Usually as the snake has gone back and forth 5 times in the draft and we prepare to start the 11th round, we don't expect to find much value. The chat has died down, the defenses and kickers are starting to come off the board, and most of us have just queued up a few players we have irrational hopes for. But every once in a while, you find a treasure trove, a gold mine. The following players were drafted in the dead time in the draft but are providing real fantasy impact through the first 6 weeks. These may be the picks that end up winning the league. Let's start by taking a look a few guys who didn't make the cut:
Guys drafted a round or two early to be sleepers for this post:
Tarik Cohen - Dan Park - Round 9
Current Production: 20th best RB, mid-tier RB2
Tarik has benefited more from Nagy's system than Jordan Howard has. He's not only making up the value difference in the rounds they were taken; he has surpassed Howard's production.
Andrew Luck - Paul Kim - Round 9
Current Production: 6th best QB, mid-tier QB1
Luck has come out firing, with no regards or worries about the shoulder issues that have plagued him. He'll continue to be a gunslinger for an Indy team that has to throw to stay alive in games. Even without TY or Doyle, he's been able to put up impressive numbers.
Kenny Golladay - Dan Park - Round 10
Current Production: 15th best WR, high-end WR2
Golladay has surpassed Jones in the Lions pecking order and may surpass Tate due to his ridiculous athleticism and catch radius. With the threat of Kerryon in the backfield, the downfield plays should open up for him to continue his success.
Patrick Mahomes - Brian Cho - Round 10
Current Production: Number 1 QB, best QB1
Who would have known that Mahomes would be this good? Other than a 15 point "dud," he hasn't scored less than 24 points in a week and surpassed 30 points 4 times (including a 50-burger). With the KC defense struggling, he'll continue to get opportunities.
Real Steals:
Honorable Mentions:
Geronimo Allison - Eric Lee - Round 11
Current Production: Number 26 WR, high-end WR3
Comparable to TY Hilton (3rd round), Fuller (7th round)
He's done well with the opportunities that have been provided to him. He's missed a few weeks with injury but he's got a great QB throwing to him and has earned his trust on the long ball.
Chris Godwin - Paul Kim - Round 12
Current Production: Number 29 WR, mid-tier WR3
Comparable to Fuller (7th round), Goodwin (5th round)
A third option in a revitalized Bucs offense, he was a steal but Paul may have grabbed the wrong Bucs receiver (see below). But anytime you can get a starter in this range, you've made a great pick.
Jared Goff - Chris Chung - Round 14
Current Production: Number 11 starting QB, low-end QB1
Comparable to Cousins (6th round), Wentz (9th round)
Usually in round 14, you're just looking to get a solid backup QB for your QB1's bye week. But Chris got the QB in one of the most prolific offenses this season. McVay has made Goff a star and we don't see any signs of slowing down.
Top 5:
5. John Brown - Jon Lee - Round 14
Current Production: Number 27 WR, high-end WR3
Comparable to TY Hilton (3rd round), Fuller (7th round)
John Brown has always had some issues in Arizona with injuries but crab cakes seem to be the cure. He's Flacco's favorite target and he uses his speed to get behind the secondary. If there's one thing Flacco is known for, it's his arm strength so expect this combination to keep finding success.
4. Matt Breida - David Kim - Round 12
Current Production: Number 18 RB, mid-tier RB2
Comparable to Hyde (6th round), Lynch (6th round)
Breida had some luck as McKinnon went down before the season began, but he's still had to stave off Alfred Morris to stay relevant. He's done more than an adequate job and he should continue to produce in Shanahan's offense. Expect him to get more involved in the short pass game with Beathard needing more check down options.
3. Tyler Lockett - Jon Lee - Round 11
Current Production: Number 23 WR, low-end WR2
Comparable to Diggs (2nd round), OBJ (1st round)
With a new contract, many players seem to falter but Lockett has only been out there to prove that the contract was worth it. He's been producing at the same level as a few first and second round picks. Wilson usually improves as the season goes on, which can only mean better things for Lockett.
2. Calvin Ridley - Eric Lee - Round 13
Current Production: 16th best WR, high-end WR2
Comparable to Emmanuel Sanders (6th round), Julio Jones (2nd round)
Julio Jones in the first round or Calvin Ridley in the 13th? Even with a 0 point performance in week 1, he's producing at the same level of the guy that lines up on the opposite side of the field as him. He's been more touchdown dependent than most on the list but it shows that Ryan trusts Ridley in the Red Zone. The duo of Alabama receivers continue to power this offense so expect many more looks in the future.
1. DeSean Jackson - David Yim - Round 14
Current Production: 5th best WR, mid-tier WR1
Comparable to Antonio Brown (1st round), DeAndre Hopkins (1st round)
Poor David. Why he decided to drop DeSean after grabbing such a steal is beyond me. He had one bad game with 37 yards but he's been on fire this season. He's slowed a bit since Winston has come on but he's actually getting more targets than before. It'll be hard to keep up this WR1 pace he's been on but even if he slips to WR2 or high-end WR3 status, that's an amazing find in the 14th round.
Good luck to all!
Simon Kim
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