In NFL fantasy football there are always those players that people will target and they will do anything to have those players on their fantasy teams. Players such as Aaron Rodgers, Jamaal Charles, Calvin Johnson and Rob Gronkoski are arguably the best players at their position and anyone would love to have them on their team.
While these players will play a big role in your team’s success, its not always the big name guys that will determine if your team is average or a champion. It sometimes comes down too those hidden gems that you landed in the mid to late rounds of your draft: these players are called sleepers.
Fantasy football probably has one of the fastest turnover rates when it comes to new stars coming onto the scene. Just last season C.J Anderson was third on the Denver depth chart and wasn’t drafted in most leagues, but when he got his shot he took it and never looked back. He went for 1200 total yards and ten touchdowns and is currently going in the second round of drafts.
The same goes for a young man that now has one of the most spectacular catches any of us have ever seen: Odell Beckham Jr. He also went undrafted or was a late round flyer in many leagues last season. Now that was mostly because he was injured when the season started, but when he started in week four he didn’t look like a rookie. He went for 1305 yards and 12 touchdowns and finished fifth at his position. He broke records that had stood for years, was named offensive rookie of the year and he is nowhere near done yet. He is also being drafted in the second round.
Ask any fantasy football player that had these players on their team last season and they’ll tell you it was one of the main reasons there team was successful. These are some guys to target in the draft that could help your team bring home a championship.
NFL Fantasy Football: Good Value Targets for Your Draft
Eli Manning
Over the last few seasons Manning has been drafted as a back up to your starter or just a bye week replacement, but this season he could be your QB1. Last season Eli lost one of his best weapons, Victor Cruz, to a knee injury and it seemed that Manning would remain one of those bye week fill-ins. Then Beckham Jr came onto the scene and with the help of him and other weapons Manning Fished 10th at his position.
Over the off season the Giants signed Shane Veeren who is arguably one of the best receiving backs in the NFL and will be a great receiving option out of the backfield. With all the weapons that Manning has at his disposal and if Cruz can come back and be the salsa king we know he can be Manning could easily finish in the top ten in 2015 and be your weekly starter. Manning’s current ADP is the 11th round.
Frank Gore
Over the last nine years Frank Gore has been one of the most stable running backs at the position. Most running backs seem to decline around age 30 but Gore will be 32 this season and is still producing good numbers. Over Gore’s career he’s averaged 4.5 yards per carry and had seven 1000 yard seasons. Having moved to Indianapolis in the offseason, there still remains a lot of potential for him to succeed. In the Colts offense led by Andrew Luck, Gore has a chance to produce at least high RB2 numbers. Gore’s current ADP is the fifth round.
Keenan Allen
Wide receiver is one of the deepest positions in fantasy football and new stars are coming onto the scene every year. Allen came into the 2014 season with the potential to be one of next elite wide receivers. As a rookie he posted 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 14.7 yards per catch. He was drafted as a high WR2 but feel victim to the sophomore slump, only posting 783 yards four touchdowns with his average dropping down to 10.2 yards per catch.. This made Allen fall in fantasy drafts, with his current ADP being in the eighth round.
Reports out of San Diego is that Allen looks great and with Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games, Allen has the opportunity too get off too a great start. San Diego also added a great young running back in Melvin Gordon which will open up the offense and help Allen post solid WR2 numbers.
Jordan Cameron
In fantasy there are only a few tight ends that produce consistently on a weekly basis and in his new home in Miami Jordan Cameron has a chance to be one of them. Cameron has spent the last few seasons in Cleveland where he had trouble staying healthy. He also didn’t have a consistent quarterback throwing him the ball. Cameron now has a good quarterback in Ryan Tannehill doing so.
With the other wide receivers that defenses will have to account for, Cameron will be able to work the middle of the field and be a great red zone target. If Cameron can stay healthy he will be able to put up TE1 numbers and is currently being drafted in the 13th round.
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