Olaya's Favorite Players in Rounds 11-15
One of the most important tips for any type of fantasy draft is to always go in with a plan. Before each draft you should have a set of players that you should try to get on your team so you know who to pick when time is running out on the clock. That being said, here is a list of players you should target in rounds 11 through 15 (10 person, Standard Scoring).
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Round 11: Jamaal Williams (RB)
Although Jamaal Williams is being drafted like a backup running back, he has a legitimate chance to turn into the Packers’ starting RB. With Ty Montgomery coming off injury and Aaron Jones suspended for two games, Williams should be considered the front runner for the starting job and a definite contributor early in the season with Jones unavailable.
Jones may have been more impressive in limited action last year, but it is key that Williams will get the first crack at obtaining a significant role in the offense. If Williams plays well in his first two games, there is a good chance that he will retain a position in the offense that produces solid fantasy numbers. The fact that he’s being drafted as a bench RB, yet has a solid chance to become the starting RB for the packers, makes him a good value pick in the 11th round.
Round 12: Kelvin Benjamin (WR)
Just a short time ago Kelvin Benjamin was considered one of the up-and-coming receivers in the NFL, but coming into this season he seems to be forgotten in the fantasy world. Ranked as the 42nd WR, Benjamin is coming off a 2017 season where he put up career lows in terms of yardage and touchdowns, but there is a very real chance Benjamin returns to the top 20 WR that he’s been in years past.
The main reason to expect an increase in production from Benjamin this year is the amount of targets he is projected to receive. Besides Lesean McCoy, Benjamin is clearly the most talented skill position player in the Bills offense. Whether it be A.J. McCarron or Josh Allen at QB, Benjamin should lead the Bills in targets by a long shot. This makes for a high floor for Benjamin, which should be right around where he’s being drafted right now. His ceiling however, should be considered much higher, making him a steal this late in the draft.
Round 13: Derek Carr (QB)
Derek Carr is coming off a disappointing year, finishing as the 19th best quarterback in fantasy with 196.5 points, but under new coaching Carr should be primed to return to his former glory when he finished as a top 10 QB in 2016. With Jon Gruden as the new head coach, Carr will have the benefit of operating in an offense that is different from last year and therefore unknown to the rest of the league. This will give an advantage to Carr early in the season when defenses will be unfamiliar with plays the Raiders run.
The offensive personnel also got a reboot this offseason. While the Raiders lost Michael Crabtree in free agency, they managed to sign Jordy Nelson in free agency to fill his place. Nelson may be coming off a disappointing year, but he is nonetheless an experienced wide receiver who should also help the progression of Amari Cooper. The Raiders also spent a first round draft pick on offensive tackle Kolton Miller to strengthen an already strong offensive line. This addition should help give Carr plenty of time in the pocket, further enhancing the probability that Carr has a strong season like he had two years ago.
Round 14: Stephen Gostkowski (K)
As Sean Greener mentioned in Overlooked Draft Day Secrets: Kicker Edition, some kickers are worth drafting before the last round. One of the kickers that qualifies for this strategy is Stephen Gostkowski. While Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein was the best kicker in fantasy, Gostkowski has by far been the most consistent in recent years.
In the past 5 years, Gostkowski has three 1st place, one 2nd place, and another top 10 fantasy finish. Not only is Gostkowski one of the best kickers in the league, but he is also on the most consistent offense in perhaps the history of the NFL. Because of this, Gostkowski should be the obvious choice in the 14th round over backup running backs or tight ends that will barely get 80 points over the course of the season.
Round 15: Baltimore Ravens (D/ST)
Despite finishing as the 2nd best fantasy defense last year, the Ravens are being drafted in the 15th round as the 8th highest defense. The Ravens finished with only 7 points less than the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, yet the Jags defense is being drafted 6 rounds higher than the Ravens are. This fact alone points to the value of drafting the Ravens in the 15th round.
The Ravens were still able to finish as a top defense last year despite losing multiple players to injury. Three corners, including starting corner Jimmy Smith, all went down with season ending injuries last year, and getting them back healthy this year will only help the Ravens secondary. Put simply, the Ravens finished as one of the best defenses in football in 2017, and there is nothing to suggest a significant drop off this year. Drafting them in the 15th round is a steal compared to other defenses going in earlier rounds.