Links to similar discussions on other positions:
A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. There is value available throughout a draft, and grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. In an attempt to point out this value, we asked our staff to look through the Top 150 and identify players that should outperform their draft position.
Here are the players who received the most votes:
- Odell Beckham
- Antonio Brown
- Amari Cooper
And here are all of the payers mentioned and the reasons why.
Players Receiving 5 Votes
Amari Cooper, Dallas | Consensus Rankings WR13 | Consensus Projections WR13
Victoria Geary: Cooper is being severely undervalued in favor of the CeeDee Lamb hype train. Though he hasn't been the most consistent wide receiver throughout his career, his stat lines with Dak Prescott at the helm are undeniable. Before Prescott was injured last season, Cooper was the overall PPR WR1 from Weeks 1-4 scoring 21.3 points per game and only one touchdown in that time span. He was also hyper-targeted in those games, accumulating 51 total targets - an average of 13 per game. A carousel of four different quarterbacks still couldn't stop Cooper from finishing as the PPR WR15 on the season. It's time we change our biased mindset on the narrative of Cooper's erratic production.
Jordan McNamara: In his career, Amari Cooper has played 93 games. In the 30 games, he has played with Dak Prescott, has averaged 8.3 targets, 5.7 receptions, 77.9 receiving yards, and 0.5 touchdowns per game or 16.6 points per game in PPR scoring. In the 63 games without Prescott, Cooper has averaged 7.4 targets, 4.4 targets, 61.62 receiving yards, and 0.37 touchdowns or 12.85 points per game in PPR scoring. Cooper took it to another level in 2020, averaging 84.8 yards per game and 7.8 receptions per game before Dak’s injury. His floor is very high and there is a ceiling not baked into his projections.
Chad Parsons: Cooper was THE WR1 during the span where Dak Prescott was healthy in 2020. Dallas will have a middling-at-best defense and expect shootouts again this season. Cooper has elite upside for a reasonable cost on one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.
Ryan Weisse: It's been pointed out by many that Cooper was the number 1 overall wide receiver in fantasy when Dak was healthy last season. If that's not value as the WR13, I'm not sure what is? There isn't much to not like about Amari Cooper in 2021. He plays in a high-volume, pass-friendly offense. He is going to see 120+ targets. He has put his inconsistency behind him. There are weapons all over this offense, but Cooper is the best of the bunch.
Jason Wood: Amari Cooper proved again last year he's not giving up his spot as Dallas' No. 1 easily. He was on pace for a monstrous 1,600-yard season last year with Dak Prescott healthy but managed a 77-catch, 1,003-yard, 6 TD mark without him. Dallas' offense should be at or near the top of the league with Prescott and the offensive line healthy. Cooper was the No. 8 fantasy receiver in 2019 when things were clicking. That's his baseline expectation this year, yet he's being drafted several rounds later.
Players Receiving 4 Votes
Odell Beckham, Cleveland | Consensus Rankings WR31 | Consensus Projections WR35
Sigmund Bloom: Beckham will have to overcome a low volume pass offense to be a hit at ADP, but he is in a role that makes it easy to do that. The Browns running game will set up deep play-action shots and Beckham will be the target on those plays. Last year he had one bomb touchdown against the Bengals and was held on a possible a second, and posted one of his classic outburst games against the Cowboys. We haven't seen what he can do in this offense when it is humming like it was in the second half of the season. How quickly we forget what he is capable of.
Ryan Hester: Recent reports suggest that Beckham is back and healthy. Those reports come from teammate Jarvis Landry, but they're still great to hear this early in the offseason process. Cleveland won't have enough passing game volume to launch Beckham into the WR1 ranks, but his explosiveness typically provides a couple of weeks in the top-10 each season. Going at sub-30 among receivers, Beckham offers a high weekly ceiling at an affordable price.
Andy Hicks: At his best, his current ADP would make Odell Beckham an absolute steal for your draft. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been a fantasy WR1 since 2016. Three injury-interrupted seasons in his last four Is not a good sign. He has had every opportunity to sulk his way out of Cleveland but has been resolute. 2021 is the season that pays off. Take him as a flex player. If it all works out, he can carry you high in your league standings. If he doesn’t, the price is worth the risk. He will be worth monitoring during training camp as his ADP could skyrocket with positive press.
Troy King: Beckham is almost being overlooked in drafts due to missing the majority of the season due to injury. He has proven to be one of the best and most dynamic receivers in the league. Last year, the Browns significantly improved on offense (16th best total offense )and were 14th in passing TDs. The superior run game will continue to allow opportunities in the passing game. Beckham should thrive on the efficiency of the Browns' much-improved offense.
Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings WR42 | Consensus Projections WR52
Anthony Amico: The Bucs were passing the ball 61% of the time during the first half of the year, and then climbed to 66.6% after signing Brown. The mercurial wideout took on 19.2% of the targets and averaged 14.6 PPR points per game -- which would have made him a WR2. Now he's being drafted outside of the top-40 of the position. Brown stands to beat out his ADP in a neutral situation, and should anything happen to either Chris Godwin or Mike Evans, a top-16 finish is in play.
Ryan Hester: He's the third receiver on his own team, but Brown is being overlooked by fantasy GMs. Tampa Bay's target distribution will be among the most receiver-heavy in the NFL, making Brown a valuable commodity despite his place on the depth chart. Bruce Arians loves running receiver-rich sets and throwing downfield. Tom Brady loves throwing to whoever has the best matchup and gets open. Brown is still capable of beating nickel corners and safeties, and he has the built-in upside of being able to step in and be a high-quality perimeter receiver if Mike Evans or Chris Godwin are injured.
Chad Parsons: Brown is clearly the most affordable of the Big 3 Tampa Bay wide receivers and yet Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown were all close in targets (each 100+ pace for the season in Week 9 and beyond) after Brown was activated. Attach fantasy wide receivers to high-level quarterbacks, especially for affordable costs and in higher volume offenses. All apply to Antonio Brown in 2021.
Matt Waldman: Brown emerged down the stretch and I don't think that production is going away in 2021. In fact, I think Brown, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin are all capable of no worse than fantasy WR2 value with Tom Brady under center. Peyton Manning did it with Eric Decker, Wes Welker, and Demaryius Thomas during his second season in Denver. In fact, two of the three were fantasy WR1s in 2013.
Players Receiving 3 Votes
Brandin Cooks, Houston | Consensus Rankings WR32 | Consensus Projections WR24
Jordan McNamara: Brandin Cooks is undervalued, which is the same headline as any of the past five years. In his seven-year career, Cooks has been a top-20 wide receiver five times. His misses: his rookie season and an injury-shortened final season with the Rams. If Watson does not return to the Texans, this will clearly be the worst quarterback situation for Cooks in his career, yet Cooks will be clearly the best receiving threat on his team for the first time in his career. Ultimately, the targets matter more than the quarterback and Cooks could push 130+ targets as Houston plays from behind without a good supporting cast.
Jason Wood: Is there a more misunderstood player? Every year fantasy managers come up with reasons to ignore Brandin Cooks, and every year he demolishes his ADP. It makes no sense. How many other receivers can deliver 1,000-yard seasons in five out of six years? How many can do that playing on four different teams? With four different quarterbacks? Cooks has finished 12th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 62nd, and 16th in the last six years. While the Texans situation has many questions, including who'll be under center, Cooks has proven he can be a top-20 fantasy asset regardless of system or signal-caller. He's also in line for a career-high target share given the lack of compelling alternatives on the roster.
Anthony Amico: Jason already included most of the reasons to be bullish on Cooks at this cost.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle | Consensus Rankings WR17 | Consensus Projections WR14
Jeff Haseley: The Seahawks' No. 2 wide receiver has 28 touchdowns in his last three years. Let that sink in. Russell Wilson has topped 30 touchdown passes in the last four years and five of the last six. DK Metcalf may be the No. 1 wide receiver in Seattle, but Lockett is still putting up WR1 numbers. It's possible and plausible that Seattle could have two top-15 wide receivers and Lockett continues to be of tremendous value. Value can often be found with the No. 2 wide receiver on a potent team where the top wide receiver is elite. Lockett is a perfect example of that.
Justin Howe: Lockett has indeed slid behind a few speculative guys despite a great fantasy pedigree. He's been streaky as Pete Carroll has jerked the Seahawks in and out of a ground-dominant power offense, but the tea leaves simply don't fall that way anymore. This is an offense led by a Hall of Fame passer and packed to the gills with dynamic downfield playmakers. The Seahawks just aren't built well for a grind-it-out attack anymore; even the front line looks custom-designed to protect the quarterback first and foremost. And any sustained passing volume should keep Lockett squarely in the top-15 conversation. Over the past 2 seasons, he's commanded 89% of the offensive snaps and a team-high 22.4% of targets. There's a week-to-week upside, too: Lockett has posted eight games of 20+ PPR points over that span.
Jason Wood: Where is the disconnect? Lockett's ADP doesn't align with either his established baseline or trend analysis. He's being drafted as though he's on the downward trajectory of his career. Yet, he's not yet 29 years old. He has an elite quarterback in Russell Wilson with an undeniable rapport. Lockett has finished 11th, 16th, and 11th in the last three seasons and there's been no discernible change to his role or his supporting cast. If anything, there's upside from the 2018-2020 seasons because of new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron; who comes over from Los Angeles with a modern, aggressive passing system.
Players Receiving 2 Votes
Corey Davis, NY Jets | Consensus Rankings WR45 | Consensus Projections WR49
Chad Parsons: Davis was paid well in free agency to head to the Jets, a passing game wide open for targets. Zach Wilson is a rookie variable at quarterback, but even bottom-8 passing game in the NFL averages a WR34 finish for the No.1 receiver on the team. Davis is the odds-on favorite for the role and is priced below even the average WR1 result assuming the Jets are a poor passing team (not a given).
Jason Wood: Corey Davis is probably miscast as a No. 1 receiver. But the Jets paid him to be their lead receiver and the new coaching staff is going to give him every opportunity to be the lead pass catcher. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson will be thrown into the deep end, which means a high-volume passing attack. It's hard to model a Jets season without Davis having at least 100 targets, and history tells us 100+ target receivers demonstrably outperform Davis' current ADP. He's not going to be a league winner, but he's going to be a usable piece in your lineup most weeks.
Kenny Golladay, NY Giants | Consensus Rankings WR27 | Consensus Projections WR33
Pat Fitzmaurice: The lack of enthusiasm for Golladay can probably be explained by a 2020 hip injury that limited him to five games. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Golladay was at the height of his powers just two seasons ago, catching 65 passes for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns, good for a WR9 finish in PPR scoring. Third-string quarterback David Blough started five games for the Lions that year while Matthew Stafford was out, and Golladay produced at a 1,200-yard pace in Blough's starts. Golladay is one of the better vertical receivers and contested catch-artists in the game. The move to the Giants and the pairing with Daniel Jones shouldn't be considered worrisome enough to knock Golladay out of the top 20 at wide receiver.
Andy Hicks: There are two ways to look at Kenny Golladay. The first is that the Giants overpaid. He checked out of the 2020 season with Detroit and hasn’t proven himself an elite wide receiver. The second is where I sit. He was an ascendant talent that got waylaid for all sorts of reasons last year. The Giants see him as a number one receiver, paid him as such, and will use him that way. He is a dominant physical presence and will make all those around him better too. Daniel Jones may not be Matthew Stafford, but he is good enough to have Golladay outplay his ADP.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh | Consensus Rankings WR23 | Consensus Projections WR30
Victoria Geary: Though injuries plagued roughly 25% of Diontae Johnson's 2020 season, he was a PPR monster when he was on the field. In his healthy games from Weeks 1 through 16, Johnson averaged 12 targets, 75 yards, and 18.72 PPR points per game. Those stats would have slotted him in at the WR5 in points per game, right between Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. The good news about Johnson leading the league in dropped passes with 16 last year? Dropped passes are a completely volatile, unpredictable statistic that should not scare us off. With Ben Roethlisberger back at the helm, we should expect Johnson to garner the most targets for the Steelers once again. Johnson will likely remain a screaming value in PPR formats through the entirety of draft season.
Ryan Hester: As Victoria pointed out, Johnson was Pittsburgh's top producer last season, and he left some room for further upside. Whether he reaches that upside on a team with a poor offensive line that is also trying to be more balanced this year remains to be seen. But Johnson is being drafted near his floor. If drops are a concern, consider that Pittsburgh's offense struggled mightily without Johnson, who only had one game after Week 6 in which he failed to catch eight or more passes and gain fewer than 60 yards. That game was against Buffalo when he was benched for drops. The following two weeks, he caught 16 passes for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns. The team needs Johnson to be a chain-mover.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas | Consensus Rankings WR15 | Consensus Projections WR16
Phil Alexander: Lamb was on pace for a historically productive rookie season before Dak Prescott was lost for the year with an ankle injury. In Prescott's five 2020 appearances, Lamb racked up 422 yards, two touchdowns, and blew the other Cowboys receivers out of the water in RACR, a metric created by Josh Hermsmeyer that measures how many receiving yards a player creates for every air yard thrown his way. Even before reports Amari Cooper might miss the start of training camp with a lingering ankle injury, Lamb was poised for a second-year leap into WR1 territory.
Ryan Weisse: For many of the same reasons to love Amari Cooper, you should love CeeDee Lamb. He was the WR24 as a rookie, while stuck with poor QB play for most of the season. His 935 receiving yards ranked 24th in the league and he scored five TDs. With a full season of experience and, more importantly, a full season of Dak Prescott, there is no reason to not expect those numbers to go up. Lamb is currently being drafted as the WR15, but could easily finish the season in the top-5. The Cowboys could do what Tampa Bay almost did a few years ago and give us two top-five fantasy wide receivers.
Terry McLaurin, Washington | Consensus Rankings WR11 | Consensus Projections WR10
Phil Alexander: McLaurin is one of only 30 wide receivers since the 1970 merger to total at least 2,000 receiving yards in his first two pro seasons. It's a milestone made more impressive by the fact McLaurin has played with Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback over the last two years. Whatever you think about Ryan Fitzpatrick, he's easily the best quarterback McLaurin has ever played with and has a long track record of boosting the fantasy numbers of those around him. A top-5 finish isn't out of the question for McLaurin in what figures to be a vastly improved Washington offense.
Jeff Haseley: Terry McLaurin had career-highs in receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,118) in 2020 despite playing through two high ankle sprains. His touchdown totals dropped from 7 to 4, mainly due to Washington's struggles at quarterback last season. Ryan Fitzpatrick enters the equation which should give McLaurin a boost as he continues to expand his breakout.
Courtland Sutton, Denver | Consensus Rankings WR29 | Consensus Projections WR15
Drew Davenport: Fantasy drafters sometimes have short memories. Sutton's injury has dropped his ADP to a degree that isn't recognizing his upside. Just two years ago he posted a 72-catch, 1,100-yard season playing with some questionable quarterbacks. Whoever wins the job between Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater is immaterial, Sutton proved that he is quarterback-proof and will produce no matter who is under center. The fact that his injury occurred early in 2020 is even more cause for optimism. There is a real possibility that Sutton pushes for Top 20 numbers this year. That makes him a strong value at current ADP.
Troy King: Sutton being out all of last year due to injury is playing a huge part in his ADP. In 2019, he was 13th in PPG. He posted 72 receptions (on 124 targets) 1112 yards and 6 TDs. He is still the WR1 and should still be the target leader in the offense.
Robert Woods, LA Rams | Consensus Rankings WR18 | Consensus Projections WR10
Drew Davenport: Another summer, and another vote for Robert Woods as a value play. While Jared Goff's play tailed off the last two seasons measurably, Woods was still able to fight his way to a PPR WR14 finish in both campaigns. Before that, when Goff and company were clicking in a more efficient fashion Woods finished PPR WR11 in 2018. The arrival of Matthew Stafford should at the very least give the offense a boost with his veteran savvy and ability to push the ball down the field. But oddly Woods is being drafted well below any of his previous three years' fantasy finishes. And should Stafford bring the offense back to form? Woods has a chance to equal or better his WR11 production from a few years back. That's fantastic value.
Matt Waldman: When the play-action game was working well in L.A., Jared Goff had a healthy yards-per-attempt average and Robert Woods earned more production as a vertical threat. Woods' yards-per-catch average dropped two yards per attempt during the past two seasons that Goff and the Rams' offense struggled. Expect the combination of Cam Akers-Darrell Henderson-Matthew Stafford to generate a healthy play-action game that benefits Woods' per-catch production. I'm expecting one of Woods' better years to happen in 2021.
Players Receiving 1 Vote
Robby Anderson, Carolina | Consensus Rankings WR34 | Consensus Projections WR27
Drew Davenport: Nobody knew what to expect from the new offense in Carolina last year. But the Panthers peppered Anderson with targets, and after leaving a moribund Adam Gase offense all Anderson did was post a 95-catch season with plenty of targets in the short passing game. The one major concern is how new arrival Sam Darnold can run the offense for Joe Brady. But otherwise, there is no reason why a guy who commanded 136 targets is going as a low-end WR3 in drafts at the moment. The offensive system isn't likely to change, the only question to be answered is Darnold, and that risk is more than baked into the current ADP.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati | Consensus Rankings WR35 | Consensus Projections WR26
Sigmund Bloom: Boyd should lead the Bengals in receptions this year and the Bengals should be one of the top 2-3 teams in total wide receiver receptions. He should be well over 100 if Joe Burrow stays healthy, which is closer to a WR1 in PPR value than the WR3/WR4 he is being drafted as. Don't worry about the addition of Ja'Marr Chase, A.J. Green vacated 104 targets and Burrow averaged over 28 wide receiver targets per game last year.
JaMarr Chase, Cincinnati | Consensus Rankings WR25 | Consensus Projections WR22
Ryan Hester: Due to opting out of the 2020 college football season, it's been a while since football fans have seen Chase play. That year-plus off can make it easy to forget how dominant Chase was during his sophomore season at LSU. Chase caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards (21.2 yards per catch) and 20 touchdowns. He also ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Chase can catch passes at all levels of the field. And he'll once again be catching passes from his college quarterback. Chase's physical tools give him top-12 positional upside in any given week, and he's being drafted outside of the WR2 ranks in 12-team leagues.
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh | Consensus Rankings WR28 | Consensus Projections WR29
Andy Hicks: Chase Claypool had an impressive rookie season, despite serious competition from a stacked receiving corps. Claypool was also a raw prospect heading into 2020, so his rookie season was all about ability. With a solid training camp and further development, he can be one of the most dominant receivers in the NFL. It may not be this year, but it will be soon. He has a rare size and speed combination, with his work ethic championed by teammates. It will be hard for him to fail at his current draft price, but the upside is best in the business.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings WR14 | Consensus Projections WR19
Matt Waldman: Evans is one of the top two options for a quarterback who can support four or five fantasy starters in this passing game. The context behind Evans' 2020 decline in yardage is lost on most people. They see 7 games with less than 50 yards -- and 3 with 10 yards or less -- and presume a crowded depth chart of talent. Although many remember the knee injury he suffered late in the year, Evans played through a hamstring injury that occurred prior to the season-opener. Even so, he delivered top-12 production in PPR formats. Evans was also the third-ranked receiver in the NFL with nine touchdowns inside the 10 yard-line last year. The too many mouths to feed analysis I see about offenses like this is really too many brain cells concentrating on the wrong thing. A healthy Evans is a yardage and touchdown machine.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay | Consensus Rankings WR16 | Consensus Projections WR18
Ryan Weisse: The wide receiver position is so deep this season, but there may be no better value play than Chris Godwin. Godwin competed to be the best fantasy WR in 2019 with Jameis Winston at the helm and played very well again last season with Tom Brady. Injuries stopped us from seeing what he truly could have been with Brady but the numbers are there. Even competing with Mike Evans and Antonio Brown, Godwin averaged more than 16 fantasy points per game when all three played together, and only his numbers improved during the playoffs. Playing the slot for Tom Brady is a recipe for fantasy success and Godwin could end up with over 130 targets in 2021.
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City | Consensus Rankings WR56 | Consensus Projections WR53
Sigmund Bloom: Hardman is out of excuses entering a make or break year. The #2 wide receiver job is up for grabs after Sammy Watkins left for Baltimore and the Chiefs were unsuccessful in their pursuit of top free-agent receivers. The team hopes he is better this year because he is relatively new to his position and the lack of an offseason last year set him back more than others. Even if he remains frustrating and disappointing, the price to get someone who could be a key piece of a Patrick Mahomes II offense is too cheap to pass up.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati | Consensus Rankings WR24 | Consensus Projections WR23
Drew Davenport: Since head coach Zac Taylor arrived the Bengals have thrown the ball a lot. They threw it the fourth-most times in 2019 despite starting Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley. In 2020 Joe Burrow averaged over 40 attempts per game before being injured. That many attempts extrapolated over 16 games would've smashed the second-place team. On top of that, Taylor, similar to mentor Sean McVay, uses a high percentage of three-wide-receiver sets (11 Personnel) and they did so 76% of the time last season. Yes, Ja'Marr Chase is going to demand targets, but Higgins is no slouch himself and all three wide receivers will play plenty. Expect Higgins to step forward in his second year and perform well above his current draft slot. The competition from Chase is real, but shouldn't have Higgins pushed so far down draft boards.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis | Consensus Rankings WR47 | Consensus Projections WR47
Sigmund Bloom: Hilton came on late last year, but he never really seemed to click with Philip Rivers. When the Colts added Carson Wentz, Hilton openly celebrated the return of the deep ball. The team gave Hilton eight million dollars on the open market, so they obviously still see him as a core starter for 2021. Perhaps Hilton is in his decline phase, but his price is so cheap compared to last year that it's well worth the risk to see if Rivers was actually the culprit behind his poor season.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver | Consensus Rankings WR36 | Consensus Projections WR38
Pat Fitzmaurice: A receiver this talented shouldn't have an eighth-round ADP. No, Jeudy didn't have a dazzling rookie season. He finished with 52 catches for 856 yards and three touchdowns, and he had more than his fair share of drops. He also had an abysmal 46% catch rate, but poor quarterbacking explains much of that. According to PFF, Jeudy had 26 uncatchable targets, the highest total in the league. Quarterbacking may still be an issue if the Broncos aren't able to trade for Aaron Rodgers, but the acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater at least gives the Broncos another option besides Drew Lock, who was responsible for most of those poor throws last year. Jeudy is a terrific route runner with big-play speed, and his sterling college track record at Alabama suggests that an NFL breakout is inevitable.
D.J. Moore, Carolina | Consensus Rankings WR19 | Consensus Projections WR20
Phil Alexander: Even if you don't expect much from Sam Darnold this year, the bar for keeping Carolina's wide receivers afloat (Teddy Bridgewater) is low enough. Moore followed up his 2019 breakout campaign (135-87-1,175-4) with an impressive 118-66-1,193-4 receiving line in 2020, yet most considered it a disappointment. The decrease in targets and receptions was owed to Carolina's new coaching staff deploying Moore primarily as a deep threat. It would be less than ideal if they continue to shoehorn Moore into the role that ought to be Robby Anderson's and vice versa, but Moore only needs touchdown variance to swing his way to crack the top-15 wide receivers. Per Pro Football Focus, Moore was tied for the NFL lead with six uncatchable balls thrown to him in the end zone in 2020.
Michael Pittman, Indianapolis | Consensus Rankings WR53 | Consensus Projections WR57
Andy Hicks: When looking for a receiver in the middle rounds, you look for a high floor and a high ceiling. Michael Pittman is the player you look for in 2021. Pittman has imposing size and demonstrated elite skills last season. T.Y. Hilton is well last 30 and is a complementary receiver these days. Parris Campbell has trouble staying on the field. The stage is set for Pittman to be a starting fantasy receiver and elite one. Very quickly.
Calvin Ridley, Atlanta | Consensus Rankings WR4 | Consensus Projections WR3
Jeff Haseley: There is a real possibility that if Atlanta's passing tendency (top 5 in pass attempts in each of the last three years) continues or doesn't fall off a cliff, Calvin Ridley could finish as the top fantasy receiver. The past indicates that often the top receiver has a wide margin of targets over the next-closest wide receiver on the team. With Julio Jones in Tennessee the next viable targeted wide receiver Russell Gage. Ridley is already being drafted as a top-five receiver but he could finish top 3 or higher.
Laviska Shenault, Jacksonville | Consensus Rankings WR41 | Consensus Projections WR44
Jeff Haseley: Do not be surprised when Laviska Shenault takes over as Jacksonville's #1 wide receiver this season. At 6'2, 220 pounds, Shenault has the size to make an impact on Trevor Lawrence's offense. We've seen Lawrence gravitate to receivers with similar size, speed, and abilities at Clemson. Shenault is reportedly turning heads in OTAs showcasing his talent and skills as he ascends into what many believe will be the lead role on the Jaguars. The hype is starting for the second-year pro who had 58-600-5 as a rookie with sub-par quarterback play.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia | Consensus Rankings WR44 | Consensus Projections WR36
Ryan Weisse: It's not too often you can land a team's top wide receiver in Round 8 or later of fantasy drafts but that is exactly what's happening in Philadelphia. Smith is EASILY the best wide receiver on this team and will be targeted early and often by his former college quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Many will look at this as a low-passing volume offense to avoid, but the Eagles will still throw the ball around 500 times and Smith could end up with 125 of those targets. The transition to the NFL can be hard for rookie wide receivers, but at his current draft cost, Smith is all reward, no risk.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans | Consensus Rankings WR6 | Consensus Projections WR7
Victoria Geary: Some of the best values in fantasy football are players that have recently burned fantasy managers everywhere. Michael Thomas fits that mold this year, as his injury-plagued mediocre 2020 season and heavy recency bias have forced his ADP to plummet behind players like DK Metcalf and Justin Jefferson. Prior to 2020, his worst fantasy finish was the overall PPR WR7, which came in his rookie season. Thomas has scored an average of 19.1 PPR points per game and only missed one game from 2016 through 2019. Do not let the question mark at quarterback in New Orleans scare you away from one of the NFL's most consistent players.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami | Consensus Rankings WR49 | Consensus Projections WR48
Matt Waldman: Henry Ruggs' rookie year has turned a lot of people off to Waddle having a strong start. While having mild expectations for rookie receivers is a respectable strategy and one I often advocate, doing so with logo scouting as a rationale is dangerous. Waddle is a far better route technician and Ruggs and much more than a deep threat. I would not be shocked if Waddle leads Miami in receptions and yardage this year even with DeVante Parker present and healthy. This is a special weapon who has an excellent rapport with his starting quarterback that many will underrate this year because they underestimate the impact of COVID on Tua Tagovailoa's knowledge of the playbook.
Mike Williams, LA Chargers | Consensus Rankings WR50 | Consensus Projections WR50
Justin Howe: The seventh overall pick in 2017, Williams has yet to emerge as anything close to a go-to weapon for the Chargers. But that's been much more a product of his usage as a jump-ball novelty than his efficiency. Williams has posted dazzling metrics when actually thrown to. Over the past three years, his 10.0 yards per target stands among the league's elite - in fact, higher than the likes of Tyreek Hill, Julio Jones, or DK Metcalf. Justin Herbert is a cannon-armed prospect with a downfield mentality; he projects as a far superior deep-ball machine than Philip Rivers ever did. If the Chargers want to put that skill set to use, they'll open up Williams' role and try to feed him his first 70-catch season. And if THAT happens, it's not out of line to expect a WR2 finish for the dynamic playmaker.
