Fantasy football players are always looking for the next rookie that they can draft in the later rounds and get high-level production from that can help lead them to the playoffs. In 2024, one of those sleepers can be former Washington Huskies star Ja’Lynn Polk.
After he was taken by the New England Patriots in the second round of April’s NFL draft, The Athletic tabbed Polk as a name to watch as the team’s top wide receiver in a room full of confusion.
In front of him, the Patriots have Kendrick Bourne, who is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in October, second-year slot receiver Demario Douglas, Juju Smith-Schuster, and free-agent signee K.J. Osborn. Not exactly a star-studded cast for quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye.
While Polk’s lack of elite long speed precludes him from being a true field stretcher, he displayed the ability to win routes at all three levels of the field thanks to feel for where defenders are and strong route-running ability. Combined with his strong hands and ability to make tough catches, Polk could prove to be a quarterback’s best friend and quickly become a target vacuum in an offense desperately looking for a bonafide No. 1 receiver to emerge.
ROOM SERVICE 🤑 pic.twitter.com/jMaxPAJg3r
— Barstool Huskies (@Barstoolhuskies) July 22, 2024
And more importantly for fantasy football players, he comes cheap for someone with that skillset, who can rack up points in PPR (points per reception) leagues. According to Fantasy Pros, Polk’s current ADP (average draft position) is as the WR No. 71 and No. 170 overall player in half PPR scoring, meaning the one-time Texas Tech transfer can be taken as a last round flyer in most leagues.
However, if he can emerge as New England’s go-to guy over the course of his rookie season, he could prove to be among at least the top 36 scorers at the position, which can make him a viable flex option or WR3 in deeper leagues.
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