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Joey looks at the biggest undervalued fantasy football sleepers from every NFC team in 2024. Target these value picks in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
Fantasy football is all about value. Taking a player three rounds earlier than where he is going in drafts likely won't work out in the long run. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule, like if fantasy managers took Rachaad White a couple of rounds earlier last year.
Sometimes, reaching for players is also necessary if you really want that certain running back or wide receiver. Most times, though, the value picks in the later rounds are why certain fantasy teams wind up winning it all. Just look at Kyren Williams or Sam LaPorta last year. Both players were the best value picks in fantasy in 2023.
So, which players are currently undervalued in fantasy football drafts this season? Let's look at one undervalued player from each NFC team heading into 2024 drafts.
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Undervalued Fantasy Football Players in NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Brandin Cooks, WR
Fantasy managers expected more from Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks in 2023. He totaled just 54 catches for 657 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the team. While those numbers weren't great for his overall fantasy production, Cooks was much more consistent to end the year.
From Week 10 to Week 18, Cooks was the WR14 in PPR formats while averaging 13.9 fantasy points per game. With the Cowboys getting rid of Michael Gallup this offseason, look for the veteran playmaker to see a few extra targets per game. His end-of-season finish should give fantasy managers some confidence heading into 2024. The 30-year-old has also looked impressive this offseason, so he's worth a shot at his 153.2 ADP.
Philadelphia Eagles: Dallas Goedert, TE
A lot of the team's top offensive players (Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith) are going early in drafts and, for the most part, are valued correctly. However, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is not. Goedert is currently going outside the top 100 in drafts while carrying a TE12 ADP.
Goedert certainly had his struggles in 2023 and finished with just 59 catches for 592 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games. But that still helped him finish as the TE12 -- on a PPR points-per-game basis. With the 29-year-old tight end establishing himself as the third option in Philadelphia's passing game, he is a great TE1 option this season. The veteran just averaged the fifth-most PPR fantasy points (11.8) at the position in 2022, so expect similar numbers to that in an elite offense in 2024.
Washington Commanders: Austin Ekeler, RB
It's tough to evaluate the Washington Commanders offense right now because they will likely be starting Jayden Daniels at quarterback. So, could we see Daniels make a C.J. Stroud impact in his first year, or more like a Bryce Young? That's why it is tough to value Washington's playmakers on offense.
Commanders RB Austin Ekeler is looking like he's in the best shape of his life for this upcoming season 👀 pic.twitter.com/JUCsnhtME7
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 28, 2024
However, running back Austin Ekeler is probably the only player on this offense who should put up consistent fantasy numbers -- no matter how good or bad Daniels is. That's because Ekeler should see many opportunities in the passing game with a rookie quarterback under center. Of course, the veteran had some struggles on the ground in 2023, but in PPR formats, he's certainly worth a shot. Given his 96.9 ADP, he's undervalued heading into the season due to his upside in the receiving game.
New York Giants: Devin Singletary, RB
It's not often that managers can select a starting running back after pick 100 in fantasy drafts. But that is the case with New York Giants running back Devin Singletary. Singletary left the Houston Texans this offseason to join the Giants and is now one of the best value picks in drafts. The 26-year-old has a current RB34 ADP.
Of course, Singletary goes from an elite Texans offense to a Giants offense that has one of the worst offensive lines. So, he could struggle with production in 2024. Nonetheless, his volume should lead to some consistent fantasy days. He should receive most of the touches out of New York's backfield with very little competition for touches behind him. With the 26-year-old locked into an RB1 role in New York's offense, he can be a sneaky flex play every week.
Undervalued Fantasy Football Players in NFC North
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, QB
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff continues to be one of the most undervalued fantasy players. Goff has finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in back-to-back seasons, yet he'll enter 2024 fantasy drafts as the QB14. As a result, by selecting the three-time Pro Bowler at his 111.6 ADP, fantasy managers are getting him at a great value.
Goff is coming off a strong fantasy campaign in 2023, where he finished as the QB7 and averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game. With a top-5 offensive line protecting him and elite playmakers (Amon-Ra St. Brown, LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs) in the passing game, a top-10 fantasy finish seems attainable again for the 29-year-old. Managers can take him with confidence as their QB1 this upcoming season.
Green Bay Packers: Luke Musgrave, TE
Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave showed a lot of great things in his rookie campaign, especially to begin the season. Musgrave caught at least four passes or totaled 40 yards in seven of his first 10 games in 2023. Then, he suffered a lacerated kidney that kept him out for multiple weeks.
But what the 23-year-old was able to do with a learning quarterback in Jordan Love was impressive to see. Now, in Year 2, expect Musgrave to break out. That's why he is one of the most undervalued players on the Packers heading into 2024. He has a current ADP of 133, which seems like a bargain for a player who has the potential to be a consistent weapon in Green Bay's offense.
Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Jones, RB
Running back Aaron Jones is coming off a disappointing season in 2023. He dealt with multiple injuries that sidelined him for a total of six games. He also turns 30 years old in December, so age is definitely not on his side. Those two factors played a part in his release from the Green Bay Packers this offseason.
AARON GOES DEEP TO AARON FOR 75. #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #SFvsGB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/VWvPUv1xA7 pic.twitter.com/SbYuJc8BAp— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2022
However, Jones still proved to be a solid fantasy option when healthy. In the final six games of the 2023 season (including playoffs), the veteran running back scored in double figures in fantasy in every game while rushing for over 100 yards in five of those six contests. With no competition for touches in Minnesota's backfield, look for Jones to provide consistent fantasy numbers in 2024. If he can stay healthy, his RB18 ADP seems like a value pick in the sixth round.
Chicago Bears: Cole Kmet, TE
There really isn't an undervalued fantasy player in Chicago's offense in 2024 because there are a ton of question marks. Nevertheless, if there was one, it would be tight end Cole Kmet. Kmet is currently going as the TE15 in drafts with an ADP of 124.3.
That seems too low for a player who could establish himself as a security blanket for rookie Caleb Williams in the middle of the field. Kmet has also been a consistent fantasy option over the past two years, finishing as the TE7 in PPR formats in 2022 and the TE8 in PPR formats last year. So, he has some familiarity in this offense, which makes him a borderline TE1 option in a much-improved Bears offense.
Undervalued Fantasy Football Players in NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Godwin, WR
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has been a consistent fantasy option over the past few years. He has totaled over 1,000 receiving yards in four of the past five seasons while also finishing as a top-32 fantasy wideout in PPR formats in five straight seasons. In 2023, Godwin finished as the WR29 in PPR formats and averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game.
However, Godwin is currently going as the WR38 in drafts with an ADP of 75.9, which doesn't make too much sense. The Buccaneers didn't add any notable pass-catchers to this Tampa Bay offense this offseason, and Baker Mayfield returns after a productive year under center. Expect the 28-year-old to catch more than two touchdown passes in 2024 while totaling over 1,000 receiving yards and 80-plus catches again.
New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed, WR
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed put together a surprising season in 2023, totaling 46 catches for 719 yards and five touchdowns. With him now staying in that WR2 role in New Orleans' offense, a breakout campaign could be in store for the 25-year-old wideout.
He should operate as Derek Carr's second option in the passing game -- only behind Chris Olave. Shaheed also started to form a strong connection with Carr toward the end of last year, as he scored over 15 PPR fantasy points in two of the final three games. Given his 139 ADP, he's worth a shot at this point in the draft because he does have some sneaky upside in this offense.
Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins, QB
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will join a new team in 2024, but that shouldn't change his fantasy value in 2024. He still has elite playmakers around him in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, while also having a solid offensive line protecting him.
On top of that, Cousins has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in six of the past nine years and three of the last four seasons. The only reason he failed to reach that mark in 2023 was because he tore his Achilles in Week 8. But his 19.3 fantasy points per game before his injury ranked seventh among the position last year. So, don't expect the veteran quarterback to stop slinging the ball 35 to 45 times per game in 2024. That makes him a steal at his QB18 ADP.
Carolina Panthers: Diontae Johnson, WR
The Carolina Panthers might have had the worst offense in the league in 2023, but Adam Thielen still produced solid fantasy numbers as the team's WR1. Thielen finished as the WR17 in PPR formats while averaging 13.6 fantasy points per game. Now, Diontae Johnson takes over that role following his offseason trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Panthers.
Diontae Johnson Once Again Could Be A Very Underrated WR This Year In Fantasy Football... pic.twitter.com/zAlTMm02Sx
— Dynasty Nerds (@DynastyNerds) June 17, 2024
As a result, Johnson could be in for a sneaky solid season in Carolina. For starters, Dave Canales (the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator) is now the Panthers head coach, so Bryce Young could be in for a much better year.Even if Young struggles again, the 27-year-old wideout should still see plenty of opportunities in the passing game. That's why he is such an underrated pick as the WR43.
Undervalued Fantasy Football Players in NFC West
San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy, QB
There aren't many undervalued players on this San Francisco 49ers offense in 2024. Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle are all properly rated heading into fantasy drafts. However, the only player who is slightly underrated in drafts is quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy finished as the QB6 last season and surely has the weapons around him to finish top eight at the position again. He scored over 20 fantasy points in six of his final nine games of 2023 and averaged 18 fantasy points per game in his first full year as a starter. So, with an ADP of 102.7, he is a great pick as your QB1.
Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
Fantasy managers should bet on Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to break out in 2024. After a subpar rookie campaign, Smith-Njigba could take that next step in Year 2. Last season, he totaled 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns.
#Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on Jaxon Smith-Njigba:
“He’s definitely gonna be a massive piece of what we’re trying to do offensively.” pic.twitter.com/nyBWwBdo5n
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 13, 2024
Now, with a new head coach and offensive coordinator leading the offense, expect the former 2023 first-round pick to see more opportunities in the passing game. With Tyler Lockett turning 32 years old in September, look for Smith-Njigba to eventually overtake him as Seattle's WR2. Given his talent, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him become a consistent fantasy option in 2024. So, fantasy managers should take him as the WR45 in drafts.
Los Angeles Rams: Blake Corum, RB
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum already turned heads at OTAs earlier in June, and fantasy managers should expect him to get more involved on offense as the season progresses. Of course, Williams is the Rams' RB1 in 2024. That likely won't change throughout the year. However, there should be chances for Corum to thrive in his rookie season.
For starters, Williams has dealt with a couple of injuries since entering the league in 2022. He broke his foot during practice in June of his rookie season and then suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 1 of that same year. He also missed four games in 2023 due to an ankle injury again. So, injuries have certainly played a factor in his short career so far. That's why Corum could be a sneaky pick in the 11th or 12th round of drafts.
Arizona Cardinals: Michael Wilson, WR
The Arizona Cardinals offense will look a little different this season. Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore are no longer with the team, and the Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. With Brown and Moore both gone, a pass-catcher will need to step up as the WR2 on offense.
That player could be Michael Wilson. Wilson showed some nice things in his rookie campaign, which also included totaling over 15 PPR fantasy points in back-to-back games to end the season in Week 17 and Week 18. With Kyler Murray also fully healthy to start the year, the 24-year-old wideout could surprise a lot of fantasy owners. Going outside the top 150 in drafts, he is seriously underrated entering the year.
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