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With the Wild Card round already in the books, we now move onto the Divisional round of the playoffs. With the players that are left, Fantasy owners may want to take a close look at how they perform in some of the biggest games of their careers. What these players do from here on out could have an impact on their Fantasy value in 2017.
Will Fuller (Wide Receiver) Houston Texans - Being a first round pick means the team invested a lot in a player. Fuller didn’t exactly make the Texans look like geniuses this season, but that can change now that the Texans have moved on from the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The rookie had 92 targets in the regular season and only hauled in 47 catches with two touchdowns. With the Patriots figuring to roll coverage over to DeAndre Hopkins, this will be the perfect opportunity for Fuller to show the Texans that they made the right choice using a first round pick on him. Hopkins will command most of the attention, so Fuller can pick up the slack and make a name for himself with Fantasy owners in 2017.
Malcolm Mitchell of the New England Patriots
(Billie Weiss/Getty Images)Malcolm Mitchell (Wide Receiver) New England Patriots - The Patriots haven’t had a serious downfield threat since Randy Moss was traded back to Minnesota. That is where Mitchell can step in and give the Patriots’ offense another weapon for defenses to respect. The bad news is Mitchell only saw 41 targets during the regular season, but the good news is he caught 32 of them. If the rookie can prove himself during the playoffs like his teammate Malcolm Butler did in the Super Bowl a few years back, Fantasy owners may look at Mitchell in the later rounds of Fantasy drafts come 2017.
Eli Rogers (Wide Receiver) Pittsburgh Steelers - At some point, another receiver not named Antonio Brown will need to step up for the Steelers if they are to continue in the playoffs. That could be Rogers, the rookie out of Louisville. He saw 66 targets during the regular season and averaged six Fantasy points per game, so Big Ben has some trust in him. If Rogers can show he can be a complementary piece to Brown in the passing game, he could easily shoot up draft boards next season.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill
(Denny Medley/USA Today Sports)Tyreek Hill (Wide Receiver) Kansas City Chiefs - Hill has already put himself in the good graces of Fantasy owners heading into 2017, but this is his chance to move up on draft boards. He can go from a late pick to mid-round pick based on what he shows in the coming weeks. His six touchdowns in 2016 proved he can score from anywhere on the field, and he’s always a threat when he has the ball, but what he does on the big stage will really resonate with Fantasy owners.
Dak Prescott (Quarterback) Dallas Cowboys - Yes, Prescott has a place in the heart of Fantasy owners after just 16 games, but what he can do to help his team advance in the playoffs will speak volumes for his Fantasy value heading into next season. Prescott could end up being one of the top quarterbacks off the board in drafts if he shows he can hang with the big boys in the playoffs. He averaged over 21 Fantasy points per game during the regular season and could put himself over the top with a daunting playoff performance.
Taylor Gabriel (Wide Receiver) Atlanta Falcons - In 12 games during the regular season, Gabriel saw 51 targets and averaged almost nine Fantasy points per game. While that’s nothing to write home about, it does mean he could be valuable piece of the Falcons’ offense when defenses game plan for Julio Jones. With the top option getting most of the attention, the Falcons will need another receiver to make the plays. Enter Gabriel. He can show Fantasy owners that he’s not just an afterthought in this offense and should be considered during draft day in August.
Davante Adams (Wide Receiver) Green Bay Packers - Adams is already a well-known name among Fantasy owners, but he has a chance to put his name in capital letters come draft day. With Jordy Nelson hurting and Randall Cobb probably looking at most of the attention, Adams could show Fantasy owners that he is who we thought he was heading into the season. If Aaron Rodgers can trust him, so could Fantasy owners.
Christine Michael (Running Back) Green Bay Packers - Michael totaled almost 600 yards and averaged almost eight Fantasy points per game in 2016 with multiple teams, but now he has a chance to show Fantasy owners that he can be a more than capable backup to Eddie Lacy in 2017. With a good showing this week in Dallas, Michael can show Fantasy owners that he could fill in admirably if Lacy were to go down again next season. He can raise his draft stock tremendously with a good game in the Divisional round.
Seattle Seahawks' Tyler Lockett (r.)
(L.G. Patterson/AP)Tyler Lockett (Wide Receiver) Seattle Seahawks - Averaging less than six Fantasy points per game isn’t going to help very much but with a strong showing in the playoffs, Lockett could show Fantasy owners he’s more than just a return specialist and should be considered a name to take off the board in the now more balanced offensive attack in Seattle.
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