Fantasy Football: 5 Most Undervalued Players

Most of drafting in fantasy football is about finding the best possible value in players. If a fifth-round pick can turn into a top-10 wide receiver, the chances to win your league receives a dramatic boost.

Circling undervalued players can be a huge help when it comes time to draft. These players at their current average draft position (ADP) at FantasyPros are shaping up to be a fantastic value. Even reaching a few picks for the following players could still lead to success.

Check out our most undervalued players for 2024 fantasy football.

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Starting with a big name across fantasy football, Cooper Kupp is being overshadowed following Puka Nacua's 2023 breakout season as WR4 in half-point per reception (PPR) leagues. Kupp posted the most PPR fantasy points by a wide receiver in a single season in 2021. While this level of production is likely behind him, the Los Angeles Rams' wideout still has top-10 upside.

His ADP certainly doesn't suggest this kind of ceiling as WR19 and 39th overall. Injury worries are baked into his ADP, for Kupp played in only 9 games in 2022 followed by 12 last season.

After totaling 266 receiving yards over his first two games returning from injury last season, his fantasy value quickly dipped thanks to five consecutive weeks with weekly finishes of 44th or lower.

However, Kupp started to look like himself late in the season, ranking as WR11 from Week 13 on. In our staff league-winners piece, we covered Kupp's production when Nacua and Matthew Stafford were on the field. He had only seven fewer targets, two fewer catches, and scored even one more touchdown than Puka during the 11-game sample size.

FanDuel Research's season-long projections have Kupp as WR12 for the 2024 season. His forecasted stats include a spike to his per-game averages, including 8.6 targets and 67.1 receiving yards per game compared to 7.9 targets and 61.4 yards per contest last season.

Adding to Kupp's ceiling, Nacua has dealt with a knee injury throughout training camp. Who knows if the injury could linger into the regular season?

Considering Kupp's production late in the 2023 season paired with a similar target share to Nacua, there is top-10 upside here. Getting this kind of potential in the fourth round of 12-team drafts is too good to pass on.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara is another player who some may claim is past his fantasy prime. After finishing as RB1 in 2020, Kamara dropped to RB8 in 2021 and RB18 in 2022. However, last year's finish as RB14 in only 13 games provides hope for 2024.

Similar to Kupp, projections have Kamara finishing pretty far above his ADP. He has a RB17 ADP in half-PPR, yet FanDuel Research has him forecasted as RB7.

We provided a deep dive on why Kamara can become a top-10 tailback in 2024. Here's some of the abbreviated research.

First off, Kamara is screaming value in any sort of PPR league -- half, full, any of the above. He had the second-highest targets share, second-most receptions, and fourth-most yards per route run at his position last season, via PlayerProfiler.

His established connection with Derek Carr in 2023 also provides comfort -- especially with minimal changes to New Orleans' receiving group in the offseason. Carr had the third-highest running back target share among signal-callers last year.

The biggest concern for Kamara's value will be on the ground. He posted -0.55 rushing yards over expectation per carry (RYOE/C) in 2023 and will likely rush behind one of the league's worst offensive lines -- Pro Football Focus' worst unit.

Still, the projections are pointing to a top-10 finish from Kamara, and he has the receiving workload to help fuel it.

George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

Finding players who shined late in the previous season can often be a big help for finding potential breakout fantasy pieces. This applies to George Pickens of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pickens was WR7 over the final three weeks of the 2023 season, which included 326 total receiving yards from Week 16 to Week 17. This was with a healthy receiving group as Diontae Johnson was playing, as well.

Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers, potentially presenting a higher target share for Pickens in the upcoming season. Pickens finished behind Johnson in target share at 22.4% compared to his counterparts' 23.0%. Producing 17.2 receiving yards over expectation per game (RecYOE) -- which was the seventh-highest mark in the NFL last season -- also provides a lot of confidence in Pickens.

When Johnson was out of the fold due to injury in 2023, Pickens led the team in target share (28.9%) with the next-highest mark at 16.7%. Plus, he produced two top-six weekly finishes at his position during the span.

We also can't overlook that the Steelers should have a much better QB situation in the upcoming season. Kenny Pickett posted -0.21 expected points added per drop back (EPA/db) in 2023. Whether it be Russell Wilson or Justin Fields slinging the pigskin in 2024, either player should be an improvement considering their -0.13 and -0.10 EPA/db from last season

At least each signal-caller knows how to find the end zone as Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns in 2023 compared to Fields' 16. Neither mark is spectacular, especially Fields' number, but Pickett had only 13 passing touchdowns over a two-season span.

Remember that WR7 finish over the final three weeks of the 2023 campaign? Pickens did that when Pickett wasn't active.

Simply due to his potential workload, Pickens could bring much more to the table than his WR27 ADP. Keep an eye on the Brandon Aiyuk situation, though, for the Steelers have pursued the San Francisco 49ers' wideout.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have generated a lot of talk through the offseason with the fifth-shortest odds to win the AFC Conference (+800). Much of this is due to an elite passing attack, ranking as numberFire's fifth-best schedule-adjusted unit.

Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell form one of the league's best receiving units. Dell is perhaps the most overlooked piece to the puzzle. He carries the lowest ADP at his position (WR29) compared to Collins as WR15 and Diggs at WR19.

Before a season-ending injury derailed Tank's exceptional rookie season, he was generating 12.9 fantasy points per game in half PPR (16th-best). Dell was awarded the 11th-highest PFF overall grade and 13th-highest PFF receiving grade among rookie wideouts since 2006.

Dell as a deep-ball target makes him an exciting fantasy option. Through Week 12 of 2023, he carried a 98.4 PFF receiving grade on throws of at least 20 yards (top-10 rating during the span). Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud led the NFL in deep passing yards while finishing second in EPA on deep balls.

Tank quickly became Stroud's favorite target on deep shots, which should carry a lot of weight. The addition of Diggs certainly changes some of the equation, but his efficiency was down in 2023. For example, Diggs was 31st in yards per route run after being in the top 15 from 2020 to 2022.

With the lowest ADP by a decent margin, Dell is being overlooked in a stacked Texans receiving corps.

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Let's round things out with a quarterback.

Jayden Daniels is oozing fantasy football potential due to his legs. He racked up 885 and 1,134 rushing yards over his final two collegiate seasons. Pair that with 21 combined rushing touchdowns over the span -- that will make you jump for joy.

Think about how much value is put on QBs who can scramble into the end zone. Josh Allen is carrying a QB1 ADP, Jalen Hurts is QB3, Lamar Jackson is QB4, and Anthony Richardson is QB6.

Heck, we barely saw Richardson play in his rookie season, yet his rushing upside led to a dramatic increase in ADP (QB16 ahead of 2023). Richardson posted 25 rushing attempts and four rushing touchdowns over four games.

Daniels carries the second-shortest odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (+550) for a reason. He has the ability to post gaudy stats, proven by his 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, and 50 total touchdowns during his Heisman campaign last season.

FanDuel Research has Daniels projected with the fourth-most rushing yards among quarterbacks. He's right behind Jackson, Richardson, and Hurts, who are all within the top-six QB ADPs, and Daniels is right ahead of Kyler Murray and Allen.

This puts Washington's rookie in a group surrounded by signal-callers with top-five upside and past fantasy success.

We pegged Daniels as one of our potential league-winners. His legs alone create a ton of potential, and Daniels led CFB with a 99.2 passing grade on 20+ yard throws last season. Daniels is much more than just a scrambler.

Even a mediocre season as a passer can help lift Daniels past his QB13 and 106th overall ADP.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.