While most of us degenerates are counting the days to the start of the NFL season, best ball draft season is in full swing. For anyone unfamiliar with best ball, it is a fantasy football format where you draft a large team (typically 20 roster spots on my preferred platform), but you do not manage the roster on a week-to-week basis. There is no adding, dropping, or trading players once rosters are drafted, and your highest-scoring lineup is automatically set each week. Drafting earlier in the offseason can be advantageous, as we can get ADP discounts on players due to ambiguity around their roles. On the flip side, there are inherent risks in this format. Players can get injured, cut, or buried on their team’s depth chart before the season even starts. With our late-round picks, we mainly want to swing for upside, but there is also some merit to drafting guys we at least know will have a role with their team and get on the field. With that in mind, here is a look at some players I like to target late in best ball drafts with ADPs of 200 or later (based on DraftKings ADP).
Wide Receivers
Tutu Atwell (LAR) and Ray-Ray McCloud (ATL)
ADPs: 224.3 (Atwell) and 217.5 (McCloud)
Both Tutu Atwell and Ray-Ray McCloud project to be their team’s WR3 this season. The reason I have these players listed together and like to target them is simple – the Rams and the Falcons run 11 personnel (3-WR sets) at the highest rates in the league. This shouldn’t be surprising, as the Falcons’ OC Zac Robinson served as the Rams’ quarterback coach and passing game coordinator in 2022 and 2023 when the Rams led the league in 11 personnel usage. In 2024, the Falcons and Rams deployed 11 personnel on 85.54% and 81.25% of their offensive plays, respectively (per Sumer Sports). Atwell and McCloud will be on the field more often than not, and they are going to run a lot of routes. Last season, McCloud recorded a 62-686-1 receiving line, and Atwell finished the season with a 42-562-0 line. Atwell had to compete with Demarcus Robinson for WR3 snaps last year, but he should have a more solid hold on the role after signing a $10 million extension following Robinson’s departure to the 49ers this offseason.
Atwell and McCloud have similar ADPs, so choosing which to draft mostly comes down to preference or if you are stacking them with their QB. Both face stiff competition for targets. Atwell has to contend with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. McCloud has to compete for targets with Drake London and Darnell Mooney – who I would rank as a lesser duo than Nacua and Adams – but he also has to deal with TE Kyle Pitts and a good pass-catching RB in Bijan Robinson. Atwell and McCloud were equal when it came to getting separation from their defender, but Atwell’s aDOT of 12 and 2.20 yards per route run were better than McCloud’s 6.8 aDOT and 1.33 YPRR. When you add in that Atwell has 4.44 speed and has flashed big play ability in the past, I slightly prefer him in best ball for spike week potential.
Demarcus Robinson (SF) and Jacob Cowing (SF)
ADPs: 228.6 (Robinson) and 229.6 (Cowing)
Speaking of Demarcus Robinson, he walks into a decent opportunity with his new team. Coming off career highs of 505 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, the veteran receiver should be a contributor at least early on this season, with Brandon Aiyuk expected to miss time as he continues to recover from surgery for a torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 7 last season. Robinson could be even more involved in the 49ers’ passing attack depending on what happens with fellow WR Jauan Jennings, who has requested a new deal or to be traded. Robinson is a big body and proven red zone threat that can provide some spike weeks in best ball. However, Robinson was recently sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge stemming from an arrest last November while he was with the Los Angeles Rams. With his court case settled, Robinson could face a possible suspension.
With all the uncertainty around the 49ers receiver corps, second-year WR Jacob Cowing has become an intriguing dart throw late in drafts. Cowing boasts impressive speed with a 4.38 40-yard dash time. With Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders, there is speculation that Cowing could handle some of the gadget plays that Deebo was used on. 49ers’ coach Kyle Shanahan praised Cowing and his work ethic at the 49ers’ minicamp this offseason. With the status of the 49ers’ receiver room up in the air, I like taking shots on these pass catchers late in drafts.
Jalen Nailor (MIN) and Tai Felton (MIN)
ADPs: 222 (Nailor) and 231.3 (Felton)
Here we have another pair of teammates, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton. Minnesota has had a potent passing attack under head coach Kevin O’Connell, and we can draft a piece of it for practically free in Nailor or Felton. Jalen Nailor served as the team’s WR3 last season, recording a receiving line of 28-414-6. Nailor has reportedly been working hard and bulked up this offseason and should resume his WR3 role, at least to begin the season. He will face added competition from rookie third-round pick Tai Felton and free agent signee Rondale Moore, although I don’t expect Moore to be a significant factor. Felton, on the other hand, has higher draft capital invested in him and can be an explosive playmaker with his 4.37 speed. Vikings’ wide receiver coach Keenan McCardell was a big fan of Felton throughout the draft process and lobbied for the Vikings to draft the receiver out of Maryland. Felton projects to serve as the Vikings’ WR4. Both receivers could be in line for more opportunities early in the season, as fellow WR Jordan Addison could be facing a three-game suspension from his DUI case. Considering he has also been pulled over for driving 140mph since entering the NFL, I’d expect the league to follow through with a suspension. If Addison is suspended, Nailor and Felton would be bumped up the depth chart in his absence. We’ve seen Addison finish as a WR2 in fantasy the past two seasons and have some huge weeks, so whoever serves as the Vikings’ WR2 in his absence could produce some solid games. Nailor is the safer bet, but I’ve taken shots on Felton as well because of the draft capital and big-play ability. I particularly like to draft one of these receivers if I have already taken J.J. McCarthy and can stack them.
Dyami Brown (JAX)
ADP: 200.6
Dyami Brown signed with the Jaguars on a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason after a strong finish to the 2024 season. Brown recorded career highs of only 30 receptions and 308 yards last season; however, he flashed his potential with more playing time when WR Noah Brown went down with an injury. Dyami Brown led the Commanders in receiving yards during their playoff run, accumulating 229 yards; he had the second-most receiving yards of any player in the 2024 postseason. The Jaguars’ new head coach, Liam Coen, got to see Brown in action while serving as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator. Brown recorded five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown as the Commanders went on to beat the Bucs 23-20 in the Wild Card round. Coen and the Jaguars brought in Brown with a role in mind for him, and he has impressed so far in OTAs and minicamp. Though Brown will have to compete with second-year stud Brian Thomas Jr. and rookie Travis Hunter, early indications are that he should have a prominent role in this new-look Jags’ offense. Brown has showcased his big-play and YAC ability, and hopefully, he can build on that this season with more opportunities. He is a player I like to target late in best ball drafts and would even be willing to reach on drafting him if I am stacking him with Trevor Lawrence.
Darius Slayton (NYG)
ADP: 204.7
Darius Slayton re-signed with the Giants on a three-year, $36 million deal. Slayton is the Giants’ WR2 behind Malik Nabers, so he will have a full-time role in the offense. Nabers will surely be a target hog and the focal point of the offense, but there is plenty of opportunity for Slayton to provide usable weeks in best ball. Quarterback play should almost certainly be better for the Giants this year, with Russell Wilson expected to be the Week 1 starter. Wilson has a penchant for targeting perimeter receivers, and Slayton lines up primarily on the outside. Even though Russ is past his prime, he still throws a nice deep ball and will give his receivers a chance to go up and get it. This suits Slayton’s skillset as a deep threat, averaging 15 yards per reception for his career. If Wilson loses the starting job, veteran Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart both have strong arms, and we know that Winston is not afraid to sling it. Before last season, Slayton had recorded 700+ receiving yards in two consecutive seasons and has reached that mark in four of the six seasons he has played. With competent quarterback play, he should be able to reach that mark again this season and provide some usable weeks in best ball. Slayton also has the contingent upside that if Nabers misses any time, he would operate as the Giants’ top wideout.
Running Backs
DJ Giddens (IND)
ADP: 206.9
The Colts selected rookie DJ Giddens in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft. Over his final two collegiate seasons, Giddens accumulated over 2500 yards rushing, 21 total touchdowns, and nearly 600 receiving yards on 50 receptions. Though Giddens isn’t currently listed as the RB2 on the Colts’ depth chart, it is feasible that he will leapfrog Khalil Herbert by the start of the regular season. Giddens is an explosive back who can make defenders miss and excel in space. There is a real possibility for him to carve out a role catching the ball out of the backfield for the Colts, especially if he can improve as a pass protector to get himself on the field more. Jonathan Taylor had only 18 receptions last year, though part of that is due to having a mobile quarterback in Anthony Richardson. The main reason I’ve been targeting Giddens is that Taylor has missed 16 games over his past three seasons and has a history of ankle sprains. Taking late swings on running back handcuffs, we are hoping they can carve out a complementary role and have at least a few spot starts throughout the season. With Taylor’s injury history and Giddens’ skill set, he is one of my favorite late-round handcuffs to bet on.
Blake Corum (LAR) and Jarquez Hunter (LAR)
ADPs: 213.3 (Corum) and 206.2 (Hunter)
After selecting Blake Corum in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft, the Rams selected Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round this year. Corum didn’t get much work as a rookie, as starter Kyren Williams dominated backfield touches with over 300 carries. Williams, however, took a step back in efficiency last season and had some ball security issues, losing three fumbles in the regular season and one in the Rams’ Divisional Round loss to the Eagles. These issues, coupled with Williams’ injury history, suggest there could be more opportunities for Corum and Hunter this season if the Rams want to lighten his workload, though I’d expect Williams to dominate touches in this backfield at least early on in the season. Corum profiles very similarly to Williams as a physical, downhill runner who fights through contact, so he’d be the closer one-to-one replacement for Williams if he were to miss time. Hunter, on the other hand, is a faster, shiftier running back. In 2024, Hunter had the second-highest explosive rush rate (runs of 10+ yards) among FBS backs with 150+ carries; last season, the Rams had the fourth fewest explosive runs in the NFL. Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has said they have a vision of how Hunter will fit, and cited his ability as a home run hitter. Both Corum and Hunter are talented backs that warrant a late-round pick in best ball drafts. Lately, I find myself preferring Hunter in hopes that he can carve out a role even if Williams remains healthy. His explosiveness brings a different element to this backfield, and it is a big factor in spike week potential for best ball.
Brashard Smith (KC)
ADP: 211.7
Rookie Brashard Smith was selected in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He joins a crowded running back room with current starter Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and free agent signee Elijah Mitchell. The Chiefs added another speedster in Smith, who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. Pacheco and Mitchell boast impressive speed as well (4.37 and 4.40 40 times, respectively), but Brashard Smith brings a unique skillset to the Chiefs’ backfield. This is because Smith is a converted wide receiver who didn’t play running back full-time until his final season at SMU. According to beat writer Adam Teicher, the Chiefs have plans for Smith based on how they have used him in offseason practices, lining him up in the back field, in the slot, and split out wide. If Smith can carve out a role as the primary pass-catching back, that can be valuable in Andy Reid’s system, as we have seen before with Jerrick McKinnon. There’s also a possibility that Smith gets the opportunity to run more routes with the looming suspension of Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice. We’re taking a flyer by drafting Smith, but it is one I like to take with him tied to an Andy Reid offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kyle Monangai (CHI)
ADP: 225.5
Another seventh-round rookie, Kyle Monangai, was drafted this year by the Chicago Bears. Though he fell in the draft due to unimpressive testing numbers, Monangai boasts impressive college production. The former Rutgers running back compiled the most rushing yards in the Big 10 across the last two collegiate seasons; he led the Big 10 in rushing yards in 2023 and was second only to Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson in 2024. Monangai averaged over five yards per carry during that span and is a hard-nosed, downhill runner. Though incumbent starter D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are currently ahead of him on the depth chart, Monangai has a chance to carve out a role in the offense as Swift thrives more in space and Johnson was drafted under the prior coaching regime. Swift was also the only running back last year to not reach 1000 rushing yards on 230+ carries. This offseason, the Bears brought in new head coach Ben Johnson and improved their offensive line. During his time as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, we saw Johnson successfully employ a backfield tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs (and the duo of Swift and Jamaal Williams before that). It’s plausible that Ben Johnson could employ a similar backfield split this season, with Monangai serving as the thunder to Swift’s lightning. That’s a valuable role in Johnson’s offense as David Montgomery has finished the last two seasons as the RB17 and RB18 in PPR. Even if Monangai can simply become the Bears’ preferred goal line back, he’d return value as he can routinely be selected near the end of best ball drafts. The rookie has already received praise from coaches and teammates, and Ben Johnson even named him as one of four standouts from the Bears’ offseason workouts. The Bears’ rookie bruiser has been one of my most common selections in the final rounds of best ball drafts.
Ty Johnson (BUF)
ADP: 229.2
Ty Johnson is the last running back I want to touch on. Though Johnson does not have the upside of typical handcuff backs, as Ray Davis would be the biggest beneficiary if anything were to happen to starter James Cook, Johnson would still likely see a bump in touches if either of those backs were to get injured. The main appeal to Johnson is that the Bills trust him on third downs because of his pass catching and blocking ability. Quarterback Josh Allen has even called Johnson “the best third-down back in football.” That’s high praise for the running back who re-signed with Buffalo on a two-year deal this offseason. His defined, complementary role with the team means that we know he won’t be posting zeroes every week on our best ball rosters. He won’t typically be posting high-scoring weeks, but we know he will see the field and give us a chance at usable weeks. Last season, Johnson scored 13.5+ PPR points on four occasions if we include the Bills’ playoff game against the Broncos. He saw a decent amount of usage in the playoffs, so we would hope to see that continue this season. In Week 15, Johnson went off for 114 receiving yards against the Detroit Lions. There is also the added factor that starter James Cook is disgruntled with his current contract, though he won’t be a holdout. Overall, Johnson has a complementary role in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL and has potential for a couple of spike weeks throughout the season. He’s basically free in best ball drafts, and I take him with my last pick when I feel thin at running back or have taken multiple swings on upside handcuffs that could end up providing little to no production.
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire