The real urban legend is that a player that starts the year on the depth chart below the gameday active 45 will contribute significantly that year. Not impossible, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
You do realize you have to cut anyone who doesn't make the top 53, don't you? That means anyone can claim your most excellent draft picks without cost.
"Shadow Roster" is a euphemism for unemployed. Couple of interesting aspects of the unemployed:
a) They are unemployed for a reason...meaning they couldn't find gainful employment in a league with 1700 positions. And that doesn't count other leagues.
b) They don't get paid, meaning this is not a place people want to be.
The owners offered one additional roster spot in exchange for an 18 game season. With the 2 extra games off the table, you think the owners will cough up 3 additional roster spots?
Only if the owners are abducted by aliens and replaced by Paris Hilton clones.
I realize you are having fun and I don't mean to pee in your oatmeal, but I'm not sure people appreciate the logistics around managing a roster. You need to develop players or they quickly become useless. This development requires practice reps and eventually game reps. Coaching and practice time is finite and must be prioritized.
I've said the same things about people who want a WR depth chart that goes 6-7 deep with high draft picks and established vets. It sounds good but is completely impractical. It is easy to ignore this on mock drafts that involve trading down to get dozens of players. Luckily Belichick has a much firmer grip on reality.
