Despite many mouths to feed in Indianapolis, Andre Johnson’s value takes a significant leap thanks to Andrew Luck
As more and more drafts are being held, it is vital to come to terms with realistic goals for each player you may be selecting. As one looks at the main aspects of a player’s potential, he/she probably takes into account four things: health, strength of schedule, surrounding offensive talent and opportunity. Opportunity is what tends to scare fantasy owners away from drafting players low on depth charts such as a team’s second/third wide receiver or second running back. However, many of these players do contain actual value and should be drafted. I will give you my top two second/third depth chart wideouts and second depth chart tailbacks. For the sake of this article being about “lesser-known” commodities, I am leaving out the likes of Randall Cobb (second WR, GB) and Emmanuel Sanders (second WR, DEN).
Top two wideouts who are second on his team’s depth chart:
1. Andre Johnson – IND
As many realize that “The Natural” upgraded his value significantly by moving to play for Andrew Luck and the Colts, there are some who are hesitant to draft him because of the Colts crowded receiving corps. Yes, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener will command many throws from Luck. Yes, Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief will be used on the occasional deep ball. However, the Colts are a heavy pass first team.
Being the second option at wideout with above par tight ends, Johnson will be given plenty of space to operate. With the hands of a surgeon and a football IQ at the same level of Peyton Manning, a healthy Andre Johnson will finish as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver.
2. Golden Tate – DET
Fresh off a 99 catch campaign, “Showtime” will be ready to rock for fantasy owners in 2015. Here is a case of a player lucky to be a No. 2 wide receiver. Calvin Johnson creates so many problems for opposing defenses that it’s too easy for a player with Golden Tate’s skill set to slip through the cracks and find openings. Stafford can definitely sling the ball, and with Megatron commanding double teams and oddly being used as a decoy sometimes, targets will be there for Tate. Tate is a lock for well over 1,000 yards and has a legitimate chance to play as the No. 1 receiver due to all of Megatron’s injury woes. Don’t shy away from Tate because of Megatron.
Honorable Mentions: Vincent Jackson, Roddy White, Kevin White, Eric Decker, Pierre Garcon, Nelson Agholor and Martavis Bryant
Top two wideouts who are third on his team’s depth chart:
1. Rueben Randle – NYG
The Giants employed the most three receiver sets over the course of the 2015 season due to the “G-Men” Coaching Staff, Eli Manning thrived in the offense. With Victor Cruz set to come back Week 1 at Dallas, Randle looks to be the third wideout for the Giants. Randle is a big, athletic receiver who does work all over the field and inside the 20s. Randle benefits from the attention given to Odell Beckham Jr. Even with the other options in East Rutherford, Randle is trusted by Manning and can put up WR3 numbers in any format.
2. Davante Adams – GB
Adams is tough to sell because of the work Jordy Nelson and Cobb receive. However, Adams is draftable because of the injury concerns with Cobb, and because Nelson recently had hip surgery. Adams will get looks with Nelson and Cobb healthy, but you are drafting as a WR4 who will blow up whenever Nelson or Cobb miss any time. Adams would fill in as the No. 2 wideout in Green Bay and catch balls from Aaron Rodgers. Don’t forget the numbers Cobb put up last year. Adams can replicate those numbers if given the opportunity. Adams is a safe WR4 but would slide directly to a WR2 if Nelson or Cobb missed time.
Honorable Mentions: Cody Latimer, Markus Wheaton, John Brown, Cordarrelle Patterson, Marvin Jones, Andrew Hawkins and Nick Toon
Top two running backs who are second on his team’s depth chart:
1. Ryan Mathews – PHI
Landing in the “City of Brotherly Love” presumably took away much of the opportunity Ryan Mathews needed to be a top-15 fantasy back. Playing behind DeMarco Murray won’t help. However, Chip Kelly has praised Ryan Mathews, and that’s nothing we haven’t heard before. Mathews has All-Pro talent. With question marks at quarterback, the Eagles will be forced to run the ball. Kelly likes to play quickly, and he rotates his backs more than most coaches. Matthews is an RB3 for now but joins the RB1 conversation if Murray goes down. Murray has suffered from injury problems in the past, so make sure to cuff him with Mathews if you do draft him.
2. Ameer Abdullah – DET
The Lions utilized their backs in the passing game the most in the league last year. Abdullah immediately imposes top-25 fantasy value at the position by becoming the Lions’ third-down back. There have been reports suggesting Abdullah starts Week 1 over Joique Bell. While I think Bell keeps his starting job, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bell missed time because of his proneness to injury or because Abdullah simply outplays him.
Think Montee Ball last year. If Abdullah outperforms Bell, Detroit won’t hesitate to feed Abdullah the ball. He has fresh legs as a rookie and can operate as a rusher or a pass catcher. I like Abdullah to fill the Reggie Bush role this year and potentially take over as the starter in Motown.
Honorable Mentions: Shane Vereen, Darren McFadden, Tevin Coleman, Giovani Bernard, C.J. Spiller, David Cobb, Charles Sims and Reggie Bush
Daniel Oppenheimer is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, follow him @DanOpp31.
