I always like to split up my fantasy football drafts into eight rounds, since after eight rounds, players are generally fliers anyway.
The early rounds are where you develop that main strategy, so the middle portion is where the intrigue occurs. That’s why after rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4, the fifth round features several different positions according to average draft position.
Here’s the players labeled as potential draft picks, according to ADP, as distributed by FantasyPros, which aggregates several fantasy football draft platforms.
49. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
50. Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos
51. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
52. Jimmy Graham, TE, Green Bay Packers
53. Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns
54. Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
55. Marvin Jones, WR, Detroit Lions
56. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
57. Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks
58. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
59. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
60. Dion Lewis, RB, Tennessee Titans
No shining stars
This round is all about where your roster is at during the moment.
If you have your running back category already completed, then it’s worth investigating several options. If your wide receivers are set, then grab a running back.
And if you’re daring enough, you could grab some high-end quarterbacks or tight ends while you’re at it.
No matter who you pick, though, don’t expect there to be an immediate dominating player at this realm. We know the limitations of the majority of the wide receivers and while Wilson is generally a fantasy football stud, I have some concerns regarding Seattle’s offensive line.
My favorite diamond is…
Royce Freeman.
I loved Freeman out of college, and I believe he can be an immediate Flex candidate for any roster, with the capability of being much more.
Denver starter Devontae Booker has too many limitations to keep Freeman on the sidelines too long. Freeman is a three-down running back, capable of hitting on the big play.
It may take a few weeks for him to start shouldering much of the burden, but already in the preseason, we’ve seen enough to realize that Freeman is the best running back in Denver.
What about Gordon?
If there was another potential diamond in the rough, Gordon would be it. But how can you trust him?
When he’s on the field, he’s a WR1, with the right offensive system. However, in Cleveland, he’ll have to battle Jarvis Landry for targets and while the national rhetoric keeps believing Tyrod Taylor is this great veteran quarterback, he’s still the same guy who couldn’t contribute to any worthwhile fantasy wide receiver option in Buffalo.
He was benched last year for a reason.
Gordon won’t be the only target available, and I’m wondering if he falls into that Sammy Watkins mode when he played with Taylor. Gordon has tremendous upside, but the scheme doesn’t seem to match his talent-level.
Time for a tight end?
Maybe.
I’d skip Graham, but Olsen has my attention. At this juncture, it’s likely you’d have at least two running backs and two wide receivers.
That opens up some possibilities, especially with some decent options still available later in the draft with those positions.
When healthy, Olsen is a top-three tight end, capable of giving your team an edge on a weekly basis.
With Watkins, Corey Davis, Tevin Coleman, Carlos Hyde and Pierre Garcon still available later in the drafts to fill out the wide receiver and running back categories, Olsen does make some sense in this position.
On the outside looking in
I’m just not a believer in these wide receivers at this level. I’d skip that position in round five in favor of some players I already mentioned. Creeping in the next round are Tennessee’s Davis, who I anticipate will be a sleeper this season, along with Watkins, who will benefit from Patrick Mahomes’ big arm.
There’s also Hyde, who will dominate the early down carries in Cleveland, and Isaiah Crowell lingering at the 89th pick. Crowell doesn’t jump off the stat sheet, but he should be considered an option as at least a Flex in fantasy football.
There’s several sleepers lurking, so don’t feel obligated to go wide receiver or running back in round five.
