Human beings like shiny, new things. Whether it’s a kid getting a brand-new toy on Christmas morning or buying a new car with all the bells and whistles, we want the latest in everything. But sometimes, the new stuff isn’t as good as the stuff we’ve been used to in the past. New toys might be too complicated to understand, and not as fun, and new cars could have bugs that make life more of a headache.
This bodes true in the world of fantasy football, too. While we’re all talking about the new, young players and the potential upside they can bring to our teams, they’re not always as good as their veteran counterparts … especially those coming off injuries or down seasons that might have them falling in our player rankings.
With that said, here are 10 “old” toys that might be better than some of the new ones for the upcoming season. What’s more, they’re all potential draft bargains.
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
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Prescott is coming off a down statistical season in Dallas, throwing 15 interceptions in 12 games and averaging 16.6 points per game. That’s the second-worst average he’d had as a pro. But with the addition of veteran wideout Brandin Cooks (more on him later) and coach Mike McCarthy now calling the offensive plays, Prescott could rebound this season. He has an 82.1 ADP on Fantasy Football Calculator.
Russell Wilson, QB, Broncos
Let’s be honest … Wilson was awful last season. He threw for just 16 touchdowns (a career low), and his 15.1 fantasy points per game was by far his worst finish. This is good motivation for Wilson, though, as talk of him being washed up has spread all over the fantasy landscape. He’ll also have the added benefit of new head coach and offensive mind Sean Payton calling the shots to help Wilson rebound.
James Conner, RB, Cardinals
Conner has failed to rush for more than 800 yards in four straight seasons, but he’s been a touchdown machine with a combined 52 in the last five years. He’s also got very little competition for backfield touches, with just Corey Clement and Keaontay Ingram behind him on the depth chart. Conner, who has played in at least 13 games in three straight years, could be a real bargain in the middle of drafts.
Cam Akers, RB, Rams
Akers is coming off a Jekyll and Hyde season, ranking as the RB70 in the first eight weeks but the RB15 in the final 10. He was even better down the stretch, scoring the fourth-most fantasy points among running backs from Weeks 14-18. The Rams didn’t do much to improve their backfield in the offseason, either, so Akers is in a great spot to succeed. He’s the 25th runner off the board on Calculator.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs
Speaking of players who went bananas in the second half last season, how about McKinnon? He was the fourth-best fantasy running back in the final seven weeks of last season, scoring more PPR points than Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb! The Chiefs lost more talent than they added on offense in the offseason, but McKinnon is still being picked outside of the top 110 players in mocks.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers
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Johnson is coming off his worst fantasy season in the last three years, averaging a mere 10.6 points per game. What’s more, he had the fewest receptions, yards and scores (0) in that time. But with one season of NFL experience under Kenny Pickett’s belt and positive touchdown regression coming, I think Johnson could rebound and be one of the better draft bargains among receivers in 2023.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Cowboys
Cooks had a brutal season in 2022, posting just 699 yards with three touchdowns and an average of 11.2 fantasy points. That was in a bad Texans offense, though, and now he’ll be in a much better situation in Dallas with Prescott throwing him the football. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the veteran posts the seventh 1,000-yard season of his career … and his ADP is in the low 80s.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Osborn had a hot finish to last season, as he posted 14-plus fantasy points in four of his last five games. Yes, the Vikings drafted Jordan Addison and he’s now the shiny new toy in Minnesota, but what if the rookie fails to meet expectations? That could give Osborn, who is entering a contract year, the chance to make a bigger impact than we’re projecting. He’s basically a free pick in most drafts, too.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
The tight end position is a weak one, so why is Higbee’s ADP so low? He finished as the sixth-best tight end based on PPR scoring last season, and the Rams have even less talent on the offensive side than they had in 2022. Heck, you could argue Higbee is the second-best pass catching option for Matthew Stafford behind Cooper Kupp. If you’re looking to punt tight end, I’d target Higbee in the later rounds.
Zach Ertz, TE, Cardinals
Ertz was injured after 10 games last season, but he averaged a solid 11.6 points while out on the gridiron. Reports suggest he’s doing well in his recovery, so the veteran could be a target machine in an offense that released DeAndre Hopkins. Barring any kind of setbacks, Ertz could be a steal as he’s basically free in drafts. Grab him as a No. 2 option, ahead of his young teammate Trey McBride.
