The 2024 season is upon us. Are you ready? Hopefully, you’re in for a winning campaign. But those of us who play Dynasty know it’s a 365-day-a-year endeavor. When we’re in season, it’s about patching roster holes and making pickups that can benefit you long-term.
Below are the players on your Waiver Wire that might be worth targeting. The crunch on a playoff spot makes this even more crucial. All roster percentages are courtesy of the NFL.
Quarterbacks
Drew Lock, New York Giants
Roster Percentage: 0.1
About: Is Drew Lock better than Tommy DeVito? Is he worse? Does it matter? The answer to all those questions might be the same. We’ve seen each start one game since Daniel Jones was released. The Giants haven’t won either game, and the pass offense hasn’t been great either week. But Lock maybe looked nominally better? Either way, with DeVito nursing an injury, both Giants QBs are worth a stash heading into a week with six teams on a bye.
Running Backs
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Roster Percentage: 1.4
About: J.K. Dobbins is on IR, meaning he’ll miss at least three more games. That’s not ideal for those who are trying to make a post-season run. Yes, Gus Edwards is still there and in the lineup. But Edwards is more of a two-down plodding workhorse. Vidal, the rookie, provides a little something different. We saw him contribute earlier in the season due to backfield injuries, and he’s worth a pickup if you’re thin in the running back slot now.
Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders
Roster Percentage: 2.7, 0
About: Speaking of running back injuries, we saw Austin Ekeler also land on IR. That means he, too, is out for at least three more games. While the Commanders,, in general,, are on a bye in Week 14 and still have Brian Robinson, Jr., we’ve seen McNichols and Rodriguez involved when there have been backfield injuries. Both contributed to the win Sunday, and both should be rostered for the stretch run.
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
Roster Percentage: 0.6
About: Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Christian McCaffrey is out. While Jordan Mason figures to get the lead role again, we’ve seen Guerendo contribute. He’s also only one injury away from taking a more significant role. He’s now a handcuff at a minimum, but he’s in the FLEX consideration, depending on how the work is split up for the 49ers. Either way, he should be rostered.
Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas Raiders
Roster Percentage: 0
About: The Raiders’ backfield is thin. Alexander Mattison and Zamir White have missed the past few games. It’s hard to say how healthy they will be going forward. While that’s meant an uptick for Ameer Abdullah, it’s also given McCormick a chance to shine. He’s been a leader in the backfield the past two weeks, giving him some upside as a handcuff option heading down the stretch. He’s worth a stash.
Isaiah Davis, New York Jets
Roster Percentage: 0
About: What’s going on with the Jets? It’s hard to say. The team, in general, and the offense in particular, has been dysfunctional this season. We’d previously seen Braelon Allen involved in the offense, but now we’re getting the other rookie Davis involved, too. While Breece Hall is still the starter, he had no targets or role in the passing game Sunday. Perhaps that’s because he’s dealing with injury. But Davis stepped into the void, catching three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. Given the uncertainty and the Jets looking to the future in a lost season, Davis is worth a pickup.
Wide Receivers
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
Roster Percentage: 0.1
About: The Jaguars need weapons. Both Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis are out for the year. While Brian Thomas, Jr., is still the lead receiver, Washington has entered the void. That included making six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. As we head down the stretch, Washington is a player worth stashing on your roster.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
Roster Percentage: 14.1
About: I get it; an aging receiver who’s been injured on a bad team isn’t the best for the roster. If you set Thielen free, it’s understandable. However, with the Panthers dealing away Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, Thielen has been a big part of what the Panthers are doing in the pass offense since he returned from IR. If he’s been set free in your league, it’s worth grabbing him for the stretch run.
Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roster Percentage: 0.5
About: The Steelers are looking for weapons, so they traded for Mike Williams at the deadline. However, Russell Wilson has been making a connection with Austin. The young receiver has caught touchdowns in the past two games and seems to be part of the target rotation for the Steelers. He’s worth a pickup down the stretch.
Tight Ends
Lucas Krull, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: 0
About: The Broncos released Greg Dulcich, ending his time in Denver. Adam Trautman is the veteran starter, but Krull is the passing game weapon you want at tight end. It doesn’t always yield many points, but he’s a good young prospect to stash.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
