A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft; grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. To point out this value, we asked our staff to identify players available in the top half of your draft who should outperform their draft position. Thanks to the folks at TheIDPShow.com for the ADP.
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Here are the edge rushers who received the most votes:
- Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay
- Kwity Paye, Indianapolis
- Byron Young, LA Rams
And here are all of the players with multiple mentions and the reasons why.
Undervalued Players Receiving 2 Votes
Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay
Gary Davenport: Diaby's hardly a household name in many IDP circles, and he'll be available late in quite a few drafts. But much like with Byron Young of the Rams, there are more than a few reasons to like the second-year pro. It's not just that Diaby posted almost 40 total tackles and 7.5 sacks as a rookie. Or that he did so in just 515 snaps. But with Shaquil Barrett now downstate in Miami, the future is now in Tampa—it will be Diaby and fourth-year veteran Joe Tryon-Shoyinka outside. Ten sacks and 50 stops is well within Diaby's reasonable range of outcomes—for pennies on the dollar.
Joseph Haggan: Diaby had a slow start to his rookie season, though he finished on fire. He had 7.5 sacks in the final 11 games, making everyone forget about the miss the Buccaneers had drafting Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. With Shaquil Barrett gone, Diaby should step right in and see starter snaps. Diaby was very productive when given opportunity. He was the Buccaneers' best pass rusher in 2023 in just 515 snaps and should see a large uptick in 2024.
Kwity Paye, Indianapolis
Gary Davenport: That rookie Laiatu Latu is being drafted almost 10 slots ahead of Paye in the early going is baffling to me—and that's taking dynasty leagues into consideration. Paye has steadily improved since entering the NFL, culminating in a 52-tackle, 8.5-sack 2023 campaign. Could Latu cut into Paye's snaps? Perhaps. But I think the rookie is a bigger threat to veteran Samson Ebukam, and at any rate, an edge-rusher losing a few snaps can actually be a blessing in disguise if it keeps them springtime fresh—especially if it's in a contract year.
Joseph Haggan: Paye is a mixture of strength and athleticism, and though he has quite broken out, he is still young and has been productive. His 52 tackles and eight-and-a-half sacks in 2023 were both career-highs. It was evident coming out of college that his pass rush needed refinement and coaching, and he has progressed every season. With Buckner still in town, Latu added in the edge, and Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo still around, the defensive line is stout. The fact Paye is behind Latu already is mind-boggling, but being DL60 is even more boggling.