We are nearing the NFL season and the excitement is almost palpable. Friends are starting to text each other and smack talk. Others are secluding themselves from the banter and focusing on choosing a witty team name that incorporates the name of an NFL player, I’m looking at you HaHa Clinton-Dix. No matter what camp you reside in we are all in the same fight together. The draft is where you get to test yourself and see how well you are able to adapt and react to the ever changing landscape of your power rankings. One way to make sure you are standing atop the mountain after the draft is by making sure you acquire as much value as possible. This article will showcase a handful of players that I think are being overlooked and can help you by adding value to your team as the draft goes deep into the night.

*I used FantasyFootballCalculator.com to research the Average Draft Position (ADP) across 1,514 mock drafts from July 29th-August 1st. The leagues were 12 teams and points-per-reception (PPR). All ADP listed are referring to those findings on the site*

Someone just love draft me, please!

Emmanuel Sanders

In 2015, Sanders finished with 76 receptions, 1,135 yards and 6 touchdowns (136 targets). He finished 2016 with 79 receptions for 1,032 yards and 5 touchdowns (137 targets). He is remarkably consistent, no matter if he has a 7th round QB, 1st round QB, or the deteriorating Peyton Manning throwing to him. His ADP is 76th as the 34th WR off the board. He is being criminally undervalued and no matter who’s behind center he should flirt with another 75-1000-6 season. Scoop him at the end of the sixth or early seventh.

Pierre Garcon

The former D3 wide receiver has a new home in San Francisco this season as the number one pass catcher for a Kyle Shanahan offense. Brian Hoyer is known as a guy that locks onto a guy and just absolutely peppers them with targets game in and game out. Looking at the wide receiver competition for the 49ers it doesn’t appear Garcon will have too much trouble soaking up those targets. He is currently being taken as the 79th player in the draft and the 35th wide receiver off the board. If I am in the bottom half of the 7th round I wouldn’t hesitate to pounce on Pierre.

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Jeremy Maclin

Maclin is taking over the slot receiver role for the Ravens that was left vacant when Steve Smith Sr. retired. That position was good for 8.32 targets in 2016 (FantasyPros.com). If Maclin is able to stay healthy, as his 2016 season was derailed by four missed games and five listed as questionable, he should greatly outproduce his current ADP of 81st overall and the 36th wide receiver taken. If you miss out on Emmanuel Sanders and Pierre Garcon you likely will be able to get Maclin in the middle of the 7th round.

Eric Decker

The 38th wide receiver with the ADP of 89th landed in a fantastic spot for 2017. He should immediately take over as the number one wide receiver for Marcus Mariota. Unlike Pierre Garcon, he is not going to get more targets than he can handle. He likely will leave you yearning for more passes coming his way every single week. However, Decker is one of the best red-zone targets in the NFL and Mariota is surprisingly incredibly efficient in the red-zone. The two might be a match made in Heaven. Decker could flirt with double-digit touchdowns and while he likely won’t catch 90 passes this season he could still have a big game or two along the way. He’s going in the middle of the 8th round so he won’t cost you much and offers some serious upside if Mariota gets comfortable throwing his way.

James Conner

Conner is being taken as the 59th running back off the board and normally in the 15th round. He will likely be on the waiver wire in week one for a lot of leagues but don’t let it be in yours. Conner should be locked in as the backup running back to Le’Veon Bell who routinely misses games. The Steelers usually throw the backup into Le’Veon’s role and ask them to imitate him the best that they can. They definitely don’t change the offense very much when he’s out. This has lead to some very productive outings for the backup running backs in Pittsburg over the last three seasons. While everyone else is throwing darts at players grab Conner in the 14th round. He could be the difference between being in the playoffs and winning them.

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Paul Perkins

He really started to play well at the end of 2016 and will likely be the lead back to start the season for the Giants. He doesn’t have much competition and if he is able to seize the opportunity he could be a three down back. Sterling Sheppard, Brandon Marshall, and Odell Beckham Jr. should keep the defense honest and allow Perkins with some nice running lanes. The upside is built on the lack of competition and not so much on supreme talent. That being said, as the 30th running back off the board with an average draft position of 70th, he could be the steal of the draft if he shatters expectations. I think he is worth taking in the 6th round and I wouldn’t try to see if he falls into the 7th.