10 NFL Players Who Are Carrying Fantasy Football Teams This Year

Fantasy football has grown into one of America’s top pastimes, with around 50 million Americans playing fantasy football every year. And, if you have one of these ten players, you’re probably doing pretty well this year.

Fantasy football has grown into one of America’s top pastimes, with around 50 million Americans playing fantasy football every year. And, if you have one of these ten players, you’re probably doing pretty well this year.

This isn’t just a ranking of the top players of the season. Rather, we factor in average draft position, because finding that stud in the eighth round could win you your league. Also, the players are in particular order. The scoring format for this article will be full-point PPR and four-point passing touchdowns

Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy Points Per Game: 26.8, RB1

The league’s top fantasy scorer, Christian McCaffrey is the ultra-rare first-round bargain so far. He’s reminded us why it wasn’t that long ago where he was the consensus number one pick in PPR fantasy drafts.

Injuries and a bad team in Carolina hampered his value the last few seasons, but when he was traded to San Francisco to play for offensive wunderkind Kyle Shanahan last year, the possibility of him being the most dominant player in fantasy football once again thrilled fantasy enthusiasts.

The most encouraging sign for McCaffrey owners? He’s getting goal line carries. He already has seven rushing touchdowns this year. Add that in with his volume in the pass game, and you’ve got someone who is a mid-2000’s Ladainian Tomlinson-type weapon.

Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins

Fantasy Points Per Game: 26.5, WR1

Depending on how your draft played out, Tyreek Hill either went in the first or second round of your draft. And, like McCaffrey, he’s been a first-round bargain.

The speedster is averaging over three points per game more than the next-best wide receiver. It’s his consistency that’s standing out. Unlike most players in the burner archetype, Hill isn’t reliant on getting a few big plays a game. He’s getting enough touches and targets to provide some consistency. Hill has double-digit points in all five games so far, and as long as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, expect him to continue as the league’s top fantasy wide receiver.

Adam Thielen, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers

Fantasy Points Per Game: 19.6, WR10

Adam Thielen was left for dead by many coming into the year, and was cast off to the lowly Carolina Panthers for what many thought would be a meek final act to a great career. Instead, he’s shown that he’s still one of the most reliable fantasy wide receivers in the league.

There’s even more upside here than what may meet the eye. Thielen is a candidate to be traded prior to the trade deadline. If he ends up in a better offense, like Kansas City, he could return even more value as a player who didn’t go in the top 100 in almost all fantasy drafts.

Brock Purdy, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy Points Per Game: 19.8, QB5

Brock Purdy was on essentially no one’s radar as a guy who could be a top-five fantasy quarterback this year. But, that’s exactly what he’s been so far, giving Purdy owners who took him with an average draft position of around 150 a huge boon.

The biggest thing anyone should want out of their quarterback is consistency. A low number from your quarterback can make it really tough to win that week. But, Purdy has avoided that kind of performance, with his lowest performance so far at 14.7 points. It helps when you’re not throwing interceptions and taking negative points, and he’s thrown zero at this point.

Devon Achane and Raheem Mostert, Running Backs, Miami Dolphins

Mostert Fantasy Points Per Game: 21.0, RB3,
Achane Fantasy Points Per Game: 25.4, RB2

The pair of Miami Dolphins running backs have been absolute steals so far, and it’s the most productive two-back system for fantasy purposes in recent memory.

Despite the rookie Achane missing the first game of the year and only have one touch in week 2, he’s third in total points for running backs and second in points per game. Unfortunately, he injured his knee in the second half of the team’s win over the Giants in

Mostert has been a model of consistency so far, with all but one game in double digits and two games of 25 points or more. And, with Achane out for at least four weeks, he’s going to continue to get even more touches and all the goal line opportunities.

Sam Laporta, Tight End, Detroit Lions

Fantasy Points Per Game: 14.4, TE2

It’s been a down year across the league in terms of tight end scoring. But, rookie Sam Laporta has bucked the trend, becoming an elite fantasy option at a very thin position.

The Iowa alum was taken in the second round of the actual NFL draft back in April, but he wasn’t being taken until double-digit rounds in fantasy drafts prior to the season. He’s paid off those picks and then some.

Tight end scoring can be touchdown dependent. And, he’s done a good job in that category, with three touchdowns so far. But, he’s reliable week-to-week, too, as he has 31 targets in five games and at least three catches in every contest. Expect that role to only grow as he continues to get more comfortable in the offense and quarterback Jared Goff’s confidence in Laporta grows.

Puka Nacua, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy Points Per Game: 23.1, WR3

Rookie Puka Nakua went undrafted in the vast majority of leagues, but if you were lucky enough to get him off waivers after a massive week one, you’re thanking your lucky stars.

Thrust into the Cooper Kupp role the first four weeks in the Rams’ offense while Kupp was on Injured Reserve, Nacua put up massive numbers. His lowest score was 12.2 points, and the other three were over 20, with two 30-point performances.

Many thought that with Kupp’s return in week five that Nacua’s fantasy value would evaporate. That appears not to be the case, as there were plenty of targets to go around to Kupp and Nacua. He had 7 catches for 71 yards and one touchdown on Sunday. There’s no reason for him to not be a great fantasy player the rest of the season, putting those who own him in a very advantageous position.

Kyren Williams, Running Back, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy Points Per Game: 17.9, RB12

Kyren Williams is another player that went undrafted in most leagues. But, like Nacua, if you won the race on waivers for Williams following a solid week one performance and great week two, you might have a guy who is a bona-fide starter all season long.

Williams snatched the starting role from Cam Akers, who has since been traded to Minnesota. And, he’s been rock-solid for fantasy owners since. Since taking over the job in week 2, he’s had three games over 17 points with the other week being a respectable 8.5 points.

The Notre Dame alum has become a threat out of the backfield, and that gives him some resiliency on days the Rams aren’t running the ball well and he’s not getting goal line opportunities. When he is getting goal line opportunities, he’s cashing in. Williams already has five touchdowns on the year.

David Montgomery, Running Back, Detroit Lions

David Montgomery was available until the sixth or seventh round in many drafts, with fantasy owners scared off by Lions’ first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs sharing the backfield. But, Montgomery has been the bell cow back in Detroit, and he’s been insanely productive.

He did miss week three, but in the team’s other four games, he has at least 12.4 points and a touchdown in every contest. Back to back contests of 20.9 points and 34.1 points the last two weeks have put him in the upper-echelon of backs. That’s what happens when you’re getting a bunch of touches and all the goal line opportunities in one of the league’s best offenses.