While NFL teams have an offseason, there is no such thing for fantasy football managers. This year’s NFL offseason has been arguably the wildest in league history, but nothing is better than fantasy football. Best Ball drafts are happening right now and are a great way to scratch the fantasy football itch we all have all year. But, of course, the best part of playing Best Ball is you draft your team and forget about it until the end of the football season.
It’s a great way to participate in fantasy football all year round without managing 50 leagues during the regular season. Like season-long fantasy, you want to take advantage of players with a great ADP (Average Draft Position). Here are six players I am targeting at their current ADP.
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ADP provided by Underdog Fantasy.
Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE): ADP 113.2 | QB14
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Watson recently got traded to the Browns for a bounty of draft picks. Similarly, you know Watson hasn’t played in over a year partly because of multiple sexual misconduct allegations. While it appears Watson won’t face criminal charges, he still faces a possible suspension by the NFL. However, that is already baked into his ADP. If the NFL decides not to suspend Watson, he will be a steal at his current price. The last time we saw Watson on the field, he finished the year as the QB5, averaging 23.1 fantasy points per game. Not only did Watson lead the league in passing yards in 2020, but he finished sixth among quarterbacks with 444 rushing yards.
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB): ADP 78.4 | RB25
Before Tom Brady announced he was coming out of retirement, Fournette appeared done in Tampa Bay. However, the Buccaneers recently re-signed Fournette to a three-year deal. Meanwhile, Ronald Jones signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, opening an uncontested featured role for Fournette in Tampa Bay. Fournette finished as the RB7 last year despite missing three games with an injury, averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game. He also averaged a career-high 4.5 yards per rushing attempt last season. More importantly, Fournette was fourth on the team in targets with 84 last season. Elijah Mitchell, Breece Hall, and Devin Singletary have a higher ADP than Fournette, but I would take Fournette over all of them.
AJ Dillon (RB – GB): ADP 83.9 | RB27
The football world was shocked when the Packers traded Davante Adams. However, the trade is excellent for Dillon’s fantasy value. With Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling no longer with the team, the Packers will lean on the running game more next season. Last year Dillon had a productive sophomore season. After averaging only 3.6 fantasy points per game as a rookie, Dillon averaged just under 10 fantasy points per game last season despite playing only 42.6 percent of the snaps. More importantly, the 247 pound running back showed soft hands in the passing game. Dillon had 34 receptions last season, only 18 less than Aaron Jones. If Jones misses time, Dillon becomes a mid RB1. As a mid RB3, Dillon is dramatically undervalued at his current ADP.
Adam Thielen (WR – MIN): ADP 74.3 | WR36
Age matters in dynasty, but it is overrated in redraft leagues. Thielen will turn 32-years-old before the start of the 2022 season. Some will avoid him in their drafts because of his age. However, that is a mistake. Thielen has been one of the best wide receivers the past few years in fantasy football. He has finished as a top-14 wide receiver on a points per game basis in four of the past five years.
Furthermore, he averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game during those four seasons. Thielen has averaged a top 11 finish and 13.7 fantasy points per game over the past two years, with Justin Jefferson on the team. As the WR36 off the board, Thielen is vastly underrated.
Allen Robinson (WR – LAR): ADP 88.6 | WR43
Everyone should take Robinson’s 2021 season and throw it out the window. The situation was awful, and the Chicago Bears misused him. However, he now joins the Rams as the No. 2 wide receiver opposite Cooper Kupp. Last year, Robert Woods got off to a slow start and still finished as the WR17 on a points per game basis. Furthermore, Robinson averaged at least 12.9 fantasy points per game in his previous two seasons with the Bears despite catching passes from Mitchell Trubisky. Robinson is a must draft until his ADP jumps into the top 50 picks. There are several wide receivers with a higher ADP than Robinson who shouldn’t, including Gabriel Davis, Brandon Aiyuk, and Kadarius Toney.
Zach Ertz (TE – ARZ): ADP 124.3 | TE13
When Ertz got traded midseason to the Cardinals, his fantasy value took off. Once he joined the Cardinals, Ertz was the TE4 for the rest of the season, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game. His 81 targets in 11 games with the Cardinals finished third on the team behind Christian Kirk and A.J. Green. Furthermore, Kirk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason while Green likely won’t return to Arizona. More importantly, the Cardinal made it a priority to re-sign Ertz to a three-year deal worth $31.7 million before free agency. Currently, Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant have a higher ADP than Ertz. I would take Ertz ahead of both.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.