👑 All Hail The Short Kings

ADP Trends and League News

Author

Jen of Deep Dive Fantasy
August 24, 2023

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With rookie Deuce Vaughn (5’5”, 176lb) of the Dallas Cowboys having such a head-turning preseason, the idea of smaller guys making it in the NFL has been a pretty divisive topic around the virtual watercoolers. I thought I’d go back and look at some of the most successful shorter players in NFL history.

🦅⚜️ ⚡️Darren Sproles, RB - 5’6”, 190lb

In a 15-year span (14 seasons) Sproles rushed for 3,552 yards, added 4,840 through the air, and scored 56 total touchdowns as a member of the Eagles, Saints, and Chargers. His best fantasy finish was in 2011 as RB7.

Todd Olszewski/Getty Images

🪺🐻 🏴‍☠️ Jacquizz Rodgers, RB - 5’6”, 205lb

Rodgers played for three different teams in his eight-year NFL career, posting 3,657 combined yards and 14 trips to the end zone. His best finish in the fantasy realm was as RB36 in 2012.

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

🐴 🐂 🏴‍☠️ Trindon Holliday, WR - 5’5”, 162lb

That’s right, a WR in the NFL who stood 5’5”. To be fair, he was solely on special teams but in 33 games, the speedster totaled 2,248 all-purpose yards with four touchdowns. Check out how large Ricardo Lockette (6’2”) appears while chasing down Holiday during Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

 🐆 🏴‍☠️ Maurice Jones-Drew, RB - 5’7”, 210lb

Arguably the most successful of the short kings from both a real football and fantasy perspective, MJD played eight years with the Jaguars and one final season as an Oakland Raider. A three-time Pro Bowler, Jones-Drew racked up 8,167 rushing yards plus 2,944 receiving with 79 career touchdowns. He ended as a fantasy RB1 five times with two RB2 finishes from 2006-2014.

Brian Cleary/Getty Images

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  • The 49ers have announced Sam Darnold as their backup to Brock Purdy to start the season. Trey Lance’s future with the team is TBD.

  • It looks like the Jonathan Taylor trade situation has a new deadline.

  • Six-year veteran WR Corey Davis is retiring from the NFL. Davis played for the Titans from 2017-2020 and was a member of the New York Jets for the last two seasons.

Here’s a look at some of the noteworthy risers and fallers in Underdog ADP after the second week of the preseason.


🚀 Ezekiel Elliott, RB - (NEP) - Was: 158, Now: 146, Jump: 12

Now that he’s found a home for the 2023 season in New England, Ezekiel Elliott’s draft stock rose a full round in just seven days. It’s tough to predict what the former Cowboys' usage will be, particularly in the offense he landed in, but he'll likely steal some goal-line touches from Rhamondre Stevenson. Treat Elliott as an RB4/RB5 until we see more from this Patriots team.

🚀 Darren Waller, TE (NYG) - Was: 69, Now 60, Jump: 9

There's been a steady drumbeat for Darren Waller to likely lead the Giants in targets in 2023 and if the second preseason contest is any indication, we’re on our way. The TE saw four of nine pass attempts from Daniel Jones, which he nabbed three of for 30 yards. Waller has shown us high-end fantasy production in the past when healthy, including three top-six finishes in half-PPR points per game from 2019-2021.

Over the last week, the eight-year veteran climbed nine spots to the start of the sixth round and leapfrogged George Kittle as the TE4 in Underdog drafts.

🚀 Raheem Mostert, RB (MIA) - Was: 154, Now: 142, Jump: 12

With Dalvn Cook now in New York and rookie Devon Achane suffering a shoulder injury, fantasy managers are clicking the button or walking that sticker up to the board a round sooner for Raheem Mostert than they were a week ago. The 31-year-old is still a great value in the 12th round, and if he can stay healthy, he has the potential to easily outproduce his RB47 ADP.

Keep an eye on the Jonathan Taylor trade chatter, though (as if we all aren’t), because Miami is rumored to be in the mix.

🪂 Kendre Miller, RB (NO) - Was: 157, Now: 170, Slide: 13

Rookie Kendre Miller left the Saints' first preseason contest with a sprained knee and his ADP took a hit down to the 15th round. Just three days after he was reported to possibly be back by Week 1, Miller hit the practice field and then scored the only touchdown for New Orleans in their second preseason matchup on a 7-yard run. The first-year back should see some legitimate opportunity with Alvin Kamara sidelined for the first three weeks due to a suspension, and will likely rise in ADP before the season kicks off.

🪂 Treylon Burks, WR (TEN) - Was: 88, Now: 97, Slide: 9

Seeing a player carted off the field is almost always an ADP mover and Treylon Burks’ slide can clearly be attributed to his ride from about a week ago. Thankfully, an MRI revealed just a sprained LCL for the sophomore WR and he’ll be on the shelf for just a few weeks.

🪂 Breece Hall, RB (NYJ) - Was: 36, Now: 44, Slide: 8

Throw in the fresh signing of Dalvin Cook to a player already recovering from a knee injury and you get Breece Hall slipping eight spots in seven days. Hall is being drafted as RB15 and should return to form at some point this season, but will likely split the workload with Cook at least to start the year.

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