RADIO
Mark Strausberg offers his favorite young late-season surgers for fantasy football worth targeting in dynasty leagues for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Whether you are still playing for this year or playing for next year's championship, the "late-season surger" injects all kinds of life into your dynasty team. If nothing else, it often gives you another trading chip or two to play with, bolstering your off-season leverage.
Of course, there are some rookies who are surging late like Cam Akers that will help your dynasty prospects, but they were drafted and are rostered in regular redraft leagues as well. The players below are deeper options. Yes, they are probably owned in your dynasty league already, but the buy-low window might still be open on some of these options.
What you will need to do if you don't have these players is to find a way to talk up the other options around them. For example, suppose you wanted to acquire Alexander Mattison. A simple, "That Dalvin Cook is amazing! I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikes extend his contract and he's still a stud RB in 2022...." Obviously, it's rarely that simple. But here are some of my favorite options at each position.
Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
So this might be a little over the top...
Jalen Hurts is the hero we need. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/HkhPxrdCuT
— Northeast Degenerates (@NeDegenerate) December 14, 2020
Hurts looked great in his first start for Philadelphia. Remember everyone thinking that the Saints would smother the rookie QB? After all, they were allowing the sixth-fewest QB fantasy points in the league. All Hurts did was upset the NFC's top seed running for 106 yards and not taking a single sack. He was also competent with his arm, throwing for 167 yards and a sweet back-shoulder pass to Alshon Jeffery for six. And unlike Carson Wentz, he didn't throw an interception.
Hurts brings with him an impressive resume including a championship while at Alabama and still thrived at Oklahoma despite having all new teammates and having to learn a whole new system. In his final season, he threw 32 touchdowns and had just eight picks. The talent potential is definitely there. Even better, he will likely start every game the rest of the season:
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is not second-guessing Pederson on the switch to Hurts down the stretch, sources said. Lurie's approach he is that he fully supports the coach and won't intervene on in-season decisions.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 13, 2020
If trying to pry Hurts away, I would underscore to that rival owner how the Eagles are still on the hook for Carson Wentz and cutting him would leave them with a ton of dead cap space. Otherwise, you are going to see one of my favorite late-season surgers for dynasty on someone else's team.
Also consider: Drew Lock
Running Back
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
I could tell you that Pollard looks like the more explosive back than Ezekiel Elliott right now, but I'll admit there's a subjectivity to that statement. So here are the indisputable facts:
- Pollard saw a season-high 13 touches this past week
- It was one less touch than Ezekiel Elliott's 14 touches
- Elliott is averaging 3.9 YPC; Pollard is at 4.5
The arrows are all pointing in Pollard's direction. Well, except for maybe the one that points to the contract size. But do you think Pollard will be sticking around when he's an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 season if he's still making less than seven-figures a year? He's not a good redraft option right now, but he is exactly the type of player you want to grab in a dynasty league while his price is still low. Pollard should continue to see more carries, perhaps if nothing else to keep Elliott fresh.
Since the Cowboys' bye, Elliott's YPC is trending downward over the last four weeks including 4.0 YPC against the Bengals. Four yards-per-carry is not horrible, but the Bengals are allowing 4.6 YPC. Two of their next three games are against the 49ers and Giants, both of whom are allowing less than 4.0 YPC. Do you see Zeke getting a ton of carries? My guess is that the Cowboys start turning to the younger player, one that dynasty owners should consider acquiring now.
Also consider: Brian Hill
Wide Receivers
Denzel Mims, New York Jets
Mims got a late start to his season due to the season on IR for hamstring issues. However, he immediately saw seven targets when he returned to the field in Week 7 and is averaging six targets a game. Mims had a personal family matter to attend to last week and due to the league's Covid-19 regulations was unable to suit up for the Jets this past week. This means now might be the last time you are able to get Mims for cheap.
Of the four games he's played with Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder, Mims topped both in air yards (480, 42.4%) and targets (27, 27.2%). Mims brings a very strong athletic profile with him. He crushed the Combine, running a 4.38 40-yard dash, jumping 10’11” in the broad, and posting a 6.66 three-cone time.
Having played only six games, Mims does not qualify for many statistical leaderboards. However, he is averaging 17.1 yards per reception, the same as DK Metcalf. That's better than A.J. Brown, Calvin Ridley, and amazingly Tyreek Hill to simply name a few.
I won't blow too much sunshine as he definitely has a lower ceiling than many of the WRs drafted before him like CeeDee Lamb or the aforementioned Jeudy. But unlike those two players, he might actually be attainable. Try now before the window slams shut.
Also Consider: Collin Johnson, Gabriel Davis, Devin Duvernay, Cam Sims
Late Season Surgers: Tight Ends
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
It's taken most of the season, but the winds of change are coming to the Windy City. The Bears seem to be transitioning out Jimmy Graham and the ascendency of Cole Kmet is beginning. Kmet out-snapped the elder player 54 to 34 two weeks ago. Kmet ran more routes (20 to 15) and was also targeted more (7 to 1). Kmet capitalized, turning those seven targets into five catches for 37 yards and a score.
This week saw the trend continue with Kmet out-snapping Graham 51 to 29 and out targeting him seven to four.
It's not going to happen overnight, but Kmet should push Graham out soon enough. I don't put a ton of stock into draft status, but recall that Kmet went 45th overall. Kmet was also drafted by Bears GM Ryan Pace, so there is obviously something the Bears saw in him and Pace has a vested interest to see Kmet succeed.
He already is averaging more per catch (10.1) than Graham (8.5). Expect that trend to continue and given the lack of quality TE options out there, Kmet should see his value continue to rise.
Also consider: Dan Arnold, Irv Smith Jr.
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