players for 2023. Picking up players now in advance of your rosters locking for the offseason is crucial for two reasons. 1) a lot of these players are essentially free right now. If you can grab them on waivers and strengthen the depth of your lineups, you should absolutely do this. And 2) these players that you can have for a low price now could wind up as massive trade bait next offseason. If you grab someone who connects with a new team AND who gets caught up in a crazy hype cycle, you could turn that player into an early draft pick.

The bottom line here is that if you’re out of playoff position, you should be playing for next year. Even if you are in playoff position, if you can spare that roster space, grab a few of these players.

Looking for your dynasty sleepers

I look for four things when filling out my roster with talent:

1. How will the free agent class shake out? Can a depth running back find a starting position on a new team? Will a star player move to a new organization and open up playing time for a depth player (notice how Foreman has been crushing it since McCaffrey was traded to San Francisco?)
2. What players do you think will be waived or traded in the offseason?
3. Are there rookies or other young players buried on the depth chart on a team that could be making a coaching change?
4. Which players were injured and waived earlier this season that can be stashed for you next year?

QB:

1. QB, Tom Brady – I personally don’t think he’ll retire now that his marriage is over. He’s always wanted to play for the 49ers. Lance is coming off a brutal injury .. and didn’t look great while he was playing. Garoppolo is looking fine, but the 49ers aren’t enamored with him. I like the idea of a 46 year old Brady throwing the ball to CMC, Kittle, Samuel and Aiyuk. Tampa isn’t likely to franchise Brady as it’d cost them $40m and they’re already projected to be $40m over the cap (without Brady on the books) according to overthecap.com. Lastly, I don’t see Brady going to the Raiders to reunite with McDaniels and play for a bad Raiders team.
2. QB, Trey Lance – ok, so what if Brady DOESN’T become a 49er? Lance is available in a lot of leagues and you should be able to stash him on your IR
3. Trevor Lawrence – he’s settling in and getting better. If you’re looking for a longer term QB, he could be it.
4. Matthew Stafford – it’s been a bad year for the Rams, but they’ll get things moving in the right direction next season. I’d be comfortable stashing him.
5. Kenny Pickett – the play calling in Pittsburgh is bad. They’ll replace their offensive coordinator this season and this entire Steelers offense will get a lift

RB:

1. Khalil Herbert – he’s on IR, yes. But Montgomery will be a free agent. Herbert has done more with his touches than Montgomery. I think he’s the starting back in Chicago next year for sure.
2. Rachaad White – he’s ascending. The Bucs OL will block better next year. This will still be Fournette’s backfield, but if he happens to be waived for salary cap reasons, White will be excellent next season.
3. Chuba Hubbard – D’Onta Foreman is a free agent. I think it’s likely Foreman resigns with the Panthers, but there will also be a new coaching staff coming in. All bets are off, so I’d stash Hubbard as a possible starter next season.
4. Zamir White – despite Josh Jacbos’ great season, I suspect the Raiders will let him test the free agent market and he’d be a great fit in Atlanta if that coaching staff keeps their jobs. That could open things up for White (or another back like David Mongtomery who is also a free agent)
5. Justice Hill – he’s perpetually buried on Baltimore’s depth chart. A change of scenery will do him well. He averages 4.6 yards per carry for his career (5.6 YPC this season on 40 attempts). I could see him doing damage as a bargain free agent on a good team. The Miami Dolphins come to mind as an interesting landing spot as Mostert, Gaskins and Wilson are all free agents as well.
6. It should go without saying, but injured guys like Javonte Williams, Breece Hall and any other star should be rostered and IR’d in dynasty/keeper formats at this point.

WRs:

1. Odell Beckham – he’s not going to make an impact in 2022, but he will in 2023.
2. Christian Watson – I imagine you’ve already missed the boat on Watson, but if he’s available in your league you need to add him. He’ll be an impact guy in 2022 and will continue to improve throughout his career.
3. Treylon Burks – he’s #3 in terms of snap share percentage. I don’t see that continuing much longer.
4. Jameson Williams – I think the Lions coaching staff will get another season at least and adding a first round rookie WR talent to this passing attack will be very interesting. DJ Chark will likely be leaving town which opens up a spot on the outside for Williams.

TE:

1. Mike Gesicki – he’s not the perfect fit in Miami because of his lack of blocking prowess, but he has unique pass catching ability and should land in a great situation.
2. Evan Engram – I actually think he’d fit really well in Miami once Gesicki leaves, but he should have a nice market. I don’t think he’ll be too expensive, so I could see him wind up in Green Bay if Robert Tonyan ends up leaving town.
3. Jake Ferguson – Dalton Schultz is a free agent and I don’t think Dallas will have the cap to sign him. Dak Prescott rewards his tight ends. Ferguson should be the next man up.
4. Josh Oliver – The Ravens will be set with Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. Oliver has been playing very well as of late. He’s another guy that could make a big impact in Shanahan-based systems (Miami, Green Bay, Atlanta, etc.).