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Deep Dynasty Stashes: Upcoming Free Agents

If you are in a deep dynasty league, you know the pain of churning the end of your roster. Longshots who won’t make it, young practice squad players, and rookie draft busts litter your bench.

Being in numerous leagues with 30 to 40 roster spots, I know the torture of a thin waiver all too well.

As the regular season wraps up, there is one way to maximize the end of your roster for future value gains: Signing upcoming NFL free agents.

Why Free Agents?

When NFL free agency hits, the fantasy analysis instantly hits social media, often inflating roles and values, even with minimal contracts or players who haven’t shown talent.

Even if they sign with the same team again, the narrative of that team really believing in them persists.

Then, you can move them for a third-round rookie pick or sometimes even more.

Buzz Creates Valuable Assets

Back in 2023, fantasy favorite RB Rashaad Penny was slated to become a free agent. He was an easy waiver pick-up for anyone paying attention before the 2022 season was over. 

Penny signed a one-year $1.35 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles needed a RB and Penny had flashed in those rare instances that he stayed healthy, so the hype on his fantasy potential grew. 

He was able to be moved for a late second/early third immediately after the signing. 

Don’t drop anyone of significance to pick up these lottery tickets, but if you have a few open roster spots, they are worth stashing:

Trey Lance, QB

Fantasy managers just can’t quit Trey Lance.

After being selected third overall in 2021, Lance has barely seen the field. 

The 49ers and Cowboys obviously saw enough to not give him a shot, but the mystery box still intrigues fans.

A 6’4, 224-pound QB with 4.5 speed always holds fantasy upside, no matter his talent. At only 24 years old, the hope remains high despite the mounting evidence that Lance isn’t an NFL QB.

If he signs with a QB-needy team, the sell window will open with buzz about him getting a shot.

In a deep or Superflex league, signing with an offensive minded coach as a backup could even fetch a rookie pick.

Lance is worth an end of the roster spot to see where his future lies heading into next season.

D’Onta Foreman, RB

Foreman has had similar fantasy hype follow him wherever he has gone. 

After a torn Achilles in 2017, Foreman’s career was in jeopardy. Instead, he signed with the Titans and enjoyed moderate success.

In 2022, he had a career season for the Panthers with 914 yards rushing and five TDs. 

He bounced to Chicago and now is on his fifth NFL team in Cleveland.

That 2022 year and the occasional fantasy relevant game has allowed the believe to persist that Foreman, with opportunity, could be startable.

At 28 years old, his best days are likely behind him.

If he signs with a team devoid at the RB position, though, there will be a spike of hype allowing you to sell. 

If he still sits on the waiver wire, pick him up.

Elijah Mitchell, RB

At 26 years old, Mitchell already has an extensive injury history. He's back on IR this year with a hamstring injury.

The former sixth-round pick has accomplished plenty, beating out third-round pick Trey Sermon in their rookie season to earn playing time.

When Mitchell did get on the field, his reckless style was effective. 

He had 1,100 total yards and six TDs as a rookie; it was impressive.

Even as Christian McCaffrey’s handcuff since that trade, Mitchell held value until his current injury.

Mitchell’s injury history will likely be a blockade to long-term fantasy success. 

If the buzz grows on him in free agency or if he shows signs of life next year in training camp, he becomes an instant sell.

If he isn’t stashed on an IR somewhere, pick him up to hold into next season.

Rondale Moore, WR

One of the ultimate rookie hype men, Moore was taken in the first round of some rookie drafts coming out. 

His production and athleticism at Purdue endeared him to dynasty managers, but he never broke out in Arizona. Moore hasn’t topped 450 yards receiving or two TDs in a season.

His move to Atlanta created some buzz, but a knee injury in early August put him on season-ending IR.

The injury may cause Moore to lose some of his luster, but being 24 years old, there will be hope he can recover.

Moore is unlikely to be fantasy relevant, but that won’t stop that hope.

If he isn’t on a team’s IR, add Moore to the end of your roster and wait.

If he signs with a good QB, there will be some Moore truthers ready to give a late round rookie pick for him.

Tutu Atwell, WR

Atwell’s profile and career have been a bit odd.

A 5’9, 165-pound WR who broke ACC records was cast off by the fantasy community before the NFL Draft. Then he went in the second round.

It still was a hard sell to see him as a fantasy asset, and he really hasn’t been outside a few splash plays here and there.

But being a deep threat with some flashes of production gives Atwell some trade appeal in the right situation.

If he ends up on the Chargers or another team with an elite QB and no deep option, that brief window to trade him should open.  

Tommy Tremble, TE

Any 250-pound TE who runs a 4.65 will turn some heads. 

Tremble’s upside was present at Notre Dame, but he has never put it all together. There have been stretches here and there, but the Panthers have never truly tried to feature him.

At 24 years old, he is still young by TE standards. 

Though there hasn’t been a breakout season for Tremble yet, he showed up this past week with JT Sanders out, catching five passes for 77 yards.

Another game or two like that this season, plus if he signs with a TE needy team, and Tremble will move up to have dynasty value.

Stash him if you can to see where he signs. If there is any interest, move him for a pick.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.