By Kalen Lumpkins

Kalen is a fourth year BGSU student from Toledo, Ohio. He is a sports management major with a minor in journalism. His primary sports interests include football and tennis, but he also has an interest in a wide variety of other sports, from baseball to hockey. His dream job outside of college is to be a sportswriter for an organization like ESPN or Sports Illustrated.

August 25, 2023

The NFL season begins on September 7, the day when most fans will start to manage their fantasy football teams. As the Lion-Chiefs kickoff game approaches, some may still be looking at which players will elevate their team above their friends and league mates.

The good news for these fans is that they have come to the right place. The upcoming list will give these avid participants five players who will give a major boost to whichever fantasy team you draft them.

However, we will not be looking at the top of the draft order (yes, you should draft Travis Kelce if he is available). Instead, we are diving beyond the top ten for each division.

With that said, here are some players that you should pick up if they so happen to fall in your lap (All stats and fantasy projections are from ESPN):

ALEXANDER MATTISON

As the projected RB26, Alexander Mattison is slated to be the starting running back for the Vikings after Dalvin Cook’s departure to the Jets.

As the backup to Cook for the last four seasons, his workload is fairly light. Still, it is hard to ignore that Mattison performed well while Cook was sidelined.

In 2021, Mattison led the league in touches, rushing yards, and fantasy points in four games as the starter. This potential, along with being a part of a top-tier Minnesota offense, puts Mattison in a prime position to produce.

Alexander Mattison is a low-risk, high-reward option that is primed to do wonders in your RB2/FLEX position.

AARON RODGERS

Two seasons ago, Aaron Rodgers being a sleeper pick seemed like insanity. As the projected QB12, though, this scenario has become a reality.

It would not be far-fetched to call the Hall of Famer’s 2022-23 season the worst of his career. The Packers finished 8-9, and Rodgers finished as QB25.

A-Rod (12 INTs) and his receivers (29 dropped passes) were never on the same page, and the season ended on a sour note as the Lions ended any playoff hopes the cheeseheads had.  

Now, Rodgers will begin perhaps his final chapter with the Jets, and New York will give #8 (the new number will take some getting used to) some of the best weapons of his career in Garret Wilson and the returning Breece Hall. We have seen what A-Rod can do with the right pieces, and it should be an offensive spectacle that Jets fans have been awaiting for years.

It is reasonable to think that 39-year-old Rodgers is set to regress, but the upside of the QB is large enough to take the risk.

RACHAAD WHITE

After the departure of Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White (projected RB19) has been handed the keys to the Buccaneers’ rushing attack. Tampa Bay is going through some major changes, which should be perfect for the former Sun Devil.

Tampa Bay is entering a post-Tom Brady era (for real this time), and the replacement for TB12 will most likely be Baker Mayfield. While this may sound like a major downgrade, the former top pick has opted for safer throws in recent years, which will benefit Rachaad White owners in PPR leagues.

In a Week 12 game against Cleveland, White played 91% of the snaps and finished with 14 carries for 65 yards along with 9 catches for 45 yards. This resulted in 19.9 fantasy points (in basic rule PPR leagues), a number that could now pop up every week.

While he may share a few snaps with Chase Edmonds, his dual-threat ability should elevate any fantasy team that drafts him. Rachaad White will make a high-quality RB2 or a low-end RB1.

JUWAN JOHNSON

As quick as a blink of an eye, Juwan Johnson (projected TE21) went from do-not-draft lists to one of the top fantasy scorers of the 2022-23 season. He finished as TE15 last season, and his 7 touchdowns were the fourth-best out of all tight ends.

However, with great performances, comes great inconsistency. Johnson frustrated his fantasy owners last season by ending a game with zero catches and yards just a week after a multi-TD performance.

The switch from Jameis Winston to Derek Carr at QB could fix the TE’s spottiness. Carr is used to his quality tight ends, after all.

Juwan Johnson may be the riskiest draft choice out of all the players on this list, but making him a TE2 will surely bail your team out in a few games.

GEORGE PICKENS

Now, you may have seen George Pickens on a few ‘poised to breakout’ lists, along with his quarterback Kenny Pickett, but his current projection of WR31 would make you think otherwise.

His rookie season was filled with highs and lows, but he became the deep threat of the Steelers offense as the season progressed. He will want to raise his targets, though, as he finished 48^th in that category last season.

Kenny Pickett has shown an increase in confidence in his throws during the preseason, a sight that everyone in Pittsburgh should love to see. The Pickett-Pickens connections have been a charm, and they will look to bring this into the regular season. George Pickens will continue to share targets with Dionte Johnson, but a big step for the Steelers offense seems to be in fruition. Pickens will be a steal for the flex position.