The purpose of this column is to spotlight deeper roster moves that could pay off big over the course of the season. Unless stated in a player's write up, we're not looking for one-week wonders here, but shark moves that could really strengthen your team down the road.

Dynasty Watch focuses on low risk, huge payoff roster moves that you might be able make before the guys in your league think about it. This aim of this column is to make you look like a genius to the other owners in your league. When news breaks, and the other owners are scrambling to make a waiver wire move, we want them to be upset time and time again that the player is already on your squad.

Larry Croom: RB Arizona Cardinals
5'10" 205 lbs - Nevada-Las Vegas
23 years old. 2004 Undrafted Rookie Free Agent

What has he done so far
Croom cracked the starting lineup after a few injuries sidelined Emmitt Smith and Troy Hambrick. He finished the game with 18 carries for only 49 yards. In the preseason, Croom got the most work for the Cardinals, and his stats were a bit better.

Many undrafted rookies are not on an NFL roster when the season starts. The odds are pretty slim. The fact that Croom was undrafted in 2004 is an interesting accomplishment.

Current Situation
Starter by default. Both Smith and Hambrick are ahead of him on the depth chart. With Hambrick on injured reserve, Croom should see more production between now and the end of the season.

Spotlight ETA
The time is NOW for Croom. The Cardinals are already out of the playoff hunt, and they will be evaluating talent on their roster. With Hambrick gone and Smith injured, Croom will have an opportunity to really show his stuff. If he can turn in an impressive outing or two between now and the end of the year, he can secure himself the starting job for 2005.

Dynasty Upside
Emmitt Smith is at the end of his career. If he returns next season, it probably won' t be as the starter. Troy Hambrick has been erratic in his performances this year. He has had a few good games (16-79 1 TD vs NO) but he has also has some lousy ones (10-29 0 TDs vs SF). Marcel Shipp was projected to be the starter for this year, but he was lost to injury before the season even began. Given his 2003 performance (228-830 0 TDs) and the lack of opportunity to impress the new coaching staff this year, Shipp is not guaranteed the starting job when he returns either.

Croom has the perfect chance to show head coach Dennis Green that he can perform at the NFL level. If he can really turn it on between now and the end of the season, he can head into the 2005 training camp with a big advantage on the starting job.

Final Thoughts
Since 1999, the Cardinals have never finished higher than 20th in total offense. In fact, there are several backup RBs who will probably finish with better stats than anyone on the Arizona roster. So why would you want Croom in the first place? Dennis Green.

Dennis Green likes to run the ball. In his last four full seasons with the Vikings, Minnesota ranked 6th (2000), 14th (1999), 11th (1998), 6th (1997). Whoever starts in Arizona will have a golden opportunity to put up some solid fantasy numbers.

Now is Croom on the same level as Michael Bennett, Robert Smith, or Leroy Hoard? Not that he has shown. Is Arizona the offensive machine that Minnesota was during that time? Not even close! Even if Croom is named the starter in 2005, will he finish in the top 20 for fantasy running backs? Probably not.

However, starting running backs in the NFL are hard to come by. In a dynasty league, even a weak starter has some value. Croom just might be that guy. Most rosters are frozen at this time of the year in preparation for the playoffs, so Croom probably won't be snatched up by anyone else in your league for a bit. Keep an eye on him between now and the end of the season, and see if he can improve on his performance. If he shows some signs of life, take a gamble and grab him for the offseason.

Derrick Ward: RB New York Giants
5'11" 233 lbs - Ottawa KS
24 years old. 7th round pick in the 2004 draft, 235th overall

Ward has no NFL offensive stats.

What has he done so far
While with the Jets, Derrick Ward was placed above Lamont Jordan on the depth card, but really we all know that wasn't real, and it was to motivate Jordan. He signed with the Giants in the middle of October and hasn't taken a snap. He has however gotten into two games so far.

Current Situation
Ward is 5'11" and 233 lbs. He has the size to be a short yardage/goalline back. And as long as Tiki is around, that's the most it is ever going to be. Currently, Dayne is a total bust, and Mike Cloud is in that role.

There is a shot for Ward here, but we haven't seen enough of him to really know anything. With Cloud hurting lately, it is Dayne that the Giants are trying to go back to. I would have figured that Ward would have gotten a shot before now so I basically put him on the back burner for the rest of the season to see what happens with Dayne and Cloud in the offseason.

Spotlight ETA
It is unlikely that we will see much from Ward this season. It's truly perplexing. Cloud can't stay healthy and is small for the short yardage role. Dayne is just worthless. Ward should be in there. He proved his speed and ability last week with a 92 yard kick return.

Dynasty Upside
There is definitely room for another back in NY. In the 4 seasons before this year, Tiki went over the 300 carry mark one time, and that was for 303 carries. The Giants as a total had 387 carries in 2003. This season, Tiki has carried the ball 224 times, or 20 carries a game. He is on pace for 320 carries.

Coughlin is known for is ball control. Coughlin is a stickler for not turning the ball over, and using big backs in certain sets. In eight seasons as the head coach of the Jaguars, Coughlin teams averaged 450 carries a season, only once dropping below the 400 carry mark.

Final Thoughts
Just simply looking at history, some bigger back is going to get 130+ carries a year as the "Stacy Mack" to Tiki as Coughlin gets more and more of his offense in place. Even now, Cloud/Dayne are getting key carries from Tiki. This looks like an incredible position for Ward to be in.

Special thanks to Nuclear George from the message board