Best Ball 2024: Late-Round Targets

Welcome to the FTN Fantasy Best Ball Guide for 2024!

The goal in the final couple rounds of your best ball draft is to complete stacks. Sometimes you can get lucky with a cheap QB-WR or QB-TE stack. If you grabbed Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford, or Jayden Reed and Jordan Love, or even C.J. Stroud and Dalton Schultz in the final two-three rounds last season, you got a few good weeks out of those combinations. 

If there is no stack to complete, shoot for upside. This is where most managers grab a third quarterback, a second or third tight end, or a fifth or sixth running back. Six running backs and three tight ends are not really for me, but every draft is different. Sometimes veteran wide receivers and running backs fall because everyone is after the new shiny toy. It’s more than alright to take what the draft gives you. 

Below you’ll see a list of players to target in late rounds at each position. 

Late-Round Targets in Best Ball

Quarterback

• J.J. McCarthy, MIN (QB24, ADP 177.5)
• Will Levis, TEN (QB25, ADP 178.1)
• Justin Fields, PIT (QB26, ADP 195.5)
• Bryce Young, CAR (QB28, ADP 199.1)
• Derek Carr, NO (QB29, ADP 199.3)
• Gardner Minshew, LV (QB33, ADP 214.5)

If you draft two top-10 or top-15 quarterbacks, you don’t need to live in the late rounds for another. It’s certainly all right to take a third QB, but make sure you’re completing a stack. If you draft Chris Olave early, you could consider Derek Carr late or you could grab Juwan Johnson and Carr with your last couple of picks. Other QBs listed above are in good situations, and they have the upside to outperform their ADPs.

J.J. McCarthy is set up unlike most rookie quarterbacks as he has an alpha wideout in Justin Jefferson, a reliable tight end in T.J. Hockenson, a sophomore star in Jordan Addison, and a terrific play caller in Kevin O’Connell. Will Levis is surrounded by playmakers including DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd and two pass-catching running backs in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. He also has a bright offensive mind to work with in Brian Callahan. Bryce Young is the QB nobody wants this year because of how awful he looked as a rookie. I get it, but Carolina did a solid job of bringing in some talent via free agency and through the draft. Justin Fields may only play half the season, but we know he has top-five upside when he’s playing. He may be the biggest steal of early offseason drafts, and if he takes over in the second half that could be a difference-maker for managers.

Running Back

• Ray Davis, BUF (RB48, ADP 157.2)
• Khalil Herbert, CHI (RB56, ADP 182.3)
• Roschon Johnson, CHI (RB57, ADP 182.4)
• Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG (RB58, ADP 182.2)
• Will Shipley, PHI (RB64, ADP 210.1)
• Tank Bigsby, JAX (RB65, ADP 212.3)
• Braelon Allen, NYJ (RB70, ADP 213.4)

After rookies Jaylen Wright and MarShawn Lloyd come off the board between Rounds 10 and 13, it’ll be time to start thinking about the next tier. This year’s rookie running back class lacks three-down potential, which is why you see most drafted outside the 13th round. At this point of the draft, it’s all about shooting for upside with “next man up” targets. Ray Davis and Braelon Allen could take over their respective backfields if an injury occurred to James Cook or Breece Hall. Tyrone Tracy Jr. only has to get by Devin Singletary in New York and Will Shipley is linked to arguably the best offensive line in Philadelphia, should something happen to Saquon Barkley. Chicago has a crowded backfield, which has created a buying opportunity for Kahlil Herbert or Roschon Johnson. D’Andre Swift has one full season on his resume, and he’s not a lock for a goal-line or third-down role. 

If you take a Hero RB or Anchor RB approach, you should target your RB2 or RB3 with the likes of James Conner, Raheem Mostert, Brian Robinson Jr., Gus Edwards or Ezekiel Elliott. It’s important not to pile up too many late-round running backs. Try not to handcuff, because if all goes well with the lead RB on that team, your handcuff ends up as a wasted pick. If you’re going to do it, target teams with a strong run game and avoid committees. Shoot for the maximum upside as possible. 

Wide Receiver

• Jahan Dotson, WAS (WR61, ADP 131.6)
• Darnell Mooney, ATL (WR68, ADP 149.8)
• Michael Wilson, ARI (WR71, ADP 159.2)
• Roman Wilson, PIT (WR72, ADP 159.3)
• Malachi Corley, NYJ (WR75, ADP 168.2)
• Marvin Mims Jr., DEN (WR76, ADP 177.5)
• Javon Baker, NE (WR79, ADP 184.1)
• Demarcus Robinson, LAR (WR82, ADP 193.1)
• Zay Jones, ARI (WR87, ADP 207.1)
• DJ Chark Jr., LAC (WR88, ADP 208.2)
• A.T. Perry, NO (WR95, ADP 213.3)

Try to complete stacks in the last couple of rounds of your best ball draft. Roman Wilson and Zay Jones are strong late-round targets for those who select Kyler Murray. DJ Chark Jr. will open the season as Justin Herbert’s deep option in the passing game. Darnell Mooney may be third on the depth chart in Atlanta, but he’ll also stretch the field for Kirk Cousins. Most of the players listed above won’t come with a lot of volume, but their targets are valuable. Jahan Dotson led the Commanders in end zone targets in his rookie season and Demarcus Robinson played a big red zone role towards the end of last season for the Rams. Roman Wilson doesn’t need to be paired up with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, but he’s one of only a couple late-round wideouts who could finish second on their team in targets. Others like Malachi Corley and Jacob Baker could gain larger roles in the second half. 

Tight End

• Luke Musgrave, GB (TE18, ADP 152.9)
• Cade Otton, TB (TE20, ADP 169.4)
• Juwan Johnson, NO (TE21, ADP 173.1)
• Tyler Conklin, NYJ (TE22, ADP 179.2)
• Isaiah Likely, BAL (TE23, ADP 179.3)
• Jonnu Smith, MIA (TE24, ADP 189.8)
• Mike Gesicki, CIN (TE27, ADP 203.4)
• Dawson Knox, BUF (TE30, ADP 213.1)

There’s no need to take three tight ends if you draft a top-five option at the position and you don’t want to live in this range for your first tight end. Like the wide receiver position, you’re trying to complete stacks in the final couple rounds. Most of the tight ends listed above will see a majority of their targets in the red zone. Musgrave, Otton and Likely are linked to good quarterbacks and solid offenses. Likely has to deal with Mark Andrews, but we already know he has top five upside should something happen to Andrews. Lamar Jackson managers should consider taking Likely with their last pick in every draft.