A lineup worth of late picks in your fantasy draft
During the next two weeks, the majority of fantasy football drafts will be held and hopefully your studying goes well.
However, choosing players during the early part of your draft should be straight forward based on the many lists that can be found online and in the fantasy football magazines.
But what happens in the later rounds may be the difference in a fantasy championship or a fantasy dud.
Here is a starting lineup of the deep sleepers I like who are ranked 144 or higher on FantasyPros ERC list.
Quarterback
Zach Wilson, NY Jets (180 on the ERC list)
The talk among the rookie QBs is when Chicago’s Justin Fields and San Francisco’s Trey Lance are going to make their first starts, but the thing that is nice about Wilson, there is no question when he will start.
The first two picks of this year’s draft, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Wilson, will be their respective teams’ starting QBs for the foreseeable future. There is no wait.
Plus, Wilson has played well in the preseason and may have found a reliable target in Corey Davis.
Running backs
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia (195)
Gainwell may not be the starter or even the back-up in the Eagles’ deep backfield, but he may have carved himself a role as the passing down back.
The fifth-round pick has caught 10 passes in Philadelphia’s three preseason games, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England (221)
Stevenson is the big reason Sony Michel became expendable for the Patriots.
In New England two preseason games, the rookie is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and scored 4 rushing TDs.
Stevenson will enter the season as Damien Harris’ top back-up.
Wide receivers
Sterling Shepard, NY Giants (148)
The crowded WR room has kept Shepard low in most rankings.
However, Shepard averaged 7.5 targets in the 12 game he played in last season and led the team in receptions and TD catches.
He is also a favorite of quarterback Daniel Jones.
Jakobi Meyers, New England (155)
The Patriots were busy in the offseason trying to improve their receiving corps, but Meyers still remains as the top option.
He led the team last season with 59 catches and 729 yards, and he should regress to the norm on TDs after not scoring last season. He caught a TD pass last week in the Patriots’ preseason win against Philadelphia.
Meyers has been the most consistent receiver in camp, according to reports.
Rondale Moore, Arizona (172)
Moore has been active in the passing and the run game during the Cardinals’ first two preseason games.
He has six catches and three carries in those contests and should give Arizona a nice underneath weapon to go with DeAndre Hopkins.
Plus, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said earlier in the preseason he plans to manufacture touches for the rookie WR.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh (311)
Freiermuth may take some time to become the Steelers' No. 1 TE, but he should be a 'big' weapon in the red zone.
The second-round pick is 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and had a knack of catching touchdown passes during his college career at Penn State.
During Pittsburgh's second preseason game, QB Ben Roethlisberger found the rookie twice in the end zone.
Flex
Marquez Callaway, New Orleans (200)
With the absence of Michael Thomas, Callaway has been a standout this preseason for the Saints.
In New Orleans’ two games, the second-year WR has hauled in eight passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
According to reports out of the Saints’ camp, Callaway is their breakout player of 2021.
- Subscribe to my page to stay up to date on new stories, new rankings and other information I will provide during the season.
Comments