A Word to the Wise: Players to Draft in Fantasy Football This Season
As an annual tradition amongst countless American households, playing "fantasy football" is a key part of people spectating the NFL during each season. Accordingly, for the 2017-2018 season, I have a list of 10 undervalued and underappreciated players that I highly recommend drafting (in standard and PPR leagues). The order in which the players are listed has no significance.
1. RB Kareem Hunt - The kid from Toledo is agile and showed his abilities when breaking school records in college. His ability to pass protect will keep him on the field, under the lead of Andy Reid. Hunt is a fantasy football star at the running back position that is just waiting to be discovered.
2. RB Darren McFadden - With starting Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot suspended for the first six games, McFadden is lined up to put up RB1 numbers for the Cowboys' first six games. No matter what happens to Elliot's suspension, a team owner can draft McFadden in the later rounds of the draft and reap huge benefits.
3. TE Jordan Reed - Jordan Reed does not have as brutal of an injury history as Tyler Eifert but his injury issues have allowed him to drop down into at least the fifth round. When healthy, Reed is a focal point of Washington's offense and he can be a top-three tight end by the end of the season.
4. RB Isaiah Crowell - With DeShone Kizer starting at quarterback, the Cleveland Browns need to run the ball and Crowell is ready to shoulder the load at the age of 24. Hue Jackson loves, loves, loves running the ball and that is exactly where Isaiah Crowell fits into the picture.
5. WR Golden Tate - Following the departure of Anquan Boldin and the continued disappointment of Eric Ebron, Detroit's lead wideout is in a place to catch the lion's share of Matthew Stafford’s passes. Also, Tate could have more opportunities to get into the end zone without Boldin being around.
6. WR DeVante Parker - After Ryan Tannehill's season-ending injury, it seemed like the Dolphins wide receivers would be irrelevant on the fantasy football landscape. Following the signing of new starting QB Jay Cutler, one thing is clear about Cutler's preferences - he loves DeVante Parker. Just like he did with Brandon Marshall in Denver and Alshon Jeffrey in Chicago, Cutler could lean heavily on Parker and all of Parker's owners will be ecstatic.
7. WR Brandin Cooks - Cooks was already in an ideal situation when he was traded to the New England Patriots to join Tom Brady's aerial attack. Given Julian Edelman's season-ending ACL tear, Cooks is primed to catch even more passes throughout every New England game. Brandin Cooks has always been known as a deep threat but now he will have more opportunities in short yardage situations. Any fantasy owner can be confident in drafting this man as their WR1 at the end of round two or at the beginning of round three.
8. TE Jimmy Graham - While only being drafted as the fifth or sixth highest tight end in most fantasy football leagues, Jimmy Graham possesses tremendous upside at his position. His production can lead him to finishing the season as a top two tight end. In addition, he has much lower injury risk than a tight end like Rob Gronkowski, while simultaneously being able to be drafted anywhere in the middle rounds of the draft.
9. QB Drew Brees - Similar to the next player I have listed, Drew Brees is the epitome of consistency at his respective position in fantasy football. Brees has finished as a top-three quarterback seven times within the past 11 seasons. Clearly, that feat is remarkable and drafting New Orleans' field general will ensure that (barring injury) your quarterback position is secure for the entire fantasy football season.
10. WR Larry Fitzgerald - Mr. Fitzgerald is Mr. Consistency in fantasy football, having finished as a top-11 fantasy WR seven times within the past 10 years. Given that Fitzgerald is dropping down to rounds five and six, he is a reliable draft pick in the middle rounds.
(If you would like to test my expertise in fantasy sports, feel free to invite me to your league so that I can win it. I have played fantasy sports for 10 straight years, starting with fantasy baseball. Moreover, I have partaken in numerous variations of fantasy baseball, fantasy football, and fantasy basketball leagues on an annual basis. Most importantly, I have successfully made it into the playoffs of every league, while playing on multiple websites.)
Good luck to everyone participating in fantasy football this season and I hope that this list helps you win!
