Building a solid fantasy football roster includes catching a few breaks toward the end of the draft. That could mean picking that right handcuff running back or correctly predicting that overlooked rookie or young player, dismissed by the national pundits.
If you’re looking at the mid-tier options, check out this list for some immediate starters. For those you may have to wait for results, here’s the best deep sleepers, anticipated to be picked 121 and beyond, available in the upcoming fantasy football draft.
O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Howard currently owns an average draft position of 128, putting him in the latter portion of the 11th round. It’s not ideal since he isn’t going to start right away. However, he’s in an offense that will likely pass far more than in past years, and is a dynamic rookie that very few are talking about.
He was the best playmaker on an Alabama team loaded with talent. His production wasn’t great in college, but I’m anticipating that was more to do with Alabama’s approach, rather than Howard’s inability to perform. I’m anticipating him to see the field more as the season progresses, so you may have to be patient. If he slips more than the 11th round, he can be a nice stash play for future weeks. Keep an eye on his stock, because he has the potential to be a valuable weapon for Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers offense.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Can you tell I’m all over the Bucs this season?
This pick has more to do with immediate value in a round where that’s not always the case. Rodgers appears like he’s going to start for the Buccaneers in the first three weeks of Martin’s absence. And while a committee approach may occur, Rodgers is going to likely see the most leeway in making a mark in the offense.
His ADP is 134th overall, so you can get him in the 12th round, where many people are taking fliers anyway. Rodgers is much more than a flier. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and if he can garner starter’s touches for at least five weeks, he’s easily worth the investment this late in the draft.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett is young. And he disappointed majorly last season in fantasy, so like in most cases, we just discard him the following year.
That shouldn’t necessarily be the case. This is only his third year and all signs are pointing to him to start in the opener after suffering a broken leg late last season. And while we are still holding onto his disappointing season last year, we shouldn’t forget where he ended up before his injury. He was inserted as a regular starter in the Seahawks lineup, and went for at least six targets in his final four complete games. In those games, he went for four total touchdowns, and put up more than 100 yards receiving in one of those contests.
The more comfortable he got in the offense, the better he was able to contribute. That’s why I’m shocked he’s going off as the 166th player to go off of draft boards in the upcoming fantasy football draft. Don’t give up on him just because he failed to live up to expectations earlier in the 2016 season. He’s still young and should have time to develop. He was poised to become a decent weapon in that Seattle offense in 2016. Don’t give up on that potential in 2017.
Sam Bradford, QB, Minnesota Vikings
I wouldn’t recommend going into week 1 with Bradford as your fantasy starter. However, he shouldn’t be the 25th quarterback in ADP, and he has the potential to be a quality backup and a nice fill-in starter when necessary.
Bradford is getting a bad rap because of his inability to adjust to several different offenses during his career. The Philadelphia experiment was awful and he showed up to Minnesota days before the first game in 2016. Then, his offensive line, which already wasn’t one of the best units in the league, was reduced to pretty much nothing as the season progressed. Still, in all of the turmoil, he put up a ridiculous completion percentage at over 70 percent, threw 20 touchdowns and hurled only five interceptions.
A year later with a club with many of the same weapons has to mean something. The offensive line is better and as long as the injuries stay away, it’s plausible that Bradford finally reaches his potential. He has an overall ADP of 213, so he’s more than capable of filling your roster’s backup slot for quarterback. And if he comes close to his potential, he could eventually be a starter.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
There’s plenty of buzz around Agholor out of Eagles camp. And that was even more apparent when the Eagles traded Jordan Matthews, giving Agholor the starting slot spot on the team. The Eagles are poised to throw more this season, so Agholor should get several more targets, especially with Alshon Jeffery garnering plenty of attention as the No. 1 receiver. Agholor struggled with drops last season, but his skill level is enough that the Eagles believe in his potential.
He’ll learn to catch the football and with an ADP of 221, he can easily fill in a spot on your roster and possibly work his way into a WR3 role.
Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lee may miss week 1, but there’s no reason he should be ranked 226 overall in ADP. Lee finished the season as a legitimate fantasy football asset in 2016. He was targeted at least seven times in five of the final seven games in 2016. In that time, he scored three touchdowns and went for more than 80 yards receiving twice.
Lee was highly touted out of USC, but failed to make a name for himself in the NFL during his first 2 1/2 years. It takes some players some time to get comfortable in the league, and Lee showed that he was more than capable of being a WR3 option in fantasy football late last season.
An ankle sprain makes him a little more of a risk, but if he’s depth on your fantasy football roster, you’re in good shape at the wide receiver position.
