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Boring fantasy draft picks that are still worth it

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings takes the field against Chicago Bears on December 1, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

It happens every year. You’re sitting there at your fantasy football draft, cheat sheet in hand, and a certain player keeps dropping. He’s ranked well, but keeps getting skipped over. Is there something you don’t know that everyone else knows? You Google the player… no injury. No news about him losing his starting role. And yet something in your gut tells you there is a reason. There has to be a reason as to why no one will draft this guy, right?

Sadly, three weeks into the season, you realize there was no reason and that player is doing just fine.

Often, these players drop because no one is talking about them. They’re boring. They’re not going to have a “breakout season” because they broke out years ago. We take their productivity for granted, and analysts barely even say their names aloud during all of the preseason chatter.

Many a talking head would argue that “boring” players have low ceilings and that’s why they don’t encourage others to draft them. I’d argue most of them have high floors, so why not? Also, many of these players are older and analysts project a drop-off. But a drop-off to what? Top-20 play instead of top-five? You need players that score points on your roster. That’s how fantasy works.

Let’s start by acknowledging why people might avoid these players and then why they’re still fantasy relevant. Sometimes you have to look the boogeyman right in the face.

All of these players have zero buzz and no one is going to yell, “Nice pick!” Instead, these are the players that could quietly get you to the championship.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (Current MFL ADP: 21)

Reasons to avoid: Adrian Peterson is 31 years old. That’s the main reason, but the real non-believers will point to his lack of use in the passing game (only 30 catches for 222 yards and no touchdowns in 2016) and that his rushing grade on a per-attempt basis fell for the third straight year (that he actually played). There are also those who won’t draft him based on his domestic violence incident that held him out the majority of the 2014 season.

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