With fantasy gamers gravitating to rookies and upside dart throws, overlooked veterans are abundant this late in the offseason. Dynasty gamers begin to focus on short term production while they participate in more redraft and Best Ball drafts. Using PlayerProfiler’s advanced stats, metrics and analytics, we can identify fringe players likely available on waiver wires that are worth stashing.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Tyrod Taylor is available in an alarming number of single quarterback dynasty leagues. Add him to your bench for the eight games he will start in 2020. Taylor finished as a top 16 quarterback in all three seasons as Buffalo’s starter, with one finish inside the top 10. His dynasty value is nonexistent after a miserable showing in 2018 and after Justin Herbert was drafted sixth overall.
Tyrod Taylor Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Taylor will start the year as the starting QB in LA and he presents a high floor thanks to rushing upside. He has elite 40-Yard Dash, Burst Score, and Agility Score marks. He averaged 525 rushing yards per season (35.7 per game) with the Bills and scored 4.6 touchdowns per season. The Chargers start 2020 facing the Bengals, Chiefs, Panthers, Buccaneers, Saints, and Jets. All of those games present either soft defenses or shootout potential. Someone in your league can lose a quarterback to injury or COVID early, and they will overpay for a dual-threat quarterback.
Phillip Dorsett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Phillip Dorsett is currently slotted in as the number three receiver in Seattle and the primary deep threat. Recent rumors of an Antonio Brown signing have reminded fantasy players that Seattle does indeed roster more than two wide receivers. Dorsett will have solid splash weeks boosting his short-term trade value. Lets not forget that he ran a 4.33 (99th-percentile) 40-Yard Dash coupled with a 10.81 (91st-percentile) Agility Score. Last season, Tom Brady had a 100.6 QBR when targeting Dorsett, good enough for No. 32 among qualified players. He will now be drawing targets from Russell Wilson; who boasted a 110.9 (No. 4) True Passer Rating in 2019 with a 39.8-percent (No. 12) Deep Ball Completion Percentage.
Isaiah Ford, WR, Miami Dolphins
Multiple depth receivers “broke out” last season after seeing multiple teammates go down with injury. Russell Gage and Steven Sims are quietly being propped up by analysts as viable targets late in fantasy drafts. However, Greg Ward and Isaiah Ford have been labeled one-hit wonders. Greg Ward was likely just the benefactor of injury driven opportunity, however Ford showed promise beyond that.
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Ford’s 18.6 (97th-percentile) Breakout Age and 35.5 (68th-percentile) College Dominator Rating should not be overlooked. He is best comparable to Tyler Boyd and will likely play the same role in a Miami offense that was fourth in total pass plays per game in 2019. The perception of target competition has diminished his value to near zero. There is room for a fourth receiver in Miami and the trio of Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, and Jakeem Grant do not provide a significant threat. In four games last season with over a 40-percent Snap Share, he scored over 10 fantasy points three times without scoring a single touchdown. Ford is a solid stash when considering the risk of DeVante Parker being a one hit wonder, Preston Williams aggravating his injury, and Matt Breida failing to hold up once again.
Kaden Smith, TE, New York Giants
Kaden Smith is set up to be a potential fantasy TE1 in the event of an Evan Engram injury and he is young enough to establish himself regardless. The coaching staff has already said that Smith will have a definitive role in this offense. His player profile and 2019 production with Engram sidelined show that he is for real. At 6-5, 255-pounds with an 11.55 (55th-percentile) Agility Score, Smith fits the mold of a prolific starting tight end.
Check out Kaden Smith on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Dynasty Rankings and Projections:
Smith’s usage in seven games last season was absurd with a 94.6-percent (No. 1) Snap Share, a 70.9-percent (No. 8) Route Participation mark, and a 16.7-percent (No. 11) Target Share on an offense that saw the seventh-most pass plays per game. He managed 10.8 Fantasy Points per Game with a 73.8-percent (No. 12) Catch Rate with three (No. 19) touchdowns. Add in Engrams No. 5 Injury Probability ranking and No. 11 Fragility Rating and we have the recipe for a TE1 in fantasy football. Stash Smith and wait for a rainy day.
Conclusion
Don’t forget about veterans that play a role on their team. Everybody loves high upside dart throws, but aging role-players present opportunities for a quick trade and profit after a boom week. Tyrod Taylor and Phillip Dorsett are great hold trade candidates, whereas Isaiah Ford and Kaden Smith present more long-term value.
