With apologies to those players I will be discussing in this column,
I would like to talk about some players with good fantasy potential
who went undrafted in many drafts this year. As the old saying goes,
one man's garbage is another man's treasure.
All of the following players went undrafted in two separate 168 player
drafts in which I participated. All of them have some risk, of course
(or they would have been drafted), but have tantalizing up-sides.
Fred Beasley, FB, SF It is hard to believe that no one drafted this guy. I had him
rated in the top 25 running backs in my draft, but even I didn't have
the confidence in that rating to take him. Don't expect multiple touchdown
weeks from him every week, but he is clearly the goal line choice
in SF, and can catch the ball. Excellent bye week starter because
he won't get skunked.
Tony Richardson, RB, KC
By the time you read this, he will probably be claimed by someone
else. In our drafts, everyone took Cloud as the KC alternative. KC
always runs, and Richardson has more talent than anyone else. His
value drops if they move him full time to FB, but he's a decent #3
starter in most leagues.
Robert Chancey, RB, SD I'm cheating a little here because one owner in one draft of
ours picked him up late-- the reward? Thirteen points this week. How
about those who bet on Fazande (drafted in both leagues)? He has already
been cut by both teams. With Chancey, look to get about 60-70 yards
a week and a score every other week.
James Allen, RB,
CHI
How are you Curtis Enis owners feeling after week 1? Better? Or worse?
Mike Anderson, RB, DEN
After witnessing first hand the track meet in St. Louis, I can say
that the Denver offense looks mighty fine. With Gary out and TD coming
off surgery, rehab and now a nagging ankle injury, Anderson is the
new beneficiary of a great offensive scheme. Definitely risky at this
point, but if Terrell misses significant time this guy will be the
steal of the year.
Tiki Barber, RB, NYG
I am listing him because he was not drafted and doubtless someone
in your league has snatched him up. I am writing to tell you to let
them do it. Don't abandon the Dayne train yet. Look who got the carries.
Who do you think will be the short yardage back? Not Barber. Barber
had a nice day against a poor defense. He is a change of pace back.
He will have one good game out of ten, and the other nine will be
brutal.
Ike Hilliard, WR, NYG
Hilliard is just coming into his own, and he and Toomer complement
each other well. Kerry Collins, when sane & sober, fires the ball
well. The Giants offense is much improved and now has a legitimate
running game. That bodes well for Hilliard.
Bobby Engram,
WR, CHI
Yes, he went undrafted in both of our leagues. Is this a league for
the developmentally challenged, you ask? Maybe. However, Chicago will
score points this year, so if Engram is out there, get him. Everyone
knows Robinson is the stud there, but Engram consistently puts up
numbers. Look for an especially good week against Tampa Bay, as Robinson
will draw coverage, and the Bears won't be able to run.
Shawn
Jefferson, WR, ATL
This pick is only as good as Chris Chandler's skull is thick. If the
latter cracks, so will the former.
Reggie Kelly, TE, ATL
I am listing Kelly so I have a tight end included. With Santiago gone,
he will be the beneficiary. He also has less downside than Jefferson
should the quarterback die.
Next, a word about quarterbacks. There were really no quality NFL
starters who went undrafted in our drafts. The following are players
who have prime opportunities to succeed if they can start, and are
behind oft-injured or shaky starters: Ray Lucas (NYJ), Neil O'Donnell
(TEN), Jeff Lewis (CAR), Trent Dilfer (BAL), Gus Frerotte (DEN), and
(honorable mention because until now Favre would never be considered
an injury threat) Matt Hasselbeck (GB).
I realize that this foray into giving real owner advice is dangerous.
Use your common sense in picking up one or more of these guys, but
they should at least be considered. My personal belief that there
is a greater risk in standing pat than in making too many moves.
And finally, realizing that what follows is completely irrelevant
to the subject of this piece, I want to thank and give credit to Joe
Bryant for his Value Based Drafting System, which has received considerable
ink on this and other sites. I knock my own drafting skills in public,
but they really aren't that bad. However, I usually go with flow and
hunch quite a bit. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it's a disaster.
Anyway, I decided to experiment with VBD this year. Using my own projections
with a baseline of worst starter at each position, I consistently
grabbed players I had rated much higher than where I actually took
them. The payoff? Well, the early returns are promising. This week
I scored over 100 points in both of my leagues. The only thing that
worries me now is that I don't feel the urge to purge 75% of my roster
after the first week. There's something scary about that.
