The first round pick is regarded as the most important selection in Fantasy Football. Last season, however, of the players taken in the first round, only LeSean McCoy, Le’veon Bell, and Antonio Brown finished inside the Top 12 overall players (based on Standard ADP). Todd Gurley, Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara, and Melvin Gordon were all taken outside of the first round. Kamara wasn’t even drafted until the 13th round on average. It’s late-round picks like that, that win Fantasy championships.
Is there another Alvin Kamara in 2018? The only way to find out is to make informed decisions based on the talent of the player combined with his situation. There are a few late-round picks I want to cover today that could exceed their draft price and win your Fantasy Football league.
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Late-Round Picks That Could Pay Off Huge
Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles
ADP: 10.04
Clement found himself in a crowded backfield in his rookie season. LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles, and Connor Barwin all started the season expecting touches. Clement signed with the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent. The Eagles certainly did not need the depth but saw something they liked. In his Senior year at the University of Wisconsin, Clement had 314 carries for 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns.
It is his knack for scoring that made Clement relevant last season even after Jay Ajayi was added to the roster. All of Clement’s six touchdowns were in the red zone last year. With only five attempts inside the 10-yard line Clement had four rushing touchdowns and added two more receiving TDs inside the 20. In the playoffs, Clement kept his red-zone role and scored a touchdown and was also a key cog in the infamous Philly Special formation in the Super Bowl.
Ajayi is the projected starter but we know that Clement has a role solidified. The Eagles love to use multiple backs so Clement can have stand-alone value. Ajayi’s knees have been an issue for him recently and if he is to falter or become injured, Clement would be the starter. Clement is one of the late-round picks that can be used regardless of external factors but can dominate if given an expanded opportunity.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
ADP: 11.01
I was big on Chris Carson going into the NFL Draft. Then, of course, the Seahawks used their 17th overall selection to take Rashaad Penny who many believed to be a second-round draft pick. Penny was instantly deemed a third-round Fantasy draft pick and Carson was a forgotten commodity.
According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times and Rotoworld, Chris Carson is the current Seahawks starting running back in training camp. While that could easily change, it does look as if both guys will get the opportunity for the starting role.
Know no one is tackling him right now, but Chris Carson is back from broken leg and looking the part so far as #Seahawks RB1. @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/RC212ahbYD
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 27, 2018
Last season, Carson beat out Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls for lead back duties. He looked great on the field despite a poor offensive line and managed to have a 20-carry/93-yard game. Unfortunately, Carson broke his leg and his season ended after four games.
Carson can have stand-alone value even if he is not the lead back. However, if he becomes the guy with Penny assuming change-of-pace duties, Carson can have a 200-plus carry season and finish as a Top-24 running back.
Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
ADP: 12.02
Golladay got a lot of hype going into 2017. He flashed quickly as he scored two touchdowns on four catches and 69 yards in his first career game in Week 1. That was the by far his best game of the season as he was competing for the third- wide receiver role with T.J. Jones.
Golladay has that role solidified now and should get more opportunities this season. As the outside receiver opposite Marvin Jones, Golladay saw only 48 targets last year. That should increase this season regardless of external factors. However, the explosive, big-bodied wideout has the ability to be heavily targeted if Jones were to experience injury.
Golladay possesses touchdown upside as the Lions third receiver and can be taken in the 12th round.
Pat Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
ADP: 10.06
Pat Mahomes is going into his first year as a starter after an entire season backing up Alex Smith. The Chiefs were confident enough to trade Smith and promote Mahomes as the starter which tells me that there is good reason to target Mahomes late in drafts.
When it comes to quarterbacks, upside intrigues me more than any other position because there is little risk involved. If he does not pan out, I can go pick up Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger off the waiver wire. Mahomes is all upside and is one of the late-round picks that can carry your Fantasy team.
Mahomes steps into an already established offense that features Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs also added Sammy Watkins. Mahomes has a big arm and thrives when he is rolling out to his right and throwing the deep ball.
While he will inevitably make mistakes, there will be a lot of Fantasy points scored in Kansas City. Hunt is being taken in the first round- Hill, and Kelce in the third. If you believe in those players, then you have to believe in Patrick Mahomes.
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
ADP: 12.04
Hines was drafted in the fourth round by the Colts. Many analysts assumed the Colts would take a running back earlier as it was a pressing need. The Colts used first and second round picks on the offensive line and were patient in finding Hines in the fourth round.
Hines is a multi-purpose back who ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. While he only had one 1,000-yard season at North Carolina State, the Colts are more interested in using Hines in a variety of ways. Hines has already been seen returning punts for the Colts in training camp. More importantly, there are rumors that he will be running routes out of the slot for Andrew Luck and the Colts.
Marlon Mack is the projected starter for the Colts but Hines’ offseason is reminiscent of David Johnson’s rookie season. Johnson was deemed the return man and earned a role for himself on the field after producing on special teams.
Hines can do it all and will have the opportunity to become the lead back for the Colts during the season. What makes him one of the more intriguing late-round picks will be his role in the slot as a receiving back. In his sophomore season at NC State, Hines caught 43 passes for 525 yards.
Keep these late-round picks in mind and head on over to Fantrax to join a league today!