Whether you missed out on your fantasy football playoffs or find yourself recently eliminated, it is never too early to start thinking about next year.
If you’re in a redraft league, you should start scouting the college ranks and start preparing for the NFL draft in April. But if you play in a keeper or dynasty league, you probably have some tough decisions to make.
Players found in the top 20 overall are easy choices, but when you look beyond that list, the decisions become much more difficult, especially with the player and coaching movement every offseason.
Obviously, you start with talent and age. Holding an aging veteran is fine if you are in a win-now mode, but when building a roster for the long haul, you’re looking for players who may be in their third or fourth season — seasoned enough to break out but not a whole lot of tread on the tires.
You are also looking for opportunity. They need to be a featured asset in their team’s offensive scheme to be a worthwhile protect, and two players who should satisfy all the criteria are Drake London and George Pickens.
There is no denying the talent of either receiver. In a run-first scheme, London is already trending toward 100 targets and 800 receiving yards this season, and he fits the mold of a prototypical wide receiver every coach covets.
Pickens is that deep threat the Steelers have yearned for since the days of Antonio Brown, and even flashed that potential this past week when he hauled in four catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns, giving him his first 1,000-yard season.
Both teams will be looking to upgrade their quarterbacks, either through the draft or free agency, and when these receivers finally have someone capable of getting them the ball consistently, both are likely to enjoy career-best seasons.
What we also like is that both should have new coaches and a whole new offensive system next season. Atlanta’s Arthur Smith is expected to receive his walking papers after Week 18, and the entire Steel City seems ready to move on from Mike Tomlin.
Having to learn a new offense can be difficult, but with the talent level of these receivers, any coach coming in should have a scheme designed to bring out the best in the team’s current personnel. Just imagine how effective both could be once the shackles of a mediocre game plan come off?
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The key to keeping the right players from year to year is foresight. It’s more than just looking at past season’s totals and expecting them to do the same thing. Your borderline keepers should be more about upside, and both London and Pickens could be overlooked because of their current situation. Get ahead of the curve and the rest of your league by holding players you know have the talent, but should also have the opportunity to shine.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to Fantasy-Alarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.