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Top Draft Day Steals
Looking for some league-winning picks? Here are the players who will provide the best return on your investment, based on their current ADP at FantasyPros.com.
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A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
Green can sometimes get forgotten in discussions about the best receivers in the NFL, but he averaged a career-best 96.4 yards per game despite an injury in 2016. He might be every bit the equal of Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, and Odell Beckham.
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Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
Bryant's overall numbers from 2016 don't jump off the page, but he's a touchdown machine who averaged 86 yards per game after returning from his injury last season.
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Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders
A recurring theme: If the only red flag on your record is that you don't score touchdowns, you're a good bet to be a good value. Cooper has all of the talent in the world, and could become Derek Carr's top option in 2016.
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Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings
The offensive line issues in Minnesota are still there, but Cook might be better than anyone who ran behind that line in 2016. Yes, that includes Adrian Peterson. With Latavius Murray still sidelined, Cook is going to get all the work he can handle.
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C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos
If he can just stay healthy... What if he does? Anderson could be the focal point of the offense, and might end up a second-round value if he doesn't miss time.
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Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
Adrian Peterson's presence might be enough to scare some people off, but Ingram was still a top-12 back in 2016 with Tim Hightower snagging 133 carries. There's more than enough value to go around in this offense.
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Jimmy Graham, TE, Seahawks
Graham enjoyed a bounce-back season despite Russell Wilson's struggles. With Wilson healthy, the sky is the limit for Graham.
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Andrew Luck, QB, Colts
This is either going to win your league or sink you. We've seen Luck slide into the 90-100 range in some drafts, but a sixth-round price tag gives enough cushion to make his upside worth it.
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Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings
If all Diggs does is repeat last year without getting hurt, he's an absolute steal at this price. If he takes a step forward in his third season, he has star potential. Even with Sam Bradford as his quarterback.
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Willie Snead, WR, Saints
Another third-year breakout receiver, Snead has a great opportunity to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the first time. With Brandin Cooks gone, Snead has huge potential.
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Rob Kelley, RB, Redskins
He might not be the most talented back in the world -- or even in Washington -- but we expect this offense to hum, and he should get plenty of work near the goal line. Let other people fall for flash.
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Pierre Garcon, WR, 49ers
Another decidedly un-sexy pick, Garcon just gets the job. Sure, you'd prefer a better quarterback than Brian Hoyer, but we've seen wide receivers succeed with Hoyer, and Garcon should get a ton of targets as the go-to guy.
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Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles
Ertz looks a lot like Travis Kelce did at this point a year ago; big production everywhere but the end zone. With Jordan Matthews gone, Ertz is going to own the middle of the field, and you have to like his chances of upping his touchdown totals in his age-27 season.
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Cameron Meredith, WR, Bears
The quarterback situation in Chicago is bad, to be sure. but it wasn't great in 2016, and Meredith still hauled in 60 passes for 836 yards over the season's final 12 games. Those are No. 1 WR numbers if he can do it over a full season.
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Terrance West, RB, Ravens
West is the Pierre Garcon of running backs. He's not someone you are excited to have, but he should get enough work to be a consistently reliable option. At 105th overall, that's great value.
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Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
Rivers will throw his share of picks, but he has also averaged 4,500 yards and 31 touchdowns per season over the past three. And he might have his best set of weapons ever. If you're waiting on QB, this is the guy to wait for.
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Tyrell Williams, WR, Chargers
The return of Keenan Allen pushes Williams down the depth chart, but there should still be plenty of volume to go around in San Diego, especially if we expect Rivers to have another good season. Plus, if Allen lost a step after his ACL tear, Williams could step up as the No. 1 option again. Either way, he's a steal here.
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Kenny Britt, WR, Browns
Ah, the old eighth-year breakout... We don't blame you if you want to dismiss what Britt did last season, but he had a 1,000 yards with Jared Goff and Case Keenum throwing him the ball, and Terrelle Pryor is coming off a 1,000-yard season of his own in Cleveland. Britt won't be a star, but he doesn't have to be one at this price.
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Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
Ebron is basically Zach Ertz, at an even steeper discount. With Anquan Boldin gone, Ebron's red zone issues could disappear. Don't be surprised if he's a top-three tight end by season's end.
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Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
Will the real Thomas Rawls please stand up? Is he the guy who ran through defenses to the tune of 5.6 yards per carry as a rookie, or the one who limped through a wholly ineffective sophomore campaign? Your guess is as good as mine, but you'll want to grab him before he locks up the starting job, because his price is only going up.
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Tyrod Taylor, QB, Bills
The loss of Sammy Watkins could be a killer, but Taylor played much of last season without Watkins, and was consistently useful, thanks to his legs. With no reason to think he'll slow down, Taylor can be a great value if you wait on QB.
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Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals
Look, we all know Joe Mixon is the better player in Cincinnati's backfield. However, plenty of people thought Giovani Bernard was better than Hill the past two seasons, and Hill never lost that role. He's not going away in Cincy, no matter how much Fantasy owners may gnash their teeth.
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Eli Manning, QB, Giants
Last season was a disappointing one for Manning, but the Giants' reloaded their receiving corps, adding rookie tight end Evan Engram and veteran Brandon Marshall. With no sign of a running game to speak of, Manning should have a nice bounce-back season at a discount.
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Jordan Matthews, WR, Bills
He needs to get healthy, to be sure. However, at a double-digit ADP cost, Matthews is set to enter the season as the Bills' top receiver. If he's on the field, Matthews should easily outstrip this cost, and there's little downside at this point in the draft.
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Mike Wallace, WR, Ravens
Maybe Jeremy Maclin stays healthy and pushes Wallace down the depth chart, but this is still a guy who racked up 1,017 yards a year ago. The days of expecting him to be a star are long gone, but Wallace proved a year ago he can still be a viable option.
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Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay
If you need a reason to invest in the Packers' backup running back, allow me to provide this: The Packers' starting running back was a wide receiver a year ago. Ty Montgomery may be good, but he's no sure thing. Williams has as good a chance as any backup to steal the job early.
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Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
Shepard is being drafted at a bigger discount than he was a year ago, which just doesn't make much sense. Maybe Brandon Marshall will really take a ton of targets from him, but the last we saw of Marshall didn't look like someone who should derail a promising young receiver's development. Shepard is a great sleeper at this cost.
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Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals
The receiving corps could be an issue yet again, but you get to take Palmer 80-100 spots lower than you did at this time last year. And, for all his struggles in 2016, Palmer still racked up 4,000-plus yards and 26 touchdowns in 15 games.
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Ted Ginn, WR, Saints
Don't laugh! Ginn is two years removed from a 10-touchdown season, and will be the primary deep threat for Drew Brees, a good place to be. As the last guy on your bench, you can do worse.
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Zay Jones, WR, Bills
If Jordan Matthews can't get on the field, Jones may be Tyrod Taylor's top option. The trade of Sammy Watkins and retirement of Anquan Boldin obviously help, but Jones may be in the best spot of any rookie receiver at this point.
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Kevin White, WR, Bears
White is still all theoretical, at this point. We've seen basically nothing from him in the NFL to justify his No. 7 selection two years ago, but... he was the No. 7 pick two years ago! At this point in the draft, betting on pedigree isn't the worst idea in the world.
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Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
Mack might be one Frank Gore injury away from a heavy role in a good offense. Frank Gore is 34, with nearly 3,000 carries under his belt. You do the math.
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Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins
Doctson was a first-round pick just a year ago, but an Achilles injury kept him out for all but two of the Redskins' games. However, with the loss of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, there are a ton of targets to go around, and he could stand to benefit more than anyone.
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Rex Burkhead, RB, Patriots
Mike Gillislee is the favorite to be the top back in the Patriots' offense, but nothing is ever guaranteed in a Bill Belichick offense. Especially because Gillislee can't get on the field in the preseason due to an injury. Burkhead could be an every-down back in New England.
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J.J. Nelson, WR, Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald is ancient. John Brown can't get on the field. They don't use their tight ends. OK, David Johnson might have 1,000 receiving yards, but if you're looking for a wide receiver breakout in Arizona, Nelson has shown enough flashes to be worth a look.
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Alfred Morris, RB, Cowboys
It's Darren McFadden's job to lose, but it's not inconceivable that he might just lose it. With Ezekiel Elliott suspended until Week 7, Morris could be one McFadden injury away from seeing a huge role behind the best offensive line in football.
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Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers
Injuries ruined his 2016 season, but Sims nearly racked up 1,000 yards of total offense in 2015. With Doug Martin out the first three weeks with a suspension, Sims has a good opportunity to re-establish himself as a key part of the Buccaneers' offense.
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DeAndre Washington, RB, Raiders
Jalen Richard could easily go here, but Washington has reportedly edged him out for the primary backup job to a 31-year-old who didn't play in the NFL last season. If Washington is the primary backup, he's one of the best handcuffs in the league.
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James Conner, RB, Steelers
Le'Veon Bell is a stud, there's no doubting that. And, if he's healthy, he's going to play nearly every snap for the Steelers' offense. However, Bell has a pretty extensive injury history, making Conner a must-draft player, especially with Conner getting extensive work in the preseason with Bell holding out.
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Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers
Funchess has been working almost exclusively with the first-team offense in the preseason, and has tons of physical potential. He's been a solid red zone target for Cam Newton, but the rest of his game needs work. If the 23-year-old figures it out, he could easily ascend to the top of the depth chart in Carolina.
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