Not only is the player pool the deepest at wide receiver since some teams have several fantasy relevant players at the position, but league settings and roster sizes can impact this position more than any others. These tiers were based on point per reception scoring formats. If you're in a league that uses Half-PPR or Non-PPR scoring, the tiers would likely highlight some differences from these tiers.
But roster composition also varies quite a bit from league to league. The most common setting sees managers having to start two wide receivers at WR1 and WR2, and then a flex position that could be a WR, RB or TE. There are some leagues that follow this format as well, but add a WR3 position. With that addition, the values for wide receivers would be even greater since you now MUST start three and COULD start four receivers.
If you're in a league with only two WR spots and one Flex, but you go with a WR-heavy draft strategy, you could end up in a situation where you're having to sit some really good promising players like a Jaxson Smith-Njigba or an enticing rookie like Rome Odunze because you don't have enough open starting slots. If you're in a league like this, you should place more value on running back than you would in a league where you have the extra WR slot. Always know your settings before you draft.
Once you know your general strategy based on your league rules and settings, it's time to dig deeper and focus on the receivers themselves. There are so many options that it can get overwhelming. You can even draft a team's No. 1 wide receiver as low as Tier 6 and Tier 7 with Denver's Courtland Sutton (WR38, Tier 6), DeAndre Hopkins (47, Tier 7), and whoever ends up being the WR1 for the Chargers (McConkey, WR43, Tier 6 and Josh Palmer, WR53, Tier 7).
So that's why it's important to pay attention to the tiers of the other positions as well. If you planned on going very WR heavy in the early rounds, but an early run on the elite quarterbacks has begun, you might decide you don't want to be left out. Not a big deal since you have your trusty tiers. Take the QB now, and with all of the depth at WR, you should be able to stay on track with your plan. If there's a run on another position, it also means there are some receivers that are slipping down the draft board, which you may be able to take advantage of in future rounds.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QB | RB | TE | D/ST
We'll continue to update our WR rankings throughout the preseason, so check back frequently for changes.
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: Who are this year's elite wide receivers?
Rankings and tiers based on PPR leagues. Half-PPR and Non-PPR leagues could have different tiers, which are highlighted throughout the text below.
WR TIER 1
1 CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
2 Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
3 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
4 Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
5 Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
6 A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
If you want someone in this top tier, then you will almost definitely have to use your first round draft pick on them. For reference, A.J. Brown is currently being drafted 9th overall.
CeeDee Lamb is holding out right now, but it's hard to believe the Cowboys will allow the season to kick off without Lamb suiting up. Lamb led the entire NFL in receptions last year with 135 and was second in receiving yards to Tyreek Hill with 1,749 yards. Dallas claimed it was going to go all-in during the offseason, but the only significant change to the skill players was Tony Pollard leaving for Tennessee and the Cowboys bringing back Ezekiel Elliott. While Hill is certainly capable of leading the league again, there are more mouths to feed in Miami, and Dallas will have no choice but to pepper Lamb with as many targets as he can handle, so he gets a slight edge.
There's no denying that Hill is among the league's most electric players. The problem is that he's not the only electric piece of the offense. Jaylen Waddle would likely be a WR1 on several other teams. De'Von Achane routinely rips off splash plays. Play in and play out, Lamb just has a better chance at more volume, but Hill could create just as much production on less volume. The difference between the two is negligible.
There's no need to overanalyze the case for Amon-Ra St. Brown. He amassed a line of 119/1,515/10 over 16 games last season. He has the same quarterback under center. He has the same elite offensive line blocking for him. There were no significant additions on offense that would likely eat into his target share. Young studs like Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs will likely take steps forward, but St. Brown is a no-brainer first round pick.
If Justin Jefferson still had Kirk Cousins throwing to him, Jefferson would have at least been in the discussion for WR1 overall. But instead, he'll likely start the season with Sam Darnold under center, and then barring a stellar start to the season, there could be a switch to rookie J.J. McCarthy at some point during the season. On top of that, WR2 Jordan Addison could be facing a suspension due to off-the-field issues. While that opens up more targets, it also means there's a higher likelihood of Jefferson seeing tougher coverage looks. Jefferson's talent is undeniable, but this season will show how much adversity his talent can overcome.
Ja'Marr Chase was merely 12th in the NFL last season in receiving yards, but the entire Bengals offense had to deal with some adversity. Joe Burrow injured his calf in the preseason and got off to a slow start, and Chase could only compile 70 yards over the first two games. And then Burrow went down again for the final month and a half of the season. The fact that he wasn't as prolific as expected last season, may mean you can buy a slight dip on his stock this year in drafts, but he's still going in the first round. But, if you end up picking 9th for example, there's at least a chance you might be able to draft Chase, and that wasn't the case last season.
It appeared as though A.J. Brown was on his way to a historic season in 2023 as he was ripping off monster games week after week. But the complete team collapse after a 10-1 start might be what sticks in drafters' minds the most. The talent is still there. The rapport with Jalen Hurts is still there. The elite offensive line is still there. And he even has a new contract now. The Eagles do still have Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert in the passing game, shiny new toy Saquon Barkley in the backfield, and Hurts has historically vultured many goal line opportunities, despite Brown being a great red zone option, so it's hard to bet on an absolute ceiling season, but it's within the realm of possibilities.
2024 PPR Rankings
Top 250 Overall | QB |RB | WR| TE|DEF/ST| K
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: Who are the best receivers in the league?
WR TIER 2
7 Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
8 Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
9 Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
10 Davante Adams, Los Angeles Raiders
11 Nico Collins, Houston Texans
12 Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
A stat line of 95/1,042/3 isn't exactly awe-inspiring. But when you realize he did it with a three-headed monster (and boy, do we mean monster) of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Semien. Technically Aaron Rodgers added a fourth name to the equation, but he only played four snaps before being lost for the year with a torn Achilles. If Wilson could still put together a season like that given those conditions, even if Rodgers is only healthy for half the season, we could see Wilson take some significant steps forward. And even if Rodgers does get hurt, Tyrod Taylor is the backup this year, and that's an upgrade over the three-headed monster from 2023.
Marvin Harrison Jr. may be a rookie, but it's not like there haven't been rookie wide receivers who have smashed in their debut season. We're all old enough to remember Puke Nacua's historic 2023 when he broke the rookie receiving yards rookie with 1,486 yards. His quarterback Kyler Murray didn't look to be quite himself last year coming back from an ACL injury, but he has said that he finally feels all the way the back. So, combining a fully healthy Murray with a new No. 1 target who racked up an eye-popping 2,474 yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons at Ohio State. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Harrison's dad was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, so he clearly has the right pedigree.
Like with Wilson, Chris Olave is also coming off a season that was probably more impressive than it looks at first glance. Olave hauled in 87 catches for 1,123 yards, and five touchdowns, which is solid. But Olave has WR1 potential. Derek Carr is back under center, and while Carr isn't an upper-echelon quarterback, it does provide some continuity and possible growth, and it was only a couple of years ago that he helped Davante Adams have a monster season with the Raiders. Olave also finished with the fifth-most air yards in the league, so if he can see smilar targets, he's due for some positive regression. You could be getting Olave for a bit of a discount if he starts slipping in your drafts.
Davante Adams has been a top-5 WR for so long (technically drafted as WR6 last year), that it's hard to imagine him this low in the rankings. But he has several factors working against him. There were some concerns when Adams was traded from Green Bay to the Raiders, but he put up another monster season in 2022 with Derek Carr tossing him the rock (100/1,516/14). Last year, though, he had to deal with Jimmy Garoppolo and Aiden O'Connell at quarterback. Adams proved he was human and saw a notable dip in receiving yards and a sizeable drop in touchdowns. The QB situation isn't much better this year with Gardner Minshew joining O'Connell in a camp battle. Plus, Adams is now 31, so an age-related decline is definitely within the realm of possibilities. A drop in rankings was inevitable, but it was hard to drop him much lower.
Nico Collins was drafted as the WR58 last year according to FantasyPros' consensus ADP data, but with rookie C.J. Stroud under center, Collins exploded in 2023 with 80 receptions, 1,297 yards, and eight touchdowns in 15 games. Tank Dell also emerged as a big receiving threat last season, which helped take some attention away from Collins. But this season Stefon Diggs is also added to the mix as well as Joe Mixon at running back. All of a sudden, there are a ton of mouths to feed in that offense. So while defenses won't be able to spend too many resources covering Collins, will he see enough volume to take another leap?
We originally had Puka Nacua a few spots higher within this tier (after all, as said earlier, he did broke the rookie record for most receiving yards in 2023), but he did suffer a knee injury on Sunday and is considered week to week. The good news is there wasn't any structural damage, and it's looking like he'll be ready for Week 1. There have also been some glowing reports about Cooper Kupp who looks a lot closer to his usual self than he did last year. Kupp is 31 now, so it's entirely possible we never see the Kupp of old again, but when you factor in the fact Nacua is now banged up and that their quarterback is 36, it's hard to see Nacua duplicate his historic rookie campaign.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST |K
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: Receivers with reliable floors who also have potential upside
WR TIER 3
13 Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
14 DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
15 Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
16 Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
17 DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
18 Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
19 Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
20 Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Drake London's excitement for this season must be palpable. Kirk Cousins isn't exactly an All-Pro QB, but it might feel that way after catching passes from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Arthur Smith has also exited Atlanta, and Zac Robinson enters, formerly of the Rams, which is a massive upgrade. It has the potential to be a very exciting offense with running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts also in the mix.
DeVonta Smith is ranked higher than any other team's No. 2 receiver. He eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in each of the last two seasons, and while Saquon Barkley was added to the backfield and will see some passing game work, it's still a lot of Brown and Smith with some Goedert sprinkled in as well. There have even been some reports in camp that Smith has been lining up more in the slot. He's dynamic in space, so this could be a positive development in plays out in the regular season. And if Brown ever misses time, Smith's value would increase even more.
The situations for Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk could change drastically at any moment. Aiyuk wants a new contract. Instead, San Francisco is looking for a trade partner where Aiyuk would agree to an extension. The Patriots, Browns, and Steelers were the most heavily rumored teams to land him, but New England recently took themselves out of the running...at least for now. If they can't find a suitable trade partner, and Aiyuk plays with the 49ers this year, then the defending NFC Champions would essentially be running their offense back along with the addition of rookie WR Ricky Pearsall. Aiyuk did have more all purpose yardage than Samuel last year, despite Deebo also receiving 37 carries, so he could finish as the team's WR1. If the trade happens, then Deebo's production could see a nice uptick. Depending on where Aiyuk lands, the same might be able to be said for him as well. The other factor to keep an eye is left tackle Trent Williams. Arguably the best offensive lineman in the league, Williams is also holding out. If that situation lingers into the regular season, then the entire San Francisco offense will have to be downgraded - that's how important Williams is to the success of the offense.
Kupp's and Waddle's situations were already touched on with Nacua and Hill. Kupp's age and recent injury history is a concern, but if Nacua and/or Hill miss time, then Kupp and Waddle could see massive spikes in production. If health isn't an issue, and both Nacua and Hill remain healthy this season, then both should comfortably fit in this tier as both are firmly locked into their current roles.
DJ Moore has caught a pass from 12 different quarterbacks since he entered the league in 2018, yet he still ranks 7th in the NFL in receiving yards over that span despite playing with a rotating cast of QBs. Moore did enter the league with Cam Newton as his quarterback, but then it was a hodge podge of Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, the ghost of Cam Newton, and then finally Josh Fields when he was traded to Chicago. Now he'll have No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams throwing to him, and you can certainly make the case that there hasn't been a rookie quarterback entering a better situation than this one. Already with a serviceable offensive line, they added D'Andre Swift to the backfield, brought in Keenan Allen via free agency, drafted Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall, and still have Cole Kmet at tight end. Despite being a 6-year veteran, Moore has the potential to have a career-year and could be a big value. He's currently WR22 according to FantasyPros' Consensus ADP, so we are a little higher on him than he's currently being valued.
And then there's old reliable - Tampa Bay's Mike Evans. The perennial No. 1 WR of the Bucs has never played in a season and tallied less than 1,000 receiving yards. That's 10 consecutive seasons! What's even crazier is that he doesn't even hold the record yet. But if he can accomplish that feat again in 2024, he'll tie Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards. Evans is the only one to start his career in that fashion, though. Tampa Bay lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers, but Baker Mayfield is back under center and there weren't any other major shakeups to the offense. With a track record this extensive, I'm not betting against Evans yet.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB|RB| WR |TE
Fantasy WR Draft Strategy: Should you "wait" on wide receiver?
WR TIER 4
21 Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
22 Malik Nabers, New York Giants
23 DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
24 Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
25 Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns
26 Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
27 Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
28 Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
29 George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
30 Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
31 Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The volatility certainly starts to creep in within Tier 4. Michael Pittman put up another productive season in 2023, but that was largely with Gardner Minshew as his quarterback after Anthony Richardson went down in Week 4. Richardson is back, but is it a slam dunk that there will be a huge spike in Pittman's production? Not at all. In fact, he actually saw increased production with Minshew, since he was more of a pocket passer. Richardson's propensity for taking off and running could limit Pittman's ceiling.
All indications are that Malik Nabers is having an impressive training camp, but at the end of the day, it's still Daniel Jones throwing to him behind a poor offensive line. The drop off from Nabers to any other receiving options for the Giants is massive, so he'll likely see plenty of volume, but will they be quality targets? Nabers does have the potential to rise above all of these factors, but you can't bank on it. If you're strong at WR already and see Nabers left on the board, you can likely take that gamble and hope for the upside. If you wait on WR, it would be tougher to lock him in as a WR1 for your team.
DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, and Amari Cooper are all coming off of another productive season and remain on their teams. But there are slight changes in each scenario. Pete Carroll retired and is no longer the head coach in Seattle. Mike Macdonald is now at the helm, but he brought in Ryan Grubb from the University of Washington and the air raid offense as the offensive coordinator. His offense will likely provide a more diverse route tree for Metcalf, which should lead to added receptions.
McLaurin is back with the Commanders this season, but he'll have rookie Jayden Daniels throwing him the ball this season. We've talked about some rough QB situations already, but prior to this year this is the motley crew that has been under center for McLaurin in Washington: Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz, Sam Howell, and Jacoby Brissett. Yikes. It's no lock that Daniels will be an elite quarterback right from Week 1, but he likely gives McLaurin a chance at a higher ceiling than he's ever achieved before.
Amari Cooper had a great season in yardage in 2023, racking up 1,250 yards, but he only hit paydirt five times. His yardage saw an uptick when Joe Flacco took over for an injured Deshaun Watson. Flacco is gone, though, and Watson is back. Will we ever see the same QB that was in Houston before Watson became embroiled in a bevy of legal issues and suspension? If last year was any indication, maybe not. Cleveland did bring in Jerry Jeudy, which may take some attention off of Cooper from opposing defenses, but Cooper's success hinges on how Watson looks in his return.
Calvin Ridley made his return from a gambling-related suspension on a new team last year in Jacksonville. But he was one and done and now finds himself on the Titans. Brian Callahan is in as the new head coach, Tyler Boyd was brought in with Ridley to join DeAndre Hopkins in the receiving corps, Derrick Henry left for the Ravens, and Tony Pollard came over from Dallas to join the backfield. Hopkins has already suffered a knee injury in camp, and while it's not considered serious, he could miss Week 1. This could allow Ridley to get off to a hot start, and with second-year QB Will Levis, a hot start could go a long way in building a good rapport.
Despite looking for a new contract or a trade, Tee Higgins ultimately decided to sign the franchise tag and compete for a Super Bowl with the Bengals. After missing five games last year, he's banking on a big bounce-back to lead him to a sizeable, new contract. We already mentioned Boyd left Cincinnati and is now in Tennesse, but the Begnals did draft Jermaine Burton in the third round. If Burrow and Higgins can both maintain their health this season, there should be no reason Higgins can't go back to eclipsing 1,000 yards. He'd be a great WR3 on fantasy teams, but should be a solid WR2 option as well.
We touched on Stefon Diggs briefly when analyzing Nico Collins. Diggs isn't exactly a spring chicken at 30, and most fantasy managers have his disappearing act from the end of the season fresh in their minds. But if you look at the game logs, Diggs was having another productive season until the Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. After that, Diggs would seemingly disappear from the gameplan for huge chunks of games. Now, he's in Houston with another explosive offense. There are more mouths to feed as Tank Dell and Joe Mixon are also in the mix, but Diggs can bounce back nicely as he hopes to land a new, longer-term deal after this 1-year contract ends. And if managers are too focused on the late-season swoon, then be ready to pounce.
I originally had George Pickens higher on this list. Some analysts will have him lower. Pickens flashed elite WR skills at times last year and led the team in receptions and receiving yards. The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, so Pickens is now the clear No. 1 option...well, unless they end up landing Brandon Aiyuk in a trade with the 49ers, as Pittsburgh has emerged as on of the top suitors. But even if he's the No. 1 option, Arthur Smith can't help but force fantasy managers to pump the breaks a bit. Drake London and Kyle Pitts have both disappointed in Smith's system over the last couple of years, and Pickens could be the latest victim. Pickens will likely come with volatility, so fantasy managers have to be comfortable with that.
Zay Flowers is the WR1 on his team, but is he the top receiving option? Flowers will certainly see plenty of targets this year, but it is a crowded offense. Mark Andrews should be fully healthy to start the season and is always one of Lamar Jackson's favorite targets. Derrick Henry joins the team as well, giving them a bigger rushing threat than they've had in several years. And Jackson obviously does a lot of damage himself with his legs. Expect Flowers to continue to rack up YAC on shorter targets, but if he can start to become a more consistent deep threat, that could push him up the rankings despite a crowded offense.
Just like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin will be surrounded by a familiar cast of characters this season. It will be a new offensive system, but Godwin finished last season red hot. Playing a lot out of the slot, Godwin's success is typically based on target volume, and if he continues to see the volume he was seeing at the end of last season, his value in PPR leagues could be substantial compared to his draft day cost. If other fantasy managers are focused on his overall stat line rather than how he finished the season, you could get a steal.
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: High risk, but high rewards?
WR TIER 5
32 Tank Dell, Houston Texans
33 Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
34 Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
35 Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
36 Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
With a name like Tank, Dell has a surprisingly slight build at 5'10" and just 165 pounds, but he played much bigger than his size and burst onto the scene with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Despite the stellar debut and a return to full healthy, we have to proceed with caution. With the addition of Diggs, which we outlined earlier, there's a very good chance Dell will be leaving the field when Houston is in two-receiver sets. When he is on the field, with so many weapons for defenses to contend with, he could also end up seeing some easy looks.
If these tiers were based on Non-PPR scoring, Keenan Allen would likely be a tier lower. Allen continues to feast out of the slot on short- and mid-range targets, which often leads to a lot of catches, which means a lot of points in PPR leagues. Even in a disastrous Chargers offense last year, Allen racked up 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in just 13 games. But he was traded to the Bears for a fourth round pick and now joins a crowded situation with DJ Moore, rookie Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet at tight end and D'Andre Swift out of the backfield. Allen is also 32 and is no stranger to injuries, so a drop off is to be expected.
Rashee Rice debuted with 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns, an impressive rookie campaign by any measure. But the buzz he'd typically be getting this time of year has been derailed by two off-the-field incidents. The assumption is that he will have to miss at least some time this season after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash and an alleged assault at nightclub, but the league has been tight-lipped on not just what the punishment might be, but we also have no idea when an announcement may come. The Chiefs also brought in Hollywood Brown and drafted Xavier Worthy giving defenses even more to worry about. But with so many unknowns surrounding how much time he'll miss, it's hard to really invest in him this season.
Much like with Keenan Allen, if we were discussing Non-PPR leagues, Diontae Johnson would be lower on this list. He doesn't operate exclusively out of the slot, but he does do most of his damage with voluminous amounts of short- and mid-range targets. Even in a putrid offense with an unproven Bryce Young under center, that could provide Johnson with a nice weekly floor. Just don't expect many spike weeks.
Christian Watson could end being worthy of Tier 3, or by the end of this season we could have forgotten all about him. Watson has missed 12 games over his first two seasons dealing with hamstring issues. Watson said that during the offseason working with specialists, he discovered his hamstring woes may be attributed to asymmetrical strength in his legs. He's spent the offseason working on his leg strength to achieve better symmetry. Staying healthy is the first hurdle to clear. Jordan Love took a giant step forward last year, but he has no shortage of weapons to spread the ball around to. In addition to Watson, he's got Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Jordan Reed in the wide receiver room, and he also has Luke Musgrave and Tyler Kraft at tight end and Josh Jacobs at running back. Watson is a burner, so he can put up big stat lines without a lot of volume, but that lack of volume could ultimately also leave you with some duds. If Watson can stay on the field and carve out a prominent target share, though, he could end the season much higher than WR36.
Fantasy WR Tiers: Sleepers, breakouts, and bounce-backs
WR TIER 6
37 Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
38 Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
39 Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
40 Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
41 Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
42 Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
43 Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
44 Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
45 Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
46 Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
47 Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
As we continue on with receivers who will likely be backups or flex options, we'll switch to quick-hitting notes.
Calvin Ridley is out in Jacksonville, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and former Bill Gabe Davis are in. Neither should hinder Kirk's role on the team, as he specializes in underneath targets. Thomas is only a few spots below Kirk because Trevor Lawrence loves to throw the deep ball. If Thomas and Lawrence click early, it could be a big rookie year.
It's hard to get too excited for the Denver Broncos' offense this year, but Courtland Sutton is locked in as the WR1. As head coach Sean Payton continues to mold this team to his liking, even if rookie QB Bo Nix struggles, Sutton should see enough volume to have a serviceable weekly floor.
The Chiefs were able to win another Super Bowl last year, but the offense struggled at times too. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was one of the primary deep threats for Patrick Mahomes, but he never panned out as a reliable option. Hollywood Brown should be a massive upgrade, and could be just what Mahomes was looking for to really open up the offense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba showed some flashes in his rookie year with the Seahawks, but he didn't have enough of the target share to really make some noise. With a new head coach and new offensive scheme under coordinator Ryan Grub, if Smith-Njigba sees an uptick in opportunities, he could take a step forward, and as you can see with these rankings, we're predicting him to pass Tyler Lockett in terms of fantasy production.
Rashid Shaheed took a step forward in his sophom*ore season with the Saints. With Klint Kubiak taking over as offensive coordinator, the entire offense should see some improvements this season. We already know Shahid is a stellar deep threat, but if he can start tacking on more intermediate catches to raise his floor, it will be easier to start him regularly hoping for those spike weeks.
Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL as the new head coach for the Chargers, and he's likely to be bringing a run-first system with him. That being said, the wide receiver corps leaves a lot to be desired, so rookie Ladd McConkey could easily become Justin Herbert's top target. Josh Palmer, D.J. Chark, and Quentin Johnson are all in the mix as well, but none of these names are expected to really separate themselves from the pack.
Having set the NFL Combine record in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.21 seconds, it's clear that Xavier Worthy can be another dangerous deep threat for Patrick Mahomes, couple with Hollywood Brown. Worthy has also shown the YAC skills to turn shallow targets into big gainers as well. Especially if Rashee Rice misses significant time with a suspension, Worthy could make a quick splash.
We touched on the Packers' situation with Christian Watson. What separates Jayden Reed from the other Green Bay receivers is his ability to contribute in the running game as well. If he can continue to carve out a Deebo-like role, it helps raise his weekly floor.
Gone from Buffalo are Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, so rookie Keon Coleman is entering a pretty appetizing situation with Josh Allen as his quarterback. The jury is out as to whether he can really separate on the outside, but his physicality should also be an asset. The targets should be there for an instant impact if they put him in the right role.
Rome Odunze would be higher in these rankings if he was on many other teams. But having to compete with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and even D'Andre Swift, could limit the upside in his rookie season. There is reason for optimism though, as Caleb Williams has reportedly shown a great connection with Odunze during camp. Since Williams is also coming in fresh as a rookie, that could help Odunze establish himself higher in the pecking order than some suspected.
WR TIER 7
48 DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans
49 Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
50 Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
51 Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills
52 Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
53 Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
After dealing with injuries in 2021 and 2022, DeAndre Hopkins joined the Titans last year, and despite lacking a decent passing game, he was still able to surpass 1,000 yards. That may be hard to replicate this season. With a new offensive system, there may be more opportunities in the passing game, but Hopkins is 32 and is already dealing with a knee injury and could miss Week 1. With Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd joining the team, there are more mouths to feed as well.
Jameson Williams could be a boom or bust draft pick this year. If Williams returns as just a deep threat again, it will be impossible to know when he might be worth starting. If he starts running a more diverse route tree, then we could see him take a leap. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta are going to feast, though, so consistency on a weekly basis could be hard to come by.
Josh Palmer and Jakobi Meyers are similar in that they're likely both going to be floor plays. Palmer has a chance to be Justin Herbert's WR1 this season with rookie Ladd McConkey being his primary competition, as well as second-year player Quentin Johnson who couldn't catch a cold in his rookie year. Meyers is the clear No. 2 to Davante Adams, and doesn't have a very good quarterback situation with Minsher and O'Connell vying for the starting role. But Meyers was in a similar role last year and averaged just under 4.5 catches per game. That should be enough to give him a startable floor.
Curtis Samuel is an annual sleeper favorite of many in the fantasy community, but whether it's injuries or being relegated to being a "gadget guy", through seven seasons, he's eclipsed 656 yards just once in his career with 851 yards in his last year with Carolina in 2020. Joining a team like Buffalo with very few receiving roles locked in stone, Samuel could carve out a larger role than he's been accustomed to.
Jordan Addison would be higher on this list if he didn't have the threat of a disciplinary suspension for a DUI charge hanging over his head. It's possible he doesn't miss any time. It's also possible he misses three games. With tight end T.J. Hockenson likely to miss significant time in the first half of the season, if Addison can avoid suspension, he could return great value if you draft him in this range. And even if he does receive a suspension, that's baked in to this ranking.
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: Deep sleepers & boring veterans
WR TIER 8
54 Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
55 Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
56 Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
57 Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
58 Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns
59 Mike Williams, New York Jets
60 Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
61 Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
Lockett typically ends up with decent season-long stat lines, but it's usually pretty boom or bust. Last year he had seven games with less than 40 receiving yards. To make matters worse, he didn't crack 100 yards even once (he did cross that threshold three times in 2022). Despite being a new system, at age 31, it's hard to have much confidence there will be many more of those splash weeks.
When the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the arrow was pointing straight up for Khalil Shakir. But after Curtis Samuel came to town, that arrow shifted as Samuel historical played a similar slot role. It all comes down to opportunity.
Rome Doubs isn't the most exciting option in the Green Bay offense, but he's definitely going to have a role in what could be one of the more explosive offenses in the league. Jordan Love clearly has a good connection with Doubs, so he could end up being a WR3 or Flex option.
Josh Downs had an impressive rookie campaign considering the tough circ*mstances he endured as Anthony Richardson went down in Week 4, and he suffered a knee injury in Week 9 that he played through but clearly wasn't himself. He did just suffer a high ankle sprain in camp, though, and could be in danger of missing Week 1, but there isn't long-term concern.
Jerry Jeudy really hasn't lived up to being a No. 15 overall draft pick, but you'd be hard-pressed to name anyone who has lived up to the hype in Denver over the last few years. It's hard to tell what version of Deshaun Watson we'll see this year, but maybe the change of scenery can propel Jeudy to a career-year.
Mike Williams has always had the talent, but can he stay on the field. After only playing 13 games in 2022, he went down in Week 3 with a torn ACL last year. He just came off the PUP list, so it looks like he'll be ready for Week 1. If both Aaron Rodgers and Williams can stay healthy, it could lead to some great production, but those are two giant "ifs".
Brandin Cooks is primarily a deep threat for Dallas, but the Cowboys do have an explosive offense, so that role could be a fruitful one on any given week. The downside to that is that he can also have weeks he struggles to see many targets. Cooks is a better Best Ball play than he is in redraft leagues.
This could be Jahan Dotson's last chance for fantasy managers. After failing to live up to expectations the last two seasons, it could be three strikes and you're out. With a brand new regime in place, with rookie QB Jayden Daniels at the helm, Dotson has a chance to turn things around.
WR TIER 9
62 Gabe Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars
63 Ja'Lynn Polk, New England Patriots
64 Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos
65 DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots
66 Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
67 Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
68 Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Everyone in this tier at least appears to have a locked in role with their teams. Players like Ja'Lynn Polk, Marvin Mims, DeMario Douglas, and Wan'Dale Robinson are upside plays. Gabe Davis will have splash weeks, but may struggle other weeks. Dontayvion Wicks is part of a crowded wide receiver room. And Adam Thielen is more of a floor play as Bryce Young's safety valve.
WR TIER 10
69 Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
70 Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
71 Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
72 Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati Bengals
73 Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
74 Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis Colts
75 Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
76 Malachi Corley, New York Jets
77 Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
78 Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
Many of the players in Tier 10 are rookies or young players that either have a pedigree or have shown some flashes that indicate they could be sleeper picks. The Panthers are expected to struggle on offense again, but rookie Xavier Legette will get plenty of run to see what he's got. It's impossible for Quentin Johnson to disappoint more than he did in his rookie year. Jermain Burton is getting some buzz in Bengals camp, and with Tyler Boyd gone, he should get a chance to shine. Demarcus Robinson isn't a sexy pick, but if Nacua misses more time than expected or if Kupp gets banged up again, Robinson could carve out a nice role. With Downs banged up in camp, rookie Adonai Mitchell has a chance to make more noise than he has so far in camp. With Mike Williams already off the PUP list, it may be harder for Malachi Corley to make an impact early in the season.
Fantasy WR Tiers 2024: Dart throws and roster stashes
WR TIER 11
79 Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants
80 DJ Chark Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
81 Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
82 Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
83 Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
84 Tyler Boyd, Tennessee Titans
85 Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
86 Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals
87 Luke McCaffrey, Washington Commanders
WR TIER 12
88 Odell Beckham Jr., Miami Dolphins
89 Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
90 Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
91 Rondale Moore, Atlanta Falcons
92 Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
93 A.T. Perry, New Orleans Saints
94 Josh Reynolds, Denver Broncos
95 JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots
96 Jonathan Mingo, Carolina Panthers
97 Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys
98 Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
99 Zay Jones, Arizona Cardinals
100 Javon Baker, New England Patriots
