Unlike real NFL drafts, a fantasy draft’s final rounds can prove quite important and should not be wasted. A common strategy is to take a flier on a rookie that may or may not produce, but they aren’t the only options out there.

To find out who the best late-round draft targets are, we asked our featured experts below who they’re targeting at the end of their drafts. Using our expert consensus rankings (ECR), all players listed below are ranked below the top 160 players overall.

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Q. Name one player beyond ECR 160 that you will be targeting as a late-round lottery ticket?

DeAndre Washington (RB – OAK)

“One player to target with one of your final picks this year should be Raiders running back DeAndre Washington. While most are writing off Adrian Peterson as being too old, they turn the other cheek for 31-year-old Marshawn Lynch. Not only was Lynch out of the game for a year and a half, but he wasn’t rehabbing, either. He was also less efficient than Thomas Rawls that year, and it wasn’t all that close. I’m not writing off Lynch all together, but the Raiders have already talked about limiting him to around 200 touches, which would leave roughly 275 other touches (based on last year’s running back touches) to go around to the other running backs. The Raiders have a dominating offensive line, proven by the 17 rushing touchdowns last year. Washington may not even need a Lynch injury to be relevant, but if something does happen to Lynch, Washington can be a league-winner.”

– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“At this stage of the draft it’s all about opportunity for me. You’re looking at players who you want to stash, hoping that they may develop into something as the season moves along. DeAndre Washington may not develop into anything, but the pick won’t hurt you and the payoff potential is big. By most accounts he’s ahead of Jalen Richard as Marshawn Lynch’s primary backup, and while I’m on the Beast Mode return bandwagon, he’s a 31-year-old back coming off a season-long layoff who spent the 2015 campaign injured. Banking on 16 games as a guarantee would be a mistake, and Washington (5.4 YPC in 2016) could see a meaningful workload with potential to start in an injury scenario.”

– Jon Collins (Fantasy Sports LR)

Robby Anderson (WR – NYJ)

“Anderson has emerged as a default WR1 in New York with a season-ending injury to WR Quincy Enunwa (106 Targets in 2016), 2 game suspension to TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and departure of WR Eric Decker. The Jets will be historically bad this season and Anderson should benefit from their consistent deficits. As a 2016 UDFA Rookie, Anderson totaled 42 receptions on 78 targets for 587 Yards and 2 TDs. Expect Anderson to be peppered with volume early and often in 2017.”

– Tozzi Brothers (Legion Report)

Wendell Smallwood (RB – PHI)

“With the Eagles backfield consisting of two running backs (LeGarrette Blount and Darren Sproles) with the combined age of my great-great grandmother (who’s been dead for over 50 years), Wendell Smallwood might be a sleeper to keep an eye on late in your drafts. Though he only totaled 77 carries last season, he provided 4.1 YPC and has already secured a spot on the 53-man roster with Corey Clement headed to the practice squad. Donnel Pumphrey could prove to be an issue and the entire committee is murky at best, but Smallwood is still, at the very least, an intriguing handcuff for Blount owners, and at worst, probably the best inspiration for a fantasy team name since Isaiah Pead roamed the NFL.”

– Jason Longfellow (Razzball)

Jonathan Williams (RB – BUF)

“Over the past couple of seasons, Buffalo backup RBs have had stand-alone success – Mike Gillislee (RB27 in 2016) and Karlos Williams (RB31 in 2015). With Gillislee now in New England, Williams will (or is expected to) move into that role. Only the Cowboys (48.70%) ran the ball on a higher percentage of their plays last season than the Bills (48.62%) last season and that trend should continue with the new coaching staff. As of Saturday morning, my rank (126th overall) is more than 50 spots higher than his current ECR (176th).”

– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE – NYJ)

“Year after year, ASJ failed to return fantasy value – despite standing 6’5″, 262 pounds with freaky athleticism. But there’s optimism entering September. Impressive on the field since OTAs, a slimmer ASJ also revealed that he’s been sober for 7 months. Only 25, he could finally emerge for a Jets team starving for playmakers.”

– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)

Pat Mahomes (QB – KC)

“Owners in two-quarterback fantasy leagues need to be aware of all backup QBs, but I’m starting to take aggressive late-round gambles on Pat Mahomes in 2QB and Superflex formats. Most drafters will look at Kansas City’s quarterback corps and assume the starting gig belongs to Alex Smith all season, but no so fast. Personnel moves, like letting go of Jeremy Maclin to promote Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley, plus scheme changes we’re seeing on the field, like all three quarterbacks throwing deep on their first preseason attempts, indicate the move from Smith to Mahomes could happen sooner than most imagine. Despite Mahomes upside as a two-QB bench stash, he’s being ranked and drafted much later than quarterbacks in more notable preseason battles on teams like the Broncos. But I don’t see Smith’s starting job with Kansas City as that much safer than Trevor Siemian’s with Denver, so I’ve started closing the draft value gap between Pat Mahomes and the other QB2s with a good chance of starting at some point this season.”

– Greg Smith (TwoQBs)

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Thank you to the experts for naming their late-round lottery tickets. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter for more great advice and check out our latest podcast below.



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