Rizzla discusses free agents to stash for teams that find themselves out of the fantasy football finals.
Dynasty League Dive: Free Agents to Stash
In this column we will focus on free agent or potential cap casualties available in over forty percent of yahoo leagues that should be stashed by savvy dynasty league managers.
One name excluded from this list is Le’veon Bell who is available in 69 percent of yahoo leagues. Le’veon Bell who despite being out for the entire year is still rostered in most if not all dynasty leagues and it is safe to assume all of the 31 percent of leagues he is still rostered in are dynasty or keeper formats.
If you find yourself out of the playoffs in dynasty or deeper keeper formats it is imperative to use the end of your bench to stash high upside names who may find themselves with new addresses following the 2019 free agency period.
With that in mind we take a look at nine names who fit the bill as well as four running backs who may find themselves securing number two roles in the offseason.
Carlos Hyde (60 percent available)
An expected offseason cap casualty Carlos Hyde is the most likely running back on this list to land, and keep a starting job in 2019. Hyde proved early in the season that he can still be an effective volume based running back (RB23, RB22, RB4, RB20 first four weeks of season) and unless the Jaguars pull a surprise move and cut bait with Leonard Fournette Hyde could be offered that opportunity in free agency. Unfortunately Hyde was the focal point of opposing defenses due to the Browns early season struggles as evidenced by his NFL high 7.3 average defenders in the box and his third among backs 40.3 percent stacked box carry rate, leaving Hyde with little room to run. An RB1 as recently as 2017, Hyde could regain RB2 value especially if he gets picked up by a zone blocking, shotgun heavy scheme.
TJ Yeldon (45 percent available)
TJ Yeldon is a talented running back who may find himself a starting job in the offseason. Blessed with every down skills Yeldon could be an effective volume based RB2 in the right offense as evidenced by his 5.7 yards per touch (thirteenth in NFL). Seeing just 59.4 percent of the snaps in Jacksonville Yeldon ranks among the top ten running backs in targets with 78, in receptions with 55 receptions and in receiving yards with 487 and could still find himself with standalone PPR value in 2019 if he finds himself as a number two given the right offense and opportunity. Yeldon has proven that he can produce at an RB1 level once again this year putting up top-12 fantasy outings in weeks four, five and seven while Leonard Fournette was sidelined as well as in week three when he was active. With 47 evaded tackles on the season and a 20.9 percent juke rate Yeldon should easily cross 1,500 yards from scrimmage if he is given 220 plus touches as a lead back on a team like the Texans or Eagles.
Tyrell Williams (67 percent available)
Set to be 27 years old entering the 2019 season, the talented vertical threat already has a 1,000 yard receiving season to his name and could become a weekly upside WR3 if he lands in the right offense. There will be more than a few teams interested in his services this offseason as the 6’3 wideout has been an efficiency darling in 2018 ranking twelfth in the NFL with 16.3 yards per reception, thirteenth with 10.5 yards per target and fourteenth with 2.23 fantasy points per target. Williams is a high upside, low risk stash who could see a major dynasty league value bump in the offseason.
Randall Cobb (61 percent available)
Though he has looked like a shell of his former self for the better part of this season, he did record a career high in receiving yards in week one of this season and could find a fit as a low cost, veteran flier for a team in need of a short field, possession receiver. Cobb’s age and lack of upside in what looks to be the decline phase of his career keeps his stock low but he could see a return to flex value on a receiver needy team like the Indianapolis Colts who emphasize the quick passing game.
Donte Moncrief (86 percent available)
Donte Moncrief disappointed once again this year but a lot of that has to do with substandard quarterback play. Second on the Jaguars with 604 receiving yards and first with 14.4 yards per reception, Donte Moncrief could be the hottest free agent receiver in a weak class and is a candidate to be overpaid again, especially when one considers that free agency takes place before the NFL draft. With 4.40 speed, a 133.2 burst score and a large catch radius Moncrief could be a fit in a dozen offenses as a downfield threat who can also double as a top red zone target. Where and with which quarterback he lands will go a long way in dictating his fantasy value next year but he is well worth a roster stash while we sit back and watch the offseason market play out.
John Brown (53 percent available)
Although he has become a fantasy afterthought since Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback John Brown was on pace for a career high 1172 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over the first half of the season, a period in which Brown was the WR20 with 114.0 fantasy points. Although he will be 29 by the start of the 2019 fantasy season Brown, as the owner of 4.34 speed projects as arguably the top deep threat on the market and could find himself highly sought after this offseason. Eighth in the NFL with 17.5 yards per reception Brown is a high upside stash for teams who find themselves out of the playoffs.
Chris Conley (87 percent available)
Chris Conley is another one on a long list of deep threats available this offseason and while he has not been as productive as some of his free agent counterparts, he will still be only 26 to start the season and at 6’2, 213 lbs with 4.35 speed and an elite 10.51 catch radius, Conley’s market may be more robust than one might think. There will be a handful of teams looking for a deep threat with elite speed this offseason and Conley may prove to be one of the better values for cash strapped teams in win now mode. Stash Conley where possible and watch with eagerness once the free agency period begins.
Robby Anderson (71 percent available)
Pursued by the Philadelphia Eagles before the trade deadline Robby Anderson is another receiver who may be set up for a big pay day this offseason due to a weaker class than we saw in 2018. As a restricted free agent opposing clubs will know that they will have to submit a big enough offer sheet as to dissuade the cap flush New York Jets from matching. If the then to be 26 year old Anderson is freed from the Jets anemic offense he may, depending where he lands, become a borderline WR2 with the upside to produce as a top-20 receiver. At 6’3 with 4.41 speed and 15.5 yards per reception (20th among receivers) Anderson can return to his 2017 WR2 form with an upgrade at quarterback. Roster Anderson where possible as a high upside stash.
DeVante Parker (90 percent available)
DeVante Parker has been a major disappointment thus far in his career and while a good portion of that has been due to his own inconsistency, he has also battled below average quarterback play for his entire career and has also battled nagging injuries for the better part of it. With the Dolphins unlikely to pick up Parker’s $9.38 million dollar option for 2019 after admittedly phasing him out of the offense Parker will join the free agent ranks and be a highly sought after option. Parker will be only 26 when the 2019 season starts and could finally live up to his talent if he lands on a team with a good quarterback that has an established number one receiver.
There are four other running backs that could find themselves in upside number two roles this offseason and could be worth a roster stash to see where they land. While the following names may be hard pressed to lock down a lead back role in 2019 they may be given such an opportunity leading up to the draft.
Available in 61 percent of yahoo leagues restricted free agent Alex Collins could be signed to form a committee. It has been well documented that migraine issues prevent Collins from being a full time starter but he could provide solid veteran insurance to a team with an established starter.
Latavius Murray is available in 51 percent of yahoo leagues and may be signed to be part of a committee out of free agency. Murray has proven he can be a low upside starter and may be signed as such for a team with designs on adding competition in the draft. There is also a chance Murray as signed to form a tandem with a lead back.
Available in 81 percent of yahoo leagues Mike Davis has flashed at times this season and could find himself signed to a fixed number two role in free agency. Davis could also plausibly find himself signed as a starter by a team with holes at the position, and depending on the organization he may actually get the chance.
Jay Ajayi is another name that could find himself with high potential value as a handcuff to a more established back. The days of teams believing the 85 percent available Ajayi is a NFL starter level talent are likely over but that does not mean he cannot carve out another four to five years in the league as one of the leagues better backups. The ideal scenario for Ajayi would be to land on a team with a workhorse who is looking for veteran insurance as he does not profile well as a true committee back.
