Finding value in best ball contests will carry your team to victory and now is the perfect time to take advantage with mispriced players to help stack your team with high upside at an undervalued average draft position (ADP). Below are players you can target.
Undervalued Best Ball Players
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE)
Inconsistent and undervalued has been the theme for Amari Cooper for multiple seasons. His volatility can be frustrating but he can provide top-12 production with the potential to hit a hot streak to close out the season in best ball.
The Bad News: Cooper’s production sample size with Deshaun Watson was just five games and there’s still an unknown around Watson’s true pass volume and ceiling.
The Good News: Cooper is the Browns’ clear WR1 and is being drafted outside the top 24 of receivers.
Cooper’s ADP has never been at his actual ceiling but with the emergence of many young receivers, Cooper’s value is extremely high in early 2024 drafts. Cooper is being drafted behind players who are secondary options on their team — like DeVonta Smith and Cooper Kupp — and behind players that have unknown team or quarterback situations like Drake London and Tee Higgins. Cooper offers value, safety and upside.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
Chuba Hubbard’s current ADP on Underdog is below multiple running backs tied to committees and free agents with unknown landing spots. Perhaps there’s skepticism around whether Hubbard retains the RB1 role with a new regime in Carolina. Hubbard’s upside was capped in Carolina’s offense, making him a low-ceiling, high-floor back — less than ideal for best ball. Carolina’s offense will improve under Dave Canales, however, and Hubbard’s ceiling will increase.
The Bad News: Given Miles Sanders’ contract, he’s not a cut candidate and should remain on the Panthers’ roster.
The Good News: Hubbard outperformed Sanders in a majority of metrics, including yards per carry, fantasy points per touch, yards after contact, etc.
Sanders may bounce back and earn an increased role but Sanders never truly had an RB1 role within the Panthers’ offense. Hubbard was consistently involved and, at the very least, would have a solid role within a committee. Canales utilized Rachaad White as a workhorse back in Tampa Bay. Despite the difficulty in finding consistent production on the ground, White put up strong receiving work (64 receptions, 549 yards and three touchdowns) that carried his fantasy season. Hubbard offers a similar skillset and could thrive as the RB1 under Canales.
Aaron Jones (RB – GB)
Aaron Jones’ 2023 season was wildly disappointing, finishing as the RB37 in points per reception (PPR) leagues. He dealt with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss six games and limited his snaps when active. It marked the first year Jones finished outside the top 10 in his position since 2018. Many fantasy managers may be concerned age finally caught up with Jones and he’ll struggle again in 2024.
The Bad News: Jones is 29 and while his overall mileage isn’t extreme for his age, it’s possible he reached a cliff.
The Good News: Including the playoffs, Jones finished the season with five straight 100-yard performances on the ground, averaging 20 carries per game.
I view Jones similarly to Keenan Allen‘s 2022 hamstring injury and subsequent 2023 resurgence. Hamstring injuries take out the best of us, old and young. But, much like Allen, Jones performed at an elite level once he was finally healthy. Jones’ current ADP could be a bit lower but with AJ Dillon set to hit free agency and Jones rumored to stay in Green Bay, Jones offers RB1 upside at an RB2 value.
More Early 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Prep
- Erickson’s Early Fantasy Football Rankings, Tiers & Notes: QB | WR
- Early Must-Have Running Backs: Feb
- Early Must-Have Wide Receivers: Feb
- Early Must-Have QBs & TEs: Feb
- QB2s w/ Top-5 Upside: Feb
- Players to Avoid
- 3 Early Breakout Candidates
- 6 Early Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers
- Draft Values, Breakouts & Busts: RB
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