For the third year in a row, we’re giving you this post to help you when it’s late in your fantasy football draft and you’re scrambling around, trying to find that perfect name to queue up and hope you can get before your opponents do.
As always, a reminder: This isn’t LAST-round picks. Your last round should be reserved ONLY for picking your kicker, assuming you haven’t listened to me and gotten rid of kickers entirely in your league.
In years past, this post has unearthed John Brown and Matt Breida, and in 2017, we gave you Cooper Kupp. Here’s hoping some of these names you can get late turn out to be as successful.
1. WR Jamison Crowder, New York Jets
There’s a lot of buzz about the chemistry between him and Sam Darnold in training camp, along with this preseason connection:
Robby Anderson is the deep threat and Quincy Enunwa might be the WR2, but in PPR leagues, he’s the kind of high-volume slot receiver you should roster, especially when his current ADP — per Fantasy Pros — is about 181st overall.
2. RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are packed at running back with Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, along with a quarterback — Lamar Jackson — who will run a ton in 2019.
So is there room for another RB? When it’s this rookie who’s raised some eyebrows this preseason, the answer is yes:
Maybe he becomes a third-down pass-catching specialist, and that’s not the worst thing in fantasy football.
3. RB Darwin Thompson, Kansas City Chiefs
His ADP (162) seems super low to me when there are hints everywhere that the Chiefs might have a timeshare at running back with Damien Williams and Carlos Hyde. Take a flier on him late in deep drafts and see if he breaks out in KC’s incredible offense that has made stars out of so many RBs.
4. WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
A rookie wideout on a team stacked with receiving threats (George Kittle, Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin, for three) might not sound appetizing. But a rookie wideout in today’s NFL with Kyle Shanahan coaching him … and this speed?
That’s worth a late pick for sure.
5. QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets
If you’re in a league that starts two quarterbacks, then grabbing a second-year QB who has some intriguing weapons around him (see above) seems like a really good idea.
6. RB Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers
From CBS Sports:
Six of his seven touches (six carries and one reception) have been for eight or more yards, including his 14-yard touchdown run to give Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead.
You can see why I’m nervous about James Conner this year and why Samuels may carve out enough of a role to make taking him late worth it.
7. RB Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
Did we suddenly all forget that he caught 63 passes last year, the eighth-most among running backs in 2018? File this one away for PPR leagues.
8. WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
If he establishes himself as the No. 2 alongside Amari Cooper in his second year, he’ll be a breakout star:
