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The late rounds of best ball drafts are where money is won and lost. Getting players who contribute in Rounds 10-18 is crucial if you want to advance out of the qualifying rounds and into the playoffs.
Over at Underdog Fantasy, best ball tournaments feature a half-PPR (0.5 points per reception) scoring format. So finding guys who will get plenty of opportunities to catch passes is important.
Wide receiver depth has never been better across the NFL, but there are still players who are flying under the radar approaching the 2023 season.
As you prepare for your upcoming best ball tournaments, here are 5 potential late-round steals at the wide receiver position and 1 guy to keep an eye on in Round 18.
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1. Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
Underdog ADP: 137.4
The Rams don’t have a deep receiving corps and star Cooper Kupp is coming off a major injury. That means Jefferson could be in line for plenty of targets, especially early in the season. Matthew Stafford is a consistently solid quarterback, so if Jefferson plays well, the ball will find him early and often. For a guy you can get in Round 11 or 12, that’s a pretty good value!
2. Jonathan Mingo, Carolina Panthers
Underdog ADP: 141.5
I’m all-in on Mingo this year. The former Ole Miss standout has reportedly looked good in training camp and is working with the first team. There are even some rumblings that he could be Carolina’s top receiver this fall. I also really like rookie QB Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick, this year, so it makes sense to draft a receiver he seems to have a solid connection with. In a weak division, Mingo and several other Panthers could put up some decent numbers and outperform their ADP.
3. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Underdog ADP: 169.4
With Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb now off to join Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets, the Packers need to reload on offense. Jayden Reed is a guy who can step in and fill some of the slot receiver snaps that need to be replaced. Christian Watson is the star in Green Bay and Jordan Love will also likely look to Romeo Doubs plenty, but Reed can carve out a role for himself. And much like Watson had his best performances late in the 2022 season as a rookie, Reed has the talent to make an impact for your best ball team when it matters most.
4. Tyquan Thornton, New England Patriots
Underdog ADP: 174.8
Now is the time to grab a couple of the Patriots’ receivers not named “JuJu Smith-Schuster.” DeAndre Hopkins signed with the Tennessee Titans over the Patriots, and so far, the other Patriots’ receivers haven’t received much of a boost in ADP. Thus a guy like Thornton is probably undervalued at 174.8. Add in the fact that New England has a competent offensive coordinator this year in Bill O’Brien and Thornton could be a big surprise this fall.
5. Richie James, Kansas City Chiefs
Underdog ADP: 212.4
Richie James tied for the team lead with Saquon Barkley by snagging 57 receptions for the New York Giants in 2022. He also tied for the team lead with Isaiah Hodgins by compiling 4 receiving touchdowns. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, of course, but now he goes to work with perhaps the best quarterback of this post-Tom Brady generation. He’s behind Kadarius Toney on the depth chart, but Toney hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency during his NFL career. James could post a few big weeks this season.
Keep an eye on: Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
Underdog ADP: 215.2
I really liked Tillman in college at Tennessee. His 2021 production (64 catches, 1,081 yards, 12 touchdowns) gets overlooked because Jalin Hyatt broke out in a big way in 2022 and won the Biletnikoff Award. But Tillman was WR1 on Rocky Top in 2021 and even entered 2022 as the top pass catcher for the Vols before an injury limited his production. I expect him to work his way onto the field frequently for the Browns and make an impact. You could do a lot worse with your 18th and final pick in an Underdog Fantasy best ball draft than Tillman.
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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.
