Best Value Fantasy Player Per Team, AFC West Edition
In the fifth of an eight-part series, I make an argument for the best value player on each team in the AFC West (check out last week’s NFC East here!). All ADPs were averaged between current FantasyPros, Underdog, and Sleeper rankings.
Los Angeles Chargers – Gerald Everett
Don’t laugh, even if you’ve given up on Gerald Everett, you have to admit that value is lacking in Los Angeles and Everett is looking at the spiciest opportunity of his career. While Everett has been, for the most part, disappointing, he did have Jared Goff as his quarterback for his first four years and then spent last season in Seattle, where a tight end hasn’t thrived since Jimmy Graham. Still, he had his best year in Seattle, even with that miserable start, ranking in the top in tight end fantasy scoring after Russell Wilson returned from injury in Week 10. Everett joins Justin Herbert this season, who threw for over 1100 more than Seattle’s quarterbacks combined. Going off draft boards in the 14th round and beyond, he has as much TE1 potential as pretty much anyone else ranked 11-20 (except for Hunter Henry…but more on that another week). Herbert should easily come to depend on Everett’s soft hands and reliability. Everett ranked 5th among all receivers who had at least 48 catches last season in catch percentage, trailing the names of only Hunter Renfrow, Chris Godwin, Rondale Moore, CJ Uzomah, and Kendrick Bourne.
Las Vegas Raiders – Hunter Renfrow
I’ve hyped Derek Carr, my favorite sleeper quarterback, enough. In actuality, Hunter Renfrow is the biggest reason I love Carr so much this season, not Devante Adams. And talking value, he’s the perfect target (HUGE in PPR leagues). Renfrow is available in the seventh round right now, after players such as Darnell Mooney, Elijah Moore, and Jerry Jeudy. Last season, Carr threw for the fifth-most yards and fourth-most completions; he’s certain to have at least 400 completions this season and I cannot imagine he doesn’t see significant touchdown progression. Carr can support two top 20 receivers and I believe he will. Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert had two wide receivers in the top 20 in fantasy scoring last season. Now Carr has two of the best receivers in the league. The Raiders also now have the mastermind of slot receiver success, Josh McDaniels, at their helm. Renfrow is primed for another dynamite fantasy season.
Denver Broncos – Tim Patrick
Melvin Gordon is intriguing at his ADP here, but it’s just silly to pass up Tim Patrick in the 12th round. First off, I am not even close to being sold on Russell Wilson to Albert Okweugbunam. Wilson hasn’t leaned on a tight end in five years, and even then, it was the seasoned and amazing Jimmy Graham. That being said, Wilson may be able to aptly support three wide receivers. Patrick is the most talented and proven WR3 in the league. We really don’t know who Wilson’s main connection in Denver will be. Courtland Sutton is often compared to DK Metcalf when speculating, and the shifty, slot-receiving Jerry Jeudy to Tyler Lockett. News out of OTAs was promising for Patrick and he was twice mentioned first by Wilson when discussing the wideout group in news conferences. While it’s not likely he outshines Sutton or Juedy, the floor for Patrick is high and the ceiling is higher if one of those two goes down with an injury. He’s a perfect late round target in all formats.
Kansas City Chiefs – Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Kansas City’s wide receivers are the most valuable in the league. Juju Smith-Schuster is the only one being taken prior to the seventh round and the other three are going after the eleventh round. That’s with the QB2-4 and a rather measly running back room, mind you. Marquez Valdes-Scaantling is Patrick Mahomes’ WR2 going off draft boards at low-end WR3 prices. Tyreek Hill’s absence leaves nearly 160 vacated targets in Kansas City! Travis Kelce can’t possibly get much more than he had last season (135). Valdes-Scantling is impressing in off season reports as Mahomes’ favorite wide receiver. The ceiling is just too high to not take a chance on him at an ADP of WR50 and beyond.
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