Is your fantasy football team in contention? If so, you will want to start making moves to help ensure you have the depth once injuries and bye weeks pile up. There is no cheaper time to go after veterans than the offseason. If you are in contention you are better off using your picks to acquire unwanted veterans, than throwing darts on unproven players. Let someone else do the dart throwing, while you get a proven talent on your team.
The Quarterbacks
The two obvious veteran names are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. They both finished inside the top-10 last year and they have a chance to do it again. It sounds like it is Brady’s last year, but who knows at this point? Aaron Rodgers has been talking about his career ending, but he did sign a three year deal. Brady is the cheaper of the two, but no one is giving him away. You can try to get one of these guys or these next two names come much cheaper and can still give you steady QB2 numbers.
Matt Ryan
Ryan finished as the QB20 last year, averaging 13.82 points per game. There was no run game to support him and he was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last year. Not to mention, Calvin Ridley left the team after Week 7, so his weapons were questionable at best after Kyle Pitts.
Now, he finds himself setting up behind arguably one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. He has Jonathan Taylor to take some pressure off of him and Nyheim Hines to check down to. Although his receiving core isn’t spectacular, he has Micheal Pittman as a trusted option. The rest of the WRs and TEs still have a lot to prove, but having a proven veteran like Ryan should bring out the best in them.
Ryan is the second cheapest option right now on KTC for a starting QB that doesn’t have competition behind him. I expect him to play out the remaining two years of his contract. You can probably get him for a second round pick in fantasy football SuperFlex formats. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw in a fourth to get it done or a developmental player. He’s not going to be lights out, but I expect he can give you a safe floor and is great depth if injuries do come to your starter(s).
Jared Goff
This name might come as a bit of a shock, but hear me out. He has been a top-24 QB in fantasy football in each season since 2017. Three of those seasons were inside the top-15, including his fantastic 2018 when he finished as the QB7. Last year was his worst since his rookie year. However, he still finished as the QB24, while averaging 14.5 points per game.
The Lions dealt with a lot of injuries last year and Goff didn’t really have the best weapons to begin with. Some would argue his WR group hasn’t gotten much better, but D.J. Chark is no slouch. Amon-Ra St. Brown showed well when he was the only guy left, and they traded up to select Jameson Williams early in the first round. That’s an underrated trio! Not only that, but they brought back Josh Reynolds who Goff is familiar with and had success with back with the Rams. Heck, even Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus are great depth pieces.
Add in T.J. Hockenson and the fact that both D’Andre Swift and Jamal Williams are great pass catchers; Goff has no excuses. I can see him having a top-15 year in fantasy football again. Did I mention that the Lions have a pretty decent offensive line as well?
My next point is his contract and situation. The Lions did not draft anyone this year. Therefore, there is no Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral, or Malik Willis breathing down his neck. That means you know you are getting a full year of production out of him. He is the cheapest option for QBs that have job security for the year.
He still has three years left on his contract that he signed with the Rams before being traded. His dead cap hit goes down to only 10 million next year, then 5 million in 2024. If the Lions can’t take a step up this year there is a chance they draft a QB and move on from Goff. They have two firsts next year, which gives them a bit of ammo to move up if needed. What if they aren’t bad though? There is a chance they can build around Goff.
Let’s say that the Lions do move on, I expect there is a team willing to give Goff a job. The Buccaneers might try and keep their window open with a veteran like Goff if Brady does finally retire. Goff is only 28-years old and he is a former 1st overall pick, he will get another chance somewhere. At his current price of a mid to late second, he is a great 3rd QB on a competing team.
The Running Backs
Melvin Gordon
The man who killed the Javonte Williams’ fantasy football hype with the stroke of a pen is back in the Mile High City. However, this time with a much improved offense. Russell Wilson is in town and this team is looking fine! I expect Gordon and Williams to both be fantasy relevant like last year, but this year they should have more TD upside.
The pair finished back-to-back in Half-PPR scoring last year, 17th and 18th. Melvin Gordon averaged 11.3 points over 16 games, while Williams averaged 10.8 points over 17 games. Gordon wasn’t brought back to sit behind the young stud, I fully expect this to be a 50/50 split again.
Mike Boone is the third RB on the depth chart. He was paid well for a backup. However, I expect if one of Gordon/Williams goes down, the other would take on a heavier workload.
Gordon is the most expensive out of the options I’ve shared, but he should have steady week-to-week production. His price is around a late second rounder. I can’t see someone giving him up that easily, but it’s worth a shot to inquire. Personally, I would go after the next guy on my list!
Darrel Williams
Last year from Weeks 6-18 Williams was the RB10 in Half-PPR scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
It took Williams a while to find a new home, but he landed in a great spot. He now finds himself with the Cardinals where there isn’t much competition behind James Conner. The Cardinals added Keaontay Ingram in the sixth round and still have Eno Benjamin hanging around.
If the Cardinals were smart they wouldn’t push their luck with Conner and his injury history. I expect them to lighten his workload, and Williams could find himself filling in for Chase Edmonds. Before Edmonds’ injury in Week 9, both he and Conner were top-20 backs in Half-PPR fantasy football leagues.
I think Williams is a great depth piece to add for contending teams, and his price is dirt cheap. He will give you a safe floor in a committee, but has potential league winning upside if something were to happen to Conner. His price right now on KTC is a late 3rd. Target him late in startups as well!
Sony Michel
This is my least favourite out of the trio, but I think by the time the fantasy football playoffs roll around Michel will be the lead running back for the Dolphins.
The new regime went to work revamping this backfield. Chase Edmonds was paid well, but isn’t an every-down back. Raheem Mostert is the coach’s pet, but is 30-years old with an injury history. Then you have the holdovers Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, and Gerrid Doaks. I am assuming one or two of them will be shown the door. In fact, they can save 2.5 million by cutting Gaskin, c-ya! They also added ZaQuandre White as a UDFA.
Michel showed well last year when he took over the Rams backfield from Weeks 13-18. During that span he was the RB8, averaging 13.9 points in Half-PPR scoring. However, he was getting the full workload during that time. I don’t think that will happen as long as one of Mostert or Edmonds stays healthy; so there is some risk and you might need to show patience. Mostert is 30-years old and has played more than 11 games only once in his career.
Michel has been a goal line back throughout his career. Last year, he had 36 attempts inside the twenty with the Rams. That was 50.7% of the team’s carries inside the red-zone. In 2018 and 2019, when he was healthy with the Patriots, he saw the same opportunities. The highest red-zone attempts Edmonds has seen in his career is 21% back in 2018. I expect Michel to get the majority of the red zone look.
He is a cheap option right now as there is uncertainty in this messy backfield. However, if you have room on your bench I believe he will be well worth the investment when it matters most. Go offer your third round pick, even a couple of fourths could get it done. That price will only go up if Mostert or Edmonds go down with an injury. This should be an improved offence and they will have red zone opportunities, let hope it is Michel punching them in!
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.