Today's post isn't a normal one. But with only three columns remaining until a six-month break and most of you done with your fantasy season, "normal" probably isn't useful.
On a podcast episode this summer, I highlighted a few players who might be fantasy relevant during the year. The catch was that none of them were remotely draftable. All were ranked outside the top 300 in ADP. Because every year, several (and sometimes *many*) non-top-300 players become rosterable. A few are even spot starters. And occasionally one or two become weekly starters.
My point on the episode was that managers should take the time to study non-top-300 players, because we should understand their potential upside if things break right.
Three of the non-top-300 players I hyped were Emanuel Wilson, Sean Tucker, and Kimani Vidal. To varying degrees, each of them outperformed expectations. I picked up Wilson and started him when Josh Jacobs was sidelined. I traded for Tucker, and the one week I started him, he single-handedly put me over the top. Some of you might have similar stories. All of them were deemed undraftable based on ADP. But they all ended up playing semi-meaningful roles.
Did you know that Christian Watson was ranked outside the top 300? I actually didn't. He's currently the WR20 in points per game. But entering Week 1, he was ranked behind teammates Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, and Dontayvion Wicks. His WR106 ADP placed him right behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Efton Chism III.
This is why it's essential to review every single rostered NFL player (QB, RB, WR, etc.) before drafting. Each one has a path to relevance. Most of those paths are incredibly narrow. But a few are surprisingly open -- where one injury could catapult someone to must-roster status.
I've gone through this past summer's ADPs and pulled 30 notable non-top-300 players, plus one DST. Some had a lot of streamable performances. Others had one or two great efforts in the fantasy playoffs. They all exceeded expectations:
- Kirk Cousins (301 ADP) -- 26.9 points in Week 15 and 17.6 in Week 16
- Sean Tucker (305) -- Four games with 8.5+ points, including 34.0 in Week 11
- Adonai Mitchell (306) -- 24.2 points in Week 13 and 17.4 in Week 15
- Dawson Knox (310) -- 17.3 points in Week 14 and 18.7 in Week 15
- Jaguars (312 / DST31) -- DST3
- Tyler Shough (319) -- 17+ points in six of eight starts
- Emanuel Wilson (322) -- Four games with 11+ points, including 26.5 in one start against a top-10 defense versus fantasy RBs
- Michael Mayer (335) -- 16.0 points in Week 6 and 17.9 in Week 17
- Christian Watson (336, the fifth-ranked Packers WR) -- The WR20 in points per game
- Audric Estime (338) -- 16.8 points in Week 17 (best Saints RB performance of the season)
- Tez Johnson (340) -- Six games with 9+ points, including 15.8 in Week 7 and 20.2 in Week 10
- Tre Tucker (358) -- Seven games with 9+ points, including 40.9 in Week 3
- Jalen Nailor (380) -- 23.4 points in Week 10 and 19.5 in Week 15
- Devaughn Vele (385) -- 23.3 points in Week 13 and 11.9 in Week 15
- Oronde Gadsden (390) -- Sven games with 9+ points, including 29.4 in Week 7 and 18.7 in Week 8
- Mac Jones (395) -- Four games with 18+ points
- Mack Hollins (396) -- Four games with 10+ points
- Parker Washington (415) -- Seven games with 10+ points, including four with 17+
- Gunnar Helm (446) -- Three games with 10+ points
- Colby Parkinson (580) -- Five games with 11+ points, including 24.5 in Week 15
- Dillon Gabriel (613) -- 16.1 points in Week 5 and 20.1 in Week 10
- Michael Carter (655) -- Three games with 11+ points, including 18.3 in Week 5
- Emari Demercado (662) -- Two games with 10+ points
- Jacoby Brissett (685) -- Nine games with 18+ points
- Kimani Vidal (713) -- Four games with 17+ points
- Chimere Dike (718) -- Five games with 13+ points
- Jake Tonges (807) -- Five games with 10+ points, including 17.1 in Week 5 and 19.0 in Week 17
- Greg Dulcich (809) -- 16.1 points in Week 17
- Bam Knight (813) -- Four games with 12+ points
- Ryan Flournoy (864) -- Two games with 18+ points
- Jawhar Jordan (866) -- 13.8 points in Week 15 and 12.0 in Week 16
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