Now, well into the final push toward the playoffs, you might be wondering what moves you can make to position yourself for the championship. I always consider how NFL teams are positioned for the next six- or seven-week playoff run. Which teams will coast in and possibly rest starters in Weeks 17-18? Which teams are fighting for a spot? Who will throw in the towel soon and allow their younger players to acclimate to the NFL?
By predicting NFL teams’ next steps, you can take advantage of the available player pool now. Beyond stashing high-upside backups, which should mostly be rostered by now, look at teams that have been giving their rookies and younger players a taste of the limelight and bet on a bigger commitment to those players in the coming weeks when there is nothing to play for but a brighter future.
There isn’t much in the way of “start now” waiver pickups, so this week, let’s take a break from overthinking sit/start decisions to look at some candidates you can consider grabbing for future use.
First, a quick classification of teams’ playoff prospects (these are subject to change):
Should make the playoffs (no meltdowns):
AFC: Kansas City, Buffalo, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, LA Chargers
NFC: Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Arizona, Washington, Atlanta
Fighting chance (but need help):
AFC: Miami, Denver, Cincinnati, Indianapolis
NFC: Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Green Bay
From these teams, you want to make sure key backups at WR and RB positions are rostered in your league. If players like Isiah Pacheco, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dontayvion Wicks, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Nailor, Kimani Vidal, Trey Benson, Ray Davis, Keaton Mitchell, Dare Ogunbowale, etc. aren’t rostered, drop any dead weight you’re carrying (extra defense, kicker, tight end, QB) for one or more of these upside options. Some candidates from this group are considered below because they have the chance at extra playing time if their team’s playoff hopes are snuffed out early.
Lost season (barring miracles):
AFC: NY Jets, New England, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tennessee
NFC: NY Giants, Carolina, New Orleans, Dallas, LA Rams, Seattle, Chicago
These teams are most likely to put 2024 in the rearview mirror and look at what they have for 2025 and beyond. The rookies who haven’t immediately taken on a starting role get top billing, but a few second-year players are also mixed in. Players from this group have seen the field more lately but could be valuable with a full workload in December.
Audric Estimé, RB, Denver
Estimé is the name on a lot of people’s tongues this week as coach Sean Payton vowed to give Estimé more touches and then delivered (14 carries for 53 yards in Week 10 vs. Kansas City, the league’s most stingy run defense for fantasy). Estimé has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over the last three games, 50 percent more than Javonte Williams (2.9 YPC), and in Week 10, Williams had just one carry and two targets. The Broncos have a pretty neutral upcoming schedule for RBs (ATL, LV, CLE) before their bye. If Estimé continues to dominate touches, he should be a lot more successful than he was against the Chiefs. One note of caution: Estimé has not been targeted all year (and didn’t have a big receiving role at Notre Dame), so with PPR scoring, his value drops.
Malik Washington, WR, Miami
Washington could be in line for more work if Miami’s playoff hopes become pipe dreams over the next couple of weeks. At that point, there would be no reason to risk Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle — both of whom bear an injury-prone label. Washington is small, but — stop me if you’ve heard this before — he’s fast. In the Dolphin’s Week 10 Monday Night Football win, Washington rushed for an 18-yard score, but his role in the passing game has been minimal so far (4/6 for 34 yards in three games where he saw at least one target). I expect his role to increase if the Dolphins become eliminated from playoff contention. The downside is that Skylar Thompson might start at QB with Miami out of the playoff race.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami
Wright has had limited work every week this season since Week 2. He’s ranged from two to 13 carries, with an overall impressive 4.5 yards per carry on 47 attempts. Raheem Mostert is an older back (32 years old) with limited wear and tear, but he looks his age lately. He had zero carries in Week 10 but caught two of three targets for 34 yards vs. the Rams. Mostert has been decent in good matchups, but the Dolphins know what he is, and he is not the future. It would make sense for them to shift toward Wright as the season winds down. With more usage and as a rookie trying to prove himself, Wright can be fantasy gold as the season closes. The Dolphins’ remaining schedule is pretty good for RBs, and they should remain in the playoff hunt for at least the next two weeks.
Emanuel Wilson, RB, Green Bay
Wilson is a pure backup to Josh Jacobs but would be in for a significant workload if called upon. Rostered in only about 6 percent of leagues, the second-year back has scored twice this season, through the air in Week 3 and on the ground in Week 9. Coming off the bye, the Packers may use Wilson and Chris Brooks more to keep Jacobs fresh for the playoffs. But the Packers are in a competitive NFC North and are currently in third with a 6-3 record, so Wilson comes with risk. If you can only add one RB, Wilson is a lower priority than Wright unless injury or situation limits Jacobs’ workload.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Washington
The Commanders are looking to secure a playoff spot right now, so they’ll keep working Zach Ertz at tight end. If the playoff hopes were to disintegrate somehow, Sinnott should be in line for more work to end the season. He was a second-round pick with a great athletic profile (6-feet, 4-inches, 250 pounds, above average speed) but also needed to improve his route-running and blocking. The best way to improve is to play, but the Commanders haven’t been willing to take a chance with Ertz healthy and playing well so far this season. Sinnott would be a very speculative addition. But he has a lot to prove to cement himself as a 2025 starter, so if he were to get the chance with so much on the line, I think Sinnot could have a lucrative role down the stretch.
Kayshon Boutte, WR New England
If you’re desperate for wide receiver help, Boutte could be an answer now. He is ahead of Ja’Lynn Polk in usage and has six targets in each of the last three games while playing over 90 percent of the snaps. The Patriots do not have a prolific passing offense, but Boutte has had a solid role in what they do have. Up next for the Pats are the Rams, the seventh-best WR matchup for fantasy. Boutte is a second-year player who rarely saw the field during his first season. This New England unit is young and likely will not make it to the postseason. If you’re down a receiver or five, he’s one of the best adds for Week 11.
(Photo of Audric Estime stiff-arming Markus Bailey: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
