Knowing who’s underrated in fantasy sports is how you maximize your squad’s value. Sure, some of the following players, particularly the tight ends, could be categorized as sleepers, but this isn’t a sleeper list. No matter how known or unknown these athletes are, our featured experts believe these guys have more potential than their current draft cost suggests. Read on to see who the analysts think have a strong chance of delivering a positive return on investment.
Q1. Who is the most underrated RB based on his current half-PPR ADP and why?
David Montgomery (CHI): ADP – RB20
“Montgomery wound up as a league-winner for many fantasy leagues based on how he ended the 2020 season. Over the final six games after Chicago’s bye, he averaged 99.7 rushing yards, 37.7 receiving yards, and 1.2 touchdowns per contest. It’s true that they faced some soft run defenses like Houston, Jacksonville, and Detroit, but Montgomery’s production can’t be ignored and he’s one of the few workhorse backs in the league, averaging 20 touches per game. Tarik Cohen still isn’t healthy and there’s nobody to threaten his workload, so RB20 is simply too low.”
– Pierre Camus (RotoBaller)
“David Montgomery as the RB20 and No. 34 overall feels like a high-upside steal after he averaged 137.3 yards of offense and scored eight touchdowns in the final six games of the 2020 season. Tarik Cohen’s return and the addition of Damien Williams of course eats into Montgomery’s snaps, but he compiled 1,500 yards of offense and 10 total touchdowns in a featured role last year. What more do they need to see in order to continue featuring him?”
– Jake Arthur (Colts.com)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): ADP – RB15
“For me, it’s Edwards-Helaire. Not many realize he was the No. 11 running back through six weeks without Le’Veon Bell on the roster. Even better, he was the No. 11 running back while scoring just once during that time. In fact, had he scored one more touchdown, he would’ve been the No. 6 running back through six weeks. Once they traded for Bell, though, it ruined the stable touches he was getting. With Bell gone and no one significant brought in this offseason, Edwards-Helaire should return to his 18-plus touch role in the offense. The Chiefs have rebuilt their offensive line this year, which should help make life easier on Edwards-Helaire, who did average a solid 4.44 yards per carry his rookie season. Touchdowns are what were lacking, but don’t bet on that again in what’s likely to be the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
Myles Gaskin (MIA): ADP – RB21
“The list of running backs who had more carries per game and more targets per game in 2020 than Gaskin is Christian McCaffrey. That’s it. Gaskin was 15th in total receptions by a running back and he missed six games. The workload is there and he performed well with it last season. Once he became the starter, Gaskin averaged 82.4 total yards and four receptions per game.”
– Michael Tomlin (Fantasy Six Pack)
Chris Carson (SEA): ADP – RB19
“While it’s not a huge discrepancy, I don’t think Carson is getting enough love at his current ADP of RB19. He’s going to get you around 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground while adding 30 or so receptions. For someone that I’d be drafting as my RB2, who has top-12 upside, I’m all for it.”
– Chris Kennedy (The Fantasy Headliners)
Q2. Who is the most underrated WR based on his current half-PPR ADP and why?
D.J. Moore (CAR): ADP – WR24
“There were just three receivers who finished with 93-plus yards in eight separate games last year. Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs, and … D.J. Moore. While the touchdowns were certainly lacking, there’s something to be said about this stat and how undervalued Moore may be due to the lack of touchdowns. It was his first year in the offense, while Robby Anderson was brought in because he knew the offense. With Curtis Samuel out of town, we might see Moore in the slot far more often, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. He’s now finished with 1,175-plus yards in back-to-back seasons. It’s only a matter of time before the touchdowns catch up. He’s a solid WR2 to roster, who just might have top-12 upside if the touchdowns start to show up.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
Brandin Cooks (HOU): ADP – WR40
“I get it, we do not know who the quarterback for Houston will be. If it ends up as Tyrod Taylor/Davis Mills, I still like Cooks as a WR3. Cooks was the WR15 overall last year and has had at least 1,082 receiving yards in five of the last six seasons. Even the worst quarterbacks produce quality fantasy football receivers (Allen Robinson and Terry McLaurin last year). Plus, there is a chance that Deshaun Watson does play and you have his top target.”
– Michael Tomlin (Fantasy Six Pack)
CeeDee Lamb (DAL): ADP – WR15
“I have a hard time believing there will be 14 receivers more productive than Lamb in 2021. He and quarterback Dak Prescott appeared to have an instant connection as Lamb had both of his 100-yard games and two of his five touchdowns in the mere five games they played together before Prescott suffered his ankle injury. With Prescott back under center rather than Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert, Lamb is poised to put up big performances more consistently.”
– Jake Arthur (Colts.com)
Courtland Sutton (DEN): ADP – WR32
“All indications are that Sutton will be a full go for Week 1 and resume his role as the WR1 for Denver. There are concerns about the quarterback position, but he put up 1,112 yards in 2019 with a combination of Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen, and rookie Drew Lock. Having Teddy Bridgewater or a more experienced Lock is an upgrade either way. It’s hard to explain why he’s being drafted later than the second or third receiver on some other offenses.”
– Pierre Camus (RotoBaller)
Robert Woods (LAR): ADP – WR19
“Woods has seen at least 129 targets in each of the last three seasons and he has just gotten an upgrade at quarterback in Matthew Stafford. We know he should crack 90 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. It’s just the touchdown upside that could be a concern. At his current ADP of WR19, Woods has the target share opportunity to be a top-12 fantasy wide receiver in 2021.”
– Chris Kennedy (The Fantasy Headliners)
Q3. Who is the most underrated TE based on his current half-PPR ADP and why?
Adam Trautman (NO): ADP – TE23
“The Saints drafted Trautman out of Dayton last year to replace Jared Cook in 2021 and that’s exactly what will transpire. He not only figures to be the starting tight end, but his competition for targets at receiver is basically Michael Thomas and … not much else worth discussing. This is another case where uncertainty at quarterback is depressing the value of skill players on an offense known for putting up points consistently year after year. At a position where anything outside the top 10 qualifies as a dart throw, a second-year breakout from Trautman is worth betting on.”
– Pierre Camus (RotoBaller)
“I’m going with Adam Trautman here. His current ADP is TE23, and he very well could finish as a top-15 fantasy tight end this season. Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders are both gone and Tre’Quan Smith hasn’t shown us very much over the last couple of seasons. Trautman will have the opportunity to see more snaps and targets, regardless of whether it’s Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill at quarterback this season.”
– Chris Kennedy (The Fantasy Headliners)
Blake Jarwin (DAL): ADP – TE26
“Some will suggest that Jarwin can’t break out as a top-10 tight end in 2021 due to the presence of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup, but that’s not really the case. If you need any proof of that, just look at Dalton Schultz last year. He was Jarwin’s backup, took over in Week 2, and played with a backup quarterback for almost a full season. Still, he finished as the TE14 in fantasy football while having the 13th-most expected fantasy points. With Prescott back under center and Jarwin back to full health, there is breakout potential here. At the very worst, Jarwin will be a streaming-worthy tight end on multiple occasions.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
Tyler Higbee (LAR): ADP – TE14
“The last five games that Higbee has played and Gerald Everett was inactive or played less than 33% of the snaps, Higbee averaged 8.6 receptions on 11.2 targets for 104.4 yards per game with a couple of touchdowns. That is 17.14 half-PPR points per game, which would have been just behind Travis Kelce for TE2 last year. Everett is no longer in Los Angeles, and Matthew Stafford should increase the overall offensive production. He will finish the year as a top-six tight end.”
– Michael Tomlin (Fantasy Six Pack)
Anthony Firkser (TEN): ADP – TE28
“Firkser is probably going to be a bigger part of the Titans’ passing game than people realize, and at TE28 he should provide nice value. Did you know that he finished as TE28 following a career year with Jonnu Smith in front of him in 2021? His 53 targets, 39 receptions, and 387 yards were all personal bests. Tennessee will still go through Derrick Henry offensively, but if either Julio Jones or A.J. Brown are forced to miss any time, Firkser gets bumped up a peg. That pass-catching group is quite shallow.”
– Jake Arthur (Colts.com)
Thank you to the experts for giving us their most underrated players. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and subscribe to our podcast below for advice all year round.
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