After the first ten rounds of a fantasy draft I typically look for young upside players or forgotten veterans at value. Here are eleven players that I am targeting after the first 10 rounds of fantasy drafts. I will be using Underdog ADP here, as that is the most relevant data at the moment. While Underdog ADP is based on best ball, these names work for typical redraft leagues as well.
Players are listed in descending ADP order, not order of preference.
Kirk Cousins (ADP 118, QB15)
Cheating a little bit with his ADP, but Ol’ reliable Captain Kirk is a shoe-in to be a QB1 year in and year out and never gets the respect he deserves. With a faster paced pass-first offense expected in Minnesota this season, sign me up for Kirk Cousins if I miss out on the top end QBs. You like that?!
2. Rachaad White (ADP 126, RB41)
We have discussed White a lot in both audio and written form here at Broto. I suggest you read up on White here and here. These two articles provide extensive insight into what we can expect from Rachaad White this season from Broto writers Trenton Roberts and Matt Ward, respectively. In summary, he has the chance to be an impact receiving option in a Tom Brady led offense, with room for growth. Leonard Fournette is not the pillar of health either. He may be playing behind Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the first preseason game, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s still very early. No reason not to take the shot here.
3. DeVante Parker (ADP 128, WR58)
Parker continues to be frustratingly mediocre but he was a top 30 WR in four of his seven active fantasy games last season, with three top 20 finishes. He finished the season 38th in PPG and 40th in True Target Value. He had an overall bad season two years ago, but let’s not forget that he broke out in 2019 totaling over 1000 yards and 9 TDs wth Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen. Mac Jones is arguably the best QB that Parker will be able to play with in his career, and while I am not expecting a huge breakout from Parker in New England, the Patriots did go out and trade for the guy to bolster the WR room. He has WR2/3 appeal but is not being priced in that way. He is being drafted as the WR58. Come on now.
4. Alexander Mattison (ADP 132, RB44)
Alexander Mattison is an elite handcuff. In the five games without Cook in 2021, he was the RB7, RB6, RB23, RB8 and RB13. The Vikings starting RB position is a gold mine. He obviously has no standalone value, but he is about as strong of a handcuff as you can find.
5. Christian Watson (ADP 148, WR67)
This pick here is simple. Watson has dealt with an injury that has delayed the start to his rookie season and has since fallen dramatically in ADP, and has even started to fall behind fellow rookie WR Romeo Doubs in drafts. I will take the upside shot on Watson all day at cost. The upside is that he evolves into a strong weapon for Rodgers at a much cheaper cost than you initially had to pay. The downside is that he does not and you cut him. At his price tag, who cares? He was the first WR the Packers selected in this year’s draft and we know Davante Adams is gone, leaving a gaping hole in the passing attack. Watson is well worth the risk.
6. Jarvis Landry (ADP 153, WR69)
Landry did not go home to Louisiana to sit on the bench. He will have a sizeable role coming out of the slot for a team with question marks everywhere you turn. Will Michael Thomas actually return and be effective? Will rookie Chris Olave make an immediate impact? Will Taysom Hill effectively revert back to TE? Will Alvin Kamara be suspended? No matter the answers, Landry will have a role, and he is well worth a late round pick.
7. Alec Pierce (ADP 175, WR75)
Similar to Watson, Pierce’s ADP has dropped from where it was earlier in the offseason. For Pierce, it is because of the annual Parris Campbell hype train. I for one, will not be falling for that again. Pierce has a clear path to being a starting receiver in the Colts offense and we know that rookie WRs have the ability to return massive value at ADP. Pierce is free in drafts and could end up being a 100+ target player this season if the cards fall right. There is no reason not to take the chance at his basically free cost.
8. Corey Davis (ADP 181, WR79)
Davis’ ADP is pure blasphemy. He should easily end as a top 50 WR. He is the vet in the Jets WR room and he is going to be looked upon to lead the young guys. He had several successful games last season around his injuries, with two top 10 finishes and four top 30 finishes in nine games played. He was 36th in PPG despite being 71st in True Target Value, had a top-20 aDOT (average depth of target) and a top-25 yards per reception despite the Jets having a bottom of the barrel offense. Yes, the Jets now have more weapons around Davis, but a better offense is good for everyone, including a player going as the 79th WR off the board. Davis is my most rostered best ball WR and has a chance to be relevant in deep redraft leagues as well.
9. JD McKissic (ADP 182, RB57)
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JD McKissic did exactly what drafters wanted him to do last year. He put together several top-15 finishes with more than half his games in the top-30 at his position. The only issue was his injury that forced him to miss the majority of the second half of the season. This offseason, the Bills looked like they were going to sign McKissic, only for the Commanders to swoop in at the last second to retain their pass catching back, giving him impact-player money to keep the same role on the team. Despite this, he has fallen several rounds in ADP. Make it make sense! McKissic is a strong best ball pick and will have bye week fill in and flex value in redraft leagues.
10. Kendrick Bourne (ADP 200, WR86) - Forgotten man Kendrick Bourne has an APD of WR80 despite the fact that he was effective and super efficient last season. Bourne was the number one overall wide receiver in PPOxTD (Points per opportunity excluding touchdowns) last season. Number one! He was 37th in PPG despite being all the way back at 85th in True Target Value. He put up 800 rec yards and 5 TDs on just 70 targets, compared to his counterpart Jakobi Meyers who put up 866/2 on 126 targets. I am selecting Bourne over Meyers all day at cost. Bourne also tallied three different WR1 performances last season, Meyers had just one. Bourne has some real upside at a free cost.
11. Curtis Samuel (ADP 205, WR89) - Curtis Samuel had a forgotten year in 2021 due to injury, but let’s not forget how dynamic and effective he was in 2020 as a member of the Carolina Panthers. Samuel ended as the WR26 overall in PPR formats, 30th overall in points per game. He also ended as a top-25 WR in six of his last eight games. Simply put, he was good. He is still just 26 years old and while he is now dealing with conditioning issues, he is fully healthy once again. It may take some time for him to get going in season, but he has as good of a chance as anyone to become Carson Wentz’ safety blanket catching 5+ balls a game, and he is completely free.
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By Michael Petropoulos
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.