Who’s the one participant you simply have to have in fantasy soccer this season?
If you happen to’re a fantasy supervisor who has taken half in sufficient mock drafts this summer time, you doubtless have a fast reply to this query. It’d even be arduous so that you can choose only one participant. However that is what we’re asking our ESPN Fantasy analysts to do.
As a result of draft place can typically preclude you from touchdown a participant you covet within the first couple of rounds, we have requested our analysts to record one participant they’re focusing on exterior of these early rounds.
Gamers are listed so as of common draft place (ADP) as of Aug. 18.
Stephania Bell
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings: Recency bias is alive and properly on the subject of Jones … kind of. Individuals keep in mind that he suffered a hamstring harm in Week 1 final season, which price him a number of weeks. Or they recall an MCL harm that pressured him to overlook three further weeks. However nobody appears to speak concerning the truth he completed the season with 5 consecutive 100-yard video games. And that was simply on the bottom! Sure, the Vikings love the passing recreation, however Jones has additionally confirmed his talents there. The worth for this proficient participant is in the place you’ll be able to draft him (ADP of 63.3, which is RB18) … and I am going to gladly add him to my roster.
Matt Bowen
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens: Flowers has breakout potential heading into his second professional season after averaging 12.9 fantasy factors per recreation as a rookie in 2023, whereas scoring 19 or extra factors in 4 of his last 5 video games performed. Bear in mind, Flowers has the dynamic traits to be deployed as a three-level goal in Baltimore. Plus, his ball-carrier imaginative and prescient and sudden acceleration create alternatives to win in area, as 45.1% of Flowers’ complete receiving yards got here after the catch. And with a present ADP of WR25, I am getting each worth and upside right here. I see Flowers as a flex in 10-team leagues, with the potential to provide lower-tier WR2 numbers.
Mike Clay
Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Engram has been a top-five fantasy TE in each of the previous two seasons and is coming off a 12 months by which he completed fourth within the NFL in receptions (his 114 have been 19 greater than some other tight finish). He paced all tight ends in routes, targets and receptions final season after ending within the prime 5 in each classes in 2022. Engram is a top-five fantasy tight finish who will be had a number of rounds after unproven commodities on the place. That makes him a straightforward choice on draft day.
Tyler Fulghum
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons: I can’t, and won’t, give up on Pitts. Many fantasy managers who chosen him the previous two seasons is not going to be keen to make this choose once more, however I completely adore it. Arthur Smith and his inadequate QBs are gone. Kirk Cousins and a by-product of the Los Angeles Rams‘ offense are in. Pitts is now two full seasons faraway from his debilitating knee harm. The fourth-year professional offers the uncommon upside of 1,000-plus yards at tight finish. I am again all-in.
2:28
What are the professionals and cons to drafting George Pickens?
Daniel Dopp and Liz Loza specific the upsides and drawbacks of getting George Pickens in your fantasy roster.
Tristan H. Cockcroft
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Amongst gamers at the moment going exterior the general prime 60 (on common), Pickens offers as excessive a ceiling as anybody. He completed 2023 as a top-30 fantasy huge receiver and had 4 video games of 20-plus factors, regardless of shoddy quarterback play — in addition to the presence of Diontae Johnson because the group’s No. 1 receiver. With Johnson now in Carolina, Pickens’ alternative ought to spike, and there is a very actual probability he’ll ship top-15 positional numbers at a reduced price.
Liz Loza
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders: Regardless of being saddled with really unremarkable quarterback play for the whole lot of his five-year profession, McLaurin has cleared 1,000 receiving yards for 4 straight campaigns. The offense figures to enhance significantly with Kliff Kingsbury selecting up the tempo and the dynamic Jayden Daniels main the cost. McLaurin stays the group’s uncontested No. 1 WR and is projected to attract upward of 120 targets. He registered 130 seems to be in 2023 and completed contained in the top-30 fantasy producers on the place (WR29, 12.3 PPG). Given related quantity and an anticipated enhance in effectivity, McLaurin is a high-floor cut price because the thirty fourth receiver coming off draft boards within the early tenth spherical of 10-team workout routines.
2:03
Ought to Jayden Reed be ranked forward of Christian Watson in fantasy?
Daniel Dopp explains why he is all-in on Jayden Reed in his second fantasy season for the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Daniel Dopp
Jayden Reed, WR, Inexperienced Bay Packers: Reed put forth a masterful displaying for fantasy managers late final season, scoring not less than 15 fantasy factors in seven of his last eight video games and ending as No. 10 huge receiver over that stretch. Colour me optimistic concerning the Packers’ offense, however I feel each Reed and Christian Watson might thrive on this scheme. My largest purpose for being on the Reed prepare is Watson’s hamstring points. He has missed 10 video games by his first two seasons, so give me the man who’s able to related manufacturing with out the danger of missed video games as a result of hamstring flare-ups.
Eric Moody
Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers: Johnson is being drafted exterior the highest 30 receivers in ESPN leagues, and I simply do not get it. He is one of many few gamers at his ADP (104.6) who’s projected to steer his group in targets. The Panthers introduced in Johnson to assist Bryce Younger and enhance their struggling offense. New head coach Dave Canales revived the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, and I am assured he can do the identical for Younger and the Panthers. Johnson has had not less than 85 targets and 50 receptions each season of his profession. He is a stable WR3 with WR2 upside.
Discipline Yates
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos: Williams is being drafted on the again finish of the eleventh spherical in 10-team ESPN leagues. Whereas questions stay concerning the precise dispersal of touches within the Denver backfield, I feel it’s neglected that Williams was fifteenth within the NFL in complete touches final season and the clear prime possibility for the Broncos. I am additionally satisfied his inefficiency final season was principally tied to the foremost knee harm he suffered again in 2022, making me optimistic that Williams is prepared for a step ahead this season. Relative to different backs with a transparent position across the NFL, Williams is without doubt one of the finest values in the marketplace.
Eric Karabell
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns: It appears a bit nonsensical to covet a 28-year-old working again coming back from ACL and MCL tears in his left knee, one who would possibly miss September video games, however hear me out. Chubb will recuperate. He has completed it earlier than with the identical knee. Chubb averaged greater than 1,300 dashing yards and 10 touchdowns over his previous 4 full seasons and, whereas the Browns needs to be cautious, lacking just a few weeks early — after we fantasy managers do not should take care of bye weeks — is just not an enormous deal primarily based on the worth of his underwhelming ADP (115.8). These drafting rookie Jonathon Brooks a number of rounds earlier are making a mistake. Chubb would possibly play first. He may be higher. If his ADP was within the first 5 rounds, investing can be foolish, however Chubb is an enormous cut price after the general prime 100, and I’ll preserve investing at that paltry worth.