Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
Gambling with your fantasy picks can be stressful, but it can also be exhilarating. If you're willing to take some chances, here are 7 players who could deliver league-winning performances in 2017 - as long as they don't sink your team first.
Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
Was Roethlisberger crying wolf when he spoke of retirement this offseason? Or was he revealing something football fans should have noticed a while ago: he's breaking down. Roethlisberger has played all 16 games just twice in the last eight years and has frequently rushed back from injuries, perhaps without allowing them to fully heal. When healthy, and when his formidable arsenal of receiving weapons are too, Roethlisberger should be one of fantasy's top passers. But can owners really count on him being available when it matters?
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢
ADP: 8th round (QB13)
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Raiders
Lynch returns from retirement to a plum situation behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines in a city he loves and that adores him back. So, why are we so uneasy about drafting him? It could be that Lynch is 31 and it's rare for a player his age to produce RB1 numbers, let alone one coming off a year away from football. There's also the fact that Lynch wasn't particularly effective when we last saw him on the field. "Beast Mode" averaged a paltry 3.8 yards per carry as he battled a sports hernia in 2015. The risk of him taking a few hard hits in Oakland and remembering why he walked away from football in the first place is real.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢
ADP: 2nd round (RB12)
Ty Montgomery, RB, Packers
The Packers gave Montgomery something of a vote of confidence by not signing a free-agent running back and waiting until the fourth round of the draft to add depth at the position. It cannot be overlooked, however, that they drafted three tailbacks and one of them, Jamaal Williams, is seeing first-team reps in training camp. A converted receiver, Montgomery has just one game on his career resume with more than 12 carries. He has tremendous upside in what should be one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses, but his owners won't rest easy until Montgomery proves he can hold up to a feature-back workload.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢
ADP: 5th round (RB20)
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Eagles
Fantasy owners who look at last year's stats will be drawn to Blount after his 18-touchdown campaign. However, that came as a member of the Super Bowl champion Patriots. Now with the Eagles, Blount's goal-line opportunities won't be nearly as frequent. Behind one of the league's best offensive lines, Blount will have a chance at reaching double digit touchdowns, but eclipsing 1,100 yards again will be a challenge for the 30-year-old back.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢☢
ADP: 5th round (RB23)
Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars
Most fantasy owners will be reluctant to commit to Robinson after he followed up his 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown breakout season in 2015 with just 883 yards and six scores last year. The Jags' No. 1 receiver failed to top 60 yards in 10 of his outings in 2016, relegating him to the bench in many fantasy leagues. The 23-year-old did end the year on a high note with two solid games, something new head coach Doug Marrone attributed to the coaching staff moving him around the formation more. As long as Blake Bortles doesn't sewer the offense by himself, the Jags will be an improved unit and Robinson should get back to dominating downfield.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢
ADP: 4th round (WR18)
Martavis Bryant, WR, Steelers
There's no bigger risk than a player coming off a year-long suspension. Bryant is one mistake away from potentially losing his career, so he'll need to earn back the trust of the coaching staff before he once again settles in as a starter. When he's on the field, Bryant is the second-best receiver on the roster, and the Steelers have missed his game-breaking ability across from Antonio Brown. You won't find many players with Bryant's upside in the middle rounds.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢☢
ADP: 5th round (WR26)
Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins
When healthy, Reed is the only tight end in the NFL who can challenge Rob Gronkowski as the league's best at the position. Unfortunately, he's missed 18 games over his four-year NFL career and his concussion history is extremely worrisome. Jay Gruden has been very clear about what Reed means to the Redskins - stating in March that their offense runs through their star tight end - so fantasy owners should continue to expect him to put up monster numbers when he's active. The only question will be the number of weeks you'll need to find a replacement.
Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢☢
ADP: 5th round (TE4)
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(Photos courtesy: Action Images)