There are few issues extra satisfying than watching everybody run to the waiver wire early within the season solely to search out that the man they anticipated was accessible is already in your roster. Fantasy managers who drafted James Robinson or Elijah Mitchell the previous two years know precisely what I am speaking about.
My hope is that there are a few Week 1 surprises on the checklist beneath, however that is not all you may discover. You will discover no less than one participant who I count on to start out the yr on the PUP checklist, however might be a league-winner within the second half. You will discover a number of working again handcuffs, a number of late-round tight ends, and even one or two quarterbacks.
So what does this hodgepodge of gamers have in widespread? Effectively, all of them have a consensus ADP on Fantasy Professionals outdoors the highest 180 they usually’re all being drafted after the primary 10 rounds at CBS as of August twenty fifth. I’ve sorted them by division with a number of phrases on my favorites in every division.
I count on a number of objections that a few these guys are too well-known, so I am going to replace in September for the ultimate draft weekend if ADP modifications that a lot.
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The NFC North has a giant benefit over everybody else on this regard. Whereas Herbert is my favourite of the group and Doubs has been the speak of coaching camp, Jameson Williams is definitely considered one of my favourite late-round picks, so long as you will have an IR slot in your league.
Even in business drafts, Williams typically makes it to the ultimate spherical as a result of he is already been positioned on the PUP checklist and can miss no less than the primary 4 weeks of the season. My expectation is that Williams will return after the staff’s Week 7 bye and I am completely superb with drafting him, stashing him, after which having an open roster slot for that first run of waivers.
With excellent assist, Williams might have been the WR1 on this class and if he’s again to 100% he could be the No. 1 huge receiver on this class for the 2022 Fantasy playoffs. Williams ran a 4.30 40-yard sprint on the mix and produced greater than 1,500 yards as a 20-year-old at Alabama. He is an unimaginable expertise who solely must get wholesome and be taught the system.
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Dontrell Hilliard is not my favourite, however he does look like the handcuff to Derrick Henry, so if that is your form of factor he must be in your radar for the ultimate spherical. Identical goes for Evan Engram, who seems locked in as TE1 in a Doug Pederson offense.
The man who’s my favourite is Nico Collins. Collins struggled as a rookie, however he is 6-foot-4 and ran a 4.45 40 at his professional day so I am prepared to provide him a move on that dangerous rookie yr. Collins has nearly no competitors for targets behind Brandin Cooks and I count on each a rise in move quantity and move effectivity in Davis Mills’ second yr as a starter. Collins profiles as a borderline flex with Cooks wholesome and a possible top-25 huge receiver if one thing occurs to Cooks.
We’re taking Collins as early as Spherical 10 in our mocks, however his ADP doesn’t mirror that in any respect. I would not be stunned if he is one of many risers of the ultimate two weeks of draft season.
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Isiah Pacheco and Zamir White are a pair of backs I used to be shocked certified for this checklist. Pacheco particularly has been drafted as excessive as Spherical 8 in a few of our business drafts. Whereas I feel that is a mistake, it is also a mistake to let him final previous Spherical 12.
Each of those backs are on groups that we simply aren’t positive are offered on their starters. Each of those backs might be goalline backs based on stories we have heard throughout camp. And each of those backs are rookies on groups that might have some fireworks on offense. On the draw back, each of those backs are in all probability going to be sharing with somebody if the starter goes down. I barely desire White, however I am superb with both in Spherical 11.
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Whereas Sterling Shepard did shock me by coming off the PUP earlier than the yr began, and all the opposite Giants receivers appear to be harm, he is not my favourite on this checklist. No less than not till I hear he is again to 100%. My favourite is Jalen Tolbert and he might have an enormous alternative because of the restoration of one other injured receiver, Michael Gallup.
Tolbert was the Cowboys Spherical 3 select of South Alabama, the place he totally dominated the lesser competitors, averaging 122 receiving yards per recreation. His 51.2% dominator rating ranks within the 97th percentile for receivers getting into the NFL and he is drawn good critiques in Dallas this offseason.
it is all the time tough to guage small-school guys like Tolbert and the truth that he is already 23 makes him much more suspicious however that maturity mixed with this chance might equal a really quick begin. if Gallup is not in a position to get again to 100% early within the yr, Tolbert might get an prolonged run because the WR2 in an offense that we count on to be properly above common, if not explosive.
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As you could possibly inform, the standard is starting to drop off at this level, particularly as soon as we get previous my favourite in every division. Though, I’ll say I feel there’s an underrated likelihood that the 4 NFC South gamers above all have an effect this yr. Mariota runs sufficient to be a borderline startable QB in a one-quarterback league, Robbie Anderson is probably going the No. 2 huge receiver on the Panthers, and Kyle Rudolph might have the Gronk position. However I do not like several of them as a lot as I like Mark Ingram.
Ingram performed two video games with out Kamara final yr and averaged 20 touches, 110.5 yards, and 19.1 PPR Fantasy factors per recreation. That makes Ingram one of the crucial enticing handcuffs and he is not being drafted as such in any respect. I additionally suppose there’s an opportunity he is like a poor man’s Kareem Hunt and not using a Kamara harm, particularly if the Saints keep as run heavy as they have been final yr. I even have Ingram projected in Hunt’s vary, however I rank him a lot decrease as a result of you do not have to draft him close to that top.
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Eno Benjamin is a pleasant handcuff and Geno Smith might be a sneaky QB2 in leagues the place you can begin a couple of, however Tyler Higbee is the star of the NFC West deep sleepers and I am probably not positive why he qualifies.
Final yr Higbee completed the yr as TE14 general and outscored Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry and Pat Freiermuth on a per-game foundation. He was even higher in his ultimate 4 video games, averaging 13.8 Fantasy factors per recreation. Now we have seen a giant end from Higbee that did not translate the next yr, however I feel that is completely different.
For one factor, Higbee obtained the goal share final yr, his effectivity simply fell off a cliff, and I do not suppose there’s any purpose to imagine he’ll proceed to be much less environment friendly with Matthew Stafford than he was with jared Goff. He has 100-target upside in an offense that we expect could also be the very best in soccer and the highest two goal earners on the staff are each 29-year-old receivers with in depth harm histories. He is one harm away from being the second goal on the offense, and a possible league-winner at that. Even with out an harm I mission Higbee to be a top-12 tight finish and he is hardly ever drafted in our drafts.
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Yeah, it is getting worse. Isaiah McKenzie is correct behind Corey Davis right here, however each are huge receivers that in all probability want some assist to be precise distinction makers in Fantasy. For Davis, it might be so simple as holding off Garrett Wilson, which none of us actually need. For McKenzie, he simply must protect the Cole Beasley position and be extra environment friendly.
Beasley averaged seven targets per recreation over the previous three seasons. McKenzie might earn these targets, however it’s going to imply that Gabriel Davis and/or Dawson Knox do not take the step ahead that they are being drafted to take. Contemplating I haven’t got Davis or Knox ranked as excessive as consensus, that appears doable.
The opposite benefit McKenzie might have over Beasley is within the working recreation. He has 19 carries for 56 yards and a landing over the previous two seasons and ran 10 occasions for 66 yards and two scores in 2018. If McKenzie might add some extent per recreation on the bottom, there’s extra upside.
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Right here we’re once more with Mike Davis. Gus Edwards has already been positioned on the PUP checklist. J.Okay. Dobbins nonetheless is not absolutely cleared. Mike Davis could very properly be your Week 1 starter in opposition to the New York Jets.
I do know you’re feeling such as you’ve been fooled by Davis earlier than however I have to remind you that Latavius Murray scored 4 touchdowns within the first six video games of 2021 for Baltimore and Devonta Freeman averaged 14.2 PPR Fantasy factors per recreation from Week 9-14. If these guys will be Fantasy related on this offense, nearly anybody might.
Davis will not doubtless have a giant position for lengthy, but when you’ll find a Week 1 starter within the double-digit rounds, it’s best to hop on it, particularly in case you went with a Zero-RB method.
