The offseason is either here or right around the corner for your fantasy team and in dynasty leagues that means it is already time to start preparing for the road to next season’s championship. Between scouting college prospects entering the draft in April and reassessing the pieces currently on your roster, the season never truly ends in dynasty football.

In today’s column, I will be examining a few dozen young NFL players that may be worth a roster spot and contribute in the future towards your team’s future success. These IDP dynasty stashes are a mix of players who will start performing well week 1 of next year and also players who may not emerge for another 12-18 months down the road. Hopefully, you have been following along weekly throughout the season and paying attention to every waiver wire column that has been posted here, because many of those players that were available in a high percentage of leagues at the time are now on rosters headed into the offseason.

As always, if there are any IDP, NFL Draft, or fantasy football questions in general that you would like me to answer, you can reach me on Twitter @Dr_Brumley.

Mid-Size Leagues

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Carl Lawson, CIN – Could possibly be overlooked in many leagues because he is designated as an OLB, but if Lawson’s position gets switched to DE for the 2018 season he could be a top-tier DE1. Leads all rookies in sacks this season with 7.5.

Derek Rivers, NE – Was very excited for him this year but he tore his ACL in the preseason. I think he is more talented than Wise and has a great chance to play opposite Flowers next season.

Charles Harris, MIA – Miami has consistently rotated between 4 defensive ends (Wake, Branch, Harris, Hayes) this season, but a possible defensive coordinator change in the offseason (Miami is 27th in the league for points allowed) might change that philosophy, adding to Harris’ value in 2018. Cameron Wake is getting close to retiring, my best guess is that 2018 will be his last season.

Takk McKinley, ATL – McKinley has shown flashes of excellent play in the second half of his rookie year. Only playing around 40% of snaps this season, Takk has still managed to tally an honorable six sacks in 14 games, aided by four sacks in Atlanta’s last five games. If someone in your league had gotten impatient early in the season and dropped him, I would target him right now. Clayborn is a free agent after this season and might be too expensive for the Falcons to re-sign.

Leonard Floyd, CHI – John Fox already has one foot out the door in Chicago, and according to Pro Football Weekly, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is not in the Bears plans for a future past this season either. If Bears management decides to completely clean house, they might also switch back to a 4-3 base defense, which is what the Bears always used to play before Fangio came to town. From an outside perspective, the move makes sense to me. Nick Kwiatkoski and Danny Trevathan would be the two of the three linebackers, joined by either a rookie draft pick of a free agent signing, with Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Mitch Unrein on the line. If this is a move the Bears make, Leonard Floyd could see a value jump similar to the one Melvin Ingram made this season when the Chargers switched from 3-4 to 4-3 and Ingram’s designation switched to defensive end.

LINEBACKERS

Raekwon McMillan, MIA – On injured reserve for his entire rookie campaign, but he should be starting at either Mike or Will for the Dolphins next season. He has LB3/4 floor next year as a full-time starter with upside as a high LB2.

Jordan Hicks, PHI – Another player who may be on waivers if your league doesn’t have injured reserve designations. Hicks has flashed when healthy and is great LB2/3 when he can stay on the field. Nigel Bradham is a free agent this offseason and the Eagles can save over $11 Million over the next two seasons by cutting Mychal Kendricks before June 1st.

Haason Reddick, ARI – First-round rookie linebacker who the Cardinals have had to move all around because of injuries to the rest of their defense. A full offseason learning one position, hopefully outside linebacker, should benefit Reddick and I think he has the talent to put up 8-12 sack seasons regularly.

Jayon Brown, TEN – Wesley Woodyard is old and deteriorating, Avery Williamson hasn’t been much more than average and is a free agent after this season. Jayon Brown is a future every down ILB for the Titans and is a popular sleeper pick for many reasons.

Jatavis Brown, LAC – He shouldn’t have been dropped anywhere because he has the talent to be a top-tier LB1, but he’s worth mentioning just in case someone has had enough with his dwindling snap counts this season. I truly think Brown has had a lingering injury every since getting hurt in the Chargers game against Philly. Brown was the NFL’s leading tackler at that point in the season, and after a full offseason to recover, he should be back to 100% next year to play WILL alongside Perryman at Mike.

Jaylon Smith, DAL – I have soured on Smith after seeing him have opportunities this year with Sean Lee out, but that doesn’t mean that Smith can’t be successful in 2018 with another offseason of practice. This is effectively Smith’s rookie season, and he was a top-10 projected draft pick before destroying his knee in college. Smith might just be taking longer to acclimate to NFL speed because of his previous injury.

Matt Milano, BUF – Preston Brown and Ramon Humber are both UFAs after this season, and Buffalo linebackers are ALWAYS among the top IDP producers. Milano has shined in limited action this year when Humber was sidelined, and in my mind, the sky is the limit for Milano from a fantasy perspective.

Zach Cunningham, HOU – Cunningham was my #3 ranked rookie linebacker coming into the preseason, and after a slightly disappointing rookie campaign, he is a great buy-low opportunity for owners who are targeting youth. Cunningham was not intended to be a full-time linebacker for the Texans this year, but after Brian Cushing’s concussion early in the year, he was thrust into a starting role. With a whole offseason to prep as starting inside linebacker next to Benardrick McKinney, Cunningham should thrive in 2018.

Patrick Onwuasor, BAL – Onwuasor has been a great waiver wire option for 2017, and I expect his success to continue into next year. He took over Zach Orr’s vacant spot, and although he has not performed up to Orr’s 2016 numbers, Onwuasor has been a reliable option since he won the starting job over Correa.

Shaq Thompson, CAR – Thompson has supposedly been the man to replace Thomas Davis for three years running now, so it’s possible that the Thompson owner in your league has grown impatient waiting for him to take over. Couple this with Kuechly’s concussion history and Thompson could see his IDP value skyrocket sooner than you may think.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, DET – After I projected him to beat Tahir Whitehead for Detroit’s starting Will role, I have been as disappointed just as much as anyone else in JRM’s rookie season thus far. Hope is on the horizon though as Whitehead is a UFA after this year and JRM and Jarrad Davis should be the future in Detroit.

Deep Leagues

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Deatrich Wise, NE – While I do like Rivers more if he can stay healthy, Wise is a great secondary option for the Patriots and for your fantasy team. Defensive linemen typically take 2-3 years to develop in the league, so don’t be frustrated by his lack of big plays this year.

Kerry Hyder, DET – The Detroit lineman has been forgotten by many after the emergence of Zettel, but Ansah is a free agent at year’s end and I do not foresee him returning to the blue and silver. Hyder posted 8 sacks in his first season of playing time last year and will be fully recovered from a torn Achilles in time for a full offseason of workouts.

Dion Jordan, SEA – The former #3 overall pick could find a reemergence in Seattle, but for now, he is behind Bennett and Clark on the team’s depth chart. He is a reach but could pay dividends for those who buy-in now.

Malik McDowell, SEA – It’s hard to predict what the future will be like for this former Michigan St standout who will miss the entirety of his rookie season due to an off the field incident. McDowell has the physical tools to be a top pass rusher in the league, but he needs to be able to find his way back to the field first for that to ever happen.

LINEBACKERS

Elijah Lee, SF – Besides Reuben Foster, who is the next biggest competition for playing time at linebacker in San Francisco? Brock Coyle? I think Lee has the chance to be starting WILL if the 49ers don’t make splash move in FA or the draft.

Aaron Wallace, TEN – An injury hampered his sophomore campaign but I have high hopes for Wallace playing next to his college companion Brown in 2018.

Jordan Evans, CIN – Evans played well as an injury replacement over the last month of the season. Kevin Minter is a free agent after this year and Rey could be cut with $0 dead cap against the Bengals. Cincinnati will have a new coaching staff next year and who knows how the linebacker depth chart will shake out heading into next season.

Blair Brown, JAX – Loved him as a prospect coming out of school, but he landed in one of the worst situations for IDP scoring. Jack and Telvin have these linebacker spots locked down and Brown would need an injury to see playing time.

Stephone Anthony, MIA – He is finally playing for the Dolphins after a trade earlier in the season. There’s a possibility that Anthony and McMillan could be Miami’s two starting linebackers alongside Kiko Alonso next September.

Tanner Vallejo, BUF – I like Milano’s potential more, but Vallejo is another Bills rookie who could also see a big role in the future. Preston Brown and Ramon Humber could be on their way out, Milano and Vallejo to replace them?

Ukeme Eligwe, KC – Another linebacker I loved as a prospect but the Ragland trade has killed his value. Still worth keeping an eye on going into next season.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Note: I typically don’t suggest holding most defensive backs from year-to-year as their value fluctuates so much, but if you are in a league whose market requires it, here are some of my preferred DB stashes.

Bradley Roby, DEN – Aqib Talib could be cut after this season with only $1mil dead cap hit. Roby could be a fantasy relevant CB across from Chris Harris Jr. Only target him in CB required leagues.

Xavier Woods, DAL – Woods is one of my favorite safeties in this class. I don’t think Jeff Heath should be starting over him, and I hope that soon enough Garrett and the Cowboys coaching staff feels the same way.

Obi Melifonwu, OAK – Another rookie safety to watch. If Melifonwu is used as a Safety, I’m on board in IDP, but if they use him primarily at cornerback next year, I’m jumping ship.

Josh Jones, GB – Morgan Burnett could be out of town next year and that would pay dividends for Josh Jones. Jones has produced DB1 numbers this year in games Burnett has been sidelined and should have no problem replicating those numbers next year. One side note to play devil’s advocate, if (when) Capers is fired as defensive coordinator, Green Bay’s safety usage might change in 2018. Capers usage of Burnett and Jones is the primary reason they are such productive fantasy producers.

Malik Hooker, IND – On injured with a torn ACL, but if he has been dropped he is probably worth a stash. Hoping he isn’t the next Bob Sanders as far as injuries are concerned.

Jabrill Peppers, CLE – If the Browns use the Texans top-five draft pick on Minkah Fitzpatrick, I expect Peppers to be a better IDP asset in 2018 than he was this season. Cleveland needs to bring in a coaching staff that will recognize him as a linebacker/safety hybrid.

Delano Hill, SEA – Bradley McDougald was a great fill-in for the Seahawks after Kam Chancellor landed on injured reserve, but McDougald is set to become a free agent this offseason and Delano Hill is the man who will be replacing him. Hill was drafted by Seattle in the third round this year and might be a member of the Legion of Boom’s second generation.

Quandre Diggs, DET – After Tavon Wilson landed on injured reserve, Glover Quin and Quandre Diggs have been holding down the Lions defensive secondary well in the month of December. Diggs is essentially on a tryout for a starting position on the Lions 2018 roster and if he continues his play from the past few weeks, he might be on his way to earning the job.

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