As a Dynasty owner, even if you are not in contention this season, your job is far from over. NFL teams that are also out of the playoff mix are going to start to evaluate all of the talent they have on their rosters with an eye on 2010. This is a great time to evaluate your own roster, getting rid of any limited upside players and replacing them with players that have potential. Dynasty Digging features mostly players that are available on deep Dynasty league waiver wires and you are not necessarily going to want to run out and pick every one of these players up immediately. What you do want to do is track their progress and any developments that could lead to an opportunity to perform in 2010. Let's dig.


QB DENNIS DIXON - PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Dennis Dixon got his first NFL start two weeks ago and did nothing to embarrass himself. He is backing up the durable Ben Roethlisberger, so he may not see the field again anytime soon, but Dixon has potential. A very solid QB prospect at Oregon, Dixon tore his ACL as a senior and that crushed his draft stock and potential day one status. He showed off a solid downfield arm and has above average mobility. He did enough in his only start for Mike Tomlin to say that he would be comfortable with him as his QB2 next season. That is great news for Dixon, who would be a Big Ben injury away from fantasy value. He makes a nice Dynasty handcuff if you own Roethlisberger and is worth a flier if you are in QB heavy leagues with deep rosters.

RB RASHAD JENNINGS - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
He is probably best known in fantasy circles as Maurice Jones-Drew's handcuff, but rookie Rashad Jennings could one day be much more than that. For now, though, the 6'1", 230 lb. Jennings will have to settle for backing up one of the best RB's in football. Jennings was a 7th round selection in 2009 out of I-AA Liberty, who had previously produced one week wonder RB Samkon Gado. Jennings has staying power though and a skillset that could lend itself to fantasy success. Jennings started at Pitt as a true freshman, but transferred to Liberty to be closer to his father, who was battling diabetes. He does have an upright running style and lacks ideal explosion, which could have led to his falling to the 7th round in the 2009 NFL Draft. What he does possess is ideal size and speed and the ability to wear down defenses. He is by all accounts a high character player with a great attitude. He is an excellent inside runner with upside and could prove a valuable addition to your Dynasty roster even if you do not own MJD. Jennings will be more NFL ready by next season and the Jaguars would be smart to shift some of the weight over to him, keeping MJD fresh all season long.

RB KORY SHEETS - MIAMI DOLPHINS
Kory Sheets was solid RB prospect coming out of Purdue in 2009, but he went undrafted. He was originally signed by the 49ers and had an impressive training camp, but lost the battle to be Frank Gore's backup to fellow rookie Glenn Coffee. He was scooped up off of their practice squad by the Miami Dolphins. Sheets is explosive and has great acceleration, but lacks ideal bulk. He is a natural receiver out of the backfield and can make plays in open space. He may be pigeon-holed as a 3rd down or change of pace back in the NFL. As he matures, if he can add some muscle to his frame with out losing his speed, he has a chance to be a fantasy factor. His current situation is less than ideal, but that could change quickly. Right now, he is no more than a very deep flier, but he does have ability and potential to force his way into a lineup at some point.

RB TYRELL SUTTON - CAROLINA PANTHERS
Tyrell Sutton was an extremely productive RB at Northwestern. He is a bit undersized, but at 5’8” and 211 lbs. but he runs very strong and can pick up the extra yard when necessary. Sutton is a good blocker and a natural receiver out of the backfield, which earned him a spot in the Panthers backfield after being released by the Packers earlier this season. He has already passed fellow Panthers rookie Mike Goodson on the depth chart. Durability has been a question for Sutton in the past and for a shifty back, he does not have breakaway speed. He does have upside though, and could find himself in a lucrative fantays position in the next few years. The Panthers are a run heavy team, and if either Deangelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart were to get hurt for an extended period of time, Sutton would have his opportunity. Also, if Deangelo Williams and the Panthers part company after 2010, Sutton could be in a prime position to earn regular touches behind Stewart. He is likely to be the lesser half of a committee for the length of his career, but he can still be a very valuable asset to your Dynasty team if he continues to develop. 
 
RB/WR/KR JOSHUA CRIBBS
A former college QB at Kent State, Cribbs is one of the most dangerous return men in the NFL. He is explosive and the Browns are trying to get him more touches in the offense, but unless you are in a return yardage league, Cribbs has been nothing more than a waiver wire pick-up at this point. He has lined up in the wildcat as well as a RB and WR this season. He has not found his niche yet in the Browns offense, but they do recognize his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. Because he has played all over the field, he has not really advanced as a WR and probably will never be one on a full time basis. He could, however, be converted into a full time RB and wildcat specialist. Cribbs versatility has yet to turn into fantasy success, but it definitely could. He has the skillset to be a valuable FLEX player next season.

WR JAMES HARDY - BUFFALO BILLS
James Hardy is a guy a lot of people have forgotten about, but who could make a potential impact in 2010 and beyond. He was a 1st or 2nd round pick in Dynasty rookie drafts in 2008, but never flashed that redzone potential that he was supposed to bring to the Bills as a rookie. But those expectations might have been too lofty for the 6'5" 220 lb. Hardy. After all, he was considered a very raw talent coming out of Indiana University, where he dominated during his 3 year career. He can be unstoppable on the fade route and on jump balls. He has solid hands and athletic ability, but questionable physicality.  He tore his ACL in Week 15 last season which should limit his already mediocre explosiveness. But, if deployed properly, Hardy could be an interesting WR prospect in Dynasty leagues.

TE JARED COOK - TENNESSEE TITANS
Jared Cook should not be categorized as a tight end. With his size and speed, he is an athlete that happens to play the position. Drafted out of South Carolina in the 2009 NFL Draft's Third Round by the Tennessee Titans, Cook has yet to see much action in his rookie season. That could be a good thing in your Dynasty league, as he might be on the waiver wire or available at a discounted rate. The 6'5" 246 lb. Cook is a matchup nightmare with excellent burst and agility. He will need to add additional muscle to his lean frame without sacrificing speed to reach his full potential. He is strictly a pass catching TE though, as his blocking leaves much to be desired. At times, he relies too heavily on his natural abilities, which worked in college - but the NFL is full of freak athletes. Cook needs to dedicate himself to learning to play the TE position, this is the only way he will see the field anytime soon.  When he does, though, he will be a fantasy asset with TE1 upside.

Check out the previous installments of Dynasty Digging below in our archive. Justin Forsett and Fred Davis are two examples of players that went from Digging prospects to Emerging talents within just a few months. Injuries may strike at any moment in the NFL and provide an opportunity for another player to prove himself. Be sure to keep tabs on these players in the coming weeks and heading into next summer. You never know when one of these players could start to emerge.

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