As drafts are drawing near for the weekend, I wanted to provide a breakdown on my favorite targets for you all since there isn’t enough time to binge listen to over 50 preseason podcast episodes. Keep in mind as you are reading this that the appeal to these players for me is based on where they are being drafted. For instance, I would much rather have Tyreek Hill than any of the names listed, but will have exactly zero shares of him because of how high he is being selected. Each of these eight players are on a high percentage of my fantasy teams this season and I hope the same will be true for your teams. At the bottom, you’ll find another seven that I list as honorable mention.
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#8 Ryan Grant (WR – IND)
Andrew Luck is back, as you know, but most people seem to have forgotten that the last time he was healthy, he posted a top 10 fantasy quarterback season of all time with 356 fantasy points. If he gets 4,700 yards and 40 touchdowns again, they will have to go somewhere and it won’t all be to T.Y. Hilton. If you’ve been watching the preseason games, Grant has been the obvious number two option in this offense, and while he may not be a talent worth writing home about, serviceable receivers can become exceptional with a QB like Luck.
#7 Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)
Unless you are in a league that oddly drafts a 15+ quarterbacks, chances are that Dak would go undrafted if you didn’t pull the trigger yourself. You can get him for dirt cheap because everyone seems to think he was awful last season. While he did struggle at the end of the season, he was better than Tom Brady over the final five games, yet no one has given up on Brady. The matter of the fact is that Prescott has been exceptional with Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup, posting more fantasy points in those 23 games than ANY other quarterback in the league. He gets the lowly Panthers’ secondary followed by the Giants in Weeks 1 and 2 so even if you aren’t a major believer like me, he’s got serious streamer appeal to start the year.
#6 Keelan Cole (WR – JAX)
A week ago before the Marqise Lee injury, Cole would have topped this list. He was a last round draft pick in every one of my leagues that no one seemed to remember. I remember his surge to close the season, though. He led the NFL in receiving yards over those final five weeks when Jacksonville finally put him in the lineup. Now, the reason I dropped him down this list is because his ADP has skyrocketed with the news of Lee being ruled out for the season. Cole likely won’t benefit a ton from that, however, as they are very different receivers. Either way, I am still drafting Cole a round or two above his current draft position.
#5 Lamar Miller (RB – HOU)
This name may be a bit boring after several mediocre years, but I can promise you that winning in fantasy football is never boring and that is just what Miller will offer you. The Texans have no one else who is any threat to take touches from Miller. He will be involved on all three downs and on the goal-line in what looks to be an impressive offense. Miller is the only running back with at least 155 fantasy points in each of the last four seasons and this is the first time he will touch the ball 300+ times in a season.
#4 Kelvin Benjamin (WR – BUF)
Chances are that you puked after reading this. Yeah, he seems boring, but the matter of the fact is that Benjamin had a historical start to his career. Here are the receivers with more receiving yards and touchdowns than Kelvin in their first two seasons: Randy Moss, Odell Beckham, A.J. Green, Marques Colston, Larry Fitzgerald and Isaac Bruce. That’s it. I’m not pulling your leg. Last year was a disaster because he changed teams mid-season, but he is now the clear-cut number one option for a team that will likely have to pass more than they would like.
#3 Corey Davis (WR – TEN)
To some, Davis seems like a risky selection, but I am of the opinion that not only does Davis have huge upside this year, but his floor is safe as well. The Titans have made is clear this preseason that Davis is their go-to wide receiver and it is even possible that we are looking at 140 targets with a floor likely around 100. He has received numerous comparisons to a young Brandon Marshall and for good reason, as this former high first-round pick could morph into a reception hog that scores touchdowns as early as this season, much like what we saw in last year’s playoffs.
#2 Marshawn Lynch (RB – OAK)
This may seem unappealing, and I get it, because he was only mediocre last year, has a history of injuries and plays for a mediocre offense at best. The reasons I love him, however, are that he is a proven touchdown monster, Lynch was a top 12 fantasy back over the second half last year after finally getting reacclimated to the NFL, and perhaps most important, the Raiders improved their offensive line. Lynch was among the top backs in yards after contact once again last season, but the line held him back. That likely won’t be the case this year, and if the preseason is any indication, Beast Mode will surprise a load of people.
#1 Geronimo Allison (WR – GB)
If it weren’t for friends and podcast listeners knowing they’d have to reach in order to beat me to the punch on Allison, I can guarantee I’d have him on every single team. Somehow, the current number two receiver for Aaron Rodgers is going undrafted in a lot of leagues, but I’ve actually got him within my top 40 wide receivers and intend on flexing him from Week 1. Rodgers commonly produces two top 12 fantasy receivers and with Randall Cobb already banged up and on the trade block, the time for Allison to break out in a big way is now.
Honorable Mention
Jamaal Williams (RB – GB) – Top 6 RB over the final 9 weeks last year and has workhorse upside in top offense
Jack Doyle (TE – IND) – Major TD upside in an offense with lackluster pass-catchers and a potentially great QB
Kenyan Drake (RB – MIA) – Coach recently said he envisions 20-30 touches per game for last year’s breakout RB
Trey Burton (TE – CHI) – Could be the focal point of Nagy’s exciting offense. Was extremely efficient last season
Chris Godwin (WR – TB) – Not only is he starting, but Tampa’s staff considers him to be the 1B behind Evans
John Brown (WR – BAL) – Might surpass Crabtree as Flacco’s number one target this season
Sony Michel (RB – NE) – Could get a dozen or more TDs as a three-down back in one of the top offenses
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