Another season has come and gone quickly, but the beauty of dynasty is that it never ends. With Week 17 over, there’s one last chance to make a play for long-term options by stashing seemingly irrelevant players who may have a chance to become crucial starters later. Here are the names worth keeping an eye on and making room for at the end of your bench as we head into the offseason.
Dynasty rosters go deep, so not all of these players are going to be available on waivers. Take this as a sign if you already have them on your bench, or consider snagging some of these players once trades are open.
Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
It feels like most of us are done with Justin Fields, and that’s completely fair. At the same time, Fields wasn’t set up for great success this year with a rookie offensive play caller and the loss of Garrett Wilson for most of the season. That’s not to excuse Fields’ poor play, as there’s no mistaking that he isn’t, and likely won’t be, more than a fun watch.
The problem is that he continues to be fantasy relevant as long as he plays. The floor is still low, but the highs are quite high. With a weaker and potentially thin quarterback class coming up, Fields might be in line to start games next year. If that happens, you want that option at your QB2 or QB3 spot.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns
For deeper and Superflex leagues, you’ll really need to scrape the bottom to find potential future starters. I’m not one to buy into name value alone, so Shedeur Sanders should be treated like other fifth-round picks.
The metrics for Sanders have not been good since he took over as a starter, but the Browns’ offense has been brutal across the board. Should Cleveland miss out on a rookie quarterback or a veteran upgrade, Sanders may be in line to start more games.
If the Browns land a high-profile quarterback, Sanders would likely be moved to a situation where he can compete or serve as a backup. Teams such as Las Vegas, Atlanta, Arizona, or Indianapolis will all face uncertainty at the position and could use a stopgap option with upside. Should he land in a spot like that, he’s worth the flier.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten may have carried a little too much hype entering the season. While he certainly flashed upside, a quick look at his season-long stats will bring most managers back to reality.
Tuten’s value will fluctuate significantly based on what happens with Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason. The assumption should be that Etienne stays put, which makes Tuten a cheap acquisition. If Etienne misses any time, Tuten becomes an exciting starting option. Even if he never fully takes over, he retains value and should see increased usage in 2026.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers
We’ve all noticed the trend with Christian McCaffrey. A great season followed by a lost season, back and forth. McCaffrey is dominating this year and has already surpassed his workload from 2023.
It would be smart to get ahead of that cycle and secure his priority handcuff now. Jordan Mason was a league-winning add for managers who were ahead of the curve in 2024, and Brian Robinson Jr. could be that player in 2026.
Kyle Shanahan’s lead backs will always eat, and we’ve already seen Robinson have success as a starter. You’ll have to be okay with him being non-playable for games at a time, but an all-or-nothing bench RB is worth the risk.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
It’s been frustrating for those who held onto him for most of the season, only to move on and then watch him take over the backfield late (it’s me). Jacory Croskey-Merritt has had two big games down the stretch, even with much of the offense missing around him.
His manager may be frustrated enough to move on, making him worth targeting. The flashes were always there, even after he missed most of his senior college season, and he may finally be settling in. With the Commanders’ offense presumably healthier next year, catching that rebound could pay dividends.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Frustrations with Brandon Aiyuk have boiled over with just about every party involved. His value is at an all-time low after missing a season and a half and burning bridges with the 49ers. The grass isn’t guaranteed to be greener with his next team, but there is a chance he can get back to that All-Pro level.
He may not be worth the headache for those who held him, but he is a perfect lottery ticket for a risk-tolerant manager.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions
Isaac TeSlaa has been a fascinating player this year, though his volume numbers leave much to be desired. The highlights may captivate some managers, while others focus on the lack of consistent involvement.
Detroit invested heavily in TeSlaa, and those flashes should earn him a larger role next season. This is a team likely to adjust its game plan after a disappointing year, and TeSlaa could be central to that shift.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans
I had Jaylin Noel pegged as a name to watch before his strong showing against the Chargers, which may already be enough for some managers to hold onto him.
I actually liked Noel a lot going into this draft class, and even more after he was taken by the Texans. To me, he appears to be the long-term answer for the role that Tank Dell once had. That spot belongs to Christian Kirk for now as Houston brings both their young receivers along slowly.
If the Texans unleash Noel next year and move on from Kirk, he could become a crucial player for fantasy immediately. We’ve already seen this role bring in great success when Dell was healthy, so if Noel can replicate that, we’re looking at a very high upside play.
Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Another player I loved as a prospect who landed in a great situation. Tory Horton’s season has been cut short by injury, but he immediately showed signs of greatness in his limited playing time. Despite appearing in only eight games and hauling in 12 receptions, he still has five touchdowns.
I wouldn’t assume that level of scoring to progress, but it does signal that he has a nose for the endzone. With an increased workload next year and all eyes focused on Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Horton could quickly become a high-profile WR2 sooner than later.
Jahan Dotson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Once upon a time, Jahan Dotson was the breakout name after a rookie season with seven touchdowns. However, the underlying metrics from that season proved accurate, and he has yet to surpass 550 yards or 50 receptions in any year.
Nevertheless, the Eagles did go out of their way to trade for him. He’s been sitting as the WR3 ever since in a low-passing offense, so it’s unlikely anyone is too keen to hold onto him.
If A.J. Brown truly is moved this offseason, that would open a major opportunity for the 25-year-old former first-round pick. He wouldn’t need to match Brown’s yardage if he can capitalize on red-zone usage.
He hasn’t been uber productive yet, but all the signs of a potential breakout are converging.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
I may have preached the praises of Mike Gesicki a little too confidently this offseason, but I still believe in the role. The Bengals didn’t extend him for nothing; he should work into a quasi-WR3 role when everything clicks.
His splits with and without Joe Burrow are night and day, so there’s still a pulse for a relevant playmaker here. Of course, we’re betting on Burrow remaining healthy, but such is the case with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and every other weapon attached to a high-profile QB.
Simply put, he’s still worth the stash if you aren’t set at TE.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seattle Seahawks
A lot of what applied to Horton above will also apply to Elijah Arroyo. While the proof of concept with Horton is more sound, Arroyo was the higher draft pick last year. TEs tend to take more time to develop, and Arroyo came into the league as a raw mold with exciting upside. Year two may still be a tad too early on him, but it’s be better to be early than late.
Despite being second in the league in scoring and eighth in PFSN’s Offensive Impact Metric, the Seahawks’ offense is begging for a second option to come about. Smith-Njigba is a one-man show and has over double the receptions, targets, and touchdowns as the next closest option on the team, and nearly triple the yardage.
A.J. Barner currently holds the role that Arroyo will compete for. This is a huge ceiling play that may take some time yet, but his current value makes him easily obtainable.
