Dynasty Stashes: 4 Former First-Round Wide Receivers

The Footballguys' staff takes a look at four former first round receiving disappointments. Who are they still buying to turn their career around?

Jeff Bell's Dynasty Stashes: 4 Former First-Round Wide Receivers Jeff Bell Published 06/27/2024

Welcome to the second installment of Dynasty Stashes. Follow the Footballguys staff as they name players worth targeting in your dynasty leagues. These players should be fairly affordable now but could pay big dividends in the future.

RELATED: See 3 Possible QB Dynasty Stashes here >>>

Let's continue with the wide receiver position. We asked our staff about four young receivers. Rashod Bateman, Treylon Burks, Quentin Johnston, and Jerry Jeudy are all current first-round disappointments. Who do you still believe in?

Dynasty Stash: Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers

Chad ParsonsQuentin Johnston had a horrible rookie season, period. That said, he is less blocked situationally than Rashod Bateman, Treylon Burks, and Jerry Jeudy, and the biggest key is that Johnston is earlier on the career arc. Round 1 picks who languish without a breakout season like Bateman and Jeudy rarely vault up in production, and Burks is beyond buried in Tennessee.

Ryan Weisse - While I wouldn't say I believe in any of them, Quentin Johnston is the only one in this group I'm not actively fading. He's the best of a bad group. Bateman has had three years to do something but can't stay healthy or climb the depth chart. Similar story with Burks, but even when he's on the field, he hasn't shown that he is anything special. I like Jerry Jeudy, but at best, he's the second wide receiver in an expected low-passing volume offense. Johnston has only played one season, so it's harder to write him off. The Chargers still need a No. 1 wide receiver, and Ladd McConkey doesn't quite fit the mold. This is a huge year for Johnston, and it won't cost you much to add him and see if he lives up to last year's draft hype.

Andy Hicks - Quentin Johnston appeared on the fast track to busting under the previous regime at the Chargers. Usually, you do not like to see rookies have to learn a second playbook in their second year, but the arrival of Jim Harbaugh gives Johnston a chance to start afresh on a depth chart on a team starving for a lead receiver. They have the quarterback and the coach. The team does have solid options in high draft pick Ladd McConkey, with veterans Joshua Palmer and D.J. Chark Jr expected to contribute. Johnston's success gives this offense an immense boost. Although his downside must be weighed into the equation. Johnston does have the skills to be an elite fantasy receiver.

Corey Spala - I do not believe in any of these four wide receivers. However, I have been trying to acquire Quentin Johnston this offseason. Long gone are the days of allowing wide receivers to develop for a couple of years, and in came the immediate gratification of rookie season expectations. The hope on the horizon is the wide-open wide receiver room with an elite quarterback and new coaching staff.

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Dynasty Stash: Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland

Matt Montgomery- There may be no player needing a change of scenery more than Jerry Jeudy. He goes to a Cleveland team that has been dynamic offensively and likely plays with the most talented quarterback in his career in Deshaun Watson. I also believe that Kevin Stefanski, a top-tier offensive coach, will improve the value, although Jeudy came from Sean Payton. Jeudy has shown us spurts of greatness but hasn’t been able to put it together consistently. I believe he will be stable in Cleveland, which will naturally improve his value. 

Dan Hindery - Jerry Jeudy is my favorite of these players. We gain insight into how teams view players based on how much money they are willing to pay them. Rashod Bateman's value has been boosted since the Ravens gave him a two-year, $16M extension. Their investment pales compared to the contract Jerry Jeudy recently received from the Browns (three years and $53M). Cleveland's front office has had some success paying first-round picks who started slowly surprisingly large contracts and seeing their faith in those players rewarded. David Njoku is a prime example, and he was a comparison general manager Andrew Berry invoked when explaining why the team was willing to pay Jeudy so much.

 

Dynasty Stash: Rashod Bateman, Baltimore

Hutchinson Brown — I'm gonna be honest. I do not have faith in any of these options. However, if I had to choose one, it would be Bateman. He is currently in the best offense with arguably the best quarterback of these four options and has the opportunity to be the third option in receiving in this offense. With his ability to make plays downfield and big-time catches, he does not need heavy volume to score tons of fantasy points.

Dynasty Stash: Treylon Burks, Tennessee

No votes - Burks was once valued as a top-15 dynasty receiver. But now, he may not even make it through the summer as a Titan. At 24, there is still time, but as you can see from our staff, the believers are few and far between.

 

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