NFL
5 Players You Should Reach for in Fantasy Football Drafts
Which players should you be willing to take a slight gamble on in fantasy football drafts this year?

Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers

Melvin Gordon burned a lot of fantasy drafters in 2015. That could be different in 2016.

Our own Jim Sannes Todd Gurley. A healthy offensive line should increase the frequency of his successful runs. The return of the team's number-one receiver in Keenan Allen should also help open up some running lanes.

Another reason for optimism with Gordon was his excellent catch rate of 89%, securing 33 catches on 37 targets in 2015. With that kind of production in the passing game, Gordon's role in the receiving game could eat into Danny Woodhead's work.

Since Jim's article in January, there have been a Ryan Mathews to the tune of 1,255 rushing yards, all the while allowing Woodhead to eat in the receiving game. Under Whiz, there should definitely still be room for two productive fantasy backs.

Finally, the sunk cost of a first-round draft pick means the Chargers aren't going to give up on Gordon after one bad rookie season, especially after not having drafted another back in May. A young running back who has the second-most rushing yards in a single season in FBS history combined with near-elite athleticism doesn't come around very often in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

As such, get Gordon in the late-fifth or early-sixth round to beat your leaguemates to the punch. Gordon's surrounding circumstances were so bad last year that a few changes in fortune might have him flash that RB1 upside in 2016 that everyone was sure he had heading into his rookie season.

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