Fantasy football: Underrated and overlooked

When gobs of fantasy football writers are rankings gobs of players, it’s inevitable that we won’t all agree. Every year when scanning the various rankings, I see a handful of names that I believe are being buried.

But that’s just fine with me. If I see that I can potentially draft a fifth-round talent in the seventh round, I make a point to target that player, theoretically allowing me to draft a stronger team.

Here are some players I feel are underrated this summer.

Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
Average draft position (ADP) in 12-team leagues: Late sixth round

Addai isn’t flashy and has battled injuries in recent years. But he was a top-10 fantasy running back in 2007 and 2009; Addai gets the job done when healthy. He’s every bit as good as fifth-round talents Ryan Grant and Cedric Benson.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis
ADP: Early third round

Wayne finished seventh in fantasy scoring among receivers in 2011, yet he is being drafted 10th. The only logical explanation: Fantasy owners are afraid that Wayne’s age (he turns 33 in November) will soon catch up with him. But Wayne’s stats last season (111 receptions for 1,355 yards) suggest otherwise. He should be ranked ahead of DeSean Jackson and Vincent Jackson, both of whom are being selected in the second round.

Braylon Edwards, WR, free agent
ADP: Late 10th round

True, we don’t know where Edwards will be playing in 2011, but the odds favor the former Jet landing somewhere as a No. 2 wideout. In 2010, Edwards was the 21st-best fantasy receiver, but he’s just 48th in FantasyFootballCalculator.com’s ADP. Sure, Edwards has his flaws, but so do sixth-rounder Pierre Garcon and seventh-rounder Malcom Floyd – both of whom scored fewer fantasy points than Edwards last season.

Kellen Winslow, TE, Tampa Bay
ADP: Late 11th round

Most fantasy football owners would probably be surprised to learn that Winslow has finished as a top-seven tight end during four of the past five seasons. Yet, he’s being selected 14th among tight ends in drafts.

Ryan Chatelain (ryan.chatelain[at]am-ny.com) is amNewYork’s fantasy football columnist.