NFL
Fantasy Football: 8 Late-Round Lottery Tickets for 2017
If Marlon Mack were to carve out a role in the Indianapolis Colts' offense, his touchdown potential would be astronomical. Which other players have the upside we need as late-round fantasy football selections?

Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers

Average Draft Position: 14.02 (WR67)

Speaking of Ginn's old team, there's opportunity to be had at wide receiver. Ginn's out, and rookie Curtis Samuel is dealing with a hamstring injury. That opens the door for an ever-cheap Devin Funchess to be involved.

Funchess isn't our prototype receiver for a lottery ticket because he's not on a high-volume passing team with insane touchdown potential. But he does have a former MVP at quarterback in Newton, and the sheer level of volume he could command is enough to give him upside.

The third-year receiver has been generating buzz at camp, and he cashed that in with important playing time during the Panthers' preseason opener Wednesday.


Funchess is a large mass of a human being, checking in at 6'4", 232 pounds, a build that allowed him to pass as a tight end in college with the Michigan Wolverines. His top comp at the combine -- based on his measurables and workouts -- was Brandon Marshall, according to Player Profiler. The dude has a touchdown-making physique.

On top of that, he's still insanely young. Funchess turned 23 in May, meaning he's three years younger than teammate Kelvin Benjamin, even though the two entered the league one year apart. The first two seasons for Funchess were absolutely disappointing, but he's young, he's getting an opportunity, and he has the profile of a touchdown fiend. That makes him worthy of a look, even if it is a bit unconventional.

Prev Next

Related News

The 7 Riskiest Players in Fantasy Football

Barry Cohen  --  Aug 10th, 2017

Using Our Draft Kit to Win Your ESPN Fantasy Football League

Brandon Gdula  --  Aug 10th, 2017

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Where Are the Quarterbacks?

Matt Blair  --  Aug 10th, 2017