In the third, and albeit, bleakest, of an eight-part series, I make an argument for the best valued fantasy player on each team in the NFC South (see last week’s NFC North here). All rankings were averaged from ESPN fantasy rankings and Fantasy Pros rankings as of June 20, 2022. Check in next week for the NFC East!
New Orleans Saints – Jameis Winston
There’s value potential all over the Saints’ depth chart because, well, it’s the .99 Cents Store of fantasy this season. You should be able to pick up Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, and if you’re really brave, Adam Trautman after the 12th round in redraft. While your buddies are fumbling over Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen early on, you could hit the jackpot waiting for Jameis Winston (QB 21-25). Winston has been an odd duck in the league, except when he wasn’t in 2019, ranking in the top five in fantasy scoring at his position. Winston hasn’t played a full season since his glory year. Still, all the offseason buzz is optimistic and suggesting a maturity in the previously erratic signal caller. Winston’s new contract and opting against drafting a quarterback implies that New Orleans trusts him to lead the team for the next two years. You’ll need nerves of steel, but there’s a ceiling here that can’t be ignored.
Atlanta Falcons – Cordarrelle Patterson
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            If New Orleans is the .99 Cents store of fantasy this season, Atlanta is the clearance, sold-as-is shelf in the back of the store. I don’t want anything to do with anyone of these guys in redraft. I do not, however, see the intense drop in production for Cordarrelle Patterson, that many are predicting. Patterson finished the season as RB12 last season, but is ranked between RB33-35, going off the draft boards in rounds seven and beyond. While the Falcons changed quite a bit in personnel, not much was changed in quality. Ranking fifth in receiving targets among running backs last season, Patterson will be a welcomed crutch for a wobbly quarterback. The touchdown leader in Atlanta (by a mile) in 2021 had more touchdowns than Najee Harris, Antonio Gibson, Leonard Fournette, Melvin Gordon, and both Green Bay running backs, just to name a few, who are all ranked far ahead of him. No, no no; I’m not saying he’s going to be better than Harris, but who’s going to score touchdowns in Atlanta? Kyle Pitts should undoubtedly have more than last season, but other than that, we’ve got a rookie WR1 and Bryan Edwards? Damien Williams? Oladmide Zaccheaus? Patterson is the value there once again.Â
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Russell Gage
            Tampa Bay is an awful place to find value, especially if you believe like me, that Tom Brady should have remained in retirement. Mike Evans (WR8-10) and Chris Godwin (WR22-27) are aptly ranked, Godwin perhaps generously. Leonard Fournette looks fair going off the board in the second round. Brady is misvalued at QB7-8, I doubt he eclipses the top ten. The value player is Russell Gage, leaving redraft boards in rounds nine and ten. No news does not signal good news in Godwin’s recovery progress. Positive reports via Brady about Gage suggest that Godwin’s return won’t have to be rushed. Gage’s early season targets share should be impressive; the other Buccaneers’ receivers are utterly unimpressive. Gage had three more touchdowns and only 256 less receiving yards (in three less games!) than fantasy darling Kyle Pitts in Atlanta last season. Brady, even dwindling, should be able to support three fantasy relevant receivers.
Carolina Panthers – Matt Corall
            CMC and DJ Moore are the only players in Carolina for fantasy intents and purposes. Any other Panther can be drafted in the last rounds or picked up for free, automatically generating potential value. Although Robbie Anderson or D’Onta Foreman may have a flashy performance once or twice, I’m going to stick with my favorite rookie quarterback and champion Matt Corral. I don’t believe in Sam Darnold. Corall could feasibly get starting time part way into the season. Caroliona says they’re still hoping for a spark in Darnold, but he’s been benched in multiple starts over the past four years. I’m betting Corall could outplay him tomorrow. The jump from Ol’ Miss to the NFL isn’t as long as it is for others; Corall is already conditioned to playing at a high competitive level.
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