Players to Pick Up Now – Dynasty Version

The 2021 fantasy football season is coming to an end, and if you were able to make it to the Championship with all the injuries and Covid players, then hats off to you. Best of luck in the finals, but we already need to look to the future in dynasty leagues. If you are not doing a dynasty league, I recommend you do because it is a blast. If you love fantasy football, then dynasty is for you because it really is all year round.

There are always players at the end of the year that you should consider picking up in case they change teams or become focal points in their offenses. We need to look at player contracts on every team closely, because it is better to grab these players now before you have to pay for them next summer. Dynasty rosters are usually pretty deep, so I know the free agent pool in slim, but there are always a few guys you can consider grabbing just in case. The percent owned for these players are based off of dynasty leagues, not redraft. Let’s get in to it.

Hayden Hurst – 10% Owned

This is a guy I have been looking to pick up in a few dynasty leagues wherever he is available. There is no question that Kyle Pitts is the TE to own in Atlanta, but we need to remember that Hurst is still a really good TE and a former first-round pick by Baltimore. Baltimore also drafted Mark Andrews the same year, so it was an easy decision for them to trade him to Atlanta last season. We need to remember he was a top 10 TE in 2020 before Pitts got there, so he can still be a solid fantasy option in the future. The Falcons decided to not pick up Hurt’s rookie option, so he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. There are plenty of teams that could use a TE like Hurst and he should be one of the bigger TE names this summer for any team to sign. If he lands on a team like the Jaguars or the Colts, his value skyrockets. Pick up him now because he could be a Top 10 TE once again if he lands on the right team.

Marlon Mack – 14% Owned

Mack came back from an Achilles injury and got work early in the season behind JT, but has been a healthy scratch since Week 9. He was in trade talks this season, but for some reason the Colts did not trade him even though they planned to not use him. He only signed a one-year deal, so he will be a free agent this summer and able to sign with any team he wants. I know it was a small sample size this season, but it was positive to see him on the field and have no setbacks this season. If he is able to get on a team like the Dolphins or Falcons, he should be able to fight to be the starter if those teams end up not drafting a RB in the rookie draft. This is a guy who may not get on the right team and just be a backup anywhere he goes, but it is worth the pickup just in case he can become a starter again.

Mike Boone – 2% Owned

Boone was not an option all season because he was either injured or was the third-string RB when healthy for the Broncos. Melvin Gordon is up this season and I am not sure the Broncos bring him back since they have their future RB in Williams. If Gordon is out of town then Boone could carve out the backup role to Williams. In dynasty, almost all handcuff RBs are owned and with a team like Denver who loves to run the ball, Boone could be a good option. We never wish for injuries, but if Williams misses any time next year, then Boone would have a much larger role. He is signed through the 2022 season so unless he is cut, he will be ready to be the backup.

O.J. Howard – 11% Owned

I know we have wanted Howard to produce since he was a rookie, but injuries and the offense have changed that. He has no value this season because he is behind Gronk, Brate, and all those WRs in Tampa Bay. Howard is up after this season and I am still not sure why they even picked up his rookie option, but he is another TE like Hurst who can find a team where he can become the starter. Even if the Bucs keep Howard, Gronk could retire yet again after this season and Chris Godwin is up for a deal next year as well. Also, there is a world in which AB is done after this season as well. If Gronk, Godwin, and AB are out after this season, Howard could have a larger role. Or, like I said before, he goes to a TE needy team and becomes a factor. He is worth a shot.

THE WRAP UP

These are just a few guys I wanted to focus on in dynasty leagues because we see it every year. Players that are non factors one year can change teams or scenarios and become relevant. It is better to get these guys now before it is too late, so take a look at your leagues to see if these guys are available to pick up.

Again, if you made it to your Championship, best of luck and I hope you bring it home!