RADIO
One of the most fun parts of being involved in dynasty formats is watching your team evolve year after year. A part of that process is being aware of the landing spots of talented undrafted free agents. Not all the prospects are highly sought after by NFL teams, yet there is still value that tends to fall between the cracks. Sure, we all want to be able to get our hands on the Saquon Barkleys of the world, but if you are in the backend of your rookie drafts, the skill of evaluating talent becomes more prevalent.
We see year after year we see players come out of nowhere to become viable assets on a championship-winning roster. Just a year ago, Phillip Lindsay was a running back that was not on the radar whatsoever. He took an opportunity, ran with it, and nearly finished as an RB1 in fantasy (RB13 at year's end). The smart dynasty owner is aware of these players before their names get hot on the waiver wires and have them stashed on the bench.
Will we see something similar in 2019? Players that come out of nowhere to provide that late-season surge and push you towards a title. That is what I aim to do for you here. I will point out a few names to keep on your draft board in an effort to throw out those late-round fliers for rookie drafts with the potential to help you down the road.
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Bruce Anderson (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Perhaps the player I foresee making the biggest impact early is Anderson. The small school product is a player that should have been drafted but instead got the ability to choose his own destination. That decision may work to his favor as he gets to compete in a Buccaneers backfield without a true starter.
The 5-foot-11 back put together a productive career in college and will now have his sights set on a career in the NFL. Watch him during training camp and if he develops a sizable workload in this backfield - he could be a player with great value in the Bruce Arians offense.
Devine Ozigbo (RB, New Orleans Saints)
Ozigbo, another player that should have gotten drafted, may prove to be a sneaky pickup by the Saints. He was snubbed from the Scouting Combine but showed out in his Pro Day causing some heads to turn. Now he finds himself in a position to carve out a role on the Saints depth chart. Behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray, he will get the chance to properly progress into the league.
The Saints have had success in the past in plucking out UDFA RBs and I expect for Ozigbo to be no exception. His zone-running abilities line up perfectly in this system and if an injury were to occur, he will be a very hot name on waiver wires.
James Williams (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)
Even though there are plenty of pieces in front of him on the depth chart, Williams could prove to be a vital piece of the Chiefs offense as the season progresses. With Damien Williams and Carlos Hyde locked into their roles, Williams may utilize his pass catching abilities to make an impact on the team. He is potentially a player with high upside in PPR formats if given enough snaps. It may take some time to pan out, but Williams is the definition of a player that you want to stash.
Emanuel Hall (WR, Chicago Bears)
Many owners may not realize this, but in a stacked class at the receiver position in 2019, Hall led the field in yards per reception (20.8). He can add a dynamic to the Bears passing attack that has been missing under Trubisky. His ability to get down the field may be beneficial in standard scoring setups but he will not offer much value in PPR. Grab him late in drafts and see how things line up with his playing time with the Bears.
Greg Dortch (WR, New York Jets)
Dortch will be a player to monitor as the Jets receiving core shakes out. The small receiver out of Wake Forest plays much bigger on the field as a deep threat. He has a quick first step that can get a defender on his heels, allowing him clean separation. He may be utilized in many ways with the Jets. As a downfield option, a player in quick pass sets, or as a return man. Any way you look at it, he should make this team and may not see immediate value in 2019 but certainly could be Curtis Samuel-type fantasy option moving forward.
Preston Williams (WR, Miami Dolphins)
Williams went undrafted for a myriad of reasons, but his ability as a receiver is not one of them. He had a disappointing Pro Day, coupled with off-the-field issues, and was removed from draft boards. The Dolphins decided to take the risk on the player and see if he wants to put in the work to continue his career. If he gets his head on straight, Williams is a player that can show a valuable skill-set.
He had a very busy season in 2018 with Colorado State (96 catches for 1,345 yards and 14 TD). Those numbers show that he has potential; he just has to put it all together. With a number of unproven players at the position for the Dolphins, he could carve out a role and be a good dynasty asset for owners.
Jazz Ferguson (WR, Seattle Seahawks)
I won't be the first or last to mention Ferguson as a sleeper to target. Our own Justin Carter recently highlighted him as an UDFA to stash. Ferguson is a player that is growing on me with the chance he has with the Seahawks. Yes, they drafted D.K. Metcalf, but Ferguson could use that as a chip on his shoulder during training camp.
The team has a number of other players in front of him, but Ferguson's potential as an "X" receiver is worth noting to dynasty players. He has a chance to become a red-zone threat for the Seahawks and should be viewed in a similar fashion to D.J. Chark from the 2018 draft class - a player blocked on the depth chart but could flash by season's end.
