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Mike Williams
By far the oldest player on this list (he turns 30 in October), Mike Williams is a sneaky late draft pick with room to grow. His production has been down the last few seasons, but that's down to injuries, specifically a torn ACL he suffered in Week 3 last year. When healthy, he's been great on the field. In 32 games over the past three seasons, Williams has averaged 15.0 PPR fantasy points per game. Justin Herbert propelled Williams to new heights in Los Angeles, but now Williams will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers in New York. The Jets signed Williams to a one-year, $10 million prove-it contract, and Williams should be more than up to the task if he stays healthy. Williams is the clear second option behind Garrett Wilson, and the Jets have a huge decline in wide receiver talent behind Williams. Wilson, Williams, and Breece Hall are all expected to play a ton of minutes. Is there any chance Williams can stay healthy for 17 games in New York? No, but there is a good chance he will outperform his ADP as a WR60 outside of the top 150.
Adonai Mitchell
Adonai Mitchell, one of the most controversial prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, landed in a great position in Indianapolis with Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen. Though he fell in the second round of the draft, Mitchell's draft capital indicates he's confident enough to play a role in Year 1. He's a freak athlete for his size, and the Colts will likely move Mitchell around the field, including the slot. Josh Downs injured his ankle in recent camp and may not be on the field at the start of the season. This gives Mitchell an opportunity to gain early trust and become Richardson's No. 2 target behind Michael Pittman Jr. Mitchell was a standout in Colts camp and reportedly showed glimpses of top-tier talent in Texas. The Colts are a potential breakout offense, much like the Texans were last year, and Mitchell is worth targeting as a player who can perform like a WR2, beating his ADP of WR63.
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Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Despite injury fears, Tyrone Tracy Jr. is fully ready to go this season and should compete for playing time in New York's backfield. The wide receiver-turned-running back is the most dynamic pass-catcher of the group led by Devin Singletary. The Giants are searching for a replacement for Saquon Barkley, who has been a true bell-cow back for the past six seasons. While Singletary will take most of the work from the start of the year, Tracy has the talent to force himself into the game plan. Brian Daboll is a pass-first play-caller, and the Giants are likely to play from behind in many games. Saquon Barkley is the fifth most targeted running back in the NFL going into 2022. Tracy has a chance to carve out a role as the Giants' third-down running back. From Week 13 to Week 17 as a rookie for Buffalo in 2022, James Cook had three double-digit fantasy games, including two top-15 finishes. Tracy could have a similar breakout season in his rookie season, especially if Singletary struggles to carry the load. If Singletary were to get injured, Tracy would be in a good position to take on a leading role in the backfield.
Jarin Polk
Late draft picks are upside-heavy, and Jalyn Polk could be the top pick in New England's offense. Drake Maye should upgrade the quarterback's play and improve the passing game, and Polk has the highest potential among the receivers. He's earned his chance in a starting offense and has experience playing both inside and outside in Washington. Polk had a great season with the Huskies, throwing for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a training camp standout among a shaky wide receiver corps. The Patriots invested heavily in Polk with the 37th pick in the 2024 draft, so we can expect him to make an impact early on. Receivers drafted close to Polk, such as Ladd McConkie, Keion Coleman, and Adonai Mitchell, are drafted 50-100 spots earlier in fantasy drafts. His offensive setup and quarterback play are more questionable than those guys, but we can expect the same volume. Polk is worth throwing a dart at later in the draft, especially in deeper leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin
Jaleel McLaughlin emerged as one of Denver's best offensive weapons last year as an unknown undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State. McLaughlin made a name for himself last year, but he remains underrated in fantasy. He is currently the 50th RB in half-PPR leagues and 164th overall, according to FantasyPros ADP. The Broncos have a solid running back corps with Javonte Williams, McLaughlin, and Audric Estime, but McLaughlin should have a clear pass-catching role. McLaughlin is reportedly set to replace Darren Sproles in Sean Payton's offense. While Bo Nix relied on a short passing game at Oregon, McLaughlin could be his safety net. McLaughlin finished last year as the 46th RB. He should get at least as much playing time as he did last season, and could be even more dynamic in his receiving game. He was targeted 36 times but only recorded 160 yards and two touchdowns. McLaughlin is a great late-round target in PPR leagues and could be a potential weekly RB2 or FLEX starter.
