If you’re wondering, yes: There will be a DO NOT DRAFT list coming up later this week that I will put together as I did last year.
But too often, we’re caught being negative in fantasy football. And how can you not be? You have to avoid the busts if you want a chance a title, so weighing upside and a lot more downside is part of the game.
So I decided this would be the year that I start doing a DO DRAFT list, a look at the players I love — irrationally or otherwise — heading into draft season.
Let’s go:
1
WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Picking a receiver on a team destined to run a ton with Jonathan Taylor seems like a bad idea.
Except: Pittman put up some seriously good numbers in Year 2 (129 targets, 88 receptions, 1,082 yards and six scores) AND THAT WAS WITH CARSON WENTZ AT QB!
Here’s my theory: With Matt Ryan on board and the Colts probably wanting to manage Taylor’s workload a bit, Pittman is a threat to be a top-10 receiver this year.
2
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
“Oh, the top rookie in all of fantasy, real original, buddy.” — You, probably.
Fine, but: Is Michael Carter going to be a thing too this season?
The answer, I think, is not enough for it to matter. In the group of running backs you can find where Hall is available, I have problems with a bunch (injury concerns for Cam Akers and Elijah Mitchell, is JK Dobbins really back, David Montgomery’s O-line stinks). But Hall has so much upside and could receive an RB1-level workload.
3
WR Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills
I’m joining in the hype. Can’t help it. All in.
4
WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Marquise Brown is gone. Who is Lamar Jackson going to throw to? Brown caught 91 passes! Could it be a former first-round pick? OF COURSE! Why is he rated so low???
5
QB Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
I like to wait on QBs, and this is the guy I’ll be waiting for. He can do it with his legs and his arm, and in Year 2, I’m buying even on a run-first team.
6
RB Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
I worry about Zeke’s age and workload, and Pollard was FLEX-worthy for many weeks last year. Draft him and stash him.
7
TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Serious value play right here. People are going to shy away because he didn’t find the end zone once in 2021.
But have you heard about touchdown regression?
And have you heard how Kmet caught 60 passes in 2021?
And about how young QBs like Justin Fields sometimes target their tight ends a lot?
And about how the Bears’ depth chart at wideout is Darnell Mooney and not much else?
8
RB Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos
Normally, I’d be very much against drafting a veteran running back who scored double-digit touchdowns in 2021.
But I don’t think Javonte Williams is suddenly the bellcow. If he is, he’ll have a huge season. But I think this is, at the very least, a timeshare that will frustrate those with Williams.
Which brings me to Gordon: If he’s drafted outside the top 30 RBs, I think he’s more than worth a look with the way he’s being ranked. If he stinks or he gets injured, you won’t have spent too much.
