Late-Round Picks: Curtis Samuel, Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer (Fantasy Football)

When preparing for your fantasy football drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy football rankings compared to fantasy football average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into some of Derek Brown’s favorite late-round fantasy football draft picks to target.

2024 Fantasy Football Draft Advice

Later Round Targets

Ladd McConkey & Joshua Palmer (WRs – LAC): McConkey or Palmer could become the Bolts’ WR1 in short order. Is the passing volume in a Greg Roman offense a concern? Absolutely, but that’s why their ADPs are this low. During Roman’s final four seasons with Baltimore, his offenses averaged 496 passing attempts. If McConkey or Palmer can earn at least a 21% target share, then we’re talking 102 targets, which might not sound like much, but that would have been tied for 32nd among wide receivers last season. There’s plenty of upside for McConkey or Palmer to earn an even larger slice of the target pie in 2024, considering the other pass catchers that are running opposite them and their inherent talent levels. Last year at Georgia, McConkey was in the 98th percentile in receiving grade and receiving grade versus single coverage. He was also in the 91st percentile or higher in separation percentage and YPRR. Last year, Palmer opened my eyes in the seven games he played without Mike Williams. In those contests, he garnered an 18.9% target share with a 31.4% air-yard share, producing 2.19 yards per route run and 71.1 receiving yards per game. Someone from this passing attack will emerge in 2024. These are the two bets to make across your leagues.

Curtis Samuel (WR, BUF): The last time we saw Curtis Samuel in a Joe Brady offense, he finished as the WR27 in fantasy points per game with 1,051 total yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. While I don’t think we see that type of resurgence from Samuel, he could surpass his WR48 standing last year, catching passes from Josh Allen. Last year, Samuel only managed a 14.7% target share with a 7.1 aDOT and 1.60 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). None of those numbers really make the senses perk up, but he could be utilized more out wide this year which would be great for Samuel. Last year, from the perimeter, among 109 qualifying receivers, he ranked 30th in yards per route run (2.12). The year prior, he posted a 1.84 yards per route run mark from the outside. Samuel could fight Kincaid for the team lead in targets while adding value on the ground. He should be the first Bills’ wide receiver drafted this year despite the concerns about turf toe now.