Top 5 Players with League Winning Upside!

Every year there are a few diamonds in the rough that emerge during the season, and leave yourself wondering "how didn't I draft that guy?!" Don't miss out this year, and target my Top 5 Players for League Winning Upside! Listen or read the blog below!

1. Rashaad Penny, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, RB35, ADP 90

When healthy, Penny is one of the most efficient Running Backs in the League averaging 6.3 Yards per Attempt in 2021, and 6.1 Yards per Attempt in 2022. The problem is since entering the league in 2018, Rashaad Penny hasn't played a complete season - notching 14, 10, 3, 10 and 5 games played in his 5 seasons.

The Eagles backfield is going to be an evolving hydra this year, and I could see a path for both Swift and Penny to have Fantasy value behind one of the best, if not the best Offensive Line in the NFL. Swift also dealt with injuries in his young career, playing just 13, 13, and 14 games since entering the league in 2020 with the Detroit Lions. The expectation is for Penny to be the early down back, with Swift working in on passing situations. We also can't forget what Jalen Hurts brings to the table in both a rushing and Red Zone threat, cutting into the potential ceiling of both Penny and Swift. But the Philadelphia Eagles led the league in Rushing Touchdowns in 2022 with 32, or almost 2 per game, so there will be plenty to go around. At the time of writing this on 8/15, Penny is RB35 with an ADP of 90, meaning you can grab him in the 8th round. If you made it that far in your draft without taking a chance on an injury prone player, this could be the guy to take a dart throw on. Definitely a RB2/Flex candidate to start the year, but pending how the workload shakes out with Swift, I could see high end RB2 upside with RB1 performances mixed in. Holding my breath he can stay healthy in 2023.

2. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs, RB 25, ADP 75

It took just about half the season for Isiah Pacheco to emerge as the clear leading back in Kansas City in his rookie year, outperforming Clyde Edwards-Helaire. After Pacheco's Week 10 performance against the Jaguars, every manager was rushing to the Waiver Wire to put in a claim, and in some stronger and deeper leagues he was already Rostered. He delivered for the rest of the Fantasy Season averaging 14 Attempts / 70 yards / 0.44 Touchdowns per game. If his emergence wasn't clear enough, I was forced to watch him put up another solid stat line in the Super Bowl against my Eagles. Let's just say I made a note then, and now he's on my radar as a potential as a League Winning player. In 2023, the Chiefs have the 8th easiest Strength of Schedule for RBs, and with an ADP of 75, you can land this rock solid RB2 with upside in the 6th round.

3. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints, WR49, ADP 103

Upon entering the NFL, Michael Thomas immediately established himself as a premier WR, averaging 118 receptions / 1,200 yards / 8 touchdowns over his first 4 seasons. Since his stellar 2019 season, Thomas has only played in 10 combined games, dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him for the entire 2021 season. Now healthy but a few years older, I don't have any reason to suspect he's fallen off. Yes, Drew Brees is no longer his quarterback, but with Derek Carr getting the start for New Orleans and backup Jameis Winston waiting in the wings, the Saints will be airing it out plenty this year, pairing Thomas with newly established WR Chris Olave. With an ADP of 103, the price is just too good for me not to take a stab at Michael Thomas this year when he's going next to guys like Kadarius Toney, Jakobi Meyers, and Jameson Williams. If he can stay on the field, count on a solid Weekly floor from Thomas this year with the potential to show a glimpse of his former self.

4. Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears, RB34, ADP 99

Splitting time with David Montgomery in 2022, Khalil Herbert still put up an average of 10 Fantasy Points per Game over the first 10 Weeks. This stat line was bolstered by the Week 3 shellacking Herbert put on against the Houston Texans, after David Montgomery exited the game in the 1st Quarter, with a 20 carries / 157 yards / 2TD performance. Granted, the Texans were one of the softest run defenses in 2022, but Herbert capitalized on the opportunity. Averaging 11 attempts / 64 yards / 0.4 TD over that 10 week span of a time share, its now Herbert's turn to be the lead back, while newly acquired veteran D'Onta Foreman competes for touches. It is note worthy that Herbert went down in 2022 with a Inguinal Hip Strain, causing him to be placed on the IR and miss almost 5 full games in the back half of the season, but he appears to be fully healthy and ready to be unleashed in 2023, giving us a preview in that first Preseason game against the Titans last weekend. At an ADP of 99 and having the 2nd easiest Strength of Schedule for RBs, Herbert could be a steal in the 8th round.

5. Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers, WR44, ADP 111

If you don't know anything about Quentin Johnston he's 6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.4 speed in the 40… this guy is a big body, YAC monster and a problem in space. He was the 1st Round Pick in 2023 for the Chargers going 21st overall. Although I normally don't target rookies, Quentin Johnston has been catching my eye with a couple highlight reel catches early on in camp. And honestly, we just know between Keenan Allen and Mike Williams having their injury prone histories, there will likely be games this year where Johnston is featured as the WR2 in the incredibly pass happy offense of the Los Angeles Chargers. If for some reason both Allen and Williams stay healthy for the full season, I doubt this pick will pan out in terms of Fantasy value, but hey, this is a guy you can take a shot at in the 10th round as he's carrying an ADP of 111. Do you agree with these potential League Winning players?! Let me know in the comments below!