4 Players Who Can Become Elite This Season Without An Injury

Each season we see a few players we think we know take a leap and become key fantasy contributors at or near an elite level. Below, find four players projected to be middling assets based on their rankings who have the ability to become much more. For this piece, I’ve chosen players who do not need an injury to make this leap.

**All rankings are courtesy of Fantasy Pros **

Daniel Jones, QB, Giants (QB15)

Jones was ridiculed last season when he was drafted, and had some major struggles on the field as a rookie. He also started only 12 games, and still managed 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging 232.6 yards per game. The jury may be out on whether Jones is a viable franchise QB capable of helming a Super Bowl contender, but I’m already sold on him as a fantasy producer. We’ve fallen in love with a few QBs who have major rushing upside; think Murray, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson. Well, Jones is in that group. Jones averaged 3.5 rushing attempts per game, 21.5 rushing yards and he scored twice on the ground. While the G-Men are not going to be calling a ton of designed runs like the Cardinals will for Murray, Jones is very fast for the position and can do damage as a runner.

With that in his back pocket, it raises his ceiling while preserving him as a potential high-volume passer. Jones was throwing the ball 35 times a game last season; part of that was the Giants’ atrocious defense, but they aren’t going to suddenly leap into the Top 5. Jones has an underrated receiving corps of Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, a premium pass-catching TE in Evan Engram, and one of the best all-round RBs possibly ever in Saquon Barkley. The Giants addressed the offensive line in the draft beginning with brand new tackle Andrew Thomas, further improving Jones’ working conditions. The stars are aligning for him to have a big season, provided he can cut down his turnovers. Jones did throw 12 picks last year and fumble the ball 18 times. Still, Jameis Winston was a turnover machine and managed to be a deadly fantasy QB. Daniel Jones has that kind of upside here, and he’s going to cost you nothing on draft day.

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins (RB31)

Guice is incredibly talented, but he has played five games in two seasons. That’s why he’s buried outside the Top 30 at his position. But know this, if Guice can stay on the field he will vastly outperform this ranking, and whatever his inevitably low ADP is on draft day.

Guice tallied 42 carries last season, but put up 245 yards and two touchdowns with that limited work. He averaged nearly six yards per carry, in addition to catching seven of nine targets in the passing game for 79 yards and a score. His skillset is that of a three-down workhorse, and the only reason he hasn’t become that already is health. The other options in the Redskins backfield aren’t true threats. Adrian Peterson has performed admirably in Guice’s absence, but when Guice is there he is simply there to give Guice a breather. Chris Thompson is gone, so he won’t be soaking up passing down work anymore. Rookie Antonio Gibson is generating a bunch of hype, but he is a hybrid player and not in position to steal significant carries. Lastly, the Redskins figure to lean heavily on the run game as QB Dwayne Haskins has a long way to go to be the offensive focal point. This ranking should lead to a depressed ADP that prices in his injury risk and makes him a potentially league-winning value.

Mike Williams, WR, Chargers (WR39)

Williams might be dropping because most expect the Chargers’ offense to fall off with Philip Rivers gone and Tyrod Taylor replacing him. Taylor isn’t likely to lead a higher-scoring offense, and LA will probably run the ball more, but Taylor’s style is going to be great for Williams. Taylor is not the most accurate passer, but he is known for throwing a good deep ball (11.4 yards per completion from 2018-2018) and he’s got a premium deep threat here. Williams averaged 20.4 yards per catch last season and eclipsed 1,000 yards on only 49 receptions. That build on 2018, when he caught 43 passes for 664 yards (15.4 average) and 10 touchdowns. Williams disappointed fantasy owners in 2019 despite the yards per catch because he only scored two touchdowns, but the positive regression here is a serious value opportunity. Williams probably won’t average 20 yards per catch again, but if he can find the end zone more we’re looking at a guy who can win weeks by himself.

Chris Herndon, TE, Jets (TE22)

Last season was a complete loss for Herndon, who did have some hype behind him. He started it off suspended, then missed more time with an injury, and only appeared in one game before missing the rest of the season with a new injury. The good news is he’s only 24 years old, and the Jets didn’t make any meaningful moves with regard to the TE position.

Herndon’s no blocker, so when he is on the field expect him to be targeted. Jamison Crowder is the No. 1 option for Sam Darnold out of the slot, and they added a prototype WR1 in the draft in Denzel Mims, but they still lack a big-bodied possession receiver. Quincy Enunwa was paid years ago to fill that role, but he’s been injury plagued ever since signing it. Herndon’s not a WR, but he may be the guy to soak up those types of targets. As a rookie he started 12 games, and caught 39 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns while showing a connection with Darnold, then a rookie. Darnold’s a more mature QB now, and last season he showed he makes use of the TE. Without Herndon available, Ryan Griffin had the best year of his career scoring five touchdowns on 34 receptions. Griffin served his purpose, but he has much less upside than Herndon does as a weapon, and a healthy Herndon won’t have to sweat the competition. There will be safer options, but if you’re the type to punt on the position until the end of the draft, Herndon may well be a high-floor option, especially in PPR formats.