In 2013 we saw second-year players like Josh Gordon, Nick Foles and Alshon Jeffrey take massive leaps in production. A handful of sophomores are already riding a wave of hype into the 2014 football season. Eddie Lacy is a top-10 lock in most drafts with Montee Ball, Le'veon Bell and Giovani Bernard getting late first round consideration. Everyone has Andre Ellington and Cordarrelle Patterson on their breakout radar -- for good reason -- but the projection is already built in to the price. There are some very interesting names, however, outside the top-50.
Here is the ADP breakdown of second-year players in National Fantasy Football Championship, ESPN and Yahoo leagues. Keep in mind, NFFC drafts are all PPR, whereas the ESPN and Yahoo ADP's are PPR and standard combined.
| Player | NFFC | ESPN | Yahoo |
| Eddie Lacy (RB, GB) | 8.2 | 8.1 | 4.8 |
| Montee Ball (RB, Den) | 16.5 | 26.3 | 10.3 |
| Le'Veon Bell (RB, Pit) | 16.6 | 22.0 | 17.3 |
| Giovani Bernard (RB, Cin) | 18.3 | 30.0 | 22.9 |
| Zac Stacy (RB, StL) | 31.2 | 18.2 | 24.3 |
| Andre Ellington (RB, Ari) | 34.2 | 50.5 | 38.2 |
| Keenan Allen (WR, SD) | 34.6 | 47.1 | 30.0 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Min) | 52.4 | 70.1 | 45.3 |
| Terrance Williams (WR, Dal) | 82.8 | 99.8 | 93.9 |
| Jordan Reed (TE, Was) | 92.5 | 115.5 | 101.0 |
| Tavon Austin (WR, StL) | 110.0 | 131.2 | 129.0 |
| Kenny Stills (WR, NO) | 112.7 | 148.2 | 129.1 |
| Zach Ertz (TE, Phi) | 113.2 | 137.5 | 107.7 |
| DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Hou) | 116.3 | 109.8 | 128.9 |
| Khiry Robinson (RB, NO) | 118.7 | 117.6 | 123.5 |
| Aaron Dobson (WR, NE) | 127.3 | 151.1 | 128.8 |
| Christine Michael (RB, Sea) | 142.3 | 131.2 | 127.4 |
| Justin Hunter (WR, Ten) | 145.7 | 137.0 | 128.3 |
| Markus Wheaton (WR, Pit) | 150.8 | 149.9 | 128.9 |
| EJ Manuel (QB, Buf) | 168.5 | N/A | N/A |
| Tyler Eifert (TE, Cin) | 169.1 | N/A | 103.3 |
| Knile Davis (RB, KC) | 177.5 | 145.1 | N/A |
| Robert Woods (WR, Buf) | 182.7 | N/A | N/A |
| C.J. Anderson (RB, Den) | 202.3 | 147.5 | N/A |
Unlike running backs, who can make an instant impact, quarterbacks and receivers take time acclimating to complex NFL offenses. So the passing game is a great place to find extreme value on draft day with players entering year two.
Tavon Austin is a post-hype bargain at an ADP of 110.0. He's still the dynamic athlete who was a top-10 pick by the Rams in 2013. With a healthy Sam Bradford and a year under his belt, the 5-foot-8 receiver could see a dramatic jump in targets. Terrence Williams (82.8), Justin Hunter (145.7), Markus Wheaton (150.8) and Robert Woods (182.7) should all enter the season as starters for the first time.
I really like all three tight ends on this list. Zach Ertz (113.2) and Tyler Eifert (169.1) are supremely talented big-bodied pass catchers that are only held back by inferior veterans taking away snaps. Jordan Reed (92.5) is more wide receiver than tight end, can stretch the seam and already has a rapport with a now healthy Robert Griffin.
Geno Smith, Kenbrell Thompkins and Levine Toilolo didn't make the list, because they are going largely undrafted. Toilolo is the favorite to take the starting tight end job in Atlanta and should, at worst, be a red zone threat at 6-foot-8. An undrafted training camp darling last season, Thompkins proved to be raw as a rookie, but could make good in year two with lots of targets up for grabs in New England. Smith will have to win a battle over Michael Vick to become the starting signal caller for the Jets. We saw what the guy who beat Vick out last year did in Philadelphia. Of course you shouldn't expect Foles level production from Smith, but he is a name to monitor.
C.J. Anderson (202.3) is the super sleeper here. Once again, Montee Ball enters training camp as the starter in Denver, but he wasn't able to hold on to the job (or the football) last year. Anderson is a downhill runner, can catch the ball and is good in pass protection, a key for getting on the field with Peyton Manning. Expect him to win the No. 2 job as Ball's handcuff.