UNDRAFTED: Fantasy Football Options To Consider
Sure your draft is done – but it’s never too early to scour the waiver wire! We highlight players outside the overall consensus top 180 that you should consider picking up prior to Week 1.
By Brandon Lane
RUNNING BACK
Mike Davis
YAH…YAH I KNOW…we played this game last year and got burned. Davis now on the Ravens joins a banged-up backfield and should start the season with solid usage. J.K. Dobbins has a big question mark as to his availability to start the season and Gus Edwards is out for at least 4 weeks. Davis could enter the season as a solid flex option while Dobbins eases into a heavier workload.
*Overall Consensus ADP: 256
Zamir White
The amount Josh Jacobs played in the Hall of Fame game was alarming and it of course had the industry chirping up a storm. Then came a Jacobs undisclosed injury that recently caused him to miss a week of practice. Throw in the Raiders release of Kenyan Drake and you have a much clearer path for fourth-round pick Zamir White. White averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons at Georgia. White should currently be viewed as early-down handcuff to Jacobs, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him garner touches as the season progresses.
Overall Consensus ADP: 194
WIDE RECEIVER
Nico Collins
The Texans offense is one I feel fantasy managers can find a lot of late-round value in and second-year wide-out Collins is a player I’ve been heavily targeting late in drafts. Brandin Cooks is the alpha in this passing game but reports of Collins big play ability have been a constant during training camp. Texans quarterback Davis Mills finished his 2021 rookie season on fire and coming into his second season I expect him to build off of that, and a big part of that will be focusing on Collins as his big-framed target.
Overall Consensus ADP: 207
Isaiah McKenzie
Initially I had concerns that Jamison Crowder would split time with Mckenzie out of the slot for the Bills. Crowder entered camp injured and Mckenzie took the role by the horns and appears to be stepping right into the Cole Beasley role. Mckenzie has only started two games but when given the opportunity he showed very nicely. In week 17 of 2020 he went 6/65 and two touchdowns on nine targets and in week 16 of 2021 he went 11/125 and a touchdown. He should earn a solid role in an explosive Bills offense making him worth rostering in most leagues.
Overall Consensus ADP: 185
Corey Davis
The Jets selected rookie Garrett Wilson in the first round of this years draft but he has reportedly had an inconsistent camp leaving the door open for Davis to remain the number two option in the offense behind Elijah Moore. With the injury to quarterback Zach Wilson it’s looking likely that Joe Flacco will start the season under center. I think this could actually benefit Davis who has reported shown good rapport with Flacco as safety valve and red-zone option. As the season progresses and Garrett Wilson finds his feet this trio of receivers coupled with questionable quarterback play could prove to be a headache. But for now Davis is worth a shot at the end of fantasy benches.
Overall Consensus ADP: 217
Alec Pierce
Pierce was drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft and has good size (6'3") and the speed to be an effective player in the NFL. He will be thrown into the fire right away alongside Michael Pittman as an every-down receiver for the Colts. He has a clear path to 80–100 targets his rookie season and is worth rostering as bench depth to see how he develops.
Overall Consensus ADP: 214
Joshua Palmer
In his second season Palmer is set be the No. 3 receiver for the Chargers. He has some boom/bust stand-alone flex appeal in deeper leagues but will likely need an injury to Keenan Allen or Mike Williams to be fantasy relevant. I like him in the WR5/6 range.
Overall Consensus ADP: 213
TIGHT END
Hunter Henry
Henry started slow in his first season with the Patriots in 2021 but eventually earned the trust of Mac Jones solidifying his position as one of the best pass catching options on the team. He finished the season with a career high nine touchdowns. While the Patriots did add depth to their receiving corp signing DeVante Parker this off-season, I still view Henry as the Patriots top red-zone option through the air. A touchdown dependent option that could easily turn in another top 10 tight end finish.
Overall Consensus ADP: 182
Gerald Everett
Last season Chargers tight end Jared Cook saw 83 balls come his way leaving behind those vacated targets for newly acquired Gerald Everett who signed a two-year, $12 million contract this off-season. While Everett has had issues with consistency he walks into a role on a high-powered offense that could easily make him a weekly starter in fantasy leagues.
Overall Consensus ADP: 199
Austin Hooper
The Titans have 239 vacated targets and I expect newly acquired Hooper to see a lot of those come his way. It’s been a few seasons since he’s been productive but only 3 seasons removed from finishing as the TE6. If you are waiting on TE, Hooper could be your golden ticket.
Overall Consensus ADP: 219
Robert Tonyan
Recovering from a season-ending ACL tear Tonyan seems to be on track to start Week 1. The Packers did little to fill the void left by the departure of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling which should provide plenty of opportunity for Tonyan to capitalize on vacated targets and red-zone opportunities.
Overall Consensus ADP: 188
QUARTERBACK
Jameis Winston
Prior to his season-ending knee injury in Week 8 Winston was a low-end QB1 with a shell of a receiver corp. Now healthy, Winston will see the return of the Saints WR1 Micheal Thomas while adding talented rookie WR Chris Olave and accomplished veteran Jarvis Landry. He could be inconsistent week-to-week but if you waited on quarterback and want some insurance and a solid streaming option, look no further.
Overall Consensus ADP: 183
Davis Mills
Mills looks to expand on his inspiring finish to the 2021 season where he finished his final six games averaging 261 yards (7.51 YPA), 1.83 touchdowns and .5 interceptions. The Texans still have a way to go before they will be considered a playoff contender but behind an improved O-line and a blossoming receiver corp he is my favorite end of draft QB option.
Overall Consensus ADP: 237
*Overall Consensus ADP gathered from Fantasy Pros.
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