The SEC sends an incredible amount of talent to the NFL every single year. Just this past year, Alabama accounted for 2 of the top 3 picks in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
The NFL is now loaded with big-name former SEC players, so it’s no surprise many of them are getting drafted in the early rounds of Underdog’s best ball tournaments.
Currently, the SEC’s top 15 best ball players by average draft position (ADP) are all inside the top 40 picks, which is an impressive accomplishment for the league.
Let’s run through the SEC’s 15 highest-drafted players by Underdog ADP.
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1. Justin Jefferson (WR1) – 1.1 ADP
You’ve scored the first pick of your best ball draft. Congrats! You now have the honor of drafting Justin Jefferson, the former LSU receiver who has quickly become an elite pass catcher for the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t overthink it — pick Jefferson and don’t look back!
2. Ja’Marr Chase (WR2) – 2.2 ADP
If you miss out on Jefferson but manage to land the second overall pick, Ja’Marr Chase (Jefferson’s teammate on the 2019 LSU national championship squad) is a more-than-adequate consolation prize. Teaming up with QB Joe Burrow (these ex-LSU guys are all over, aren’t they?), Chase is an absolute beast of a receiver.
3. AJ Brown (WR6) – 9.9 ADP
AJ Brown joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and the payoff was immediate. Brown, a former Ole Miss star, and DeVonta Smith, an ex-Heisman winner from Alabama, teamed up with Jalen Hurts to form one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. With another year of experience under their belts, the sky is the limit for this year’s Philadelphia squad.
4. Nick Chubb (RB4) – 12.5 ADP
Nick Chubb, a former Georgia standout, has been one of the most consistent running backs in the NFL throughout his career. Since entering the league back in 2018, he has only missed 7 games due to injury. With Kareem Hunt out of the mix in the Cleveland Browns’ backfield, Chubb should get all the work he can handle in 2023.
5. Jaylen Waddle (WR11) – 17.3 ADP
Though Tyreek Hill gets the most headlines in the Miami Dolphins’ receiving corps, Waddle is an elite receiver in his own right. Teaming up with QB Tua Tagovailoa, another former Alabama great, Waddle has serious big-play ability and is consistently developing into an all-around receiver.
6. Derrick Henry (RB7) – 21.3 ADP
When you think of a workhorse running back, Derrick Henry is who comes to mind immediately. Henry, a former Heisman winner out of Alabama, is the model of consistency. In 2022, he ran for 13 touchdowns — the 5th straight season he’s scored at least 10 times (despite playing in only 8 games in 2021, he scored 10 rushing touchdowns). He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet!
7. DeVonta Smith (WR13) – 21.7 ADP
DeVonta Smith is our second-straight ex-Alabama Heisman winner on this list. Concerns about his size were quickly put to rest last season, as he played in every game for the second-straight year and improved on all his numbers from his rookie campaign in 2021, catching 95 passes for 1,196 yards and 7 touchdowns last fall.
8. Jalen Hurts (QB2) – 25.1 ADP
Jalen Hurts has risen from a guy who many questioned whether or not he’d be able to be an NFL QB to the QB2 in Underdog best ball drafts. He’s truly become a superstar with his arm and his legs. Only Patrick Mahomes is ranked ahead of Hurts when it comes to the QB position.
9. Calvin Ridley (WR15) – 27.8 ADP
After serving a suspension for the entire 2022 season, the former Alabama wide out is on a new team and eager to prove he’s still an elite pass catcher. Can Calvin Ridley become Trevor Lawrence’s go-to guy for the Jacksonville Jaguars? Underdog drafters seem to think so!
10. DK Metcalf (WR16) – 28.6 ADP
After scoring 10 touchdowns in 2020 and 12 touchdowns in 2021, the former Ole Miss star only found pay dirt 6 times in 2022. Can DK Metcalf rack up more touchdowns this fall? If he can, he could finish as a top-10 scoring receiver.
11. Josh Jacobs (RB10) – 31.4 ADP
Josh Jacobs is currently holding out after leading the NFL in rushing last season. The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping a deal can be reached in time for the regular season, and it seems Underdog drafters are confident Jacobs will suit up for the 2023 season. His ADP is lower than it would be if he were in training camp, probably, but he’s still going among the top 10 running backs.
12. Amari Cooper (WR17) – 33.3 ADP
Six times in his 8-year NFL career, Amari Cooper has had at least 1,000 receiving yards. That includes last year, when the former Alabama standout recorded a career-high 9 touchdown grabs to go with 1,160 yards. He’s a model of consistency and should be the Browns’ leading receiver again this fall.
13. Deebo Samuel (WR18) – 34.0 ADP
Deebo Samuel is one of the most versatile players in the entire NFL. The ex-South Carolina Gamecock is a threat running the ball and catching passes. If Brock Purdy can take a step forward as a quarterback this year, the San Francisco 49ers (and Samuel) can have a big season.
14. Jahmyr Gibbs (RB12) – 35.4 ADP
Jahmyr Gibbs comes to the NFL out of Alabama as a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions. The versatile running back figures to be a big part of Detroit’s passing game as well as rushing attack. He’ll split carries with newcomer David Montgomery, but the Lions didn’t use a first-round draft pick on Gibbs to watch him ride the bench this year! Expect him to get plenty of work early and often.
15. Jerry Jeudy (WR20) – 38.4 ADP
Can Jerry Jeudy and the Denver Broncos’ offense recover from a terrible 2022 season? Is Sean Payton going to work his magic with his new team? Based on his current ADP, Underdog drafters seem to think he’s capable of having a solid 2023 season.
Looking to learn more about DFS best ball tournaments? Check out our Underdog Best Ball Guide to learn more. And remember to use our Underdog Fantasy promo code “SOUTH” to get a first-time deposit match of up to $100!
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
