5 Undervalued Wide Receivers Heading Into Your Fantasy Football Drafts

Marques Colston

You won’t believe me on this because Marques Colston has long fallen out of favor in fantasy footballers’ hearts, but he’s actually still pretty good at football.

Among the 48 receivers with at least 95 targets in 2014, Colston finished the season as the 12th best in per-target efficiency with a 0.81 Reception NEP per target. Not too bad for a guy playing in his ninth season in the league at 31 years old.

In fact, Colston’s been in the top 12 in per-target efficiency among qualifying receivers ever since his 2009 season. That’s remarkably impressive and consistent, and in part speaks to the kind of chemistry he and Drew Brees have developed together over the years. And there’s reason to believe, based on “addition-by-subtraction” theory, that Colston will have more opportunity to make an impact than at any point in the last three years.

With touchdown hoarder Jimmy Graham shipped out to Seattle, an improved offensive line with the addition of All-Pro Center Max Unger leaving more time for Drew Brees to throw, and deep-threat Kenny Stills traded away to Miami, Colston, if he continues his efficient ways, should have opportunities to soak up a portion of the 13 touchdowns that were distributed between Stills and Graham in 2014.

Currently being drafted as an afterthought as the 48th receiver selected according to his ADP, Colston is projected to exceed these expectations and finish the season as the 37th best fantasy receiver. I’d say that’s easily achievable, and if I can get him in the 11th round of a 12-man league to use in spot starts and bye weeks, I’m jumping on that opportunity.