Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers: Can Clyde Edwards-Helaire Bounce Back?
At this time of year you’ve either already had your fantasy football drafts or will be having them in the next week. You’re no doubt looking at every angle to ensure victory at year’s end.
The start of every draft takes care of itself, it doesn’t take much skill to draft Justin Jefferson or Christian McCaffrey. Oftentimes it’s the last few picks of a draft that separates the champions from the also-ran. Here are seven players who are all being drafted outside the top 200 picks but could provide real value for your fantasy teams.
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Deep Fantasy Football Sleepers
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
Jimmy G is reunited with his former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and all he does is win. He has a 40-17 career record, and he’s been to a Super Bowl. His biggest issue has been simply staying on the field, but when he plays, his team wins, and he produces fantasy points. His durability is the only reason he’s ranked over 200, but any QB with Davante Adams as their WR1 is worth a pick that late.
QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Tannehill now has an additional receiver to get the ball to with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, and the Titans still have Derrick Henry and Treylon Burks. Tannehill has always been a serviceable game manager, and even though rookie Will Levis is waiting in the wings, this has always been a “win-now” league; if Tannehill wins for coach Mike Vrabel, the job will be his to keep, and he can easily outperform his ADP.
WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Pierce is a second-year starter for the Colts, who will have rookie Anthony Richardson getting him the ball. Richardson wasn’t the most accurate in college, but I like the notion of two young players learning the offense and gelling with one another. Our ADP tool shows that Pierce is going in the 17th round, so there's no risk in grabbing him at the end of your draft or even off waivers.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes can truly make any receiver better. And although Valdes-Scantling probably doesn’t have Pro Bowl talent, with Mahomes he will have a career year. Last season was his first with Mahomes and he caught a career-high 42 passes. With another offseason to click with Mahomes under his belt, look for the 29-year-old to catch over 60 passes.
WR Mecole Hardman, New York Jets
Two seasons ago, Hardman played all 17 games with the Chiefs and caught 59 passes. Last season he played half as much and only caught 25 balls. The Chiefs moved on from Hardman, and now he is on the receiving end of passes from another Hall of Fame QB, Aaron Rodgers. Garrett Wilson is the clear No.1 WR in New York, but after him, there will be plenty of passes for Hardman to snag.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
I love Edwards-Helaire this season. He’s entering his fourth season in Kansas City, and in his rookie year, he rushed for over 800 yards and ended the season with over 1,000 total yards. Other than Travis Kelce he’s the only offensive player on the Chiefs with a thousand-yard season on their resume, and I think he maintains a role this year.
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennesse Titans
Derrick Henry may be available to me in the first round, and if I end up with him, there are worse things to do than to snag a fantastic handcuff with the last pick of the draft. The third-round rookie from Tulane is the heir apparent to King Henry, and if something happens to Henry this year, Spears will be called upon to take a larger role with the team sooner rather than later.
