Things will change in the coming months, but fantasy players are always looking for values in drafts. One of the top paths in building a roster is targeting extremely high upside plays. The following players are currently outside of the top 50 in average draft position but can conceivably finish as the No. 1 scorer at their position this season. Fantasy NFL strategies this season—both in daily fantasy and redraft leagues with these ADPs—include going for upside like these guys offer.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (ADP: 51)
You should be doing backflips if you are able to get Anthony Richardson as your fantasy quarterback after already adding four players to begin your roster at other positions. The second-year quarterback has the talent to take the NFL by storm, with a skillset of both tremendous passing and rushing upside in the Colts offense. Brian Baldinger says he’d put the over/under for touchdown runs by AR this year at somewhere around ten—which is a fantasy cheat code for quarterbacks and can help him to finish tops among all fantasy scorers in 2024.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid (ADP: 53)
Like Richardson, if you can start your team with solid picks through the first four rounds and then grab Dalton Kincaid for your tight end spot in the fifth, that’s a great way to begin your fantasy football roster. There’s a chance the passing game for Buffalo revolves around Kincaid, so finishing as the No. 1 guy at his position is undoubtedly within the realm of possibilities.
Steelers WR George Pickens (ADP: 61)
Competition should bring out the best in the group, but the Steelers’ receiving corps is currently George Pickens then everyone else, with the third-year weapon likely headed for a massive target total in Arthur Smith’s offense. Additionally, Pickens’ game pairs well with new quarterback Russell Wilson, who can still launch the deep ball with major success. With all the superstar receivers in the game right now, finishing as the WR1 is a challenge—but Pickens has the talent to make a push.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (ADP: 64)
If you look at Kyle Pitts as more of a wide receiver, there’s no reason he can’t easily eclipse 1,000 receiving yards (as he did as a rookie with Matt Ryan at quarterback) and score double-digit touchdowns—which would obviously put him squarely in the mix among the tight end leaderboard in fantasy leagues. Pitts dealt with a lingering knee issue in 2023, and he’s determined and healthy to show why he was so highly touted coming into the league.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (ADP: 65)
Speaking to the media yesterday, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said he fully expects Arizona’s offense “to be top of the league” after adding fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. at receiver.
“I fully expect our offense to be top of the league.”
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray expects Marvin Harrison Jr. to be a game changer that takes the offense “to another level.” pic.twitter.com/2nPe4dVOmn
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) June 5, 2024
Murray also talked up Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson, and the team signed veteran Zay Jones to join a pass-catching group that also includes tight end Trey McBride. The Cardinals are very high on Murray and are going to give him the freedom to run things and play at a high level, so big fantasy point totals could be coming.
49ers TE George Kittle (ADP: 70)
After last season, George Kittle now has three 1,000-yard campaigns under his belt, and he’s a couple of seasons removed from a career-high 11 touchdowns. The physical tight end played through a core muscle injury last year and was still a First-Team All-Pro for Kyle Shanahan. The connection between Brock Purdy and Kittle should not be discounted despite all the mouths to feed in San Francisco.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (ADP: 90)
This one is pretty simple. Raheem Mostert finished as the overall RB2 last season yet is going near the double-digit rounds in fantasy drafts this summer. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said recently that the group is “pretty much led by Raheem.” So, while De’Von Achane should certainly be more involved in Year 2 and is deserving of an early selection in drafts, Mostert is probably getting discounted way too much. The veteran probably won’t score 21 total touchdowns again, but he’s leading an electric rushing attack.
Browns RB Nick Chubb (ADP: 96)
Of course, he’s coming off a very serious knee injury and might not be ready for Week 1, but the super-efficiency of Nick Chubb makes this not totally crazy if he’s on the field for the opener. Even in just a limited role, Chubb—as he showed early in his career before becoming a workhorse—can do plenty of damage on around 10-12 touches. If the determined runner can break some long runs early in the year while getting back into the swing of things as his usual superstar self, pushing for an overall RB1 finish is a possibility. If someone were to pull off a comeback like that, Chubb would be among the first you’d expect it from.