Roundtable: 8 WRs Trending Down Prior To Free Agency

Photo: USA Today Sports

Free agency is just around the corner. With it, comes changes in dynasty player values. Our staff gathers together to give a preview of players trending in positive or negative directions. Here are the wide receivers tending down.

Allen Lazard, Free Agent

Dave Kluge - Allen Lazard was in a great position to maximize his value on last year’s restricted tag. Going into 2022, his career was defined by hustle. He was a stellar blocker and ripped off hard yards after the catch. After Davante Adams was traded, the stage was set for him to have a career year. He did but came very short of expectations. His 2022 film is full of drops, concentration issues, and giving up on routes. Teams will take notice, and he probably won’t command the contract people expected a year ago.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Free Agent

Jason Wood - This is a fairly weak crop of receivers, and it'll be a buyers' market. The two veterans expected to land the largest contracts are JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jakobi Meyers. Meyers is almost certainly going to get $16-$18mm per year on a team with a better passing attack than he enjoyed in New England. So he's not a loser. But what about Smith-Schuster? He gambled on himself with a one-year deal in Kansas City, and it paid off to the tune of a Super Bowl ring. But he only had 933 yards and three touchdowns for the league's best offense, and it seems he'll have to find a new home. Is there any chance he lands in a situation on par with the Chiefs? Not likely.

Kevin Coleman - JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of the most confusing dynasty assets heading into 2023. Last season with the Chiefs, he caught 78 of 101 targets for 933 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns. There were times that he looked like the old Smith-Schuster from 2017 and 2018 that was fantasy relevant, including averaging 6.0 YAC per reception, which was the best he has done in his career. But his touchdown number dipped, and he has turned into a possession receiver who can not get open consistently. If he re-signs with the Chiefs, his value could remain stable, but there are a ton of unknowns about the free-agent wide receiver's future.