With the fantasy football season selling fast, players and managers are getting in position to maximize their picks and grab premier players in their fantasy drafts. Athletes ranked #1, #2, and #3 all have the ability to make waves of action in adjacent lanes. Cooper Kupp is arguably the best wide receiver in football. He is the WR5 on the season, with a pick value of 10.3, and has a week 8 bye coming up shortly. Behind him, Rashid Shaheed and Josh Downs are making noise, both sitting right behind him in the WR ranks. On the flip side, T.J. Hockenson has been by far the most productive tight end this season, ranking as TE1.
These rankings represent both what players did on the field and how they fit strategically into future drafts. Knowing the impact of bye weeks and the order a team picks at can make huge differences in a team’s success.
Key Wide Receivers in the Draft
Here’s why Cooper Kupp’s WR5 ranking makes him a hard-to-beat option this go-around. His selection at 10.3 provides excellent value. This is most attractive for teams looking to bolster their wide receiver corps early in the draft. With a bye week falling in week 8, managers will have to strategize their roster in advance of this date. Kupp’s combination of draft position and talent means he has the potential to be a total fantasy team game-changer.
Standing right on his heels in RB1 territory is Rashid Shaheed as WR6 with a 11.8 ADP. Shaheed’s historic performance a season ago has catapulted him up the list. To that end, he has a cool opportunity for any manager out there looking to expand their receiving repertoire. His bye week in week 11 means that teams will have to pay attention to the rest of their schedule when drafting him.
Josh Downs takes the stage as WR7, fresh off of a 12.3 selection. He, too, shares a week 11 bye with Shaheed. His historic performance over the last season shot him up in the rankings. Now, he is the poster child for most fantasy football players. As a third option among the top wide receivers, he can provide depth and potential upside for teams in need of reliable contributors.
T.J. Hockenson: The Top Tight End Choice
There’s a reason T.J. Hockenson has locked up TE1 status this season, with an ADP of 7.8. His utility to a fantasy team can’t be overemphasized. Hockenson catches passes and scores touchdowns, making huge impacts on the outcome of games. He remains the main target for anyone who wants to rule the tight end position.
Make sure to factor in Hockenson’s week 6 bye when figuring out your draft strategy managers as he is likely to be your week 1 starter. Losing an elite tight end can be a huge blow to a team’s success. That’s why it pays to be prepared with a plan B.
Hockenson’s ranking is a product of both consistent production week to week and the recent promise for big plays going forward as the year rolls on. One of the premier pass-catching tight ends, he is one of the most valuable players at his ADP.
The Importance of Bye Weeks in Draft Strategy
Bye weeks are one of the most important points of influence for fantasy football players. They figure out when players will be missing from their rosters. Knowing when the bye weeks for all the major players are lets managers plan long-term accordingly. For instance, Kupp’s bye in week 8 could affect lineups if he is relied upon heavily during the earlier weeks.
Shaheed and Downs both have a bye in week 11. The teams that have to draft these players should be forced to think about their entire roster makeup for the respective draft week. Balancing star players with those who can step in during bye weeks is essential for maintaining competitive performance throughout the season.
Further, Hockenson’s week 6 bye necessitates some deliberate planning from the managers that choose to make him an early draft pick. It brings out what’s more important — the strategic selection of backup positions that can step in during those critical moments.
Leave a Reply