4 Players to Stash in Fantasy Football From the NFC South
Kenny Bell, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Player
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Kenny Bell with a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft, they were attempting to infuse their offense with the one thing it lacked: speed.
Mike Evans and the quickly aging Vincent Jackson were imposing targets with the ability to make plays down the field, but neither possessed the blazing speed to back up safeties and open up the middle of the field. But after a disappointing training camp that ended with a hamstring injury, Bell was put on injured reserve.
As a college star at Nebraska, Bell was grabbing passes in a run-first system from some of the least accurate scrambling quarterbacks in football. Yet he still left school as the all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.
Athletically, Bell has speed and explosiveness to burn, and his athletic profile compares him favorably to players such as Jeremy Maclin, Allen Hurns, and Reggie Wayne:
| Name | Height | Weight | 40 yd | Vert | Broad | 3 Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenny Stills | 6' 0" | 194 | 4.38 | 33½" | 124" | 7.13 |
| Torrey Smith | 6' 1" | 204 | 4.41 | 41" | 126" | 6.72 |
| Nelson Agholor | 6' 0" | 198 | 4.42 | 36½" | 125" | 6.83 |
| Kenny Bell | 6' 1" | 197 | 4.42 | 41½" | 129" | 6.66 |
| Jerome Simpson | 6' 2" | 199 | 4.42 | 37½" | 136" | 7.08 |
| Reggie Wayne | 6' 1" | 198 | 4.45 | 36" | ||
| Jeremy Maclin | 6' 1" | 198 | 4.45 | 35½" | 120" | 7.06 |
| Stefon Diggs | 6' 0" | 195 | 4.46 | 35" | 115" | 7.03 |
| Marvin Jones | 6' 2" | 199 | 4.46 | 33" | 112" | 6.81 |
| Allen Hurns | 6' 1" | 198 | 4.55 | 31" | 120" | 7.23 |
While he doesn't possess the sure hands or distinct route running of an early career Wayne, he certainly has the ability to mature in those areas. If he can put it all together and grow in his craft, an Allen Hurns type of result is well within the realm of possibility.
The Opportunity
Vincent Jackson is entering his age-33 season, and the injuries have piled up (he missed six games in 2015 and has been in and out of training camp in 2016 due to old age). Bell is the prime candidate to replace Jackson if the injuries continue to mount this season and definitely into 2017 when it is unlikely that Jackson is brought back to the team.
Jameis Winston's star appears to be on the rise, breaking 4,000 yards passing as a rookie and accounting for 28 touchdowns. If he continues to ascend as a player, he and Evans could form a Julio Jones/Roddy White duo for head coach (and former Falcons offensive coordinator) Dirk Koetter.
When healthy, Jackson commands roughly 120 to 140 targets alongside Evans, and that number is with passers such as Mike Glennon, Josh McCown and the rookie Winston.
While the breakout likely won't come in 2016 with Jackson secure in his role and the steady Adam Humphries manning the slot, his value will only rise as the season progresses. Dynasty owners take note: if you want in on the Kenny Bell (a.k.a. Afro Thunder) experience, now is the time to invest.
