It’s that time of year again, where fantasy players are finalizing their draft rankings and reading up on last minute scouting reports. Every season, there are a few key players that fly under the radar on draft day that end up making the difference to a fantasy football team. Here are the players that I believe can make an impact this season:
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – While Peterson isn’t exactly “under the radar”, he is returning after not playing in all but one game last season. He will be determined to show that he is the same back that put up 2097 yards in 2012, and should open up the Vikings’s offense. He should be a major-impact player.
WR Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints – Cooks’ rookie season ended due to injury, but he showed his potential in flashes. After an offseason that saw the Saints trade away their two best receivers, expect Cooks to be the number one option on offense, and show explosive playmaking ability throughout 2015.
WR Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles – Matthews had an outstanding rookie season, tallying over 800 yards receiving with 8 touchdowns. The buzz around Eagles’ camp is that Matthews has been outstanding thus far, and should be able to take a step forward in the high powered offense the team runs.
WR Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders – It’s tough for me to ever condone taking a rookie in a fantasy draft, but Cooper is that special type of talent that deserves heavy consideration. After dominating at Alabama, Cooper steps into a vertical attack offense where he will be the top option. The team drafted quarterback Derek Carr last season so they hope that this tandem can become dynamic in 2015.
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