The fantasy game is all about the difficult task of getting max value from all your picks. Fake football GMs tend to get bold and reach for their guys more and more with each successive round, which is one of the primary reasons why some athletes get overlooked and become value buys. On that note, our featured analysts are here to share their favorite undervalued players heading into the season. Remember, none of the players in this article are 100% locks to become breakout sensations. The following names are merely players the experts below believe have an above-average chance of surpassing their expectations.
Q1. Which one RB outside the top 15 in our half-PPR RB consensus rankings is the most undervalued in your opinion, and why?
Breece Hall (NYJ): Consensus Rank – RB20
“Rookie RB Breece Hall is slightly undervalued at RB20 ECR. The Jets selected the Iowa State product at the top of Round 2, signifying his status as the team’s locked-in RB1 for the 2022 season. Hall’s three-down skill set suggests he never has to come off the field, and the sheer volume he garners will vault him into redraft top-20 running back territory. A workload of at least 240 touches — 15-20 touches per game based on the workload that Michael Carter received last season when Tevin Coleman missed time — would place Hall inside the top 15 considering every running back last season who hit that threshold finished inside that ranking. With Coleman sidelined in Weeks 7-9, Carter averaged 19 touches per game and a 66% snap share. Upon Coleman’s return from injury in Week 10, Carter averaged 14 touches per game and a 55% snap share in the games they played together.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): Consensus Rank – RB19
“Many are out on Ezekiel Elliot (RB6 in 2021), citing reduced efficiency and competition from Tony Pollard as the two main concerns. Truth is, last season Elliott dealt with a partially torn PCL since Week 4, and still managed 1,289 total yards and 12 TDs. As for Pollard, he didn’t play more than 42% of the offensive snaps in any game and registered more than 11 carries in just three of 15 games. Compared to a debilitated Elliott, who averaged a 66% snap share and registered 16 or more touches in 10 of 17 games in 2021, the competition isn’t actually as close as it appears. Since 2016, Zeke’s average finish is RB6 (including a season where he served a six-game suspension). He is criminally undervalued at the moment. ”
– Tim Brosnan (Tim’s Fantasy Tips)
Damien Harris (NE): Consensus Rank – RB26
“Damien Harris. As the Patriots enter their third season following the Brady era, we saw Bill Belichick move further toward a ball-control offense. None of Harris’ 15 TDs in 2021 came through the air. Taking the under on that aspect sounds right. However, taking the over on his 929 rushing yards in 2021 to exceed 1,000 looks entirely possible — even probable. Despite competition from Rhamondre Stevenson et al. and Belichick’s propensity for mixing the backfield, Harris should remain better than just a medium-hot target in 2022 drafts.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
Cam Akers (LAR): Consensus Rank – RB17
“Cam Akers turned in dreadful rushing numbers in last season’s playoffs, but don’t pay attention to a relatively small sample of poor stats against strong run defenses. Pay attention to the role Akers was asked to play. He came back from a torn Achilles in less than sixth months, got in one tune-up game in L.A.’s regular-season finale, then was handed the keys to the Rams’ backfield for do-or-die elimination games, even though Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel had both been very good when called upon during the regular season. That bodes well for Akers’ usage in 2022. He’s an exciting young back with a three-down skill set, and we can be fairly certain he’ll be operating in a healthy ecosystem, since Sean McVay’s offenses are never bad. Akers’ ECR is RB17, but I have him ranked RB12.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Isaiah Spiller (LAC): Consensus Rank – RB47
“Isaiah Spiller remaining in the RB4/RB5 ranks is crazy sauce. Spiller will operate as the 1B complement to Austin Ekeler in one of the league’s best offenses. The Chargers were fifth in points per game and second in red-zone scoring attempts per game last year. There are plenty of scoring chances to go around, and Spiller will get his shot. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
A.J. Dillon (GB): Consensus Rank – RB25
“I believe it’s A.J. Dillon. He should garner another increase in workload and be a focal point of the GB offense down the stretch of the fantasy playoffs. From November 13 on, the Packers have five home games at Lambeau Field and road games in Philly and Chicago. Only Week 16 in Miami will be immune from business-decision weather for Quadzilla.”
– Bo McBrayer (Going For 2)
Q2. What one WR outside the top 20 in our half-PPR WR consensus rankings is the most undervalued in your opinion and why?
Kenny Golladay (NYG): Consensus Rank – WR56
“We haven’t seen a good season from Kenny Golladay since 2019, so it’s understandable that a lot of fantasy managers are fading him, but an ECR of WR56 is downright disrespectful. Hamstring and hip flexor injuries limited Golladay to five games in 2020. He played 14 games in 2021 but never seemed himself after hyperextending his knee early in the season. Golladay had 70 catches for 1,063 yards and five TDs in his second NFL season, then followed it up with 65-1,190-11 in 2019. Golladay produced WR1 numbers that year even in the five games David Blough started in place of the injured Matthew Stafford, so I’m not especially worried about Giants QB Daniel Jones dragging down Golladay. As long as Golladay is able to stay reasonably healthy for a change, he should have a nice bounce-back year in new Giants head coach Brian Daboll’s offense.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Courtland Sutton (DEN): Consensus Rank – WR21
“To start the 2021 season, Courtland Sutton looked the part. He averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (17th) and had a 27% target share in Weeks 2-7 during the regular season. The big-bodied WR has a real chance to recapture his elite form another year removed from his ACL injury. It also helps substantially that he has received an ultra upgrade at the quarterback position with Denver’s trade for Russell Wilson. Wilson has always been an elite downfield passer — he had the sixth-highest passer rating on throws of 20-plus air yards last season — which plays heavily into Sutton’s strengths as a vertical threat.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Russell Gage (TB): Consensus Rank – WR47
“End the madness. Russell Gage has landed in an offense that should again be top 10 in pace and passing rate, and Chris Godwin’s health is in the wind. Gage has no business being ranked as the WR47 even if we only consider these factors. Now add in that he was 13th in yards per route run and 19th in targets per snap last season, and he shouldn’t be outside the top 36 wide receivers. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Adam Thielen (MIN): Consensus Rank – WR34
“In 2021, Adam Thielen played in just 12 full games. He scored 15+ PPR points in seven of 12 games and was targeted a minimum of seven times in 10 of 12. He has 24 TDs in his last 28 regular season games. But he has somehow fallen all the way down to WR34? I don’t buy it.”
– Tim Brosnan (Tim’s Fantasy Tips)
Darnell Mooney (CHI): Consensus Rank – WR25
“Darnell Mooney. How does this 1,000+ receiver on the Bears not land in the top 20 of rankings? Doesn’t anyone read the news? It’s probably his paltry five touchdowns 2021. Justin Fields started off very slow, and in the first month we were upset with Matt Nagy for underutilizing Fields’ strengths. Well, the front office got the memo as 2021 went along. Among the changes the Bears made with HC Matt Eberflus was new OC Luke Getsy. He has both quarterback and wide receiver coaching in his work history. Getsy, a Packer defector, should inject some extra jet fuel into the passing game. Once people begin to realize these things, Mooney’s ADP will easily touch into the top 20 by August.”
– Richard Savill (Fantasy Six Pack)
Jerry Jeudy (DEN): Consensus Rank – WR23
“Jerry Jeudy is primed to remind everyone why he was a first-round pick. He is an expert route runner and finally has a good quarterback. The Hackett offense will also likely use him similar to how Davante Adams was used in Green Bay, since their play styles are so similar. ”
– Bo McBrayer (Going For 2)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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