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While the last few rounds of your fantasy draft may seem unimportant, opting for a second quarterback or tight end who won't crack your starting lineup is a wasted pick.
Here are 10 players to take a swing at late in deep-league drafts. Worst case, they don't pan out and you can find someone else on the waiver wire with a larger role. But the best case is that these players greatly outperform their respective draft positions and give you either a starter or a valuable trade chip.
Consensus ADP source: FantasyPros
ADP: 188.5
Breece Hall is already nursing a groin injury, which can often linger and cause players to miss extended time. Beneath him on the Jets' depth chart is Allen, who's held the backup running back role since being drafted in 2024. He's only 22 years old and remains a physical specimen. If Hall misses time, Allen will be relied upon in New York's run-first offensive scheme.
ADP: 229.5
Allen handled 23 carries in the Commanders' first preseason game, rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown. That workload suggests he has a pathway to become Dan Quinn's goal-line back. The sixth-round rookie is built for short-yardage situations - something projected starter Jacory Croskey-Merritt is not. Washington does have a crowded backfield, but no one has separated themselves yet, keeping the door open for Allen to earn high-value work.
ADP: 226.0
Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell will get the majority of the work for the Chargers, but if either of them misses time, Vidal has proven that he can be called upon. Last year, he had four weeks as a top-10 fantasy running back while Hampton was out. Vidal could step in to take the brunt of the carries if Hampton gets hurt again, or he could act as the change-of-pace back in the event Mitchell goes down.
ADP: 172.3
The Browns are expected to trail - and lose - a lot this season. Passing downs are when Sampson will be on the field instead of Quinshon Judkins, meaning there could be plenty of junk-time work for the Tennessee product. Additionally, Judkins may not be 100% to start the year after dislocating his ankle and breaking his leg in December. Sampson's ceiling may be capped in the Browns' offense, but he could be serviceable once bye weeks begin.
ADP: 174.3
Washington showed some serious flash during the Raiders' preseason opener, recording six carries for 63 yards, including one that went for 53. The fourth-round rookie is the clear backup to Ashton Jeanty, but if he continues to have a strong preseason, new head coach Klint Kubiak will find ways to put the ball in his hands.
ADP: 204.5
By the time your draft rolls around, Allen will likely be going higher than his current ADP, especially if he continues to show out in training camp. The Chiefs' social media team seems to post a new video of Allen every day, and the fifth-round rookie made an eye-opening grab in his first preseason game. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have solidified roles, but Allen could serve as the consistent downfield weapon Patrick Mahomes has sought since Tyreek Hill's departure.
ADP: 252.5
Williams' role in the Commanders' passing game took a hit when the team signed Stefon Diggs, but that doesn't mean he won't be involved. Williams is slated to be Washington's slot receiver - a position that should have value in the team's new offense under David Blough. The Clemson product is also one Diggs or Terry McLaurin injury away from earning a target share that would make him a weekly starter in fantasy.
ADP: 204.0
Wicks has drawn rave reviews from Eagles camp, most notably from Saquon Barkley, who was in disbelief at how the team managed to acquire him from the Packers. Wicks is in line to become Philadelphia's WR2 behind DeVonta Smith, and he'll be called upon to fill part of the gap left by A.J. Brown's exit. Rookie Makai Lemon will also be in the mix, but he profiles more as a slot receiver than an outside threat. The Eagles have supported two high-performing fantasy wideouts in years past, and there's little reason why Wicks can't churn out 80% of Brown's production and become a steal in drafts.
ADP: 252.0
The biggest obstacle for Bernard will be gaining Aaron Rodgers' trust. With that said, the second-round rookie played well in his preseason debut, catching four passes for 51 yards. Bernard is likely to play out of the slot in the Steelers' run-heavy offense, so targets may be limited. Regardless, he has more than one pathway to playing time, and Pittsburgh will want to utilize a player it spent significant draft capital on.
ADP: 232.5
Someone has to catch passes in Miami, right? During the Dolphins' preseason opener, Douglas made a sensational grab worthy of a second and third look. The third-round pick out of Florida is competing with Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert for playing time, but those two have limited potential. The unknown of Douglas makes him an intriguing option, even if Miami won't throw the ball all that often. Chris Bell is another rookie wideout on the team, but he'll be playing catch-up after missing a good chunk of training camp while recovering from ACL surgery.
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