Jared Goff, Keenan Allen, Kyle Pitts (2024)

When it comes to fantasy football, nothing beats the freedom of a salary cap league. Unlike snake drafts, where my decisions are often dictated by my draft slot, a salary cap format allows me to build a team that truly reflects my preferences and strategies.

It’s fine if I want to test or try out a particular strategy. Zero RB, Hero RB, Anchor RB… it makes no difference. Spend half my budget on acquiring Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall AND CeeDee Lamb? Sure. Wait until the first tier of talent is gone before bargain hunting later? Absolutely.

While the freedom of salary cap leagues is exciting, it’s important to consider the biases and preferences of your competition. Will you be surrounded by Patriots fans at your draft? Be prepared to pay a premium for Rhamondre Stevenson or Drake Maye. Is your best friend a draft expert? Expect intense bidding wars for rookies. Understanding these dynamics is critical to success.

When participating in salary cap formats, it is important to measure the cost of players based on the tier they are ranked at their positions rather than treating each option individually.

For example, if we look at the second tier of running backs in our current ECR on the site, there are five players listed – Jonathan Taylor, Jahmyr Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, Kyren Williams and Travis Etienne Jr. If they rank in the same tier, that means their performances (on average) should be relatively close. We expect their final stats to be within striking distance on a player-to-player basis. If Taylor goes off the board for $40 in a $200 cap format, the other players should be just a few dollars away from that price range. Barkley shouldn’t be selected for $55 and Etienne shouldn’t cost just $25.

Based on our dollar value calculator on the website and using the “standard” league size of 12 players with a standard budget of $200, there are a few players that I believe have value worth targeting. Here are some undervalued players to target in salary cap drafts in fantasy football.

Values ​​in the Fantasy Football Draft: Salary cap and auction leagues

Jared Goff (QB – DET): 1 USD forecast

Show this man’s name some respect before he starts screaming “DO YOU LIKE THAT?” again. Goff is currently our QB13 after finishing as the QB8 overall in 2023. The classic example of a not-so-sexy pick that will pay off is that Goff has thrown for over 4,400 passing yards and averaged 295 fantasy points in each of the last two seasons.

Even if you cut costs slightly and he fails to add value as a runner, Goff should still be more than a cheap option for a Detroit team that was on the verge of reaching the Super Bowl. Other options in his quarterback category include Jayden Daniels (projected at $5), Brock Purdy ($6) and Trevor Lawrence ($4). I’ll gladly take the discount.

Keenan Allen (WR – CHI): $11 forecast

When it comes to mid-range options with upside I’d like to add, Allen is at the top of the list at that price. Allen’s offseason move to Chicago, coupled with his age (already 32) and competition for targets, has managers concerned – which I completely understand. That said, I’d be more upset if he was a threat on the field because he’s losing his top-end speed, or if he was an “X” option on the outside similar to DJ Moore.

Allen’s trademark is his elite short-to-intermediate route running, a skill that will benefit rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as his new safety. The days of Allen having 140-plus targets (a number he surpassed five times in the last seven seasons) are over, but even with a modest reduction, I believe he can outperform other players with a similar projected cost, such as Rashee Rice or Jordan Addison.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL): $13 Forecast

Pitts continues to find his way into nearly every “underrated/undervalued” article I’ve written this offseason. His potential is evident from a physical standpoint, combined with what he’s done when given a real chance (something Arthur Smith was allergic to during his tenure). Pitts is our TE7 and has the potential to easily be in the top three players at the position now that Kirk Cousins ​​is under center and there’s a new head coach and offensive coordinator in Atlanta. His current cost is below Jake Ferguson and just a dollar above TJ Hockenson, who could potentially start as a PUP in 2024. Pitts is worth the investment.

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