Draft Prep: 12 Underrated Players To Target In Your Drafts

Earlier this week I gave my observations of overvalued players primarily based on Average Draft Position (ADP). You can find that here. Today we will look at 12 undervalued players, guys who I feel can outperform their ADP or guys I will take every time if they fall at this price. These players will help you build a consistent lineup weekly with even a few names that have a chance to lead you to a fantasy championship.

I am going through late week ADP data from Fantasy Football Calculator.  These are players I’m surprised are being drafted later than similar players and should be snatched up at the current price. I am even willing to move up a round to have a few of the list.

Quarterback

• Jameis Winston (Late 8th ADP) – There is risk with Jameis, and anyone who’s been watching Hard Knocks can see he needs to take better care of the ball. But Jameis can reach 35 TDs this year and that would plant him firmly in the top 10 in QBs. He’s a leader and has some upraded weapons and another year with a solid coach. I’m expecting big things.
• Matthew Stafford (10th-11th Round ADP) – Stafford is one of six QBs to finish in the top 10 over the last two years. He’s going as the QB15. 4k passing yards and 25 TDs will be enough to do that again. I am happy to wait till other owners have a QBs and take Stafford as my every week starter.
• Dak Prescott (10th-11th Round ADP) – Dak is another player I am happy to wait on QB for. He will easily finish in the top 10 and be an every week starter. I expect his passing numbers to take a big jump with another year in the system. Add to that his rushing stats and he can take a jump similar to Russ Wilson from year one to year two.

Running Back

• Carlos Hyde (Mid 4th ADP) – I wrote in my previous article about a player, Isaiah Crowell, who I felt was over-valued.  Hyde is a big reason why. Hyde was a top 12 RB on a points per game basis. Still just 25 years old, his new OC is one of the brightest football coaches in the league. He’s the last of the feature backs and I’d take him over any of the third round picks.
• Danny Woodhead (Mid 4th ADP) – Baltimore has been looking for a pass catching back for many years. Expect Woodhead to see plenty of snaps, with Baltimore in constant catch-up mode. Woodhead finished as a top 12 RB in all formats in 2015. At worst Woodhead is an every week flex with potential to be an every week starter.
• Darren Sproles (Early 11th ADP) – There are plenty of late round pass catching backs but none I like more that Sproles at this price. Yes he’s 34 but he will see plenty of time on the field with the shady backfield situation in Philly. He will easily return his value here, and again finish as a solid top 30 RB and every week flex.

Wide Receiver

• Sammy Watkins (Mid 6th ADP) – It’s criminal how much Watkins has fallen since news of his trade. He’s fully healthy and two years removed from the same foot injury Julio Jones and Dez Bryant took two years to recover from. Take away Tyrod Taylor‘s rushing stats and he was the lowest fantasy scoring QB in the league. Jared Goff gets a huge upgrade in OC and head coach, both incredible play callers. They will take advantage of the ultra talented Watkins and he is a steal in the 6th.
• Pierre Garcon (Mid 7th ADP) – Kyle Shanahan is one of the brightest offensive minds in the league and he hand picked Garcon to join him in San Fran. The last time these two were together Garcon collected 181 targets on his way to a career year. While I don’t expect numbers anywhere close to that, 80 catches and 1000 yards should come easy which firmly plants him inside the top 20 WR. 
• Kenny Britt (Late 10th ADP) – Britt is in line to be the number one WR for a team that has little options. It looks like Kizer Throwze is a player, which means Britt is in line for another solid year. To find a #1 wideout this late in the draft is the value we are looking for. Britt needs some time for his routes to develop and a QB with a big arm. The Browns figure to have one of the best O-lines in the league and Kizer has shown he isn’t afraid to stand and make a throw.

Tight End

• Zach Ertz (Late 8th) – Ertz is a volume dependent TE that doesn’t score many TD. However, the trade of Jordan Mathews really opens up the middle of the field. Ertz had two 100-yard games last year, both games Mathews missed. He should again finish among the yardage leaders at TE and if he can score a few TDs he’s an easy top 5 TE.
• Eric Ebron (Mid 11th ADP) – Ebron’s biggest issue is that he doesn’t score TDs. On a per game yardage basis he was yard for yard with Jordan Reed all year. The problem is he only scored one TD. If Ebron can find his way to the end zone a few more times, his value shoots up the board.
• Colby Fleener (Mid 14th ADP) – Fleener was over drafted last year and now he’s failing directly down the board. I want a piece of the New Orleans passing game every year and Fleener is a cheap option. He struggled in the system last year but generally the second year on a team will help any TE. He’s a good value and if you are going late round TE, he’s an excellent option.