With the NFL regular season starting on Thursday, September 5th, it’s safe to say that many fantasy football drafts have already been done. There are some clear picks this season, including Christian McCaffrey, Jalen Hurts, CeeDee Lamb, and Breece Hall, which are just a few of the names on this list. However, in every season there are dark horse players who could break out and have a great year. They include players who haven’t proved themselves, suffered injuries last season, and rookies trying to make a splash. Here’s a list of some dark horses this season.
No. 1 Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN RB)
Fantasy Football Ranking - 147
Javonte Williams is currently the number one running back for the Denver Broncos. However, he hasn’t fully proved himself yet. He was injured in his second season and saw a dip in production in the third season. McLaughlin is going into his second year and was a threat in the passing lane last season. He ran for 410 rushing yards, and his longest was a 38-yard rush. Passing-wise, he had 160 yards with 31 receptions. He was a steady option for a rookie and will most likely grow in production this year. He’s the perfect match for rookie QB Bo Nix, who will need a reliable pass-catching RB by his side.
No. 2 Jaylen Wright (MIA RB)
Fantasy Football Ranking - 163
To add another RB to the dark horse roster, we’ll throw in rookie Jaylen Wright, who will look to make a splash with the Miami Dolphins. Wright will fall behind Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane on the depth chart. However, both of these guys have dealt with injuries. Mostert is 32, but he had an incredible season in 2023. The problem is he missed the last two games due to injury, and his past seasons were riddled with them as well. Wright will be an extra spark for the team, especially if Mostert goes down. He also had a solid preseason and showed off his speed and pass-catching abilities.
No. 3 Dontayvion Wicks (GB WR)
Fantasy Football Ranking - 152
The Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver received some high praise from QB Jordan Love and coach Matt LaFleur during his preseason showing. The Quarterback stated via Bleacher Report, “I think Wicks is going to have a monster year this year…I think he was able to do a lot of phenomenal things last year. I think the sky is the limit for him. His confidence keeps getting more and more, raising up”. The number one guy on the depth chart, Christian Watson, has a history of injuries. Plus, with the way Love has progressed, it will be good to add to the WR core.
No. 4 Mike Gesicki (TE CIN)
Fantasy Football Ranking - 231
After an off year with the New England Patriots, tight end Gesicki has made the move to the Cincinnati Bengals. There are a lot of questions surrounding WR Ja’Marr Chase as he continues to sit out of practices, and it remains unclear what’s going on with the WR1. Tee Higgins is also a bit of a question mark as he wasn’t extended and instead given a franchise tag to keep him from entering the market this season. Joe Burrow will need a steady guy to throw to, and he gets that with a pass-catching option in the TE slot.
No. 5 Ja’Lynn Polk (NE WR)
Fantasy Football Ranking - 165
It’s another year of experimentation for the Patriots, and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk will play a big part in this. New England needs to get production on the offensive end and the rookie WR could bring that to the table. He can make difficult catches, and his quickness gives him the ability to separate from the defense. He will be a valuable addition to the squad this season as head coach Jerod Mayo takes the reins on this struggling team.