Your Fantasy Football League Winners

Every year, some rando comes out of nowhere and delivers fantasy glory to the one guy in your league who either (a) spotted value where no one else dared look, or (b) had the waiver priority that week. Don’t pretend it’s always brilliance. Sometimes it’s dumb luck wrapped in a Bud Light can.

And it’s never the usual suspects. Ja’Marr Chase, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley — great players mean premium draft picks. If one of those studs was the only high performer on your team last season and the rest of your roster was flaming garbage, you weren’t sniffing the money. Every team has stars. Stars alone don’t win you fantasy leagues. Depth goblins and breakout weirdos do.

Last year, one of those guys was Chuba Hubbard — a running back so anonymous you’d confuse him for the third member of LMFAO, who only got his shot because the shiny free agent and the high draft pick ahead of him both broke. The year before? Puka Nakua — a fifth-round pick out of BYU, not even guaranteed a roster spot, who casually rewrote rookie record books like he was bored.

So who’s this year’s Chuba, this year’s Puka? Here’s a few shots worth ordering late in drafts. Some of them will hit like 18-year-old Scotch, some will taste like gas station tequila. But when you’re only spending a double-digit pick, who cares if you wake up with a headache?

Quarterbacks

My QB philosophy is well-known to the two loyal readers of this column: wait, and then wait some more. Depth is ridiculous, so let’s talk about two who could sneak their way into your championship lineup.

  • Trevor Lawrence — Stakes are higher than my cholesterol for the former #1 pick. O-line is still a question mark, sure, but the Jags’ defense is trash, which means shootouts, which means Trevor chucking it 40+ times a week. Surrounded by talent now, he’s a dark horse for a massive fantasy season.
  • Sam Darnold — Yeah, I know, insert ghost joke here. But bleach the playoff disaster from your brain and look at the setup: improved Seattle O-line, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who is going to eat), and a pass-oriented gameplan. Darnold is virtually a lock for 30 TDs, is more mobile than he gets credit for, and is going undrafted in a lot of mocks. Free real estate. Just don’t make him your first qb choice in case I’m wrong.

Running Backs

RBs age like milk left in the sun, which is why I usually fade the position outside the elites. But you still need warm bodies in the stable. Here’s two who can be had late and still win you weeks.

  • Austin Ekeler — He’s not the sexiest name anymore, but don’t let the ageism fool you. With Brian Robinson all but traded, Ekeler has a clear role in the offense, and could fall into workhorse status if injuries strike. He’s one Chris Rodriguez twisted ankle away from being your weekly RB2.
  • Isaiah Pacheco — People forgot him after an injury-plagued 2024. Don’t. He’s back, healthy, and built like an NFL-created rage emoji. This is the lead back on a Super Bowl contender who racks up red zone touches. Why he’s falling in drafts is beyond me. You won’t find cheaper touchdowns.

Wide Receivers

This is the group I love. I’ll go WR-WR-WR at the top of a draft, light a cigar, and laugh while the rest of you panic over running backs. But even late, there are gems.

  • Keenan Allen — Remember him? Target hog, then poof, vanished to Chicago, where he still put up respectable numbers with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze crowding him. Now? He’s back in LA catching piss missiles from Justin Herbert. With only rookie Ladd McConkey above him, Allen’s a lock for 1,000 yards.
  • Ricky Pearsall — A month ago, he was lasting into the teens of mocks. Now? Round 7 or 8. Still a bargain. Brock Purdy is better than his critics want to admit, and Pearsall is a safe bet for 120 targets. He’s not flashy, but 1,000 yards and 8 TDs will do just fine.

Tight Ends (Groan…)

Fine, let’s get this over with. Tight ends are either buried pirate treasure or something your cat buried in the litter box. That said, you’re kind of required to field one every week. So…

  • Brenton Strange — Zero competition in Jacksonville. He showed signs late last year, and if you’re punting the position, you could do worse. Pencil him in for 9 PPG from the bargain bin.
  • Evan Engram — Talk about a plum setup: talented young QB, coach who knows how to use him, and a wide-open target share. Don’t be surprised if he finishes TE3 behind Bowers and McBride. That’s insane value for someone drafted outside the top 7 at the position.

The Disclaimer

If you roll into the season with only these guys, congratulations, you’ve built a flaming paper airplane. These are compliments, not entrees. Keep perspective. Draft them at value. Don’t reach.

Hit on one or two of them, though? That’s how you win leagues. And when you do, just remember who told you. I take cash, Venmo, or a cut of your winnings paid in bourbon.

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