If you are anything like us, you probably have a fantasy football draft scheduled for sometime this week. Millions of drafts across the world will take place over the weekend with the first game of the NFL season just over a week away.
The prevailing thought among most fantasy analysts is to take a running back in Round 1 of your drafts. But in Round 2, opinions differ. However, one thing that nearly everyone can agree on is Darren Waller and where he should be drafted.
In a recent article by Andrew Erickson of Pro Football Focus, he created the perfect draft strategy for players this season. That plan included taking Waller in the second round of your draft as he gives you a significant advantage over every tight end in the league, outside of Travis Kelce. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on Waller this season:
“With hardly any target competition to speak of, Waller has a legitimate shot to unseat Travis Kelce, the five-year reigning TE1 in fantasy football. Even if he doesn’t quite catch Kelce, the cost of acquiring him in the second or third rounds compared to Kelce’s mid-first-round price tag is the vastly superior value. Waller led all players in fantasy points per game from Weeks 13-17 (26.5) last season.”
In the last eight games of the 2020 season, Waller averaged over 100 yards per game. While it will be hard for him to maintain that pace, it’s clear that he is still ascending as a player and as a receiver.
With back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons already under his belt, Waller is one of the safest picks you can make in your fantasy leagues this year. Considering his ceiling and target volume should raise this season, be sure to make him a second-round round in your fantasy drafts this year.