Every other Monday -- more frequently if there's stuff going on, less frequently if there isn't -- I plan to run some dynasty content in this space, looking at players who may not necessarily put up big numbers in 2022, but might have long-term value in dynasty leagues. I'll start with a trip though my own dynasty league's waiver wire.
These players are currently locked; we don't allow player adds until after our Rookie Draft, which occurs a week after the actual NFL Draft. But some leagues do allow adds, and others will around that time, so it can be useful to take a look and build a watch list -- the guys everyone will be fighting to claim once they can. Here are the top 10 I see at the moment, ordered by my interest.
A note: Most of these are not highly coveted, sure-thing type options. My 12-team dynasty league has 26-player rosters, so most significant players are already on teams. In re-draft leagues, few of these players will even be drafted. But there might be a gem or two.
Marcus Mariota. In a league where Geno Smith, Case Keenum and Jake Fromm, among others, started multiple games last year, I have little doubt that Mariota will be a starting quarterback for some team in 2022. The last time he played extensively, in a game against the Chargers in 2020, he threw for 226 yards and a score and ran for another 88 and another touchdown. There's considerable potential fantasy upside if some team (Carolina? Denver?) signs him as a starter. And some team absolutely will.
Kyle Rudolph, NYG. It's understandable if you're not aware that Evan Engram is headed for free agency, since his availability excites no one. But if the season started today, Rudolph would be New York's starting tight end, and there's a pretty good chance that will be the case come September, too. He's 32 years old, which isn't a plus in dynasty, but we're not talking about dealing picks for him; he's free and has been mostly durable and productive. My dynasty league is TE-premium, where tight ends get a point and a half per reception, so any potential starter merits roster consideration.
Mike Boone, Den. Everyone agrees that Denver will probably let Melvin Gordon walk in free agency. They've got Javonte Williams ready to take over as a feature back. But Boone is under contract, and in what might still be a run-heavy offense -- the Broncos don't have an appealing quarterback -- it could still be a two-back system. Last year Gordon put up over 1,100 total yards and 10 TDs. Even if we award large chunk of that potential to Williams, there's room for a No. 2 to go for 700-800 total yards and 6-7 touchdowns. Especially since I have Williams anyway, I'll be considering adding the 26-year-old Boone.
Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon is a free agent and basically a journeyman at this point in his career. He's also 29. But he sure was impressive down the stretch for Kansas City, including in the playoffs: 142, 78 and 95 total yards in Kansas City's three games, with 34 carries, 14 receptions and a touchdown. Would it be surprising if Kansas City re-signs him and makes him their 2022 starter? Yes, but let's not hand the job to disappointing first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire, either. CEH was healthy in those last two playoff games (13 carries and 2 receptions) but played a whole lot less. Most of us have been burned at some point in some league by McKinnon the last few years, but he could be a factor in one of the league's best offenses next season.
Mason Rudolph, Pitt.. There's minimal fantasy upside with pocket passer Rudolph, who's rushed for one more yard than Mariota's last game in his entire career (89). But as things stand right now he is the starter in Pittsburgh, and it's not a given they'll be able to sign or draft someone who'd be a better Week 1 option. I don't have a lot of interest in the veteran in most fantasy leagues, but almost every starting quarterback is typically rostered in dynasty, and there's a good chance Rudolph is one of those guys, at least in 2022.
Damien Williams. Williams turns 30 in April. One foot in the grave, ready for the glue factory -- whatever you want to say. But he's been really gently used (opting out in 2020, not playing much for Chicago last season). The one game he did play extensively last year, he put up 84 total yards and a score. He'll likely sign somewhere as a No. 2, and with the right team (how about back in Kansas City, if McKinnon doesn't return?) he could again come into some value.
Juwan Johnson, N.O. There's a special place on the list of players who had huge Week 1s and then did absolutely nothing the entire rest of the season for Johnson, who caused a lot of people to blow their waiver budget after catching 2 TDs in New Orleans' season-opener last year. He proceeded to catch only 10 passes the entire rest of the season. But New Orleans is in a transitional period after Sean Payton abandoned ship, and maybe somebody running the offense will like the cut of Johnson's jib; it's not like they have any sure things at the position.
Cam Newton. Things have sure crashed hard for the 32-year-old Newton. Not so long ago he was a top-5 quarterback (fantasy) five times in seven years. As recently as 2020, for New England, he was 17th, so a typical starter or coveted backup most weeks. Most likely it's over, but as noted in the Mariota capsule, a lot of bad quarterbacks started multiple games a year ago, and a lot of teams are looking for starting quarterbacks in 2022. Newton as a Week 1 starter for some team and strong fantasy choice is not so far-fetched.
Kyle Trask, T.B. It's unlikely that Tampa Bay's second-round pick a year ago is the Bucs' future franchise quarterback. Unlikely, but not impossible. Put it this way, I think it's a lot more likely Tampa Bay takes a shot at developing him as a starter than Blaine Freaking Gabbert. If the Bucs are able to retain some key offensive starters (Godwin, Gronkowski, Fournette et al), and I realize it's a pretty big if, the quarterback dealing the short passes to those players could be pretty solid. There's a nonzero chance that player is Trask.
Cincinnati Defense. Not exactly a dynasty target; it's a defense. But each team needs to carry one, and the Bengals strike me as possibly ready to move into the top 10 next year. Last year they were 17th (1 point for sacks, 2 for takeaways), but finished 11th in sacks; moving in the right direction. I think they'll be a team that could be attractive to free agents, with a young franchise passer in place, and the quarterback situation in the rest of the AFC North could yield a lot of strong weeks for this group.
The wire is pretty picked over, and that's probably the case in most dynasty leagues. But that's part of the fun of the offseason -- looking at those lesser options who are available, young and old, and trying to figure out which might become viable in 2022, and in the case of the younger players, more than viable in 2023 and beyond. With the exception of Mariota (possibly), there are no league-winners here. But fantasy starters? Just maybe.