The NFL season is slowly creeping upon us and that brings along the best time of the year, fantasy draft season! For those who have not followed some of my articles before, I have focused on some salary cap league strategies. For those newcomers, a salary cap league is one where you enter the draft with a set dollar amount (i.e. $200 dollars). You then assemble your team based on different dollar amounts (a mock “salary”) without spending over the allotted dollar amount. Previously this had been called an auction draft, but there has been a shift in the language within the community, which is why they will be referenced as salary cap leagues in my articles.
This year I wanted to build off that and to explore a little further and see if I could identify some possible bargains you might be able to find at each position. For the purpose of this article, I have decided to utilize the Fantasypros.com dollar value calculator for 12-team Half-PPR leagues. For those new to salary cap leagues or returning veterans, one thing that is always important to remember is that salary cap drafts can go completely different than expected.
You may expect one player to go for one dollar value, but they end up going for much more. With that being said, I still want to try to identify several players at each position that would essentially amount to a late-round flier pick in a redraft league. Ideally, you will be able to get these players on your fantasy roster for cheap and hope for a big return.
I decided to start with quarterbacks, which you also have to consider if it is a one-quarterback or Superflex/two-quarterback league. I will focus on positional values and Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) based on one-quarterback leagues. However, in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, these guys should still come at a heavy discount. Either way, these are players you would probably have on your bench to see how week one shakes out. Also, you will want to determine if you want to roster an extra quarterback on your bench, so make sure to take into account your bench space and potential upside at other positions.
Carson Wentz (QB IND) $1
Wentz is a polarizing prospect when it comes to fantasy in 2021. He gets a new team now, but many fantasy football players may be concerned about injury history, poor performance, and him getting benched for Jalen Hurts. Wentz sits as quarterback 17 in ECR and his current dollar value is $1. He’s flashed with upside before, but the concerns have knocked him down significantly in pre-draft rankings.
The positives for Wentz in 2021 are that he gets a warm welcome in Indianapolis with a top-five offensive line protecting him this year. His reunion with Frank Reich also brings flashbacks of his 2017 MVP caliber season prior to the injury. Most people are off of Wentz this year so if you can grab him for cheap and see how week one shakes out, you may get a solid return on your investment.
Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE) $0
Mayfield sits around quarterback 18 in ECR currently and has a dollar value of $0. This means he’s basically free, possibly may not even be drafted. So you can place him on your bench to see what this Cleveland Browns offense looks like in Week 1.
Now the Browns will still rely on their rushing attack with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but Baker Mayfield still managed some quality performances in 2020. Despite the incredible one-two punch in the backfield, the Browns were still 9th in passing yards and 14th in points scored per game. Another thing to factor in is Kevin Stefanski remains the head coach, which is something Mayfield is not used to. After an 11-win season, they now have a full off-season to explore how to improve off of a strong 2020 campaign.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, WFT) $0
There has definitely been some hype building around Fitzpatrick within the fantasy community since he joined the Washington Football Team. Fitzpatrick is a guy that’s hard to not like, but also his gunslinger mentality garners attention when it comes to fantasy football. He sits at #19 ECR and comes with a $0 dollar value so hypothetically he will be free.
The Football Team’s offense also has improved around him. They have several players who can act as vertical options for Fitzpatrick and match his gunslinger mentality. Add in Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic out of the backfield and this offense definitely has some potential.
Sam Darnold (QB, CAR) $0
Darnold is another quarterback who finds himself with a new home this year as he joins the Carolina Panthers. Currently, Darnold sits at #25 in ECR and has a $0 value. Once again, he potentially won’t even be drafted yet may come with some decent upside come 2021.
Darnold now escapes Adam Gase and New York and gets a new head coach, a fresh start, and some strong weapons to help him out. D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson top out a solid wide receiver core and will definitely provide Darnold with some options. Add in a healthy Christian McCaffrey and Darnold has the best weapons he’s ever had in the NFL.
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG) $0
Jones is another polarizing player entering the 2021 season. He’s shown flashes, but also has struggled with turning the ball over as a starting NFL quarterback. I am one who is still on the fence with him, but with the low relative value of acquiring him, I am intrigued to see what may come from Jones in 2021.
Jones was given a myriad of weapons for the 2021 season as the Giants acquired Kenny Golladay and Kyle Rudolph in free agency. They also added Kadarius Toney in the draft. Add in a healthy Saquon Barkley and if Jones isn’t successful this year then New York may be looking elsewhere for a quarterback come 2022. As I mentioned with the quarterbacks, you may know what this offense looks like come week one and can decide to hold onto him or drop him to waivers and move on.
