When it comes to fantasy football, nothing beats the freedom of a salary cap league. Unlike in snake drafts, where my choices are often dictated by my draft slot, a salary cap format allows me to construct a team that truly reflects my preferences and strategies.
It is not an issue if I want to test out or try a particular strategy. Zero RB, Hero RB, Anchor RB…it won’t make a difference. Blowing half my budget on acquiring Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall AND CeeDee Lamb? Sure. Waiting until the first tier of talent is gone before bargain hunting later on? Absolutely.
While the freedom of salary cap leagues is exhilarating, it’s crucial to factor in your competition’s biases and preferences. Are you surrounded by Patriots fans in your draft? Be prepared to pay a premium for Rhamondre Stevenson or Drake Maye. Is your best friend a draft expert? Expect intense bidding wars for rookies. Understanding these dynamics is critical to success.
When participating in salary cap formats, it is essential to gauge players’ costs based on the tier that has them ranked among their positions rather than treating each option on a case-by-case basis.
For example, when viewing the second tier of running backs in our current ECR on the site, five players are listed – Jonathan Taylor, Jahmyr Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, Kyren Williams and Travis Etienne Jr. Having them ranked within the same tier means that they should perform (on average) somewhat close to each other. We expect their final statistics to be within striking distance from player to player. If Taylor goes off the board for $40 in a $200 cap format, the other players should be within a few dollars of that price range. Barkley shouldn’t be selected for $55, and Etienne shouldn’t only cost $25.
Based upon our Dollar Value Calculator on the site and using the “standard” league size of 12 players with a default $200 budget, there are a few players that I feel present a value worth targeting. Here are a few undervalued players to target in fantasy football salary cap drafts.
- 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Football Draft Values: Salary Cap & Auction Leagues
Jared Goff (QB – DET): $1 projection
Put some respect on this man’s name before he starts to scream, “DO YOU LIKE THAT?” again. Goff is currently ranked as our QB13 after finishing 2023 as the overall QB8. The classic example of a non-sexy pick that will pay dividends is that Goff has thrown for over 4,400 passing yards each of the last two seasons and has averaged 295 fantasy points.
Even with slight regression baked into the cost and an inability to add value as a runner, Goff still should be more than a dollar throwaway option on a Detroit team that was on the verge of making the Super Bowl. Other options within his tier at quarterback include Jayden Daniels ($5 projection), Brock Purdy ($6) and Trevor Lawrence ($4). I’ll take the discount happily.
Keenan Allen (WR – CHI): $11 projection
When it comes to mid-tier options with upside that I’ll happily add, Allen tops the list at this price. Allen’s move to Chicago during the offseason, coupled with his age (already 32) and competition for targets, has managers concerned – which I fully understand. With that said, I’d be more up in arms if he was a downfield threat losing his top-end speed or if he was an “X” option on the outside that mirrored D.J. Moore.
Allen’s calling card is his elite route-running in short to intermediate distances, a skill that will benefit rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as his new safety outlet. Gone are the days of Allen seeing more than 140 targets (a figure he surpassed five times in the last seven seasons), but even with a modest decrease, I feel he can outperform other players at a similar projected cost, such as Rashee Rice or Jordan Addison.
Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL): $13 projection
Pitts continues to find his way into nearly every “underrated/undervalued” article that I’ve written in the offseason. His upside is apparent from a physical standpoint combined with what he has done when given an actual opportunity (something Arthur Smith was allergic to during his tenure). Ranked as our TE7, Pitts has the upside to easily crack the top three players at the position, now that Kirk Cousins is under center and there is a new head coach and offensive coordinator in Atlanta. His current cost is below Jake Ferguson and just one dollar ahead of T.J. Hockenson, who could potentially start 2024 on the PUP. Pitts is worth the investment.
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