This article is part of our Football Draft Kit series.
An ideal fantasy bench will have one running back and one wide receiver who can be counted on for a respectable level of production if they're needed in the starting lineup early in the season. After that, it's usually best to focus on what might happen later in the year, targeting upside/potential rather than secure mediocrity.
This might mean drafting a talented rookie with an uncertain role over a veteran who has job security, or it might mean drafting a player whose injury/suspension will cause him to miss games at the beginning of the season. Depth may or may not be needed in September, but there's no question it'll be important later in the season once bye weeks start to hit and injuries pile up.
The following players aren't likely to add much to a Week 1 lineup, but they're well worth drafting if you're OK with making a commitment to stash them on the bench.
(ADP references are based on NFC data)
Quarterback
Lock has a strong arm, 4.69 speed and an impressive group of weapons with which to work. The only problem is that we don't really know if he's good, as he's entering his second pro season after throwing only 153 passes — at a meager aDOT of 7.2 — as a rookie. Lock isn't someone you'll want in a Week 1 starting lineup for single-QB leagues, but he comes with a top-10 ceiling for the season while being drafted as QB22 (ADP 181.2). Contrast
An ideal fantasy bench will have one running back and one wide receiver who can be counted on for a respectable level of production if they're needed in the starting lineup early in the season. After that, it's usually best to focus on what might happen later in the year, targeting upside/potential rather than secure mediocrity.
This might mean drafting a talented rookie with an uncertain role over a veteran who has job security, or it might mean drafting a player whose injury/suspension will cause him to miss games at the beginning of the season. Depth may or may not be needed in September, but there's no question it'll be important later in the season once bye weeks start to hit and injuries pile up.
The following players aren't likely to add much to a Week 1 lineup, but they're well worth drafting if you're OK with making a commitment to stash them on the bench.
(ADP references are based on NFC data)
Quarterback
Lock has a strong arm, 4.69 speed and an impressive group of weapons with which to work. The only problem is that we don't really know if he's good, as he's entering his second pro season after throwing only 153 passes — at a meager aDOT of 7.2 — as a rookie. Lock isn't someone you'll want in a Week 1 starting lineup for single-QB leagues, but he comes with a top-10 ceiling for the season while being drafted as QB22 (ADP 181.2). Contrast Lock with Sam Darnold, whose poor situation in New York could prevent him from breaking out in a fantasy sense even if he takes a big step forward from a personal standpoint. Lock's situation, on the other hand, ensures that a real-life breakout will be rewarded with commensurate fantasy numbers, especially once the Broncos' schedule gets easier after Week 5.
I may need to duck for cover if I'm publicly on record saying nice things about Trubisky. For the sake of my safety, let's be sure to qualify that the recommendation is for two-QB and superflex leagues, not for single-QB formats. Nick Foles seems to have more momentum for the Week 1 job, but his poor track record as a starter means there's a good chance this devolves into a QB see-saw, and it's Trubisky who has the running ability to provide at least a smidge of fantasy upside. He was 11th among QBs in per-game scoring in 2018, despite being mediocre (at best) from a real-life standpoint. And while the rushing production dried up last year, he still has a career average of 336 yards and 2.7 TDs per 16 games. That could make Trubisky serviceable as a QB2 if/when he becomes the starter.
Running Back
The fascination with Gibson is reasonable, as he offers 4.39 speed and good pass-catching skills in a 228-pound frame, while backfield mates Adrian Peterson (early downs) and J.D. McKissic (passing downs) are pigeon-holed for specific roles. The problem is that most signs point to both Peterson and McKissic being involved early in the season, potentially relegating Gibson to "change of pace" work. He's a sensible pick if you're committed to waiting things out and seeing what happens, but don't waste your time with the rookie (ADP 123.4) if you'll end up dropping him after a couple slow weeks. Gibson could average five touches per game in September and 15 in November.
Johnson's role in September could look much like his role from last year — 5.2 carries and 3.9 targets per game. Maybe it's a little more than that, but mostly you're drafting him as a vote of no confidence in 28-year-old David Johnson, whose last three seasons were defined by injuries, poor performance and a benching. No doubt coach Bill O'Brien will give DJ another shot to prove himself, but it may be the other DJ who ultimately ends up in the lead role. Duke has a streak of four consecutive seasons averaging at least 4.2 yards per carry and 9.2 per catch, perpetually efficient and underutilized.
With Aaron Jones still the lead runner and Jamaal Williams considered "more fluid" as a pass catcher, Dillon isn't likely to start his career with more than a handful of carries per game, if he's even involved at all. The obvious path to fantasy involves an injury to Jones, who suffered three MCL sprains during his first two years in the NFL. He obviously stayed healthy and productive last season, but the overall medical record isn't great, and he could be a midseason trade chip if the Packers struggle (he's entering the final year of his contract). That said, Dillon feels a bit overrated at RB51, ADP 145.1, considering Williams would still handle passing downs in the event of a Jones injury/trade.
The Steelers trust James Conner to run the ball, and they trust him to handle passing downs. But they don't really trust him to stay healthy, nor do they have any contractual commitment beyond 2020. Perhaps Conner misses time with another injury, or maybe the Steelers stink it up and find themselves in a position to trade him (not likely, I'll admit). While we shouldn't necessarily count on either scenario coming to fruition, the mere possibility is intriguing when Snell is coming off the board at RB65, ADP 201.6. The lack of interest made sense when he appeared to be in a tooth-and-nail battle for backup work, but recent chatter from training camp suggests he's locked down the No. 2 spot, showcasing improved agility and pass-catching skill after he dropped 12 pounds during the offseason. Here's a recent excerpt from Mark Kaboly of The Athletic:
What hasn't been talked much about are Snell's hands. He caught a floater in the flat from [Ben] Roethlisberger, then turned it upfield for a nice gain. It just solidified what I've seen all camp from him. I am pretty much convinced that he's the no-doubt No. 2 behind Conner, even with Anthony McFarland in the mix. Snell probably should get some series once the season starts, but don't count on it unless Conner gets hurt.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports that Williams — rather than DeAndre Washington — has been taking the first-team reps that haven't gone to Clyde Edwards-Helaire at Chiefs training camp. Ron Kopp Jr. of Arrowhead Pride actually went a step further, noting that even Darwin Thompson appears to be ahead of Washington at this point. Tough luck for clowns like me who bought in on Washington pseudo-hype, but at least we still have an opportunity to grab the real backup for cheap (RB69, ADP 220.8). It'll probably be a committee if CEH is injured or ineffective, but Williams is the one who is most trusted on passing downs, which likely means he'd be the snap/touch leader despite looking a bit rigid as a pure runner.
Wide Receiver
Drafted as a WR3 at the beginning of summer, Samuel has slipped to WR4 territory since undergoing foot surgery in mid-June. There's significant risk of complications with a Jones fracture, so I can't say I love him at WR37, ADP 85.4. However, he's a solid pick if you already have your lineup filled out and get him a bit lower than ADP, especially after the latest update suggests he's resumed sprinting and hopes to make it back for Week 1. Actually, you might prefer he skip the first couple weeks if you're drafting him to a bench spot, considering an earlier return to play creates a higher risk of re-injury.
Reagor was actually in a position to push for fantasy relevance early on, but a shoulder injury now has him looking doubtful for the first few games of the season. The good news is that you probably weren't drafting him as a Week 1 starter anyway, and he'll now come at a lower cost in auctions and drafts. Of course, there's also bad news, starting with the possibility of re-injury throughout the season.
Small labrum tear is best case scenario. Still makes him susceptible to continues dislocations. Volatility ⬆️ https://t.co/gdfNLFRp9x
— Edwin Porras, DPT (@FBInjuryDoc) August 30, 2020
The Jags don't have a sure-thing receiver behind DJ Chark, but they do have a lot of competent bodies. Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole are back, and rookie fifth-round pick Collin Johnson seems to be tearing it up on the practice field. Shenault, a 2020 second-round selection, has built up plenty of hype of his own, including some promising comments from QB Gardner Minshew. The Jags might start the season with a snap rotation behind Chark, but it won't come as any huge surprise if Viska eventually steps up as the clear No. 2 receiver in what likely will be a high-volume passing offense.
I think we already know the story with Hardman. He's an impressive talent in a high-powered offense, but the path to steady targets is difficult with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins on the team. It didn't help that Hardman had to rotate with Demarcus Robinson last year, but even if Robinson falls out of the picture, the competition for Pat Mahomes' attention would remain fierce. Really, if you're taking Hardman in a redraft league, it should probably be based on his upside in the event of an injury to Hill/Kelce/Watkins.
Tight End
As a No. 9 overall draft pick in a promising passing attack, Hockenson is one of the better choices in a deep group of breakout candidates at tight end. The only problem is that it might take some time to materialize, considering the 23-year-old admitted in mid-August that his surgically repaired ankle still didn't feel 100 percent healthy. Reports from Detroit beat writers have been more optimistic, but there's still a decent chance Hockenson doesn't hit his stride until the second or third month of the season. He also has significant competition for touches, playing in an offense with Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, D'Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson. An injury to Golladay or Jones could really open the floodgates for Hockenson to put up big numbers.
