One of the most valuable things I do in all of my fantasy leagues, regardless of the format, is maintain a watch list. This list includes players in each of my respective leagues that is currently available on the waiver wire, but is ever so close to being worthy of a roster spot. A positive report out of training camp, an injury to a starter or even an injury to another player currently on my roster could be all that it takes for me to scoop a player off my watch list.
Here are a few players currently on my watch list for redraft leagues, though some of these would also be applicable to keeper or dynasty leagues. I’ve collected ADP data from the MyFantasyLeague MFL10 series. Each of these players has a current ADP outside of the top 193, meaning they are not currently being drafted in an average 16 round redraft league.
Tajae Sharpe, WR TEN
ADP - 194
After a dominant college career, former UMass receiver Tajae Sharpe was a fifth round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans. It was somewhat of a surprise since the Titans had Kendall Wright and the expected breakout player Dorial Green-Beckham. They’d also signed Rishard Mathews away from the Dolphins, so it looked like Sharpe may have to wait for his chance at playing time. That didn’t last long though as Sharpe impressed at OTAs and head coach Mike Mularkey named Sharpe as a starter entering training camp. This news hasn’t greatly affected his ADP though as he can still be had in the seventeenth round of drafts. With the expected heavy focus on the run game, I am waiting to add Sharpe, but he is near the top of my watch list and if he continues to impress during training camp, I’ll be stashing him.
Shaun Draughn, RB SF
ADP - 195
After barely playing the past two seasons, running back Shaun Draughn was a pleasant surprise for the 49ers last season, playing in place of the injured Carlos Hyde. He played well enough to earn a new contract, even with the arrival of new head coach Chip Kelly and his staff. At this point, it is difficult to predict how Kelly will handle the backfield, considering he flip-flopped DeMarco Murray and the other backs on the Eagles’ roster a year ago. It’s fair to assume the Niners will use somewhat of a committee approach and San Francisco beat writers are already projecting “plenty of playing time” for Draughn.
Stevie Johnson, WR SD
ADP - 198
The Chargers signed Travis Benjamin this off-season and drafted tight end Hunter Henry. With Keenan Allen returning from a season-ending injury, the forgotten man in this offense is veteran receiver Stevie Johnson. Allen is obviously the go-to target for Philip Rivers and Benjamin should replace Malcom Floyd as the prime deep threat. Beyond that, Johnson, Antonio Gates and Danny Woodhead will battle for targets. That does not paint a perfect picture for Johnson, but he has high upside, as evidenced by his two weeks as a top-12 receiver in limited action a year ago. Johnson is not a guy you plug into your lineup on a weekly basis, but he is firmly on my watch list as training camp nears.
Chris Thompson, RB WAS
ADP - 198
With the departure of former starter Alfred Morris, many NFL fans and fantasy players have been keeping a close eye on the Washington Redskins’ running back situation. After largely ignoring the position through free agency and the NFL Draft, it appears as though Matt Jones will be the starting back. While they also added a late round draft pick in Keith Marshall, it’s Chris Thompson who should see the passing down work. In limited action a year ago, Thompson still caught 35 passes, giving him some nice potential in PPR leagues. At only 25 years old, he’s a player I’m tracking in all formats.
Bruce Ellington, WR SF
ADP - 199
I’ll be honest. It’s nearly impossible at this point to predict who might emerge from the San Francisco receiver corps to be fantasy viable. With their top receiver from a season ago, Anquan Boldin, no longer around, the field is seemingly wide open. Veteran Torrey Smith is expected to be the top target but who emerges beyond that is anyone’s guess. One player I am closely monitoring though is third year receiver Bruce Ellington. Ellington’s production through two seasons has been fairly meager, but he’s now looking like the favorite to be the slow starter in the Niners offense.
Jamison Crowder, WR WAS
ADP - 208
Let’s go back to the Redskins’ offense, which was full of surprises in 2015, including the breakout of Kirk Cousins and Jordan Reed and the emergence of Matt Jones. Another surprising player was Jamison Crowder, the rookie receiver from Duke. On a team with DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, it didn’t appear as if there would be enough production to push Crowder onto the fantasy landscape, but that’s just what happened. Crowder’s upside is not nearly as high as his teammates, including newly drafted Josh Doctson, but he could be good for a couple of weeks of starting level production, as he was last year. An injury, especially to Jackson, could push Crowder way up the list.
Richard Rodgers, TE GB
ADP - 209
After seemingly taking the next step with improved all-around play in 2015, including the infamous Hail Mary game winning catch, the fantasy value of Richard Rodgers took a hit as the Packers added free agent Jared Cook. The Packers rarely make any free agent moves, so when they do, it is noteworthy. The good news for Rodgers is that Cook, despite all the measurables anyone could want, has largely disappointed on the field, not to mention Cook is still recovering from off-season foot surgery. Rodgers is not currently worthy of a roster spot, but if Cook’s struggles and/or injury issues persist, he certainly could be.
Anquan Boldin, WR FA
ADP - 210
Anquan Boldin doesn’t even have a team yet, but still represents excellent value in current fantasy drafts. Coming off the board outside the top-200 makes Boldin one of the potential top values at this point in the off-season. Unlike some of his veteran receiver counterparts like Andre Johnson and Marques Colston, it seems there is some demand for Boldin’s services and the moment he signs with a team, his value will be on the rise. After leading the 49ers in receiving a year ago, Boldin has shown he has a little left in the tank.
Tim Hightower, RB NO
ADP - 210
We’ve already mentioned veteran journeyman Shaun Draughn, but another running back who burst back onto the scene in 2015 was Tim Hightower, who was actually instrumental in many fantasy football championships after taking over the lead role for an injured Mark Ingram. Also like Draughn, Hightower played well enough to earn a new contract. With Khiry Robinson now gone from New Orleans, Hightower is the clear favorite to be the backup to Ingram, who has only played a full 16 game season once in his five-year career.
Zach Zenner, RB DET
ADP - 211
As an undrafted free agent a year ago, running back Zach Zenner was a favorite in the dynasty community. Unfortunately, he suffered a shoulder injury and missed the entire season. Now, he is back and healthy and Joique Bell is now gone from the Lions. This leaves sophomore Ameer Abdullah as the favorite to earn the bulk of carries, but the big back job is open. Zenner is likely to battle former Patriot and Jet Stevan Ridley, who has shown his best days are behind him. If Zenner beats out Ridley, expect him to have an important role in the Detroit offense.
Blaine Gabbert, QB SF
ADP - 214
There are late round quarterbacks and then there’s REALLY late round quarterbacks. The 49ers seem determined to never put Colin Kaepernick on the field again, leaving Blaine Gabbert as the likely starter entering the season. While there are reasons to doubt Chip Kelly, we also have evidence that he can turn average talents into fantasy factors and considering Gabbert is nearly free in all formats, there’s almost no risk here. If and when a top quarterback suffers the dreaded pre-season injury, Gabbert will be worthy of a roster spot.
Seth Roberts, WR OAK
ADP - 222
The Oakland Raiders’ offense took a turn in the right direction last season after completely overhauling their receiving corps by bringing in free agent Michael Crabtree and drafting Amari Cooper in the first round. They also brought in undrafted free agent Seth Roberts from West Alabama. That proved to be a very wise move as Roberts earned the third wide receiver role and caught 32 balls for 480 yards and five touchdowns. With no real change at the wideout position over the off-season, we can expect continued growth from the Raiders’ young offense, including Roberts.
Jaelen Strong, WR HOU
ADP - 223
While Roberts was surprising in Oakland, fellow rookie Jaelen Strong could hardly get on the field for the Houston Texans and this was not a stacked receiving group either. Nate Washington, Cecil Shorts and Keith Mumphrey of all people were playing ahead of Strong. An off-season arrest and the addition of rookies Will Fuller and Braxton Miller seemed to spell the end for Strong, but then came some positive reports from OTAs. A talented player like Strong will get multiple chances to prove his worth to the team. Now that the Texans do have a bit more depth at the position, I’ll be watching this situation closely, but there is a possibility that Strong could emerge as the second wide receiver, alongside DeAndre Hopkins.
These are the players currently making up my fantasy watch list. I suggest you use some of these names and search your league’s waiver wire to form your own list. Then, when injuries or disappointing performances come, you’ll be ready to make a move to the waiver wire.
