The devy landscape changes quickly. Average draft position (ADP) is but a myth in the format. Managers draft with the get your guy mentality far more often in devy leagues.
With that in mind, here are 10 players that were once highly coveted devy assets that are being overlooked in drafts. These are low risk, high reward players that could hear their name called earlier than expected at the NFL Draft in April.
Quarterback
J.J. McCarthy
5⭐️ QB5 class of 2021
Michigan 6’3 196lbs ADP 57
2022 14G-64.6%-2,719yds-22TD/5INT
J.J. McCarthy came within an overtime loss of leading Michigan to the National Championship game as a first year starter. Operating within a run first offense, McCarthy doesn’t get a ton of opportunities to show off his physical tools.
McCarthy has a strong arm and can make all the throws necessary to be a starter at the next level. He also shows good functional athleticism and mobility within the pocket and can also add a little with his legs. He rushed for over 300 yards and added 5 scores on the ground.
Going at the tail end of round five in standard 12-team devy drafts, McCarthy has as good a chance as any to jump into the conversation as the QB3 in the class behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
Kyle McCord
5⭐️ QB6 class of 2021
Ohio State 6’3 215lbs ADP 47
Career 12G-70.7%-606-3TD-2INT
Kyle McCord is the frontrunner to take over the reigns as the signal caller for the Ohio State offense in 2023.
His strength is in his accuracy and consistency throwing the ball. He doesn’t offer anything in the rushing game and will need to improve his mobility and pocket maneuverability to succeed at the next level. With limited reps at the college level, he’ll have to rely on his chemistry with high school teammate and All-American, WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Head coach Ryan Day has shown success in getting QB’S to the NFL, with recent OSU graduates Justin Fields and CJ Stroud. While McCord isn’t as talented as those two, at his current ADP, you could do much worse.
Jaxson Dart
4⭐️ QB10 class of 2021
Ole Miss 6’2 220lbs ADP 98
13G-62.4%-2,974-20TD-11INT
One of the prized recruits of the 2022 transfer portal, Jaxson Dart finally settled on Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin as his landing spot.
Dart has all the physical tools you desire in a modern QB. He has the arm strength and talent you want in a passer. He also has plus athleticism that helped him gain over 600 yards on the ground in 2022.
Dart comes from that “Gunslinger” mentality. It makes for a player that’s equally as frustrating to watch as he is fun. If he cleans up his reads and can become more willing to settle for what defenses give him, instead of always trying to make the splash plays, he could end up as a big riser come draft day.
Dart is the prototypical “toolsy” QB that scouts and GM’s tend to salivate over. With an ADP well outside of a standard devy draft, Dart is definitely worthy of a late pick.
Running Backs
Marshawn Lloyd
4⭐️ RB4 class of 2020
USC 5’9 215lbs ADP 64
9G-573yds-5.2ypc-18rec-176yds-11TD
A highly regarded recruit in the 2020 class, Marshawn Lloyd has battled injuries so far in his career. Despite that, he’s flashed the skills that had him so highly recruited when healthy last season at South Carolina.
Lloyd joined USC via the transfer portal. Now, he hopes to carve out a lead role on the team. A stout, physical runner who shows good elusiveness in the open field, Lloyd could play a key part in a USC run to the CFB playoffs.
If Lloyd can secure the lead role in a backfield alongside Caleb Williams, it could go a long way in his potential to garner attention from the NFL.
Jase McClellan
4⭐️ RB6 class of 2020
Alabama 5’11 212lbs ADP 69
13G-655yds-5.8ypc-14rec-174yds-10TD
All signs out of Tuscaloosa are pointing towards Jase McClellan finally having his chance to lead the Alabama backfield. He is the player on this list I believe has the clearest path to immediate success and a drastic increase in value. We’ve seen Nick Saban reward Bama alumni Najee Harris and Brian Robinson with massive senior year workloads in recent years.
Jahmyr Gibbs is out of the picture. If McClellan can hold off the talented youth below him on the depth chart, he’s in line for a major boom in production and likely Day 2 draft capital come the spring.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Corey Brooks
5⭐️ WR2 class of 2021
Alabama 6’2 195lbs ADP 81
13G-39rec-674yards-8TD
It’s not often that you find yourself getting a discount on Alabama skill position players, but here we are again.
Ja’Corey Brooks is a big bodied receiver. He profiles as a possession receiver who can move the chains and win at the catch point downfield. Although he doesn’t have blazing speed, he does possess versatility – Brooks was a punt returner in high school.
Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to Brooks and what he needs to do to reach the next level. He has shown the ability to make big plays at crucial times for Alabama; plays that kept their season, and championship hopes, alive. He needs to cement himself as the top priority in the passing attack and demand targets.
While some view his sophomore season as a disappointment, he’s flashed enough talent to warrant a pick late in your devy drafts.
Mario Williams
4⭐️ WR4 class of 2021
USC 5’9 180lbs ADP 58
12G-40rec-631yards-5TD
One of the top transfer portal receivers in 2022, Mario Williams followed Oklahoma teammate and star QB Caleb Williams to USC.
A smaller framed receiver with a sturdy build, Williams projects as a full-time slot player. With 1st round pick Jordan Addison heading to the NFL, Williams has an opportunity to push to be the primary target for one of the nation’s top offenses.
With his yards after catch ability, athleticism, and ability to contribute as a kick returner, Williams could be a riser this season.
Also of note; outside of Texas standout Xavier Worthy, the 2024 draft class is in short supply of quick-twitch slot players. It’s a position that has become increasingly valuable to NFL offenses and fantasy players.
Beaux Collins
4⭐️ WR12 class of 2021
Clemson 6’3 210lbs ADP 90
10G-22rec-373yards-5TD
Beaux Collins battled injuries during his disappointing sophomore season after showing promise down the stretch of his freshman campaign. He scored 5 touchdowns in his first six games of 2022. Then he would only record 4 more receptions for the remainder of the season.
A big-bodied receiver with solid route running and surprising quickness, Collins needs to improve his play strength and learn to use his frame more to his advantage on contested catches and at the catch point. With Garrett Riley coming in as offensive coordinator, the hope is he breathes some life into what was a putrid passing offense in 2022.
Riley was the OC for TCU in 2022. He called plays for an offense that helped propel Quentin Johnston into a 1st round pick.
With Collins the likely candidate to fill that “X” receiver position in Riley’s offense in 2023, there is potential to reap the rewards if healthy.
Tight End
Michael Trigg
4⭐️ TE4 class of 2021
Ole Miss 6’3 240lbs ADP 105
7G-17rec-156-3TD
Michael Trigg is a glaring example of why I intentionally fade the tight end position in devy drafts.
After a monstrous spring game in 2022, Trigg was labeled as the next breakout at the position – and vaulted up draft boards.
After battling injuries and producing modest numbers, Trigg still possesses high end athleticism for his size. He is in the mold of a prototypical move TE that modern NFL offenses covet. Now, he’s at a much bigger discount for fantasy managers.
Jalin Conyers
4⭐️ TE5 class of 2020
Arizona State 6’4 265lbs ADP N/A
12G-38rec-422-5TD
The talk of ASU spring practices, Jalin Conyers highlights flooded Twitter timelines with mentions of him being unstoppable in the desert.
A former high-school QB/WR, Conyers was originally at Oklahoma before taking his talents to the Sun Devils. He’s added enough mass to hold his own as a full time TE at the next level. Conyers has adequate athleticism along with tremendous ball skills.
The bulk of his production in 2022 came in the final five weeks of the season. Look for that to continue, with Conyers remaining a focal point of the offense and one of the more productive players at his position across the Nation.
Devy ADP from April 2023 courtesy of Campus2Canton.
Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
