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Fantasy football: Top 5 collegiate prospects to watch for 2018

By Jay Marsdale

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tries to escape the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tries to escape the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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No. 5: TE Dallas Goedert (South Dakota State)

This selection is a little off the beaten path, but tight end Dallas Goedert is one of my favorite sleeper tight ends in the 2018 draft class. His physical stature and incredible athleticism are going to make him a matchup nightmare in the NFL.

Goedert has one downside and only one, he hasn’t played good enough competition. He has dominated at South Dakota State, but many people don’t see that as enough to warrant a high selection on draft day.

Neither do most fantasy football players.

Goedert is going to be hyped up immensely between now and draft day, so if you didn’t know him already, you will soon.

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NFL draft expert Mel Kiper has already compared Goedert to Zach Ertz and Todd Heap. If he is even half of what those two players are, isn’t he worth consideration for your fantasy team next season? The comparisons are not far-fetched either. He has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons and amassed 21 touchdowns from the tight end position. The NFL is a big leap from the Missouri Valley Conference, but his highlight reel speaks for itself. 

The 2017 season proved just how difficult it is to find a solid tight end in fantasy football. Behind Rob Gronkowski, Ertz  and Travis Kelce, there were very few reliable options on a weekly basis. Goedert is no sure thing for next season, but the tight end position is going to be just as bare in 2018 as it was in 2017.

Spending a final pick on Goedert in fantasy football only adds insurance to your team at an unstable position.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 NFL Draft prospects to watch at wide receiver

Goedert is a low-risk, high-reward player for fantasy football players to watch to start 2018. Many people drafted players like O.J. Howard and David Njoku as rookies last season expecting top tight end numbers.

Unfortunately, that never happened. With Goedert, you can draft him with little exception as a backup tight end and look like a fantasy football guru once he is let loose on the league.