Fantasy football drafts are going on across the country across a lot of different platforms. Every platform has different rankings, which makes drafts go differently. There is value to be had on different platforms. Here are players to target in ESPN fantasy drafts.
Note: Rankings will be for standard drafts. These players can also be taken in PPR formats with value.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Last season, Etienne ranked as RB3 in fantasy football. He nearly racked up 1,500 total yards and found the end zone 12 times. He has only been in the league for two seasons and last season was his first one playing all 17 games.
Right now in ESPN fantasy drafts, Etienne is ranked as the 16th overall player and the eighth running back. Seeing as he outproduced that ranking last season, Etienne is a value pick. He can be taken late in the first round or early in the second for 10 or 12-team leagues. There are players ranked around him that will be in time shares, but there is no real threat to Etienne’s workload this season on the Jags’ roster.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans
Diggs finished as WR12 last season, even after not being used as much in the offense down the stretch. That had more to do with the Bills wanting to run the ball than about Diggs. Either way, he has a new home in Houston this season.
He has had six straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards, but now will be competing for targets with Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. The Texans had good receivers for C.J. Stroud to utilize, but they still decided that acquiring Diggs was necessary, meaning he will likely be the top receiver for the Texans. He was ranked 47th overall and as the 26th receiver by ESPN. While a small step back given the receiver talent is reasonable to expect, he should be ranked higher than the 26th-best receiver.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rice was WR26 last season and that is with him really emerging in the back half of his rookie season. He had 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns with most of that production coming from games 11-16 (he didn’t suit up for the regular season finale). The offseason has had some off-field issues, but no suspension has been issued, as the NFL lets the legal process play out.
With him not being suspended and the legal process likely taking a lot of time to play out, Rice is a value in ESPN fantasy football drafts. He was ranked as player 68 and wide receiver 33 by ESPN. While new weapons were acquired by the Chiefs, they will stretch the field vertically and allow Rice to work underneath. Even if a suspension does come, he will be productive when he returns. If he plays like he finished last season, he could finish as high as WR15 (without suspension).
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers was another promising rookie wide receiver last season. He finished the season as WR29 with 77 catches for 858 yards and five touchdowns. Unlike Rice, Flowers had production more spread out throughout the season.
With more familiarity with Lamar Jackson, Flowers could improve on his numbers. The Ravens didn’t add notable receiver help, so other than battling for tight ends for targets, Flowers should be the go-to wide receiver. He was ranked as the 53rd overall player and the 29th best receiver by ESPN. That would match how he finished last season, but it is fair to expect him to improve in year two. Jackson could also take a step forward starting another year in this system, which could catapult Flowers up rankings when it is all said and done.
Devin Singletary, New York Giants
Singletary didn’t start last season as the top back for the Texans, but he finished that way. He rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns. Singletary added 30 catches for 193 yards. The production saw him finish as RB29 and that’s with him not getting a double-digit game until week 10. He also didn’t receiver double-digit touches until week 6.
With Saquon Barkley gone, Singletary is the leadback for the Giants. He’ll have Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy behind him, but they are unproven. Singletary has played at least 16 games in each of the last four seasons, so he has proven to be durable. ESPN has him ranked as the 87th overall player and RB28. If he gets touches early in the season, something that didn’t happen in Houston, Singletary can outdo that ranking.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
As a rookie fifth-round pick, Brown rushed for 179 yards. He also made an impact as a receiver with 14 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown. While his production as a rookie wasn’t great, this season presents a lot of opportunity for Brown.
Joe Mixon is now with the Texans, opening up the Bengals’ backfield. Brown has been getting a lot of the first team reps, even after the team drafted Zack Moss. Both running backs will get a lot of work and are worth consideration at their ADPs. Moss is ranked as RB34, while Brown is RB35. With Brown getting a lot of reps and having familiarity with the offense, it is feasible that he could finish the season as a top 20 RB, especially with the Bengals possibly going more under center this season.
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