The Biggest Fantasy Draft Bargain in Every NFL Division

We have hit the 4th of July Weekend. Barbecues are happening all over the place—because we're all baking like potatoes under a heat dome. Swimming pools are filled to capacity—because we're all baking like potatoes under a heat dome. And with every day farther we get into the blast furnace that is this summer, we get one day closer fantasy draft season getting rolling in earnest.

Fun fact about fantasy football drafts. They are generally air-conditioned.

Since going outside right now is lunacy (if you live somewhere it isn't, I'm envious), we might as well make good use of our time and get some fantasy draft prep in—say be examining some undervalued players who bear targeting once that biggest of days on the fantasy calendar rolls around.

This time, we'll put a different spin on things—be examining the biggest fantasy draft bargain in each of the NFL's eight divisions.

AFC East: WR D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

ADP: WR26, 55th overall

For years the Buffalo Bills have searched for a true go-to wide receiver for quarterback Josh Allen. This offseason, that search led the team to Chicago, where the Bills swung a trade that brought over veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore.

While addressing the media, Bills quarterback Josh Allen said that Moore has wasted no time fitting in in his new home.

"I think what DJ's going to bring to us, obviously veteran leadership," Allen said. "He's been in the league as long as I've been in the league, and he's produced at such a high level for the last eight years. Just really getting to know him. We're locker mates, and to have that relationship that we already have, it's a pretty seamless fit. I'm excited to continue to get to work with him. He's going to be a huge help for us this next season and seasons to come."

Moore's 2025 season wasn't his best—the 29-year-old had career-lows in receptions (50) and receiving yards (682). But Moore found the end zone six times for the fourth year in a row, and as recently as 2024 he caught 98 passes and was a top-15 wideout in PPR points.

Moore has hit the 1,000-yard mark four times in eight NFL seasons, with the last coming in 2023, when his 96/1,364/8 line landed him sixth in PPR points at the position. Expecting that kind of production in 2026 may be overly optimistic, but as Buffalo's No. 1 wide receiver and target leader his production this season should sail past his asking price in drafts.

NFC East: RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

ADP: RB19, 43rd Overall

Cam Skattebo burst onto the fantasy scene as a rookie last year—over a month-long stretch as the Giants' lead back, the rookie out of Arizona State ranked eighth among running backs in PPR points.

A fractured tibia and dislocated ankle ended Skattebo's rookie season, but all indications are that he will be ready to go for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at Met Life Stadium. Assuming that is the case, Michael Fabiano of Sports Illustrated thinks that Skattebo's 2025 success will carry over to this season.

"Skattebo looked terrific in his rookie season, posting 617 scrimmage yards, seven touchdowns and 127.7 fantasy points despite missing nine games following an ankle injury," he said. "He's expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, and the Giants didn't make any offseason moves that would negatively affect his projected workload. While durability issues are evident, Skattebo has a nice ceiling and could push to be a must-start fantasy runner on a weekly basis in 2026."

The Giants have quietly assembled one of the better offensive lines in the game—a line that should be even better with the addition of rookie guard Francis Mauigoa. The uncertain status of wide receiver Malik Nabers for Week 1 could lead the G-Men to lean more heavily on the run early in the season.

If Skattebo is 100 percent at or close to the start of the season, he could match last year's production. And getting RB1 production for the price of a mid-range RB2 is how fantasy leagues are won.

AFC North: RB Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

ADP: RB32, 85th Overall

Rico Dowdle is the Rodney Dangerfield of running backs—the man just can't get no respect.

Despite topping 1,000 yards on the ground each of the past two years, Dowdle doesn't get a lot of run when folks talk bout running backs. But the Steelers must have seen something they liked, giving the 28-year-old a two-year, $12.25 million contract in free agency.

While talking to the team's website, Dowdle said that past accomplishments aside he has his sights set squarely on the future—and a third straight 1,000-yard season.

"Not necessarily that it doesn't mean something to me, but it's behind me now," Dowdle said. "Now, it's can I go do it again? I've gotta go do it again this year. Doesn't really matter. I've got to where I'm at now, I've did it, I'm definitely proud that I've been able to accomplish that, being undrafted. But I've gotta continue to put my best foot forward and do it again. That's the goal."

Two years ago, Dowdle rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry while playing under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Yes, Pittsburgh also has a solid pass-catching back in Jaylen Warren (who is being drafted just over a round ahead of Dowdle in 2026). But in each of the last two seasons we have seen Dowdle seize control of an NFL backfield—and play well.

That's going to happen again in the Steel City—making Dowdle one of this year's biggest values in the backfield.

Maybe then he'll finally get some respect.

NFC North: QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

ADP: QB16, 110th Overall

Last year, only Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams had more passing yards than the 4,564 that Jared Goff amassed. Goff was also second with 34 touchdown passes. He was sixth in fantasy points at the position.

And yet, Goff is being drafted outside the top-15 fantasy quarterbacks, because logic.

Yes, Goff isn't a threat to do damage on the ground. But as Ian Hartitz of A Fantasy Life pointed out, so what?

"Goff's utter lack of a rushing floor will continue to make him cheap in drafts and cause fantasy nerds to claim he has 'no upside,'" he said. "Well, Goff has eight top-5 finishes during the last two seasons, which literally only trails Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. That's it. That's the entire list. I'd say the man is pretty capable of putting up big point totals! Goff is (again) an underrated late-round/second-QB option ESPECIALLY in leagues that reward more than four points for passing touchdowns."

The Lions offense is loaded with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta. Last year, the Lions were eighth in the NFL in pass attempts. And while there is admittedly a new offensive coordinator in Motown, the Lions aren't going to suddenly become a ground-and-pound team.

Goff is (again) one of the most undervalued quarterbacks in fantasy—and a great target for fantasy managers who enjoy a good game of "QB Chicken" on draft day.

AFC South: RB David Montgomery, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

ADP: RB23, 52nd Overall

It has admittedly been a minute since David Montgomery was the lead back in an NFL offense—the 29-year-old spent the last three years splitting touches with Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit and saw his share of those touches decrease each and every year.

But after an offseason trade, Montgomery is in Houston now. And while speaking to reporters, Texans offensive coordinator expressed confidence that Montgomery can be "the guy" for his new team.

"His body of work will speak for itself," Caley said. "Runs behind his pads, stays grounded, arm tackles aren't getting it done. He's gunna try to run through you every single chance. He's can set guys up. He understands how to set blocks & be able to help deliver defenders to the blockers. His pass game production, he's got a really good feel. He's refined, takes a lot of pride in his route running, he brings a lot."

Two years ago, Joe Mixon tallied 281 touches and 1,325 total yards in 14 games in Houston—numbers that slotted him 10th among running backs in PPR points per game.

It's not a stretch to say Montgomery is a better player than Mixon was in 2024. At that per-game workload, Montgomery would eclipse 300 touches for just the second time in his career.

The first time it happened was 2020 in Chicago. That year, Montgomery topped 1,500 total yards and was a top-five fantasy back.

With a low-end RB2 asking price, Montgomery is the perfect draft target for teams that load up at wide receiver early.

NFC South: TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

ADP: TE7, 86th Overall

Kyle Pitts has spent most of his professional career giving fantasy managers heartburn—after 1,000 yards as a rookie. Pitts posted three straight disappointing seasons before last year's 88/928/5 stat line landed the 25-year-old the No. 2 spot among tight ends in PPR points in 2025.

That big year got Pitts a fat contract extension, but fantasy managers appear skeptical of  repeat performance. But at cost, Wolf Trelles-Heard of Fantasy Pros sees value to be had with Pitts this year.

"What makes the former No. 4 overall pick especially enticing in PPR formats is the volume," he said. "Pitts reeled in a career-high 88 receptions. He set new personal bests in targets (118) and touchdowns (five) while piling up 928 yards. Atlanta rewarded Pitts with a new three-year extension this offseason, which means he figures to remain a major part of the offense. If Pitts builds on last season, 2026 could be his best fantasy season yet, especially now that he has Kevin Stefanski as his head coach. Stefanski has a history of getting high-end production out of his tight ends during his time in Cleveland, and Pitts has shown he can thrive if given the looks."

Yes, the quarterback situation in Atlanta is a question mark. But if Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. can provide even competent play under center, Pitts is capable of top three numbers at a discount at fantasy's shallowest position.

Fortune favors the brave.

AFC West: WR Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

ADP: WR63, 170th Overall

Might as well throw a "sleeper" in here. In fact, given where Jalen Nailor of the Raiders is being drafted, he's not a sleeper—he's comatose.

That's despite the fact that Nailor got a three-year, $35 million contract from a Vegas team that didn't do much else at wide receiver. Despite the fact that the fifth-year-pro could be the No. wideout for the Raiders this year.

And, as Derek Brown pointed out at Fantasy Pros, despite the fact that if you peel back his stats a little, there's reason for optimism.

"Yes," he said, "last year Nailor had only a 10.3% target share, 1.19 yards per route run, and a 10.8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). None of those metrics will or should get you excited, but when we dig deeper, his per-route numbers are QUITE INTERESTING. Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, he was 33rd in separation and 51st in route win rate. As a perimeter receiver among the same sample, his numbers look even better (141 routes) as he was sixth-best in separation and 13th in route win rate."

This isn't to say that Nailor is going to come from nowhere to be a top-10 wide receiver. Or even a top-25 fantasy receiver. But even if all he is a viable WR3 or 'flex" option, we're talking about a weekly fantasy starter who is essentially free.

Is that a good thing? It sounds like it's a good thing.

NFC West: WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

ADP: WR39, 89th Overall

There wasn't a bigger surprise at wide receiver last year than Arizona's Michael Wilson—with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined a chunk of the season, Wilson came from nowhere to top 1,000 receiving yards and finish among the top-10 wideouts in PPR points.

Now, however, Harrison is healthy. There's a new head coach in Arizona in Mike LaFleur. And fantasy drafters appear to believe (as a whole) that Wilson's big 2025 was a fluke.

For his part, Wilson told reporters he's a fan of LaFleur's offense.

"I like the motions that we utilize and how that affects the run and pass game," Wilson said. "I like our pre-snap operation. That's Mike's calling card when it comes to our offense. We want to be making sure we can control the controllables and be 100% as good as we can be in our pre-snap operation."

The same quarterback who peppered Wilson with targets last year (Jacoby Brissett) is back in Arizona this year. Per FTN, From Week 11 on last year, Wilson ranked second in the NFL in receiving yards behind Puka Nacua He ranked third in receptions behind Nacua and Trey McBride. Wilson ranked third in targets per game behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja'Marr Chase. He had an 83% snap share, ran 303 routes and posted a 24.7% target market share in that stretch.

It's not like Harrison was Nacua or Chase before he got hurt last year. Wilson's role in the offense isn't going to vanish. Not after what happened last year.

Wilson is significantly undervalued.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.