PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Wyatt Bertolone shares the best late-round fantasy football targets.
Every year, there are a handful of late-round players who make large impacts on the fantasy football season. These players can have a monumental effect as they become solid options you weren’t expecting, supercharging the team they’re on. Everyone expects their first few picks to carry them. When you hit on a late-round player as well, you can easily dominate your opponents. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite late-round targets.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Tyler Allgeier stepped up and filled in for the Falcons effectively as a rookie after joining them as a fifth-round NFL Draft pick. Allgeier ran for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, demonstrating his capability as a running back in the NFL. However, Allgeier was quickly replaced by Bijan Robinson the following season. Although he lost his starting job, with Robinson joining the team, Allgeier became one of the best handcuff running backs in all of fantasy football. Additionally, Allgeier is so talented that he’s been able to have playable weeks even while Robinson was healthy.
Tyler Allgeier‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics
Bijan Robinson has stayed healthy since joining the NFL, but if he does get injured, we know Allgeier can handle a three-down workload and produce with it. The Falcons spent their offseason spending most of their resources towards the defense, leaving Allgeier’s status unchanged. Allgeier is one of the few backup running backs who would earn a true three-down workload if Robinson gets hurt, with no one behind him to threaten him for touches.
Tyler Allgeier is an easy bet. His fantasy football projection is simple and one of the easiest to make. If anything happens to Bijan Robinson, Allgeier will be ranked as an RB1 week in and week out. Somehow, though, Allgeier isn’t valued as highly as he should be given his known potential. He’s one of the best handcuff running backs available, but isn’t valued like it. Regardless of build, Allgeier should be a target in your drafts.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns
Cedric Tillman wasn’t expected to do much as a sophomore in 2024 after having a forgettable rookie season. For the first half of the year, that held. But Tillman got his chance after Amari Cooper was traded, and he ran with it. Over the next four games, Tillman thrived, producing more fantasy points than Jerry Jeudy over that timeframe. Unfortunately, though, Tillman then suffered a concussion that took him out for the rest of the season.
Cedric Tillman‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics
This offseason, the Browns did little to add to their wide receiver room. The biggest name and/or investment made was the signing of Diontae Johnson from free agency. Johnson, though, has fallen out of favor in the NFL. Tillman projects to continue to be the X wide receiver role in the Browns’ offense in 2025 and will try to pick up where he left off. Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku are projected to be the Browns’ top targets in the passing game, but Tillman isn’t that far behind.
The main concern for Tillman is the Browns’ carousel of quarterbacks and whether they can support multiple weapons. The good news is that the Browns have had a great pace of play over the last two years, ranking first and tied for first in plays as well as fifth and first in pass attempts. With the Browns’ defense looking bad, they will have no choice but to pass at a high rate. Tillman represents the potential for a WR3 with WR6 cost and is one of the better value picks at his position.
Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Will Shipley played sparingly as a rookie after being drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Eagles, backing up Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell. The Eagles let Gainwell walk in free agency this offseason, opening the door for Shipley to be Barkley’s direct backup. The only other addition the Eagles made to the backfield was AJ Dillon, who missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury and was unimpressive the last time we saw him. During the preseason, it was made clear that Shipley is the backup you want.
Will Shipley‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics
Will Shipley was a do-it-all running back in college. He showed great receiving skills out of the backfield, finishing with over 30 receptions in each of his final two seasons. A high mark for a college running back. He’s got good athleticism, too, as evidenced by his 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day. He likely wouldn’t assume the same workload as Saquon Barkley in the event of an injury, due to his slight lack of size, but his pass-catching ability should help him project well.
Handcuff running backs are a vital part of fantasy football. The 2024 season was an outlier in terms of running back injuries. Most seasons, we see several handcuff running backs play integral parts in the fantasy football season. Will Shipley projects to be the handcuff running back on one of the best offenses in the league, making him an easy bet. With an ADP at the end of drafts, he’s an even easier decision.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Halfway through the 2024 season, Rico Dowdle became the Cowboys’ workhorse running back almost by default. Having done little in the NFL before the 2024 season, Dowdle had few expectations. Dowdle impressed, though, averaging 12.4 PPR PPG, and ended the year with over 1,300 total yards. His performance in tandem with his low cost helped fantasy teams make and perform in the playoffs. Finishing 17th in True Yards per Carry and 18th in Yards per Route Run, Dowdle proved his ability as both a runner and receiver.
Rico Dowdle‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics
Oddly, despite Rico Dowdle‘s performance, the Cowboys let him walk in free agency, where he quickly signed with the Panthers. Dowdle steps right in as Chuba Hubbard‘s backup as Jonathan Brooks recovers from his second torn ACL, which is a great place to be. Dave Canelas, the Panthers’ head coach, has shown a proclivity to giving his starting running back a workhorse role. Dowdle has proven himself to be someone a team can rely on based on his 2024 performance. Now he’s become one of the best handcuff running backs you can find.
Rico Dowdle‘s ADP is still cheap even though Rico Dowdle now stands as one of the better handcuff running backs you can find. Dowdle routinely gets drafted as one of the last handcuff running backs, despite having a similar projection as others. Dowdle is a straightforward selection for any build. It’s not often you can find the potential Dowdle represents as late as you can draft him. With how little risk there is based on his cost, Dowdle should be a top target in drafts.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Elic Ayomanor comes into the NFL after two productive seasons at Stanford, averaging 2.1 Yards per Route Run. Declaring early after his junior season, Ayomanor has a great blend of size and speed while excelling at working down the field. He’s also shown sneaky ability after the catch. Unfortunately, though, his hands are inconsistent. He’ll go from making a tough catch on one play to dropping a routine one on the very next play. This almost certainly played a part in his falling to the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Elic Ayomanor‘s Advanced Stats & Metrics
Elic Ayomanor was originally expected to be drafted on day two. There have been reports that Ayomanor had a knee issue pop up on his medicals during the draft process. That may or may not have been the reason he fell, but regardless, being drafted on day three isn’t ideal. What is ideal is landing on a team like the Titans, where there is a clear path to opportunities. After Calvin Ridley, there’s no other proven target earner on the offense.
Elic Ayomanor has a real chance to make an impact as a rookie, even as a fourth-round pick. He has the physical tools to do it, and he’s been excelling in training camp and preseason. Right now, Ayomanor is practically free in drafts. Given that he has a good chance to be his team’s WR2, that’s too cheap. He’s an easy way to add big upside potential to your wide receiver core.
Draft Wisely
Finding the right players to select at the end of drafts is about a blend of talent and opportunity. It seems obvious, but every year, some get drafted later than they should, despite their obvious talent and/or opportunity. Additionally, we want players who possess an upside that others don’t around them. At the end of drafts, you shouldn’t worry about the floor; you want the ceiling.
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