Fantasy football: hidden gems in free agency
Find the underground and unexpected stars for your team this season.
SPORTS | December 2024
Is your fantasy team struggling with injuries, busts, or is just flat out not very good? If so, then here are the best players to pick up for your team this fantasy year.
Two unexpected stars this season came from the same team, Tampa Bay’s running back Bucky Irving and tight end Cade Otton. Irving is only rostered on 79% of fantasy teams this year, which is criminally low for how good he's been performing this year. In the last six weeks, Irving has put up over 15 points with one 28-point week under his belt. Otton has had an unexpectedly great season this year, and team managers are taking note of it as Otton went from being rostered on 42% of teams at the start of the season to skyrocketing up to 89% in week 12. Because of the Buccaneer's wide receivers (Chris Godwin and Mike Evans) getting injured in week six, Tampa Bay’s quarterback Baker Mayfield has been targeting Irving and Otton much more, which led to more fantasy success for them both.
Another underrated star this fantasy season is the Detroit Lions’ David Montegomery. Montgomery is the top ranked secondary running back in the league by ESPN, and he has the stats to prove it. Throughout 11 games, he has gained 11 touchdowns and 632 yards as well as averaging 16.4 fantasy points per week. Even though he's been an elite contributor for fantasy teams across the country, he is still left in free agency.
Freshman Max Splonkskowski, who partakes in fantasy football, goes into detail about his experience with free agency.
Who was your best-ever free agency pick-up?
In 2021, I was able to pick up Najee Harris when he wasn’t supposed to have a good year that year.
Who was your worst free agency bust?
I dropped Aaron Rodgers for Matthew Stafford in 2021, and Aaron Rodgers ended up winning the MVP.
Who do you think was the best, unexpected star this season?
Cade Otton definitely surprised me, mainly because I had no idea who he was but randomly had a 32-point week and became the fifth best tight end in the league.
Patton Swenson is a freshman and a first-year writer for the Century Star. Swenson plans on strengthening the Star's sports section.“I want people to know that everyone can read the newspaper, no matter who you are,” he states. Swenson is a two-sport athlete, playing basketball in the winter and running track in the spring. He dabbles in disc golf in the fall and competes across the Bismarck-Mandan area. However, when he isn’t busy with sports or with friends, he’s writing. Swenson plans on using the student body in all of his writings because, “the students are the ones reading the Star, so why shouldn’t they be in the Star?”
Swenson prides himself in his academic ability, and his merits include being a part of the middle school honor roll and earning the Presidential Academic Award in 2021...