BBMV is here! In BBMIV, if you had Puka you had a 30.2% Advance Rate in Underdog Fantasy last season. Tank was on a similar path before his injury. It seems wild, but getting the right 1-to-2 guys in those final rounds can legitimately be the difference between advancing and staying stuck.
We already told you who this year’s Kyren Williams could be, but who’s this year’s Puka Nacua or Tank Dell in Underdog Fantasy Best Ball drafts?
Let’s dive into six late-round fantasy football best ball rookie picks who I feel could explode and send your Best Ball teams to the moon:
XAVIER LEGETTE, CAROLINA PANTHERS (ADP 140.9, WR66)
Xavier Legette had one of the most dominant seasons in college football in 2023 for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Per Scott Barrett, Legette’s 1,255 yards were over 4.0X as much as the next-closest USC receiver and his 3.15 Yards Per Route Run ranked 5th-best among all Power 5 WRs in this rookie class. Not to mention, he is an absolute beast of an athlete.
At 6-foot-1, 221, Legette ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, had a 40-inch vertical, and a 126-inch broad jump! Legette landing close to home in Carolina with the 32nd pick gives him a phenomenal opportunity to earn targets and a chance to easily be Bryce Young’s No. 1 option.
This offense has great growth potential this year with former Buccaneers offensive coordinator and new head coach Dave Canales. With a similar build, Legette has the opportunity to slot into the Mike Evans role and then some. If you are feeling yourself, simply stack Legette with Bryce Young (ADP 195.6) and even Jonathan Mingo (ADP 215.1) for a low-owned Panthers stack.
JA’LYNN POLK, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (ADP 155.6, WR70)
Selected 37th overall, Ja’Lynn Polk is a fantastic value based on draft capital alone. Wide receiver guru Matt Harmon discussed how much he likes the fit with New England and made a bold comparison, stating, “There is a lot of Puka Nacua in [Polk’s] game.”
I find the Patriots share many similarities with the Texans last year. Like the Texans, the Patriots paired their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, with a rookie wide receiver, Ja’Lynn Polk, specifically based on their skill sets. Similarly, the Patriots are seen as a pretty mediocre landing spot with not much excitement. Like Tank Dell, Polk enters a WR room with an unproven supporting cast.
I see plenty of potential for growth in this offense, especially for Polk. Stacking this offense is incredibly cheap too. You can pair Polk with Maye (ADP 170.4), Demario Douglas (ADP 178.8), and Javon Baker (ADP 188.2), who we will talk about later.
JERMAINE BURTON, CINCINNATI BENGALS (ADP 166.1, WR74)
Keep in mind that at Georgia Burton played with Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, George Pickens, Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, James Cook, and Zamir White.
What an awesome landing spot for Jermaine Burton. If Tee Higgins’ trade request is fulfilled, Burton could slot in as Joe Burrow’s WR2. Even if Tee Higgins stays in Cincinnati, the Bengals had the third-highest rate of 3+ WR Dropbacks in 2023. Plus, going from Alabama/Georgia to playing beside Ja’marr Chase and potentially Higgins is a cheat code.
Not to mention, Burton could have been drafted much higher in this draft if not for some off-field issues. Per Harmon, Burton had first-round talent, and if not for his issues off-field, he could have been in the conversation for WR4 of this class.
A personal favorite, I’m not leaving many drafts without Burton.
JAVON BAKER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (ADP: 188, WR80)
We talked about his teammate earlier, and Baker represents similar value with possibly even more upside.
The Patriots understood that Drake Maye would require some help after he was selected third overall. After adding Maye in the first round, the new regime in New England brought in Polk, Baker, and pass-catching tight end Jaheim Bell. They also beefed up the offensive line to improve the offense as a whole.
Baker is a very intriguing deep threat to pair with Maye’s cannon for an arm. In 2023, Baker averaged 21.9 yards per catch (2nd in FBS), earned a 99.9 PFF grade on deep targets, and had 21 of his 52 receptions go for 20+ yards.
The Patriots’ WR room was a mess last season. Demario “Pop” Douglas led the way with 561 receiving yards in 2023. Yes, you read that right. The Patriots leading receiver was named Pop and didn’t have 600 yards. To say this position group needed to be reworked is an understatement. And it makes complete sense that the Patriots spent two picks on the position.
With the opportunity to make a difference in a rebuilding offense, Javon Baker could solidify himself as one of Drake Maye’s go-to receivers. With a WR80 price tag, this is a very interesting investment.
LUKE MCCAFFREY, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (ADP 187.2, WR80)
When has a McCaffrey ever disappointed in fantasy football??? As Dane Brugler noted in The Beast, “NFL-level athleticism is in his DNA.” It showed on the field when he ranked top 10 in Yards Per Route Run for receivers drafted in the first three rounds of this draft.
Washington surprised NFL fans and pundits after clearly seeing something in McCaffrey that others did not at pick No. 100. Former 49ers GM and current Commanders GM Adam Peters may have gotten some intel or at least some support from his former player in Christian McCaffrey.
Either way, I’m here for it.
I think it is a smart move to pair rookie QBs and WRs together, and I think Luke has a genuine shot at becoming Washington’s WR2 behind Terry McLaurin and ahead of Josh Dotson. At the very least, he’s locked into that third slot formerly filled by Curtis Samuel to begin the year. Stack Luke with Jayden Daniels (ADP 119.3) for immense upside potential.
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