Not that you asked, but i’ll toss a little unsolicited fantasy football advice in here before I roll on with part two. You can read Part One of my 20 Late Round Fantasy Picks Worth a Roster Spot by clicking here. The advice is as follows; wait until after the preseason to hold your draft. It’s such a simple, easy thing to do the fact that so many people go early blows my mind. Guys are lost every preseason. It happens. Why waist a first, second or third round pick by holding your draft that early? It makes no sense to me.
The argument is that if a guy gets hurt in Week One you still lose him and that’s true. But at least he could get you some points before going down. If you hold your draft in July, you’re just asking for trouble. At least wait until after the third preseason game. You won’t regret it.
On to the list.
12. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
ESPN Rank: 177
2016: 16 starts, 69 catches, 673 yards, three touchdowns
Witten is unquestionably in the twilight of his career, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a weapon in the Cowboys’ offense. Last season, his 14th, was just barely off his normal yardage total and he actually caught more passes than he did in 2014 with a healthy Tony Romo. As quarterback Dak Prescott continues to improve, Witten’s production, at worst, will stay the same which is still solid for a tight end under any fantasy scenario.
11. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
ESPN Rank: 184
2016: 16 starts, 63 completion percentage, 4,027 yards, 26 touchdowns, 16 interceptions
Even with an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance, the Giants’ offense was a little off all season. And even saying that, Manning still threw for more than 4,000 yards for the third consecutive year and sixth time in his career. Manning has some new weapons in wide receiver Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram that I think will pay dividends early. In 2015, Manning threw for 4,436 yards and 35 touchdowns with 14 picks. Those equal some damn fine fantasy numbers and here he sits ready to be plucked somewhere in the 16-18th rounds.
10. Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
ESPN Rank: 197
2016: 16 starts, 64.7 completion percentage, 4,206 yards, 18 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 46 rushes, 184 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns
Speaking of undervalued quarterbacks, here’s Andy Dalton just barely cracking the Top 200 on ESPN’s fantasy rankings. Just two years ago, before he broke his thumb, Dalton was the best fantasy football QB in the league. His touchdowns were down last year, but so was the entire Bengals team. Dalton still had a terrific season, eclipsing 4,000 yards for just the second time in his career and tossing single digit picks for just the second time too. His completion percentage of 64.7 was also good for his second highest mark. This is a quarterback on the upswing. And, in Cincinnati, he should have plenty of high value targets to spread the ball to.
9. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Minnesota Vikings
ESPN Rank: 199
2016: One start, one catch, 15 yards
Treadwell barely got to do anything in Minnesota’s offense last season after they spent a first round pick on the former Ole Miss star. That won’t happen two years in a row. Treadwell was my top ranked wide receiver in the 2015 draft class, for what it’s worth. Treadwell has a new wide receiver coach in Darrell Hazell and a new-ish offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur. Shurmer likes the dink and dunk offense and the way Treadwell can run routes, he should flourish with quarterback Sam Bradford slinging the ball.
This is the same guy that caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns at Ole Miss in 2015 against SEC defensive backs and safeties. I’m not sure what wasn’t working last season, but all the reports out of early OTAs have been glowing. Hazell especially sees what he has in the 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver. He’s going to want to use him.
8. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
ESPN Rank: 200
2016: N/A
I mentioned Engram earlier in Eli Manning’s entry, but there’s no reason to leave him off the list. At Ole Miss last season Engram caught 65 passes for 926 yards and eight touchdowns and he did it against elite SEC linebackers and defensive backs. He’s seen NFL speed all four seasons with the Rebels and his entire skillset should translate perfectly to the pros. Manning has been dying to have a pass catching tight end for the last half decade and he finally has one. By God, he’s going to use him.
7. Julius Thomas, TE, Miami Dolphins
ESPN Rank: 204
2016: six starts, 30 catches, 281 yards, four touchdowns
Thomas has struggled to stay healthy for the last three seasons and that’s likely the main reason the Denver Broncos let him walk back in 2014. If Thomas can get on the field for 13 games, he’s goof for double-digit touchdowns.
Traded this off-season to the Miami Dolphins, Thomas will be a key weapon in their attack. Adam Gase, the former Broncos offensive coordinator, knows exactly how to use Thomas, especially in the red zone. No, Ryan Tannehill isn’t Peyton Manning, but he’s a solid quarterback on the upswing that will lean on Thomas more and more, especially when it gets colder on the road.
6. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
ESPN Rank: 210
2016: 58.9 completion percentage, 3,905 yards, 23 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 58 rushes, 359 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns
For whatever reason, NFL punditry was ready to toss Bortles out with the recycling after last season. While the Jaguars didn’t win but three games, Bortles wasn’t terrible by any means. Yes, his touchdown and yardage totals were down from a year before, but so were his interceptions. That break out season in 2015 everyone loved from Bortles? He led the league with 18 picks and the team still just won five games.
Bortles was playing for (and there’s no argument, look up the stats) the worst head coach in NFL history in Gus Bradley. Who knows what this kid had to overcome over the last three seasons? Trust me, there are plenty of teams that would take what Bortles has delivered over the last two seasons and those are solid fantasy numbers, regardless of the real world wins and losses.
Click here to read Part 3.
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