Dark Horse Players to Watch

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley

 Dark Horse Players

 

Josh Hill – TE – New Orleans Saints

Hill is coming off a season where he caught five TD passes and that was playing behind the All-Pro Jimmy Graham, who has since been traded to the Seahawks. Hill is the starting TE for the Saints and everyone knows that Drew Brees loves to throw to his TE’s, especially in the Red-Zone. Look for Hill to improve on his five TD receptions from a year ago and look for him to triple his 176 receiving yards from 2014. Hill should finish the season as a top TE in only his third season in the NFL.

Danny Woodhead – RB – San Diego Chargers

Woodhead is coming off a season lost to injury and the Chargers added Melvin Gordon in this year’s draft to be the starting RB with the departing of Ryan Matthews. From what we saw in the preseason, Gordon is going to go through some growing pains in the NFL and may not be ready to be an every down RB just yet. Enter Woodhead who is a good runner and a great pass catcher. Woodhead should be the main RB for third downs and passing plays which should make him a hot commodity in the fantasy world.

 

Torrey Smith – WR – San Francisco 49ers

Smith is many years removed from being at his peak but he still will give Colin Kaepernick a steady WR to throw to downfield. Smith caught 49 passes and 11 TDs in 2014, so he still has enough left in the tank to make a mark in the fantasy side of things. The 11 TD passes he caught in 2014 was the most of his career and with the lack of depth at WR for the 49ers you could easily see Smith reach that total again.

 

Owen Daniels – TE – Denver Broncos

Daniels has played his entire NFL career with the Texans before joining the Broncos this offseason. Daniels has always been ranked in the upper half of TEs and his production has been steady given the QB controversy he has dealt with for the past five years. Add him to a Broncos offense led by Peyton Manning (who loves to throw to his TEs: see Dallas Clark & Julius Thomas stats) and Daniels could be due for a career year. Manning and Daniels could be a match made in heaven.

 

Markus Wheaton – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers

Wheaton was expected to come into the NFL and be able to play right away. That was not the case as he has taken a bit more time to put it all together on the field. You saw his progressions in year two as he hauled in 53 passes and four TDs. In year three Wheaton should put on a show and be ultra-productive in the fantasy land. Wheaton has the benefit of not having to play next to Martavius Bryant for the first four games as he is out due to suspension. Wheaton’s fantasy value should be at an all-time high between weeks one through four.

 

Jarius Wright – WR – Minnesota Vikings

Wright has been on the verge of breaking out for the past few seasons. His stats double from year two to year three. He caught 23 passes and three TDs in 2013 and caught 46 passes with two TDs in 2014. You should see Wright increase his stats in all areas especially the TD department. Wright should grow as a WR as Teddy Bridgewater continues to get better.