Every once in a while I take a spin through the waiver wire of my dynasty leagues. Without question, as history as shown us, there's somebody sitting out there free for the taking who will be a significant performer in the regular season. Alfred Morris and Victor Cruz are two famous ones, but even last July gave us guys like Darius Slayton. Happens all the time.
I'm in a few different dynasty leagues, including a pair that have currently open waiver wires. Here are 10 of the potentially intriguing names available in them right now -- maybe available in your own league, maybe not.
Randall Cobb, Texans. Will Fuller is the marquee wideout on this roster, of course, but Fuller has a significant injury history. So does projected No. 2 Brandin Cooks, in terms of concussions anyway. Cobb hasn't exactly been a picture of durability throughout his career, but he had a nice season in Dallas last year and could very well emerge as Deshaun Watson's favorite target. Seriously.
DaeSean Hamilton, Broncos. Denver has absolutely nothing else proven behind Courtland Sutton. I know Jerry Jeudy will likely be starting, and maybe K.J. Hamler plays early, too. But Hamilton will probably open in the slot and be a viable PPR starter, at least early on. He should be on a roster.
Gus Edwards, Ravens. I get the enthusiasm for rookies, really I do. But Edwards, not J.K. Dobbins, seems likely to open as the No. 2 in Baltimore this season. That yielded respectable production at times a year ago, and the same could be the case this year even if Mark Ingram stays healthy. And if he gets hurt, Edwards could be something special.
Greg Ward, Eagles. Alshon Jeffery is no lock to ever play a down for the Eagles again. The same could have been said about DeSean Jackson a week ago, and that might be a fluid situation too (leaving out the possibility of him pulling a hamstring in his first practice). Nelson Agholor is gone. The Eagles are going to use two tight ends most of the time and there's a lot of enthusiasm about first-rounder Jalen Reagor, but Ward is probably the best slot receiver candidate in 2020. He had at least 4 catches five times in six games late last season.
Jacob Hollister, Seahawks. Greg Olsen will be Seattle's starting tight end, and Will Dissly might be next in line. But Olsen is 35 and has missed 18 games over the past three seasons, while Dissly comes off back-to-back injuries that frequently end careers by themselves -- torn patellar tendon, Achilles. Seattle tendered Hollister at the second-round level in restricted free agency and will pay him over $3 million this season. In dynasty, honestly, I'd rather have him than Olsen or Dissly, even though his path to snaps is currently blocked.
Dion Lewis, Giants. Lewis turns 30 during the season and saw his role gradually dry up in Tennessee. He's not necessarily the correct Saquon Barkley backup; that might be Wayne Gallman. But Gallman has never been so impressive that it's a given the team wants to see him on the field much; he was a healthy scratch late last year in favor of scrap-heap add Javorious Allen. Lewis maybe isn't a player to add but at least keep on speed dial in case Barkley picks up an early injury.
Kaden Smith, Giants. I have Smith myself in one league (the one where Hollister is available), but he's available in the other. He was really good last year in a fill-in role when Evan Engram got hurt, catching 30 passes and 3 TDs in the final six games. Who wants to bet Engram doesn't get hurt in 2020? Not me.
Taysom Hill, Saints. I don't think Sean Payton is particularly trustworthy when he suggests faith in Hill as the team's future starting quarterback. Hill turns 30 next month; the list of breakout quarterbacks around that age includes Kurt Warner and nobody else that leaps to mind. But it's Drew Brees' last year and Jameis Winston is on a one-year deal, so it's certainly possible Hill is New Orleans' starter in Week 1 of 2021. My roster isn't deep enough to devote a spot to him, but it's at least worth considering.
Peyton Barber, Washington. Barber is an undrafted try-hard guy who seems like a longshot to make Washington's roster. He's not playing over a healthy Derrius Guice or wizened Adrian Peterson. But injuries happen, creating the slim possibility he winds up in the lineup for Washington. And there are teams looking for veteran running backs, like the Eagles, who might have interest in him if Washington cuts him, pairing him with Miles Sanders. Barber is just 26 years old and has scored 13 touchdowns the last two seasons; he could be a spot starter for some team this season.
Brian Hill, Falcons. Yes, someone has been through this waiver wire with the ugly stick. But you can't question Todd Gurley's knee without having at least a passing interest in his likely backup should that knee explode. Atlanta also has Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison. I'm not sure either of those guys has been worse than Hill when put on the field at any point in the last two seasons, but they haven't been better, either. It's probably Smith or Hill starting if Gurley breaks down (Ollison is definitely the least of them in terms of pass catching).