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The Boy Scouts of America coined their “Be Prepared” motto in 1907, and it has since adorned their uniforms, scarves and medals as a reminder to plan ahead and be disciplined. Though my journey with the Scouts ended right after middle school, the mantra has long stuck with me and served me well in my lifetime.
Embrace the exhilaration of your Fantasy Football drafts as we step into the 2024 season. The hard work you put in with mock drafts and rankings analysis may be challenging, but it will yield significant rewards when you’re on the clock next to your rivals, adding an extra layer of thrill to the game.
One of the most promising strategies to gain an advantage over your league is by understanding the pre-set rankings of your provider and identifying undervalued players. In this article, I’ll delve into the default rankings of RealTime Fantasy Sports (RTS) and see which players might come at a discount, compared to the Experts Consensus Rankings (ECR) on FantasyPros, found here, giving you a hopeful edge in your draft strategy. Here are four fantasy football draft values to target on RTS.
I must admit, I was initially skeptical about Harrison’s ranking as the WR12, but to place him in a similar tier as Christian Kirk and Jayden Reed seems unjust. Harrison is hailed as the most polished receiver to enter the draft in nearly a decade, and his talent is undeniable. The 2023 Fred Biletnikoff winner and Heisman Trophy finalist, Harrison is set to be the top target for Kyler Murray in Arizona, and all signs point to him having a stellar freshman year.
Capable of playing both outside at the X role or in the slot if need be, Harrison faces little competition for high-impact targets other than tight end Trey McBride. Quarterback Kyler Murray has been effusive in his praise for Harrison, and his scrambling ability will allow downfield plays to develop should protection break down.
I have Harrison ranked as my WR14, placing him firmly within the “upside WR2” territory. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a Puka Nacua-esque rookie season if he remains healthy. His combination of size, speed and inherent understanding of the game is exceptional.
At this point, I’m firmly in the “the hate has gone way too far” camp with Cooper Kupp and see him as a current draft-day value. Sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring injury in early August of last year, Kupp sustained a setback later that month that cost him the first four weeks of the regular season, and he seemed tentative for the remainder of the year to turn things loose and play at his average speed.
A nasty ankle sprain in Week 11 further capped any burst, and although he didn’t miss any time, one could tell that he wasn’t quite fully healthy. On the field, Kupp drew a nearly 27 percent target share and finished as a mid-range WR2, finishing with a 59/737/5 split over 12 games.
Call me crazy, but Kupp still has one last hurrah left. Unlike other receivers whose production is based on speed or contested-catch ability, Kupp’s calling card is an exceptional route runner in synch with his breakfast buddy, quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Nacua’s presence will cap Kupp’s overall upside and target volume, and I won’t deny that. But fantasy owners with a bad taste in their mouth from 2023 should remember that when Kupp is on the field, he produces.
Are you starting to notice a trend with wide receivers yet? Higgins, the WR25 in our rankings, falls below Zay Flowers, Terry McLaurin and Jayden Reed on RTS, making him their WR35 in PPR formats.
The subject of trade rumors during the NFL Draft, many wondered if Cincinnati would choose to ship the disgruntled Higgins off to another destination rather than hinder their cap flexibility by inking him to a long-term deal. Frustrated with being placed on the franchise tag and reluctant to sign it, Higgins and his agent eventually worked out a one-year contract with the Bengals worth $21 million, putting a temporary band-aid on a more significant issue.
Since entering the league in 2020, Higgins has proven to be a top-tier downfield and contested-catch threat for Burrow, providing an exceptional complimentary skillset to Ja’Marr Chase. He averaged 15.6 YPC last year and caught five touchdown passes in just 12 games after playing around injuries.
Higgins’s modest target volume does cap his overall upside in PPR formats, but one can’t discount his unique skillset and prior consistency. FantasyPros projections have Higgins returning to his career averages of 67/1,009/8, placing him firmly within mid-range WR2 territory. Buy the discount on RTS.
I touched on Evans during my article on early undervalued players to target, which can be found on our site here if you’re interested in delving into my thoughts.
Evans continues to have the Rodney Dangerfield “no respect” treatment despite being the most consistent Fantasy wide receiver over the last decade. The unquestioned alpha option in Tampa Bay, Evans finished as the WR7 in PPR formats in 2023, and due to age bias or expected regression, his current ADP has him falling to the WR16. Call me befuddled.
Since 2018, Evans has averaged 76 receptions for 1,184 yards and 10 touchdowns each season and has yet to finish below 1,000 yards since being drafted in 2014. Fresh off inking a two-year deal with Tampa Bay to finish his career with the team, he will be the primary read for Baker Mayfield yet again, and he is set to prove his doubters wrong. Similarly to Higgins above, Evans won’t finish within the top 10 at the receiver position in receptions, but his YAC and ability to dominate smaller defenders downfield makes him a top-flight option that can be acquired at a markdown rate.
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Evan Tarracciano
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@Roto_Wizard
A veteran of the Fantasy sports writing industry for over a decade, Evan Tarracciano’s passion and sports acumen have been featured on several different websites, podcasts, and Sirius XM radio. The author and creator of the award-winning Waiver Wizard and Crystal Ball columns, In recognition of his talents, Evan was nominated as the 2014 FSWA Newcomer of the Year and hasn’t looked back since. His work is currently featured on FantasyPros, where he shares his Fantasy Football insight on a variety of different topics. He previously contributed to the 2015 Fantasy Football Black Book. You can find him on Twitter/X (@Roto_Wizard)
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