A couple of weeks ago, our experts took a look at breakout candidates. Identifying breakout candidates is a great way to get more production at a lower cost on draft day. But every player on your team won’t be a breakout candidate. You need those safe and reliable players to provide a solid foundation for your fantasy squads.
Our analysts combed through the NFL rosters and identified the safest picks on every team. The results and accompanying justifications are below. Previously, our analysts took a look at the most overrated and underrated players, the top rookies, and the top breakout candidates on each NFL team
- Most Overrated Player on Each Team
- Most Underrated Player on Each Team
- Top Rookie on Each NFL Team
- Top Breakout Candidates on Each NFL Team
- Safest Pick on Each NFL Team
- NFL Head Coach & Staff Consensus Rankings
- Biggest Question for Each NFL Team
- NFL Offense Consensus Rankings
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Breece Hall had a wildly productive three-year run at Iowa State and then put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, clocking a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and posting the best vertical jump and third-best broad jump among RBs. He’s one of the better RB prospects in recent years, and his pass-catching ability is going to boost his fantasy value right away. We generally don’t think of rookies as safe fantasy investments, but Hall has a sturdy floor and a lofty ceiling.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Joe Mixon was the only RB last season to finish inside the top-36 weekly in a full 16 games played.
– Andrew Erickson
Nick Chubb has scored at least eight TDs in each of his four NFL seasons. He’s run for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons after finishing with 996 rushing yards as a rookie. He’s also finished in RB1 range in each of the last three seasons — even in 2020 when he missed four games. Chubb is one of the best pure runners in the game, and he offers steady fantasy production even though he doesn’t catch many passes and has to share work with Kareem Hunt.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Volume is king, and Najee Harris is living proof. Despite playing on a bottom-feeding offense a season ago, the Steelers RB posted the 3rd-most top-12 finishes and top-24 finishes.
– Andrew Erickson
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Over the last two seasons, Jonathan Taylor has finished first and ninth in the percentage of his games in which he has finished as a top 24 running back. Last year he led all running backs with 75% of his games as a top 12 option at the position. With Taylor’s combination of talent and volume, he’s the safest bet among rushers.
– Andrew Erickson
Not 100% safe, but what RB is? Derrick Henry did play in the playoffs and did have a full, regular, healthy off-season program. You know the offense literally runs through him.
– Joe Pisapia
D’Andre Swift teased some lofty potential in 2021, and you know he’s a true bell cow back. The Lions have to get Swift plenty of action if the offense is going to make improvements year over year.
– Joe Pisapia
In the last eight regular-season games that A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones played together, Dillon averaged 13.8 carries; Jones averaged 10.3. Dillon also took over as the Packers’ goal-line back late in the season. Dillon has also proven himself to be a better receiver than advertised, catching 34 of 37 targets last year. With Davante Adams gone, the Packers are sure to run the ball at a higher rate this year, and Aaron Rodgers is likely to target his RBs at a higher rate. Dillon is going to be an important part of a top offense.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
