Do you need some late-round dart throws?
We’ve all been there before. You’re in the last few rounds of the draft and you’re reading names off a cheat sheet that appear to be made up.
What do you do? Who do you pick? And does it even matter?
Truthfully, it can matter, but it’s also very difficult to make those picks matter.
In this guide, we’ll look at a number of different players who are worth targeting in the late rounds. Hopefully we can make it less about blindly throwing darts and more like playing chess.
What is a late-round dart throw? It is a player worth targeting in the final rounds of your draft who has certain qualities or is set up in a certain situation that could enable him to have some unexpected success.
For “late rounds,” I’m going to use Round 12 and above. By Round 12, you should have a full starting lineup — minus your kicker and defense, whom you should wait to draft until the final two rounds, if at all. You should also have some core backups capable of being cycled into your lineup in case of injuries or bye weeks.
If you’re in a 12-team league, Round 12 starts with Pick 133, so we’ll evaluate prospects with ADPs greater than that.
Quarterback Dart Throws
J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings): Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is pretty much an offensive genius. He worked wonders with Kirk Cousins and worked magic with Sam Darnold. I have no doubt that, with the help of some dynamic playmakers in the Vikings’ offense, he can turn McCarthy into a very good fantasy player who has the capability of putting up multiple QB1 weeks and possibly turn into a reliable fantasy starter.
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars): After an injury-shortened season, Lawrence is a strong candidate for a fantasy rebound with a new coaching staff and offensive weapons. With a legitimate WR1 in Brian Thomas and the addition of Travis Hunter, he has the tools to return to QB1 status.
Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins): Tagovailoa’s fantasy value is tied to his health and the high-octane Miami offense. He’s completed only one full season in his five years in the league (2023), and it’s by no coincidence that he finished as a QB1 that year. By no means can you count on him to be your starting quarterback, but if you take him with a late-round pick and he does stay healthy, you could have yourself a QB1.
Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans): As a rookie, Ward has the potential to become a dynamic starter in a Titans offense that is looking to establish a new identity. His ability to make plays and connect with new weapons could make him a sneaky late-round value.
Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers): Young showed flashes of improvement at the end of last season, finishing in QB1 territory from Week 13 onward. With the addition of promising rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and extra help in the backfield and along the offensive line, he has a much-improved situation and could be a fantasy breakout candidate.
Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts): For fantasy owners who got burned by trying to force Richardson as their starting quarterback (maybe even taking him as high as Round 5 his sophomore year), seeing his name probably makes you ralph. But you’re not taking him as your starter; he’s a late-round flyer and he’s a cheat code with that athleticism. No harm, no foul taking him late. Now, he’s in the middle of a quarterback battle with Daniel Jones, and if he loses that, he’s as good as done. But if he starts, he’s worth that dart throw. UPDATE: Daniel Jones indeed has won the job. Richardson is undraftable except in the very deepest of leagues that have almost zero players on the waiver wire.
Running Back Dart Throws
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders): Croskey-Merritt was an afterthought just weeks ago but he is an ascending player on the Commanders’ depth chart. Now that there are rumors of the Commanders looking to deal Brian Robinson, JCM could quickly become a hot commodity. He could carve out a significant role in a Kliff Kingsbury offense that has a history of producing fantasy-relevant running backs.
Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals): Benson has a path to a significant role in the Cardinals’ backfield despite the presence of veteran James Conner. Conner has a history with injuries and if he went down, Benson could see some meaningful time as a fantasy relevant running back.
Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills): Obviously, now that James Cook has signed a contract extension with the Bills, Davis is little more than a handcuff to him. Although, the team wants to work him in more and he provides a much more formidable presence as a goal line back than does Cook with his slight frame.
Bhayshul Tuten (Jacksonville Jaguars): That Jaguars backfield is currently a mess for fantasy owners. Only the Jaguars’ staff really knows how they intend to deploy the three running backs in contention for serious touches. For now, Tuten — who has a lower ADP than Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby — offers the best value of the three. And with his status as a hand-picked player by the new coaching staff, he offers intriguing upside.
Braelon Allen (New York Jets): There is a very good chance that Allen could be more than just a handcuff to Breece Hall in New York this year. There’s a good shot that new head coach Aaron Glenn, he of the defensive mind and formerly of the Detroit Lions with their dynamic duo at running back, will employ multiple backs. Allen could be the David Montgomery of this backfield and offer upside, particularly in standard leagues.
Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears): Monangai is a late-round flyer who could earn a role in the Bears’ backfield behind D’Andre Swift. Given Roschon Johnson’s struggles with injuries, Monangai could ascend the depth chart and become a valuable asset in deeper leagues.
Wide Receiver Dart Throws
Luther Burden III (Chicago Bears): Burden was targeted by the Bears in the second round of the draft this year and is new head coach Ben Johnson’s second-ever pick. The creative genius that he is could scheme up ways to get Burden the ball in space. And if Burden becomes that dynamic slot weapon, he could have good late round value.
DeMario Douglas (New England Patriots): Douglas actually is more than a late-round dart throw. He’s a late round target for great value. Douglas’ fantasy value could skyrocket if Drake Maye takes a big step forward. As the slot receiver in this offense with a young quarterback, he is a great late-round target with the potential for a large role.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Las Vegas Raiders): Thornton is a field-stretching deep threat who could earn a starting role in the Raiders’ offense. With his elite speed, he has the potential to provide week-winning upside in the flex position.
Christian Kirk (Houston Texans): The Texans drafted a pair of rookie receivers — and I really like Jayden Higgins, who could be another late-round dart throw — but the No. 2 job next to Nico Collins will first go to the veteran Kirk. Kirk’s explosive runs after the catch could provide some spike weeks as a FLEX option.
Isaac TeSlaa (Detroit Lions): The Lions traded up to draft TeSlaa, a sign of their belief in his talent and athleticism. While immediate targets may be tough to come by, he’s one injury away from a sizable role and could provide high-end production if an opportunity arises.
Tory Horton (Seattle Seahawks): Horton has been running with the Seahawks’ first-team offense in training camp and could push for the WR3 role. With his raw talent and play strength, he’s a valuable late-round flyer.
Tight End Dart Throws
Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys): Ferguson is right on the bubble of the 133 ADP range, and it’s a little surprising. He just inked a new contract and with a healthy Dak Prescott, Ferguson has a decent shot at posting TE1 numbers as he did in 2023. At the very least, he’d be a high-end backup.
Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders): I correctly predicted Ertz as a fantasy sleeper last year, and while I’m not as bullish on him this year, the old man still has some value left in a very good Commanders offense. Jayden Daniels relies on Ertz, especially in the red zone, and Ertz is worth a flyer as a backup option in deeper leagues.
Isaiah Likely (Baltimore Ravens): Likely has demonstrated elite production when Mark Andrews is off the field, showing the upside of a top-tier fantasy tight end. Coach John Harbaugh has spoken glowingly about him. He’s going to need an Andrews injury or just a major fallback in production to be an every-week starter, but he has enticing upside.
Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars): With Evan Engram’s departure, Strange is the Jaguars’ undisputed starting tight end. He has shown flashes of fantasy relevance when given the opportunity, and he could be a breakout candidate as a full-time starter in a new offense.
Elijah Arroyo (Seattle Seahawks): Arroyo is a talented rookie who could emerge as a starter in a Seahawks offense with a lot of moving parts. His high average depth of target makes him an intriguing upside play, and he could provide borderline fantasy starter numbers if given the chance.
Theo Johnson (New York Giants): Johnson is a long-shot tight end who is worth monitoring in deeper leagues. While he’s likely to remain off the fantasy radar initially, he could carve out a larger role if the Giants’ offense struggles to find a consistent pass-catcher at the tight end position.
