Our look at the top value picks in fantasy football drafts is nearing an end, as we come to the tight end position. Sleepers, steals and value picks are really on the same, as one way or another they tell you a player is going to do well, yet they’re under valued to some degree. The tight end position might be the easiest position to find value in this year – not because it’s the deepest – but because beyond Rob Gronkowski, no one knows what to expect.

Jimmy Graham, Jordan Cameron and Julius Thomas are all on new teams and could go either way, Greg Olsen is suddenly far and away Carolina’s only option and many other guys are coming off of down years or have a history of health concerns. That being said, the fact that people are scared to go all in on most of the tight end options means there is bound to be some ridiculous value in a lot of rounds. When you plan to go after your top tight end in your draft is totally up to you, but the following guys represent value in the rounds they’re currently being drafted in:

Julius Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars) – Round 9

I get he’s on the Jaguars and he’s out the first four weeks (hand), but come on. The guy’s upside is obvious after scoring 24 touchdowns in Denver the past two years, while the Jaguars have visibly made strides on offense. Once back, he could end up being the steal of the draft at the tight end position.

Delanie Walker (Tennessee Titans) – Round 10

Walker certainly isn’t a sexy name, but we’re quickly forgetting that this guy was the 12th best tight end in fantasy football uniform in 2013 and finished 9th last year. He’s without a doubt a reliable top-15 guy, especially now that rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota is going to need him as a safety blanket. Walker doesn’t light the world on fire, but he’s a steady option that you can find in round 10.

Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota Vikings) and Zach Ertz (Philadephia Eagles) – Round 11

Rudolph is a beast that has been held back forever either by injuries or bad quarterback play. He’s now healthy, Teddy Bridgewater looks like the real deal and Norv Turner’s system can make tight ends into superheros. Rudy is on the cusp of his best season yet. Ertz is no pushover, either, as he flashed brilliance at times last year, and now in his third season in Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense could be ready to truly blow up.

Dwayne Allen (Indianapolis Colts) – Round 12

Coby Fleener is the sexier option for some reason, even though Allen is the better blocker and more put together player. Fleener did draw way more targets last year, but Allen is in a very explosive Colts offense, so he’s worth the risk this late.

Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) – Round 13

I get that Gates is old and will miss the first four games of the year due to suspension. But this is the #2 tight end in fantasy football of a year ago that we’re talking about. It’s true that LaDarcius Green could steal his thunder, but that’s nothing to worry about when you can take a crack at a potential top-5 option in round 13.

Got another tight end to consider late in fantasy drafts? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Fantasy football is all about value, particularly when it comes to successfully maneuvering through your fantasy league’s draft. Anyone can make good picks in the first two rounds or so, but once you get to the middle and late rounds, you need to know when and where to look to find the gems that will out-play their ADP (Average Draft Position). If you can’t, you’re playing a guessing game and will have to rely on your league’s waiver wire for support.

With other fantasy owners either having priority or a faster draw, that isn’t the best method for finding the hidden gems. Drafting them is. We can’t nail them all, but we sure can point out the value that’s blatantly obvious. We’ve already hit up the quarterback and running back positions, and now we take it to wide receivers to find the best steals throughout the draft:

Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) – Round 2

Megatron was the #1 overall pick for some in the past few years and still has the talent and role to be the top wide receiver in the game. Even with that being true, he’s going in round two in almost every draft. That’s just crazy.

Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears) – Round 3

Brandon Marshall is out of town, so Jeffery is a true #1 wide receiver on a team that should have to continue to throw the ball a ton. He’s a potential stud WR1, yet you can get him in the third round.

Jeremy Maclin (Kansas City Chiefs) – Round 4

Maclin blew up in Philly last year and now he’s back with the guy who drafted him. KC didn’t get any touchdowns to wide receivers last year, but Maclin has already scored twice this preseason. It’s starting to look like he could be a serious value pick.

Brandon Marshall (New York Jets) – Round 5

Marshall’s new scenery makes him somewhat questionable, but the talent and role remain. He’s being drafted like a borderline WR2 and he could still put up WR1 numbers. Draft accordingly.

DeSean Jackson (Washington Redskins) and Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Round 6

Ditto here, as both Jacksons are elite talents in different ways and have huge roles. D-Jax probably carries the upside, but V-Jax is a red-zone menace. Now that both teams have arguable quarterback upgrades, both of these guys could crush their current ADP.

Steve Smith (Baltimore Ravens) – Round 7

Baltimore has no one to throw to that is proven beyond Steve Smith. He’s said this is his last season, so he’s bound to leave everything he has out on the field. Judging from 2014, that’s a good thing.

Mike Wallace (Minnesota Vikings) – Round 8

Kyle Rudolph never is healthy, Cordarrelle Patterson has been a bust and Charles Johnson is unproven. The speedy Wallace could have found the perfect home to return to stardom. He’s a solid WR2 at worst and you just might be finding a WR1 in round eight.

Anquan Boldin (San Francisco 49ers) – Round 9

Boldin clearly gets passed up routinely due to his age and the horror that has been going on in the Bay Area. However, he just keeps getting it done and the Niners only brought in Torrey Smith as competition. If anything, Smith’s ability to stretch the field should help Boldin, not hinder him.

Eric Decker (New York Jets) and Torrey Smith (San Francisco 49ers) – Round 10

This is insane value for two guys who could (and should) be rock solid WR2s in fantasy football. Decker loses some upside with Marshall in town, but he’s still going to see the ball plenty, while Smith is the deep threat for 49ers have been searching for.

Michael Floyd (Arizona Cardinals) and Pierre Garcon (Washington Redskins) – Round 11

Floyd is a top-10 talent that simply needs to stay healthy and also have Carson Palmer stay on the field. If that can happen, he can get 1,000 yards and close to 10 scores. Garcon led the league in receptions just two years ago and is a deep ball menace. Kirk Cousins under center should help him return disgusting value.

Jeff Janis (Green Bay Packers) – Round 13

Perhaps the steal of the entire draft at the position, Janis is just now starting to see his name plucked off draft boards due to the Jordy Nelson injury. Janis is a low risk/high reward option in a potent Packers offense.

Got a better wide receiver sleeper or steal? Lay it on us in the comments below!

Our tour around the NFL takes a stop in the NFC West, as we continue to rank the top starting quarterbacks in every division. Doing so has opened our eyes a bit on some teams and their current situations, especially how it could relate to their attempt to make it to the NFL playoffs.

In other words, it’s not easy to win if you don’t have things figured out under center. Let’s take a look at the four teams custom football jersey in the NFC West and rank their quarterback situations:

4. Nick Foles (St. Louis Rams)

It was just three years ago that Foles took the NFL by storm by throwing just 27 touchdowns to two interceptions. Those ridiculous numbers came crashing back down to earth in 2014, though, as Foles turned the ball over far more before having his season cut short by a collarbone injury. Now he’s in St. Louis and via the mixed results, we can’t be sure exactly what the Rams have under center. On one hand, Foles is a steady pocket passer who anticipates the rush well and displays solid arm strength. On the other, his accuracy can wane and he can make questionable decisions.

We’ll find out which version is the real Foles in 2015, but the good news is the Rams finally get a competent player under center after having to endure life without Sam Bradford (knee injuries) over the past two seasons. If Foles just stays on the field all year, St. Louis should be much better for it. That being said, Foles is new to this division and has arguably proven the least out of the four starting quarterbacks in the NFC West.

3. Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers)

Kaepernick could be argued as the top NFC West passer in terms of sheer talent and upside, while he’s also just one of two NFC West signal callers to appear in a Super Bowl. He didn’t win, though, and other than that has done little to suggest he’s the long-term answer under center for the Niners. Kap has certainly flashed elite running ability and has even dominated as thrower inside the pocket at times, but his inconsistency in that area has been very concerning. Playing in the brutal NFC West hasn’t helped one bit, but not being able to step up his game (or even perform at a moderate level) has really bogged down his overall rating.

Kaepernick has a shot to rebound in 2015 with a new head coach, a new weapon in Torrey Smith and more work on refining his footwork and timing. If he’s actually improved, he could make an argument to be #2 in this division. For now, though, he’s taken a step back.

2. Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals)

Palmer hasn’t been in a Super Bowl and actually has just one playoff appearance under his belt. He also shredded his knee for the second time in his career in 2014 and set to be 36 years old in December, his best days could easily be far behind him. He was fantastic as a starter in 2014, though, and before he went down he had a surprisingly potent Cardinals team looking like legit title contenders. Coming out of the NFC West, that’s saying something.

If Palmer can return to form and stay healthy in 2015, he could potentially pick up where he left off and earn this #2 overall spot in the NFC West. Due to his ability as a pocket passer and the system he’s in, we like his odds.

1. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks)

There can only be one top quarterback in the NFC West and it’s an easy call to make. Russell Wilson is young but he’s already proven his worth in Seattle, as he’s made it to two Super Bowls and won one in his first three seasons. Seattle should once again be a top contender to win it all in 2015, and the elusive, play-making Wilson is probably still the biggest reason why.

Wilson is still waiting to get paid and continues to be vastly underrated by many, but few package mobility, running ability and down field passing like Wilson. He’s even firmly established himself as a sound pocket passer and has never falled below a 63% completion rate. There isn’t much to hate about his cerebral approach to the game and it’s not crazy to think he’ll be even better in his fourth season.

Think our ranking of the four NFC West starting quarterbacks is all jacked up? Let us hear your list in the comments below!