Players You Need to Draft in Your Fantasy Football Leagues this Year

It’s that time of the year again.

While some have already done hundreds of mock drafts projecting every type of scenario in their leagues, I am here to give you one player in each position (Minus Kickers and Defenses) you should be targeting in your league.

These are not players I would qualify as “sleepers.” Instead, these are the players that are going to fly a little under the radar from the average fantasy football player. These are players who I think will make a leap in production and will be the difference between you not making the playoffs to competing for a championship. No, no names. So, without further ado, let’s get into one player you need to draft at each position.

Quarterback: Trey Lance (San Franciso 49ers)

There have been a lot of questions surrounding Trey Lance this summer. Is he ready to be a starting QB in the NFL? Can he make NFL-type throws consistently? While I am not a firm believer in either of these things, luckily for you, that means nothing in fantasy football. Lance can be an elite dual-threat QB, which is extremely valuable in fantasy football. In Lance’s two starts last season, he combined for 24 rushing attempts for 120 yards. Another thing that makes me like Lance a lot his he has a bunch of big-play receivers to help him out. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, at any point in the game, can take a 5-yard slant to the house. Lance is currently projected in the 9/th10th round and is a terrific option for dynasty and non-dynasty leagues.

Running Back: Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos)

Javonte might be the #1 RB in fantasy football this season, and he is currently only projected in the 3rd round. There have been doubts about whether Williams will split the workload with Melvin Gordon. I have no doubt Williams will get at least 75% of the carries, and here is why. Last year Williams ranked top 5 in yds/att, broken tackles, and yards after contact. This guy is hard to bring down. Williams will also be the back in the goal-line situations with all those factors. Yet, I like him the most because of Russell Wilson’s acquisition. No longer can teams stack the box on the Broncos, and if history stays the course, the Broncos will have a run-heavy offense as, during Wilson’s tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, they ranked top 5 in run-play percentage. All signs indicate a big year for the second-year running back from Chapel Hill.

Wide Receiver: DJ Moore (Carolina Panthers)

For the first time in his NFL career, DJ Moore will have a QB that can throw a decent deep ball. Moore has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in three straight seasons, and his biggest strength has yet to be utilized. I believe Baker Mayfield fixes this. Last season, Sam Darnold ranked 30th in deep ball percentage and yards per attempt, while Mayfield was ranked in the top 10 for deep ball percentage. While touchdowns are a concern, Moore has never had more than four touchdowns in a season. I believe this is the year he takes the leap and almost gets to 1,500 receiving yards. Moore is currently projected in the fourth round, and I think he is a much better option than Jaylen Waddle or Cortland Sutton, who are also projected in that round.

Tight End: Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles)

Every year Goedert takes a step toward becoming a top-5 TE in the league, and I think this is the year he establishes himself at one. One would be quick to point out that the acquisition of AJ Brown would hurt the number of targets that Goedert would receive. While this may be true, Goedert will get single coverage the entire season. I’m not sure how many linebackers/safety players have a favorable matchup vs. the fifth-year player from South Dakota St. Combine that with Jalen Hurts, who statically was a much better thrower inside the numbers outside. I believe Goedert has a real chance to have a 60+ rec 1,000-yard season. Goedert is currently projected as the 8th TE taken in the 7th round, and I believe that value is insane.