Who is the player you just… have What to own in fantasy football this season?
If you're a fantasy manager who's participated in enough mock drafts this summer, you probably have a quick answer to this question. You might even find it difficult to pick just one player. But that's what we asked our ESPN Fantasy analysts to do.
Because draft position can often prevent you from landing a player you covet in the early rounds, we asked our analysts to list one player they're targeting outside of those early rounds.
Players are listed in order of average draft position (ADP) as of August 18.
Stephanie Bell
Aaron Jones, running back, Minnesota Vikings: Recency bias is in full force when it comes to Jones…sort of. People remember that he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 of last season, which cost him several weeks. Or they remember an MCL injury that forced him to miss three additional weeks. But no one seems to talk about the fact that he finished the season with five straight 100-yard games. And that was just on the ground! Yes, the Vikings love the passing game, but Jones has shown his skills there, too. The value of this talented player is in where you can draft him (63.3 ADP, which is RB18)…and I’ll gladly add him to my roster.
Matt Bowen
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers: Flowers has the potential to break out heading into his second pro season after averaging 12.9 fantasy points per game as a rookie in 2023 while scoring 19 or more points in four of his last five games played. Remember, Flowers has the dynamic traits to be deployed as a three-level target in Baltimore. Plus, his ball-carrying vision and sudden acceleration create opportunities to win in space, as 45.1% of Flowers’ total receiving yards came after the catch. And with a current ADP of WR25, I’m getting both value and potential here. I see Flowers as a flex player in 10-team leagues, with the potential to produce lower-tier WR2 numbers.
Mike Clay
Evan Engram, tight end, Jacksonville Jaguars: Engram has been a top-five fantasy tight end the past two seasons and is coming off a year in which he finished fourth in the NFL in receptions (his 114 were 19 more than any other tight end). He led all tight ends in routes, passes and receptions last season after finishing in the top five in both categories in 2022. Engram is a top-five fantasy tight end who can be taken in multiple rounds after unproven players at the position. That makes him an easy pick on draft day.
Tyler Fulghum
Kyle Pitts, tight end, Atlanta Falcons: I can’t, and won’t, give up on Pitts. Many fantasy managers who drafted him the past two seasons won’t be willing to draft him again, but I love him. Arthur Smith and his underperforming QBs are gone. Kirk Cousins and a spinoff of the Los Angeles Rams offense are here. Pitts is now two full seasons removed from his debilitating knee injury. The fourth-year pro offers the rare upside of 1,000-plus yards as a tight end. I’m all in.
2:28
What are the pros and cons of drafting George Pickens?
Daniel Dopp and Liz Loza discuss the pros and cons of having George Pickens on your fantasy roster.
Tristan H. Cockcroft
George Pickens, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers: Among players currently ranked outside the top 60 overall (on average), Pickens offers as high a ceiling as anyone. He finished 2023 as a top-30 fantasy wide receiver and had four 20-plus point games, despite poor quarterback play as well as the presence of Diontae Johnson as the team’s No. 1 receiver. With Johnson now in Carolina, Pickens’ opportunity should increase, and there’s a very real chance he delivers top-15 positional numbers at a reduced cost.
Liz Loza
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders: Despite having truly mediocre quarterback performances throughout his five-year career, McLaurin has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for four consecutive campaigns. The offense figures to improve considerably with Kliff Kingsbury pushing the pace and the dynamic Jayden Daniels leading the charge. McLaurin remains the team’s undisputed No. 1 WR and is projected to draw 120-plus targets. He logged 130 looks in 2023 and finished inside the top 30 fantasy producers at the position (WR29, 12.3 PPG). Given similar volume and an expected increase in efficiency, McLaurin is a high-end bargain as the 34th receiver off draft boards in the early 10th round of the 10-team drills.
2:03
Should Jayden Reed be ranked ahead of Christian Watson in fantasy?
Daniel Dopp explains why he's fully committed to Jayden Reed in his second fantasy season with the Green Bay Packers.
Daniel Dopp
Jayden Reed, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers: Reed had a masterful performance for fantasy managers late last season, scoring at least 15 fantasy points in seven of his final eight games and finishing as the No. 10 wide receiver over that span. I'm optimistic about the Packers' offense, but I think both Reed and Christian Watson could thrive in this scheme. My biggest reason to follow Reed is Watson's hamstring issues. He's missed 10 games in his first two seasons, so give me the guy who's capable of similar production without the risk of missing games due to hamstring issues.
Eric Moody
Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers: Johnson is being drafted outside of the top 30 receivers in ESPN leagues, and I just don’t get it. He’s one of the few players at his ADP (104.6) who is projected to lead his team in targets. The Panthers brought in Johnson to help Bryce Young and bolster their struggling offense. New head coach Dave Canales revived the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, and I’m confident he can do the same for Young and the Panthers. Johnson has had at least 85 targets and 50 receptions in every season of his career. He’s a solid WR3 with WR2 potential.
Country Yachts
Javonte Williams, running back, Denver Broncos: Williams is being selected in the late 11th round in ESPN's 10-team leagues. While there remain questions about the exact distribution of touches in Denver's backfield, I think it's overlooked that Williams ranked 15th in the NFL in total touches last season and 10th in the NFL in total touches last season. clear The Broncos' best option. I'm also convinced that his inefficiency last season was mostly related to the significant knee injury he suffered in 2022, which makes me optimistic that Williams is ready to take a step forward this season. Compared to other backs with a clear role in the NFL, Williams is one of the best values on the market.
Eric Karabell
Nick Chubb, running back, Cleveland Browns: It seems a little absurd to covet a 28-year-old running back coming back from torn ACLs and MCLs in his left knee who could miss September games, but hear me out. Chubb will bounce back. He’s done it before with the same knee. Chubb averaged over 1,300 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over his last four full seasons, and while the Browns should be cautious, missing a few weeks early (when we fantasy managers don’t have to deal with bye weeks) isn’t a huge deal based on the value of his underwhelming ADP (115.8). Those drafting rookie Jonathon Brooks several rounds early are making a mistake. Chubb could play first. He could be better. If his ADP was in the first five rounds, investing would be foolish, but Chubb is a massive bargain after the top 100 overall, and I’ll continue to invest at that paltry price.
