Underdrafted Old Men: 4 Veteran Values On Draft Day

We tend to search for the new hotness when we draft prep, eyeing young players about to take a leap. We often do this at the expense of older players who still got it. Below, find four players who, based on their rankings, could be significant values come draft day.

All rankings are courtesy of Fantasy Pros

Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers (QB12)

Brady hasn’t been a fantasy force for a couple of seasons now, and the price owners have had to pay because of his name value is finally dropping, especially since he will be without Bill Belichick for the first time ever. Now, though, I’m back in! Yes, he’s left the best organization in football and the best coach in NFL history, but reports of his demise are overblown. Brady, even at 43 years old (which he’ll be during the season) still protects the football and still piles up big yardage. His prime is long gone, but that doesn’t mean he’s shot; it means he could no longer carry deficient receiving corps led by a slot receiver (Julian Edelman). Leaving the Patriots is rarely a plus, but Brady is joining a pass-first, offensive-minded team led by Bruce Arians, and he’s working with the best receiving corps in the league. Brady has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, two 1,000+-yard receivers as his new toys and he coaxed his buddy Rob Gronkowski out of retirement. He’s also got O.J. Howard in the mix, which could allow the Bucs to re-create some of Brady’s prime with two-TE sets. Maybe he’s a little less accurate these days, and maybe he has gas on the deep ball, but this offense made Jameis Winston a Top 5 fantasy QB with 30 interceptions. Brady’s likely going to see an increase in passing volume with the best weapons he’s had in a decade. The man defies time, and his age isn’t going to scare me away from one of the best bargains in fantasy at any position.

Latavius Murray, RB (RB44)

Murray is only 30, but since RBs age in dog years he belongs here. Murray is not a player anyone is excited to draft, but he could potentially pay major dividends at some point this season. The Saints don’t trust Alvin Kamara with a full workload, so right off the bat he has a concrete role in one of the NFL’s best offenses. And he’s more than just an annoying touchdown vulture; Murray averaged 4.4 yards per carry last year, and toted the rock 146 times. More importantly, he was a fantasy MVP when Kamara missed time in Weeks 7 and 8. In those two games Murray averaged 110.5 yards and scored four touchdowns. Murray is probably the No. 1 handcuff in fantasy, and if Kamara got hurt he’d instantly slot in for a three-down role. That’s the upside. His floor is about five or six touchdowns, and viability as an emergency FLEX for teams ravaged with injuries or in a bind with bye weeks.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Saints (WR43)

Sanders was discussed a bit here, but he’s worth revisiting. He tore his Achilles late in the season in 2018, at age 32, and not only returned for Week 1 in 2019, he put up useful fantasy numbers despite playing with Joe Flacco/rookie Drew Lock, and then being traded mid-season to one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL (49ers). His numbers look similar from year to year, and yes, they aren’t special for fantasy purposes. But he also hasn’t played with a QB like Drew Brees since 2014, the final year Peyton Manning was good. Conversely, the WR2 for the Saints hasn’t been a particularly fruitful fantasy role, but it’s also been occupied by Ted Ginn Jr. and Tre’Quan Smith. Give Brees one of the best route runners in the sport, and watch these numbers explode.

Greg Olsen, TE, Seahawks (TE24)

Olsen has had injury problems since 2017, but prior to then he’d been one of the best, and most consistent, tight ends in football. He was relatively healthy in 2019, but never had a healthy Cam Newton throwing the ball, and instead dealt with the likes of Kyle Allen and Will Grier. We’ll know if Olsen is shot this season, because playing with Russell Wilson will rejuvenate him if there’s anything left in the tank. When Wilson has a quality tight end, he uses him. Last season Will Dissly burst onto the scene with 23 receptions, 267 yards and four touchdowns in only six games before he got hurt. In 2017, Wilson got Jimmy Graham 10 touchdowns, and Graham has looked like a Walking Dead extra since leaving. With a ranking like this, Olsen is going to be zero-risk on draft day, and could wind up a Top 5 TE (not kidding!) if he’s healthy all year. I’m not predicting that, but if he costs you your final pick, or $1 in an auction, why not roll the dice?