Fantasy football drafts are winding down this week as we prepare for the regular season to kick off this Thursday evening. If you haven’t yet drafted, here are five fantasy football players that tend to be available in later draft rounds, who could certainly add value to your roster.
Andy Dalton, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
If you are the type to target a quality quarterback later in drafting while stacking your roster first with running backs and wide receivers, Dalton is a solid late-round draft pick who typically goes undrafted up until the 11th round.
Believe it or not, Dalton ranked sixth in fantasy points in 2013, and passed for 4,293 yards, with 33 touchdowns. Those numbers by the way, are team records for a single-season performance. Dalton also ranked third highest when it came to quarterback consistency last season achieving 75 percent in this category.
To build Dalton’s case even further is the fact that he has at his disposal, one of the most elite wide receivers in A.J. Green, who was the third highest targeted wide receiver last fantasy season. Green along with second-year running back, Giovani Bernard who had 514 receiving yards last season, will certainly prove to be a reliable options for Dalton again this year.
If you take a flier on Dalton, who on the average is the 16th fantasy quarterback drafted, you’ll potentially be rewarded with a quarterback who produces within the top-10, nearly each week.
Terrance West, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
West makes a fantastic late-round fantasy option at running back, coming off of a college career of 4,849 yards and 84 touchdowns on 802 carries. The Browns’ quarterbacks with either Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel under center aren’t exactly earning rave reviews in their passing attack. Additionally, the team lost their No. 1 wide receiver Josh Gordon who will be suspended the full season. Other than tight end, Jordan Cameron, the Browns' receiving options are meager. With the Cleveland's aerial game already facing doom, they will be forced to rely upon their ground game even further this season.
Ben Tate is the team’s lead back, however, he can’t be responsible to carry the entire offense, so this is where West comes into the picture. Tate also has issues with remaining healthy, so West will be used to ensure the longevity of Tate.
For now, draft West as running back depth for your bench, with the strong likelihood he becomes a viable start in the future, earning RB3 or even RB2 fantasy points week to week.
Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers
Boldin, who ranked 15th among his fellow wide receivers in 2013 with 1,179 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, is currently being drafted anywhere as the 45th to the 50th wide receiver in current mock drafts. Acquiring a capable and stealthy wide receiver such as Bolden who had 85 receptions last season, in round 11, is quite the value in my opinion.
Even with wide receiver, Michael Crabtree healthy and in the picture, Boldin stands to earn a significant number of targets from Colin Kaepernick, as Crabtree will be the guy drawing double coverage. Entering into his 12th season in the NFL, and his second year with the 49ers, Boldin is a fine example of a quality receiver, who actually had his best season since 2009 with his new team last year. If you can score Boldin late in fantasy drafting, he certainly will bring value to your fantasy roster as he should consistently reward WR3 and even WR2 numbers most weeks.
Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Currently available in recent mock drafts near the bottom of round eight is Williams, the second-year receiver for the Cowboys. The 6’-2” receiver racked up 736 yards and five touchdown scores in his rookie year while filling in for the constantly injured Miles Austin. Now that Austin is no longer with the team, Williams inherits the No. 2 receiving slot opposite Dez Bryant, who defenses will be all over to keep contained.
This means more targets from Tony Romo and an offense who will always be fighting it out through the air to keep up, due to Dallas’ pitiful secondary. Williams makes an excellent value add at this draft position as he is poised to score WR2 fantasy points this season.
Zach Ertz, Tight End, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz, who typically falls to the eighth or ninth round in mock fantasy drafting is emerging as a top target for quarterback Nick Foles, especially when it comes to finding him in the red zone. Worth noting is that the 6’-5” tight end really began to explode in the later part of the 2013 season, scoring four touchdowns on 469 receiving yards. This is a path that Ertz should easily continue to follow in 2014.
Already turning heads in the preseason, Ertz, who is starting his second NFL season had 110 receiving yards and one touchdown in the three partial games for which he participated. 2014 should present many more Foles to Ertz targets, especially the Eagles’ top receiving option from last year, DeSean Jackson now in Washington.
If you are inclined to wait on drafting your tight end in later rounds, Ertz offers plenty of value and upside if chosen accordingly.