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Anybody who looks at my profile picture could clearly see that I have some hair challenges. Everyone loves a flowing, full head of hair. You love the way it blows in the wind. Women love to run their fingers through it. I was "balding" when I met my wife - but she took a chance. As Larry David once said, "Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man? There's your diamond in the rough." In the NFL, anyone can be confident as a first round draft pick. But how about those players selected later in the draft. Who are the diamonds in the rough that can vault you to your fantasy league championship this year? Today I will present five players who can have an immediate impact given their talent or their situation in 2014.
BISHOP SANKEY - Pick #54 - TENNESSEE TITANS
Sankey could not have landed in a better spot. He was taken at #54 as the first RB off the board on to a Titan team that lacks in most offensive areas. Arguably the biggest strength of the Titans in the offensive line. Sankey's only competition comes from Shonn Greene who was useless the last two years as a Titan and a Jet. QB Locker is inconsistent at best so this is an ideal situation for Sankey to get high volume behind that line bolstered this year with first round pick Taylor Lewan.
ALLEN ROBINSON - Pick #61 - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
If I hear anyone say that the NFL is a "copycat" league one more time I might blow up Twitter but the fact remains that the NFL is a "copycat" league. Robinson is a big receiver (Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas, Alshon Jeffery) that can go up and get the ball. He topped 1000 yards in each of his last two seasons at Penn State and had a combined 17 TDs in that period as well. The Jacksonville WR corps is muddled with Cecil Shorts III, Ace Sanders and Marqise Lee (pick #39) but I see Robinson as the top target for Blake Bortles in 2014.
DEVONTA FREEMAN - Pick #103 - ATLANTA FALCONS
Freeman is another RB entering a great situation. Atlanta needs to run the ball to help keep Matt Ryan upright. The WRs enter 2014 as a question mark only due to injuries the past couple of seasons with Roddy White and Julio Jones. Steven Jackson is on the verge of breaking down and Jacquizz Rodgers is NOT the answer. Enter Devonta Freeman. Freeman was a 1000 yard rusher at Florida State last year with 14 TDs. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry. My prediction - Freeman is the lead RB in Atlanta this year.
ANDRE WILLIAMS - Pick #113 - NEW YORK GIANTS
As my colleague Kylan Easterling said in his Post Draft RB Rankings, you have to be aware of the situation an RB is entering. Andre Williams is the prototypical example of that. He rushed for over 2000 yards last year at Boston College. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist yet he lasted until pick 113 in the NFL draft. He didn't project well because he is the definition of a two down back. In fact, he caught only ten passes in his three year college career. Williams has only Rashad Jennings and David Wilson to beat out for carries and he is a true Tom Coughlin back. A pounder from BC no less. Andre gets the rock more than any other NYG back this year.
CODY LATIMER - Pick #56 - DENVER BRONCOS
Playing WR for the Denver Broncos is what dreams are made of. With the loss of Eric Decker to the New York Jets, Cody Latimer steps in to replace that production. Yes I know that Denver signed Emmanuel Sanders this offseason. Yes I know that Denver has many mouths to feed in Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas. BUT - Cody Latimer dropped one pass last year at Indiana University. ONE! He dropped one pass out of 119 targets. That kind of consistency will earn the trust of Peyton Manning very quickly. Look for Cody to put up Eric Decker style numbers this year for the Denver Broncos. You could do a lot worse.
So there you have it. The "bald" guys from this years draft. Late rounders. Diamonds in the rough. Some will pan out, some won't - but at least you now have the jump start on your competitors in your upcoming fantasy draft. Another Larry David-ism: "I have reservations about everything I do." These are five guys you can select in the late rounds without reservation.