Late‑Round Fantasy Football Gems to Target This Draft

Round 4: D’Andre Swift – Chicago Bears

Chicago’s offense is reshaping itself around Caleb Williams, and a stable ground game will be essential for the young quarterback’s comfort. Swift posted career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns last season while becoming a primary piece of Ben Johnson’s newly‑oriented attack. His yards per carry jumped from 3.8 in his first Bears season to 4.9 once Johnson took over, a jump the author believes wasn’t a coincidence. Despite decent production, Swift still has not received the same level of usage as fellow backs Luther Burden and Colston Loveland.

The play‑action attempt rate is a key factor for Swift’s upside. When Johnson arrived, Swift’s ability to gain yards after the catch improved, yet he has yet to see the same spike in workload. Fantasy managers often overlook players who gain yards in space but miss out on volume, making Swift a value pick in the fourth round.

Round 7: Tucker Kraft – Green Bay Packers

Kraft was the league’s fifth‑best tight end in standard drafts, but the author places him a notch above that as a TE4. While Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren sit in Tier 2, Kraft is often slotted into Tier 3 alongside Kyle Pitts and Sam LaPorta. That mis‑classification creates a 20‑ to 25‑pick gap in most drafts, a swing that can reshape a roster.

His 2023 season produced a top‑three scoring average among tight ends with eight or more games played, and health reports from Green Bay suggest a repeat is possible. In weeks 4‑8, Kraft accounted for 25.7 % of the Packers’ pass‑catcher points, indicating he can function as a de‑facto WR1. The departures of Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs open up more targets for a player labeled a “YAC God,” averaging four yards per reception ahead of any other tight end with a minimum of five targets per game. A late‑round mock draft can test whether adding Kraft in this range fits your roster building goals.

Round 9: Jakobi Meyers – Jacksonville Jaguars

Meyers offers steady PPR production without the flash of a top‑tier WR, a trait that’s become increasingly valuable in deeper leagues. Over the 2022‑25 span he posted 10 + points in 59 % of games, 12 + points in 49.2 % of contests, and 15 + points in 37.7 % of his outings. Compare that to George Pickens (10 + points 56.9 %), Jaylen Waddle (12 + points 48.4 %) and DK Metcalf (15 + points 34.9 %).

Jacksonville’s late‑season surge—eight straight wins—came with Meyers firmly in the mix. He delivered double‑digit points in each of the first five games of that run and logged scores between 8.5 and 15 points in six of those eight games. Even after moving to a new system, he never fell below 8.5 points, proving he can steady a lineup while you lean on elite assets. The author likens him to “fine wine,” a reliable complement to players like Malik Nabers or Jameson Williams, not a primary scorer but a crucial mid‑round piece.

Even though the broader fantasy community often dismisses this profile, the author argues that every draft pick must serve a purpose. Meyers fits that bill at the ninth round, providing consistent reliability when the rest of the roster is being filled with high‑stakes players.

Round 11: Rashid Shaheed – Seattle Seahawks

Shaheed’s impact has been more visible on special teams than in the passing game, with only two postseason contests featuring three or more receptions. Fantasy managers have taken a “don’t fix what won” stance after Seattle’s Super Bowl run, but Shaheed entered his age‑28 season with limited target share.

The author sees value in betting against a repeat of the Jaxon Smith‑Njigba surge that defined last year’s offense. Even if Shaheed never becomes a weekly starter, his skill set offers upside for those chasing breakout potential in deeper rounds. The slow pace of Seattle’s offense will keep his floor modest, but the ceiling remains intact, especially if the Seahawks revert to a more pass‑heavy approach.

The piece also mentions Isaiah Likely as a comparable player in this range, noting the author’s enthusiasm for the rising tight end. While Likely gets more hype, Shaheed remains a cheaper alternative for managers willing to gamble on a late‑round splash.

Round 13: Tank Bigsby – Philadelphia Eagles

The author advises moving away from “safe” backs like Tyjae Spears or Isiah Pacheco at this stage and instead targeting a player who can be a surprise contributor. Spears and Pacheco will likely finish the season with higher counting numbers, but their roles feel too predictable compared to the potential chaos Bigsby brings.

Philly’s ground attack is a cornerstone of the offense, and the bellcow—Saquon Barkley—has logged heavy wear. Injuries could force the Eagles to lean on Bigsby, a 29‑year‑old who averaged 20.3 touches per game over the past four seasons (third‑most in the league). Over 37 games since the start of 2024—including the playoffs—Bigsby has shown durability that many mid‑range RBs lack.

Bigsby’s career efficiency metrics look modest: 4.5 yards per carry on 281 attempts, with a 39 % conversion on runs inside the five‑yard line. However, 79.4 % of his carries came while with Jacksonville, a team that was not a offensive powerhouse at the time. The author believes his efficiency can rise in Philadelphia’s system if Barkley sits or is limited.

When Bigsby posts a dozen or more touches, he averages 14.8 PPR points, a total that becomes valuable if the Eagles keep a heavy workload on their backfield. With AJ Brown moving to New England, the run game is even more critical for Philadelphia. Even with the drop‑off from Barkley, the author sees Bigsby as a worthwhile stash at the 13th round, capable of delivering top‑15 RB value if the situation aligns.