If you watched the entire Hall of Fame Game because you wanted to see who got playing time deep in the fourth quarter. Or, if you pay attention to the guys that get put on practice squads. Or, if you take notes on those sixth and seventh-round draft picks in April, then this article might be for you. The following players won’t be on any standard redraft team. Your office league isn’t going to know the majority of these names. But, if you’re like me and you love playing in deep leagues, this one is for you, enjoy…

Rankings referenced are FantasyPros Consensus Rankings for half-PPR formats

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QB: Taylor Heinicke (QB – WFT) QB43 
In three of the last four years, Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – WFT) played nine or fewer games, and the majority of the games he missed were due to being benched for bad performances. Fitzpatrick is the ultimate hot or cold QB, and there is a good chance he gets benched at some point this season. The Washington Football team are considered by many to be a playoff contender, and therefore should not hesitate to make the switch at QB if Fitzpatrick goes through one of his infamous cold streaks.

Small sample size, but Heinicke looked good in his playoff start against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Bucs team. The Football Team knows that Fitzpatrick is not the long-term answer — they would be wise to at least give Heinicke a chance to show if that playoff game was the fluke or not. At QB43, he is way off the redraft radar, and while there may be some better options should you decide to draft a second QB, Heinicke is worth keeping an eye on this season. If there are any signs of trouble with Fitzpatrick be sure to grab Heinicke.

RB1: Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) RB98
If you follow me on Twitter (@GeoffLambert77) or if you watch the Armchair Fantasy Show on the GoingFor2 Live Network, you may already know of my love for Elijah Mitchell. Yes, he is buried on the depth chart, but the running backs in front of him, Trey Sermon (RB – SF) included, have proven to be injury-prone over their careers. Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – SF) is already expected to be placed on the PUP list, Raheem Mostert (RB – SF) has dealt with some naggy injures this offseason, and the last time we saw Trey Sermon in a meaningful game he was limping off the field in the National Championship Game. Wayne Gallman (RB – SF) and JaMycal Hasty (RB – SF) are also on the roster, but neither one of them excite me the way Mitchell does.

Mitchell has 4.4 speed with an 86th percentile speed score and an 88th percentile burst score (per PlayerProfiler.com). Even if he split carries with one of the aforementioned running backs, he still has the potential to put up some viable fantasy points in an offense that likes to run the ball. This Twitter thread I put out a few months ago shows that over the last 3 seasons, the lowest drafted running back on the 49ers was the highest fantasy point scorer. I’m not going to go as far as predicting that, but if it happened I would not be surprised.

49ers Top Scoring Running Backs (PPR) since 2018 compared to their preseason ADP (Via FantasyFootballCalculator). Thread…

2020
Fantasy Points (highest to lowest)
1. Jeff Wilson Jr.
2. Jerrick McKinnon
3. Raheem Mostert

ADP
1. Mostert 5.01
2. Coleman 8.02
3. Wilson UD

— Geoff Lambert ? (@GeoffLambert77) May 26, 2021

RB2: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE) RB73
I am sure by now you have already heard the comparisons, “Stevenson is going to play the LeGarrette Blount role in this offense.” To be completely honest, that is a lazy comparison. The “LeGarrette Blount Role” hasn’t been a role since 2016, and that was the only year it was worth it to own him in fantasy. I know this isn’t helping my argument but bear with me.

In 2020, Damien Harris (RB – NE) was given 30 carries inside the red zone, but only 3 of those carries came within five yards of the endzone. Sony Michel (RB – NE) was given 12 carries inside the red zone with only 1 carry inside the five-yard line. Quarterback Cam Newton (QB – NE) was given 19 carries inside the five, good for fourth-most in the league. The Patriots drafted Mac Jones (QB – NE) in the first round, he is going to start at some point this season. Mac Jones isn’t going to be running the ball down inside the five — it’ll be the 230-plus pound running back Rhamondre Stevenson getting those carries.

I know, I know, that sounds a lot like the “LeGarrette Blunt Role”, I just hate that comparison because that “role” was five seasons ago, if that was truly a role in their offense, why did they wait 5 years to fill it? Can’t we just call it what it is? He is the goal-line back, and, for what it’s worth, I think he can be more than that.

WR1: Van Jefferson (WR – LAR) WR84
In 2018, the Rams had three top 20 wide receivers through the first 10 weeks of the season. Robert Woods (WR – LAR) was WR9, Brandin Cooks (WR – HOU) WR10, and Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) WR18. Unfortunately, Kupp had a season-ending injury and finished as the WR46. The following season, Cooks could not stay healthy and Jared Goff went through some major regression and the Rams were never able to duplicate that magic again. Cooks was traded to the Texans in 2019 and the Rams started to use more two-tight end sets in their offense.

Now, entering 2021, the Rams could be going back to more three-wide receiver sets. They let tight end Gerald Everett (TE – SEA) walk in free agency, signing with the Seattle Seahawks, leaving Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR) atop the depth chart, but with very little behind him. The Rams also upgraded their QB situation with Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR), and from the sound of things on Twitter, Stafford and Jefferson have built some chemistry in camp.

Impressive throw during redzone period from Matthew Stafford, rolling one way before redirecting Van Jefferson with him, then finding Jefferson in endzone for toe-drag TD catch. Darious Williams in great position to make a play and appeared to deflect, but Jefferson still caught.

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 2, 2021

If the Rams do indeed go back to more three-wide sets, Jefferson would be the most likely to fill that No. 3 role. He showed some flashes as a rookie and has a year in this offense under his belt.

WR2: Quintez Cephus (WR – DET) WR104
The Detroit Lions’ starting wide receivers are a mystery. Ourlads.com lists Breshad Perriman (WR – DET), Tyrell Williams (WR – DET), and Kalif Raymond (WR – DET) as the top 3 on the depth chart, but even that’s more of a guess than anything else. We have all seen the picture on Twitter of Cephus making a one-handed catch so high in the air, it almost doesn’t look real;

Man I miss Kenny Golladay :/

SIKE, That’s Quintez Cephus #Lions pic.twitter.com/YUirlClhAe

— Honolulu Blues (@HonoluluBlues_) July 31, 2021

Cephus has just as good of a chance to secure one of those top spots on the depth chart as any of these wide receivers.  Yes, T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET) and D’Andre Swift (RB – DET) likely lead this team in targets, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Cephus ends up third on that list.

WR3: Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE) WR99
Bourne is a true long-shot here as my WR3 on this team, but one that could pay off if you are willing to swing for the fences. There is one thing that has long been a favorite trait for the Bill Belichick-coached Patriots when it comes to his wide receivers — short-area quickness. From Wes Welker to Julian Edleman, guys that could get open underneath thrived in this offense. That’s the type of player Bourne can be. He was a favorite red-zone target for Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF) in San Francisco, as Jimmy often looked his way inside the 10-yard-line. Per NFLSavant.com, Bourne was second only to Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF) in red-zone targets last season for the 49ers with 11 targets. He caught 9 of those 11 targets, including three that went for touchdowns. Whether it’s Mac Jones or Cam Newton, Bourne could play a key role in this passing game for the Patriots and be a worthy stash in redraft leagues.

TE: Mo Alie-Cox (TE – IND) TE35
I could simply write, ‘Mo Alie-Cox is 6-foot-5 270 pounds’ and leave it at that. In other words, this guy is huge, making him a great red-zone target. With the recent injury to Carson Wentz (QB – IND), Jacob Eason (QB – IND) is the likely starter for at least the first part of the season, and young inexperienced quarterbacks tend to favor throwing to their tight ends. Alie-Cox will never be a volume-tight end, but double-digit touchdowns are within the realm of possibilities, as long as this offense doesn’t struggle too much without its starting quarterback — something that remains to be seen. Sitting at TE37, drafting Alie-Cox might be too much of a stretch, but keep a close eye on him for a potential waiver wire addition.

Flex: Amari Rodgers (WR – GB) WR93
Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB) is back for at least one more season and that bodes well for the rookie wide receiver. The recent addition of Randall Cobb (WR – GB) complicates things a little as I think Rodgers is best suited for the slot role, however, Cobb has a tendency to get hurt, which could open the door for the rookie. The slot position in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense has been fruitful in the past, with Cobb being one of the more recent players to benefit from it. The Tweet below is from 2018, but Rodgers had three of the top five all-time passer ratings to the slot at that time.

Since we began grading in 2006, Aaron Rodgers has been ? when throwing to slot receivers! pic.twitter.com/IynR3XJRJv

— PFF (@PFF) April 2, 2018

Can Amari Rodgers be the next one in line? Maybe, maybe not, but from where you’ll be drafting him, it’s worth it to find out.

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