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Analysis of four fantasy football players that could be league winners. Are these undervalued players and potential league winners to target in deeper 2024 drafts?
There's a time for drafting safe, projectable volume, and then the late rounds come, and it's time to draft upside in pursuit of that potential league winner. Fantasy managers can then look for key rookies, overshadowed veterans, players returning from injuries, committee backs, and those who benefit from a coaching change, to name a few archetypes. The later rounds mean we are hunting league-winning upside.
Every fantasy manager should have a few high-upside targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, so we'll lay out a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end for you. Here are some late-round players to queue up in drafts with league-winning upside for your consideration.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2024 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2024 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2024 Draft Kit.
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Deshaun Watson, Browns - Fantasy Football Outlook
It's been a rough go for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. His 2023 season was limited to six games after a shoulder injury forced him out of action. As a result, Watson has now played in only 12 games since the 2020 season.
Due to his injuries and overall lousy play, there are many question marks surrounding him. Despite all the concerns, Watson still found a way to be productive for fantasy football last year.
He finished as a QB1 in three of the four games he started and finished. Watson is coming off draft boards as the QB22 per our composite ADP. At this price, the risks surrounding him are sufficiently baked into the cost. Fantasy gamers can select him as a backup quarterback and take a wait-and-see approach. The fact is, Watson can still deliver results for fantasy football.
If he can find a way to play a full 17 games, a QB1 season is entirely possible. However, this might be a tall ask. Ranked as RotoBaller's QB23, Watson could prove to be a massive value in drafts. He's a great target for players who adhere to the late-round quarterback strategy.
-Dave Ventresca - RotoBaller
Bucky Irving, Buccaneers - Fantasy Football Outlook
Bucky Irving went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a disappointing NFL Combine lowered expectations. He posted particularly poor vertical and broad jump metrics, but his body of collegiate work and fit within Tampa's scheme provide hope.
Not only did Irving top 1,000 rushing yards in both of his Oregon years after transferring from Minnesota, but he also caught a whopping 56 passes in 2023 alone. The Bucs saw Rachaad White tally 50 or more receptions in back-to-back seasons, though he's yet to average over 3.7 yards per carry in a year. Some of that is on the O-Line, but results matter.
Meanwhile, Irving had a 6.8 YPC in 2022 and a 6.3 mark in '23. The NFL will demand more of Irving's power and elusiveness, but the environment is there for a versatile back that proves more efficient than White, whose value is built on volume. Irving is RotoBaller's RB61 in half-PPR ranks and the No. 55 RB in early half-PPR ADP, making him a healthy sleeper option in the late rounds.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie RB Bucky Irving was given the rock six times in his second preseason game and gained 4+ yards every time. pic.twitter.com/KJnLmjuZWE
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 18, 2024
-Nick Mariano - RotoBaller
Mike Williams, Jets - Fantasy Football Outlook
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) enters the 2024 season with a fresh opportunity to make an impact both in the NFL and fantasy football. Williams' final campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers was cut short when he tore his ACL in Week 3 last year. He's totaled 82 catches, 1,144 yards, and five touchdowns over his last 16 games (2022 and 2023).
This type of production could make him a very real threat in New York, but that's contingent on him playing a near-full season at 100 percent health. The 29-year-old is still recovering from last season's ACL tear, and head coach Robert Saleh notes that Williams isn't a lock to play Week 1.
He likened the wide receiver's rehab process to that of Breece Hall, who tore his ACL in 2022. Hall was able to play in Week 1 last year, but he spent the early part of the season on a snap count, splitting time with Dalvin Cook.
When talking about Williams' recovery and timetable, Saleh said, "He knows he's got a road to trek, but at the same time, if he does it the right way, we're very confident that we'll have them ready for Week 1."
We'll likely get some more clarity as the season gets closer, but for now, we can hope that Williams will be back to 100 percent within the first few weeks of the regular season. He's a solid investment at his current ADP of 114 (WR52).
In 2022, Williams ranked 37th among wide receivers in expected fantasy points per game, 26th in expected points added, 24th in route win rate, and 12th in yards per target. Playing for the Jets allows him to benefit from the quarterbacking prowess of Aaron Rodgers, who excels versus man coverage and can support several fantasy-relevant wide receivers.
That's important because Williams will likely spend 2024 playing behind Garrett Wilson. Outside of Wilson, though, Williams lacks competition, which bodes well for his ability to produce. Volume leads to production, and Williams is shaping up to be a strong WR3/FLEX option as long as he can stay healthy.
-Andersen Pickard - RotoBaller
Jonnu Smith, Dolphins - Fantasy Football Outlook
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith is set to play in the best passing offense of his career after playing with the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, and Atlanta Falcons. The athletic pass-catcher had a career season in 2023 with Atlanta despite sharing the field with Kyle Pitts and catching passes from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
He set career-highs in targets (70), receptions (50), and receiving yards (582) en route to a TE17 finish in PPR leagues. Now, in Miami, he'll face immense target competition from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but he should be the primary pass-catching tight end over Durham Smythe, and he'll have plenty of red zone opportunities in one of the league's best offenses.
Jonnu Smith is going to be fun to watch this season with him in my starting lineups.
He was used in motion, out the backfield, & ran out in the flat as a security blanket yesterday.
He’s not like any TE McDaniel has been able to use this way. 🫡🔥pic.twitter.com/EyFdLn29MF
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) August 18, 2024
He's unlikely to be a high-volume receiver next to Hill, Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr., but he can be a key fantasy contributor in standard or half-PPR leagues with efficiency, splash plays, and red zone activity. Fantasy managers should be looking for upside when selecting late-round backup tight ends, so he's a solid flyer at his low-end TE2 cost in drafts.
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