Recently, I discussed five players to target late in redraft leagues that would give you clarity on their value within the first few weeks. Thus, it allowed you to easily cut bait and use that roster spot on a prime waiver wire target. I wanted to target five more guys I think are worth a dart throw in drafts because the upside is worth it. Let’s get into it!
Lawrence Toafili/Kam Davis, FSU RB
The first two suggestions are great because both teams play Week 0! This means that you’re basically wasting zero roster spots with a final-round pick of these players. Toafili and Davis are the presumed RB2/3 for the Seminoles that start the season off against Georgia Tech in Ireland. If these backs are clearly behind Roydell Williams, then you can cut them from the roster before they even make it back to the States.
Toafili is really interesting because he’s the veteran who can catch passes out of the backfield and has been successful on the ground as well (450+ rushing yards in each of the last two seasons on 162 total carries). Will Toafili finally be used as an RB1? If not, he’s the weakest link, goodbye!
Davis, on the other hand, is the big recruit who people around these parts of town are big fans of. This one is definitely a stretch, but if you, too, are a Davis fan, then why not?
Caleb Medford, New Mexico, WR
Another Week 0 participant, Medford, is the leading pass catcher from 2023, going up against a very quality FCS opponent in Montana State. He was a big play guy for the Lobos, averaging 18.4ypc in 11 games.
The issue here is volume, as he saw just 68 targets go his way last season. The good news is that his quarterback, Devon Dampier, has another year under his belt, and there’s a new head coach in town, Bronco Mendenhall. Mendenhall had some really fun teams offensively at Virginia. Maybe that shift in offense could make Medford a valuable asset. It also helps that of the top four receivers in 2023, Medford is the only one still on the team. If he doesn’t perform in Week 0 against Montana State, then no harm, no foul! He’s an easy cut.
Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee WR
Remember when Thornton was supposed to be a thing? Pepperidge Farm remembers… Well, we go into 2024 with Squirrel White as the WR1 but many options for the WR2. Drafters loved drafting the Tennessee WR2 options last season, but here we are, not doing the same this offseason.
Thornton battled injuries and only played six games but did average 17.2ypc. He’s been a big play guy in his career all on limited action. Can he break through with a new, talented quarterback in Nico Iamaleava? Two of the first three games of the season are against lesser opponents (Chattanooga and Kent State), so we’ll have an early look at how dynamic this offense will be, how effective the passing game will be, and if Thornton is a main player in it.
Anthony Tyus III, Ohio RB
The Ohio backfield is pretty thin with Sieh Bangura and O’Shaan Allison transferred out. Last year in the bowl game, those players were not active, and thus, Rickey Hunt came in and had a monster game against Georgia Southern.
We all believe he’s the starter, but the transfer Tyus is the type of big back that can tear up the MAC. He comes from Northwestern where last year he ran for 4.8 YPC on 50 attempts. Phil Steele’s magazine isn’t the Bible, and he gets depth charts wrong, but he has Tyus as the starter here. The schedule isn’t as tough as it usually is, with Syracuse, South Alabama, and Morgan State on the docket to start. We should be able to determine if Tyus has the job and, if so, how big of a year he could have in the MAC.
Robert Henry, UTSA RB
I recently discussed the UTSA RB situation on Burning the Redshirt, but I do think it’s worth noting here. This is a position group we’d like to know the leader, as we saw from Kevorian Barnes being a top-four-round pick in 2023. It’s a pretty murky situation with Henry having a really nice season alongside Barnes.
Is it possible we get a true RB1? Do we continue to see a RBBC? We’ll know what to expect by Week 3’s matchup at Texas. Kennesaw State and Texas State are great teams to open up against for us trying to figure out this backfield. Henry is essentially free even after an 11-TD, 588-yard season.
