As the best time of the year approaches, fantasy football drafts are well underway. The NFC East has quite a few players in it that should be targeted in fantasy football drafts. All of these stats are based on a non-ppr 12 team league.

Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott is in line to play for the full season this year which is a boone for the Cowboys’ offense and Elliott’s fantasy value. He still runs behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The fact that the Cowboys have a dismal receiving corps only adds to his value as the Cowboys will look to run, run and run some more this season. Elliott has a very good shot to finish the season as the highest scoring running back in all of fantasy football. If you get the chance to draft him, and LeVeon Bell and Todd Gurley are off the board, snatch him right up.

Draft: First round

Saquon Barkley

Depending on where you draft, Barkley could be gone before you even get a shot. However, Saquon Barkley is a special talent and should immediately be one of the best running backs in the league. He has all the talent of Ezekiel Elliot and then some. The only reason he is lower in the draft rankings is that he has a much worse offensive line blocking for him. In addition to the fact, the Barkley will have to share the ball with Beckham, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram. That being said, if he is available after the first five selections you should immediately draft him. His first NFL carry was a true thing of beauty.

On this carry, Saquon really shows off some of the attributes that make him special. He has incredible patience and then once he sees an opening, bursts through the hole with great acceleration and speed. Expect to see a lot of these runs this year.

Draft: First round

Odell Beckham

Beckham is coming off a year marred by injury. Regardless he is a special talent and a great WR1 who will consistently score week in and week out. Beckham is all set for another big year especially with added weapons in running back Saquan Barkley and improved tight end Evan Engram drawing some of the attention away from number 13.

Draft: Second round

Jay Ajayi

Jay Ajayi is on average the 20th running back drafted. After players like Jerrick McKinnon, Christian McCaffrey and previously Darrius Guice (Tore ACL). He represents a lot of value with an RB1 ceiling while being drafted in the end of the third round on average.

Draft: Third round

Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the league. His average draft position confirms that statement as he is the third tight end drafted and is usually taken by the middle of the fourth round. That is a little high for a tight end when a quality tight end like Jordan Reed or Delaine Walker can be drafted in the seventh round. That being said, be careful if you wait on a tight end, because an early run on tight ends can leave you with a hole in your team. Especially on a year with a lower talent pool at tight end than most.

Draft: Fourth round

Alshon Jeffrey

Alshon Jeffery is being drafted at the end of the fifth round which is a quality find for a good WR2 who could score a lot. Jeffery really came on at the end of the season last year. With another offseason in the books, Alshon should be even better this year.

Draft: Fifth round

Evan Engram

The New York Giants’ tight end had one of the best rookie seasons for a tight end ever. While much of that can be attributed to the loss of other receivers on the Giants’ roster, Engram also showed some great potential. He should be a top ten scoring tight end this year and can be drafted him towards the end of the sixth or even the beginning of the seventh round and have your starting tight end position locked up. Engram might regress statistically in year two because of the return of other receiving options but should still be a solid TE in fantasy.

Draft: Seventh round

Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz could be the highest scoring fantasy quarterback this year. He has that potential. However, coming off an ACL tear, don’t draft him until around the seventh round. He is currently being drafted around halfway through the sixth, but if he slips don’t hesitate to draft him in the seventh.

Draft: Seventh round

Nelson Agholor

Nelson Agholor is looking to be in store for a great year but is being drafted at the end of the 10th round on average. He is a great pickup as a flex or rotational player with WR2 upside. In addition, Agholor has a penchant for big plays as well, which increases his value. He could basically become a poor mans, Odell Beckham Jr., this year.

Draft: 10th round

Sterling Shepard

Shepard is a very talented receiver on a team that has a shot at being extremely explosive offensively this season. In addition, Odell Beckham, Evan Engram and Saquan Barkley will draw all the attention away from Shepard leaving him one on one. Shepard has more than enough talent to beat one on one coverage and he can be drafted extremely late in the draft, as he is currently being drafted in the 11th round on average. This is exactly the round he should be drafted in as a sleeper with WR2/Flex potential. However, if it is a priority to draft him the safest bet would be to get him in the 10th round.

Draft: 11th round

Featured image from ESPN

You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Jacob.

“From Our Haus to Yours”