As fantasy football players, we all want whatever is new and shiny. We tend to draft and focus on the youngest, newest commodities and draft them everywhere possible. But what happens to those older veteran players who are pushed down in ADP? What about those who were not even drafted at all? What happens to them?
No, they’re not quite buried six feet under in the fantasy grave, but they are severely overlooked. Sure, the rookies and the young guns might be flashier with a bit more pep in their step, but the football grandpas are still out there, making big plays and being cornerstones for your fantasy roster.
So let’s break down a few of them, and how they can instantly contribute to your fantasy football roster.
Adam Thielen, WR – Carolina Panthers – 33.0 years old
Adam Thielen has found a new home with the Carolina Panthers after nine seasons in Minnesota. Thielen hasn’t been a top 10 wide receiver since 2020, but he has the opportunity to be the number one guy for the Panthers this year. He was a later drafted guy, or sometimes not drafted at all, and is currently starting in just 73% of leagues.
With a rookie quarterback for the Panthers in Bryce Young, Thielen could be the veteran presence the young signal caller needs. Last year he had a total of 716 yards and 6 touchdowns in an offense that relied on number one receiver Justin Jefferson. But Thielen was a threatening presence for Minnesota, and was easily the number one target before Jefferson arrived. He has also developed a rapport with Bryce Young already, and looks to be the go-to receiver for short-yardage situations.
Take this how you want but I've seen a lot of these successful routes from Adam Thielen and Bryce Young at Panthers camp. pic.twitter.com/PqMLFfqadi
— Jeff Haseley (@JeffHaseley) July 30, 2023
While his Week 1 performance wasn’t too promising, a lingering ankle injury almost kept Thielen out of the game. He ended his outing with two receptions for 12 yards, but was on the field for 88% of snaps. Look for Thielen to be eased back in to play, and stash him on your bench.
Keenan Allen, WR – Los Angeles Chargers – 31.3 years old
2022 was a year riddled with injury for Keenan Allen. He played only 10 games and posted a final line of 66/752/4. Every year prior where he played a full season, Allen had over 1,000 yards and at least six touchdowns. Allen is a great player when healthy, as long as he stays healthy. Last year, he also suffered from an injured quarterback in Justin Herbert. Herbert battled a rib injury most of the season, and while he didn’t miss any games, his play was a bit of a downgrade from his past two years as the starter.
Allen is also battling an unknown threat. The Los Angeles Chargers drafted rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston as the 21st overall pick and expect to make him a big part of the offense. As of now, however, Johnston still has more to prove. With the success of Allen since 2020, he could still be Herbert’s go-to guy.
Justin Herbert ➡️ Keenan Allen for a 36-yard connection. #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/L8LcjPNdht
— Chargers Central (@BoltCentral) September 10, 2023
His Week 1 success proves that Allen is still the guy. He ended the week with 6 receptions for 76 yards, as the 23rd wide receiver in PPR formats. That finish was higher than DK Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins, and Davante Adams. Allen’s floor is a high one, and I expect him to be a top 25 receiver this season.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks – 30.9 years old
This is a player who is definitely overlooked due to the “shiny and new” incoming player. Tyler Lockett has been overlooked this season thanks to incoming rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The rookie was taken as the first wide receiver off the board for the Seattle Seahawks. Dynasty players spent a lot of their first round picks on JSN, believing him to be the new Tyler Lockett.
But Lockett is still there, and still the number two target behind DK Metcalf. Since 2019, Lockett has had over 1,000 receiving yards each season and at least eight touchdowns. He’s a consistent player, averaging 12.55 PPR fantasy points since coming into the league in 2015.
Another year has passed and Seattle #Seahawks Geno Smith still hasn't written back. Ready for another season of connections like this to Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith Njigba!
Lead NFL with 69.8 comp% last year. Expecting an improvement on his 4,282 30/11 stats!! pic.twitter.com/q0EfzRL6Yt
— Dane (@Dane_g82) September 10, 2023
Week 1 for Lockett resulted in a concussion that knocked him out of the game in the third quarter. Before that, he had a total of two receptions for 10 yards on just four targets. But Geno Smith spread the ball around, with Kenneth Walker, Metcalf and Smith-Njigba each earning five targets apiece. I still expect Lockett to be a major part of this offense while Smith-Njigba settles into his role.
Kirk Cousins, QB – Minnesota Vikings – 35.0 years old
I like to call Kirk Cousins “Ol’ Faithful”. Cousins has been a staple for me in several Superflex dynasty leagues. He has also been solid since becoming the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. He has supported top-tier pass catchers in fantasy, whether it be wide receivers or tight ends, for several years now, too. As we know, Justin Jefferson was the number one overall receiver in fantasy last season.
With his past production and pass catchers, Cousins tends to to be a top 15 fantasy quarterback. He boasts four finishes in the top 10 and three more just outside of that in his career. He is also a guy who has longevity and consistency, having not missed a game due to injury since 2015. Just what you want from your QB: health.
While that’s not a sticky stat to rely on, you can rely on Cousins. Even in week 1, he scored 16.5 PPR points, which ranked him as the number nine overall QB on the week. Although Minnesota did not come out with the win, Cousins posted a 75% completion rate, 344 total yards, and two touchdowns on the day. And though it didn’t result in a touchdown, this smooth throw to Justin Jefferson sealed the deal for me.
Justin Jefferson has 138 yards before Halftime 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/y4rnVRAYEX
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) September 10, 2023
Stash some of these guys on your bench and see what becomes of them over the next few weeks. You might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you can count on them to continue doing the same tricks in your fantasy football lineups in 2023.
Erika Brown
Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.