Welcome to the Dynasty Watch. For those of you playing in deep dynasty leagues, this is where we’ll help you keep track of some bench stashes. These are players who have a small chance of becoming regular contributors, but for the few that do, we’ll try and help you beat your league-mates to the punch.
Quarterbacks
None of note.
Running Backs
Myles Gaskin (Mia) — While Jordan Howard “started,” it was Gaskin who played 49 snaps to Howard’s 8. Howard did vulture a goal-line TD, but Gaskin led the backfield in touches and ran for 36 yards, catching 6 passes for an additional 36 yards. It’s still a 3-man backfield with Howard and Matt Breida, but Gaskin has put back-to-back solid games together.
Benny Snell (Pit) — James Conner made a speedy recovery and ended up getting a full workload in Week Two. But we still like Snell as Conner’s backup, and Conner sure gets dinged up a lot. Snell rushed 3 times for 5 yards.
La’Mical Perine (NYJ) — Adam Gase Ruins Everything. Perine was non-existent in Week Two, while Gase ran Frank Gore into the ground while Le’Veon Bell is on IR.
Darwin Thompson (KC) — It bears repeating last week’s edict: every Andy Reid running back should be rostered. Thompson has looked good in small doses as the team’s 3rd or 4th back. With Darrel Henderson a little banged up, Thompson may find himself as the no. 2 RB to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
JaMycal Hasty (SF) — The UDFA out of Baylor was reportedly having a strong camp, so much so that the 49ers protected him on their practice squad. With injuries to Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert, Hasty only has Jeff Wilson between him and meaningful snaps.
J.D. McKissic (Was) — McKissic has seemingly leapfrogged Peyton Barber in the Washington backfield, going 8/53 (6.6 YPC) in Week Two and looking like he was shot out of a cannon. If it remains just a 2-man split with Antonio Gibson, McKissic will have a ton of value.
Jordan Wilkins (Ind) — So much for the Nyheim Hines breakout party. After Hines dominated touches in Week One following Marlon Mack’s injury, it was Wilkins who operated as the change-of-pace back to rookie Jonathan Taylor. Wilkins played 17 snaps, rushing 9 times for 40 yards (4.4 YPC).
Darrel Williams (KC) — Williams suffered an ankle injury in Week Two, playing just 10 snaps. Once he’s healthy, he should remain the primary backup to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but keep an eye on Darwin Thompson, who got more work last week due to Williams’ injury.
Devontae Booker (LV) — Booker played just 11 snaps in Week Two but remains the primary backup to Josh Jacobs. Jalen Richard should still see action as a pass-catching back, but if Jacobs were to miss time, Booker should see a prominent role.
J.J. Taylor (NE) — Last week we warned you of the dreaded Bill Belichick backfield, and Taylor showed us why in Week Two. After a 4/48 Week One, Taylor saw one touch for -1 yards. He did have 69 yards as a returner. So that’s something.
Ito Smith (Atl) — After Smith played 20 snaps in Week One, he played just 5 in Week Two. We don’t love or trust Brian Hill as Todd Gurley’s primary backup, but we’d like to see a little more from Smith in the coming weeks.
Scottie Phillips (Hou) — With Duke Johnson banged up, Phillips still didn’t get a snap of real football in Week Two. David Johnson played all but 3 snaps, and those 3 snaps went to C.J. Prosise.
Wide Receivers
Tre'Quan Smith (NO) — We’ve been waiting for this game. Smith has flashed in the past, teasing dynasty owners with his speed. With Michael Thomas out, Smith played 88% of the snaps, catching 5-of-7 targets for 86 yards. Perhaps he will be more involved once Thomas is back, but it’s most likely that his redraft value rests in the hands of Thomas’ health. For dynasty, his value lies more in veterans Emmanuel Sanders’ and Drew Brees’ future plans.
Darnell Mooney (Chi) — After a 32% snap share in Week One, Mooney saw 39 snaps (60%) trailing only Allen Robinson in usage. Mooney lined up mostly on the outside, supplanting Anthony Miller as the no. 2 wideout. Mooney caught all of his 3 targets for 36 yards and a TD. We’d like to see his single-digit target-share rise, but that’s likely coming soon.
Gabriel Davis (Buf) — Davis hauled in a TD in Week Two, playing a 40% snap share. He’s largely a slot weapon, and the team is using a lot of 4-WR sets. He doesn’t have a ton of redraft value yet, but we’ve got our eye on him for 2021.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB) — MVS saw a large target share (15.2%) and usage (63%) on Sunday as Davante Adams missed some time with a balky hamstring and with the game largely in-hand. He caught only 3 of his 7 targets for 64 yards, so his consistency issues are still lingering. That will make him hard to trust if you’re Aaron Rodgers, but if Adams misses time, Valdes-Scantling will get his shots to shake that off.
Quintez Cephus (Det) — With Kenny Golladay set to return soon, Cephus’ audition might be coming to a close for now. Playing on a 66% snap share, the 2020 5th-rounder caught all 3 of his targets for 54 yards. The rookie is in line to replace Marvin Jones, Jr. in the next few seasons.
Miles Boykin (Bal) — Boykin backed up his 3/37 Week One tally with a 4/38 on 5 targets in Week Two. He again led the Ravens wideouts in snaps, playing 48 of 65 snaps. We had high hopes for Boykin coming out of last year’s draft. It looks like he might be in Year Two Breakout mode, though this Baltimore passing attack still runs through Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown.
Damiere Byrd (NE) — We mentioned Byrd here last week because of his massive usage. He wasn’t able to parlay that into production in Week One, but oh, hello Week Two! Byrd turned 9 targets into 6/72 and played the most snaps of any Patriots receiver. Now we need to find out which Byrd we will see more of going forward; the invisible one from Week One or the ubiquitous one from Week Two.
Keelan Cole (Jax) — Cole logged another 51 snaps playing largely out of the slot for Jacksonville. He caught 6-of-7 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown and currently leads the Jaguars in targets (13). As we see this new offense unfold, we are seeing heavy involvement from Cole.
K.J. Hill (LAC) — After playing 12 snaps in Week One, Hill played just 6 in Week Two. He’s got upside if Mike Williams and/or Keenan Allen get injured but for now, we have our eyes on 2021 and beyond for Hill.
Olabisi Johnson (Min) — Johnson owned another large snap share (78%), but only caught 1 of his 3 targets for 24 yards. Granted, the Minnesota offense collapsed in Week Two, so if you’re thinking like Pollyanna, Johnson’s usage so far is encouraging for his future role as the 3rd WR behind Adam Thielen and rookie Justin Jefferson.
Isaiah Ford (Mia) — Ford has been operating as the team’s 3rd wideout, playing 70% through two games. In Week Two, the 2017 7th-rounder caught 7-of-9 targets for 79 yards.
Trent Taylor (SF) — Taylor had another mediocre game, catching 2 passes for 10 years. With all the injuries to the SF receiving corps, Taylor has yet to carve out a healthy role. The team also signed Mohamed Sanu, just to murky up the 2020 waters for Taylor even more.
Justin Watson (TB) — Watson started with Chris Godwin out and posted 2 catches for 48 yards. With Godwin back, it’s doubtful that Watson will see much of the field now.
Jalen Guyton (LAC) — Guyton started in Week One and played 70% with Mike Williams busted up, catching 1 pass for 16 yards. In Week Two, he scored a 14-yard TD on his lone catch, playing a 56% snap share.
{Noah Brown|WR|DAL}} (Dal) — Brown is buried on the depth chart behind Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb, but did go 2/28 on 8 snaps in Week Two. It would take injuries to see Brown’s role grow at this point.
Jakeem Grant (Mia) — Grant’s prospects took a hit in Week Two, playing just 10 snaps as Isaiah Ford moved ahead of him, playing 48 snaps.
Tight Ends
Harrison Bryant (Cle) — Bryant went 1/14 taking over the #2 TE role behind Austin Hooper. He remains a year or two away from being fantasy relevant, but Cleveland’s reliance on 12 personnel will at least keep Bryant on the field a good part of the time.
Dalton Schultz (Dal) — After a noticeably shaky game in Week One filling in mid-game for Blake Jarwin, Schultz settled in nicely in Week Two. The 2018 4th-rounder hauled in 9-of-10 targets for 88 yards and a TD. Schultz should own this role for the remainder of the season.
Logan Thomas (Was) — Thomas caught 4-of-9 targets for 26 yards and played 60 snaps (90%). Through two weeks, his 15% target share is second only to Terry McLaurin. Thomas looks like he’s here to stay in this offense.
Jordan Akins (Hou) — Akins turned 7 targets into a 7/55 day, playing a huge 83% share. Fellow TE Darren Fells played just 40%, but it’s still too early to see how this split will shake out. What is clear is that Akins will have a role in this offense.
Dan Arnold (Ari) — Arnold saw a big snap increase with Maxx Williams out, playing 56 snaps (76%) in Week Two. He caught 2-of-4 targets for 26 yards, missing an opportunity to do more with Williams out. We mentioned his limited upside last week, and this is what we meant. The realistic hope is that Arnold develops over the next year or so.
