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With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it's time to dig into the huge list of players who weren't drafted and figure out if any of them have fantasy value.
Last season, we didn't see a ton of NFL production from undrafted players, though there have been notable UDFAs who became valuable NFL players in recent years. In 2020, for instance, we saw James Robinson go undrafted and become a great fantasy option right off the bat, while Marquez Callaway, Salvon Ahmed and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine have all had their (brief) moments.
So, are there wide receivers or tight ends in this year's class who might have some value, whether that be in 2022 or beyond?
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Justyn Ross - Kansas City Chiefs
Justyn Ross wasn't supposed to go undrafted, but medical concerns led to the former Clemson receiver falling out of the draft entirely.
As a freshman, Ross had 46 catches for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, operating as the big-play receiver for the Tigers. He took on more of a short-yardage role the next season, catching 20 more passes but finishing with 865 yards. Then came the neck issue, which led to the discovery of spinal cord issues. Ross had surgery and definitely didn't look like himself when he returned in 2021, catching 46 passes like he did as a freshman but only for 514 yards and three scores.
The talent, if healthy, is undeniable. He's an athletic, tall receiver who would benefit greatly from playing in an offense helmed by Patrick Mahomes and that has an opening at receiver after the Tyreek Hill trade.
So, do you bet on the health? Sure. Take him in the third round of rookie drafts. At that point, there's almost no risk, because it's not like you'd be missing out on anyone else who'd have more upside.
Kevin Austin Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars need young receivers to pair with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They signed Christian Kirk and have Laviska Shenault Jr. on the roster, but guys like Marvin Jones, Zay Jones and Laquon Treadwell are short term solutions, even though Zay was pretty good last year for the Raiders.
The team didn't draft a receiver this year, but did sign a handful of UDFA. Austin is my favorite of those players. Like Ross, Austin was expected to be drafted on Day 3, but wound up falling out of the draft. The Notre Dame prospect had 888 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but that was also the only year of production he had at Notre Dame. He was suspended in 2019. He was injured for almost all of 2020.
There is a lot of risk here because of the suspension and the injury issues, which are both red flags. Austin is still a great athlete who showed last year that he can produce when he's actually on the field.
Reggie Roberson Jr. - Tennessee Titans
The Titans traded A.J. Brown and drafted Treylon Burks. Like has been the case over the past few seasons, Tennessee is rolling with questionable depth at receiver, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the No. 3 receiver and, uhh...Dez Fitzpatrick or Racey McMath as the fourth guy? There's a clear path for someone to get into this receiving rotation. So why not former SMU Mustang Reggie Roberson?
His numbers don't pop because he missed time with injuries in 2019 and 2020, but he had 474 yards in four games in 2020 and ended his career with 24 touchdowns, with 23 of those coming in his four years at SMU.
Roberson is an athletic weapon who could be a major offensive weapon...if he's healthy. And that's the big question, as his post-injury season saw him finish with the lowest yards per catch of his career. Can he get back to the player he was back in 2018 and 2019? He is worth a stash if you have room to find out.
Jalen Wydermyer - Buffalo Bills (TE)
And now, a tight end. No team target tight ends a lower percentage of the time than the Bills last year at 13.3%. That's a little misleading, I think. Dawson Knox was targeted 71 times, which still trailed guys like Pat Freiermuth and Evan Engram, who missed two games, but was a respectable number that put him in the middle of the league.
The issue was that only three teams targeted their secondary tight end less than the Bills, who targeted Tommy Sweeney just 12 times. Anyway, Knox hits free agency after 2022, while Wydermyer is under contract through 2024. That could mean absolutely nothing, but the Bills have clear room for a new No. 2 guy. The likeliest thing is that O.J. Howard gets the role, but his career has been really uneven so far due to injuries.
Wydermyer was a solid receiving tight end at Texas A&M, with 118 receptions and 16 touchdowns over three seasons. His ability as a red zone threat could be the thing that gets him on the field. At a position as shallow as tight end — and especially considering how weak the last couple of drafts have been for TEs — I think I'm willing to take a flier on someone with the touchdown prowess of Wydermyer.
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