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Texas A&M Football: Aggies featured among ESPN Fantasy top 200 rankings

By Matthew Bartlett

Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) drops a pass in the first half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) drops a pass in the first half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M football has produced many elite NFL talents in the past several season. Some of those players have become valuable fantasy football assets.

ESPN recently released its preseason fantasy football rankings and two* Aggies made the list of the top 200 players. Although Texas A&M has produced plenty of NFL talent, few of those names play skill positions and have relevance in fantasy football. Consider this a shout out to guys like Von Miller, Michael Bennett, Jake Matthews, Luke Joeckel, Germain Ifedi, Drew Kaser, Myles Garrett and many others.

As far as fantasy football relevant players, Aggies can claim one of the very best: Mike Evans. Evans is ESPN’s No. 7 overall player for the 2017 season. The former maroon and white wide receiver now catches passes from Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay and has been nothing short of amazing in three professional seasons. Evans finished the 2016 season third among all wide receivers in fantasy points (304.1 in ESPN standard PPR leagues). That was less than a touchdown behind No. 1 receiver Antonio Brown.

Evans isn’t the only Aggie pass catcher worth snagging. Former Dallas Cowboy, Chicago Bear and New England Patriot Martellus Bennett. Tight end No. 11 according to ESPN’s fantasy rankings, Bennett checks in at No. 120 overall. Admittedly there is some uncertainty around Bennett who will be catching passes this season with his fourth NFL team. The upside: he’s playing for the Green Bay Packers and gets to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers.

Prepping for your Fantasy Draft

It’s going to be hard to grab Evans in fantasy drafts this coming season. ESPN’s five rankers had him as high as No. 5 and as low as No. 11 with an average draft position of 6.8. If you’re lucky enough to have a top three pick you’ll probably stick with one of the elite running backs: Le’veon Bell, David Johnson or Ezekiel Elliott. After that you’ll probably only get one shot at Evans who won’t be on the board very long.

Next: Revisiting the 2012 Aggie football recruiting class

Bennett will be another story. Including Rob Gronkowski (No. 22) and Jordan Reed (No. 32), there are only eight tight ends ranked in the top 100. If you don’t snag one of the best guys it’ll be worth taking a flier on any of the Green Bay pass catches not named Jordy Nelson. Bennett was ranked as high as No. 98 and as low as being unranked by one ranker. In a standard 10 team league that would put Bennett somewhere between rounds 10 and 14.

***Rankings from ESPN***