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In recent years, the fantasy landscape has changed. Whereas the running back position used to dominate the early rounds of drafts, the pendulum has swung toward wide receivers—rather a lot. Per Footballguys ADP, of the first 24 picks in fantasy drafts this year, 14 are wideouts.
However, some fantasy dinosaurs (like this analyst) still find themselves employing the “Robust RB” strategy with some regularity. Sometimes, draft flow and value dictate hitting another position early. And everyone needs value targets they can add in the draft’s middle and later rounds.
With that in mind, here are some wide receivers available outside the top 30 at the position with an excellent shot at out-pointing their draft slots in 2024.
WR Sleeper: Terry McLaurin, Washington
FBG ADP: WR32
On one hand, McLaurin has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons. But he hasn’t had 80 catches or caught more than five touchdowns in a season over that span—in large part because of a carousel of quarterbacks in Washington that has been—let’s be kind and go with unimpressive. There’s no guarantee rookie Jayden Daniels will snap that dry spell, but McLaurin told reporters he’s cautiously optimistic given what he’s seen to date.
"Definitely trying not to put the cart before the horse," McLaurin said. "But he's come in and just been so prepared. I've played with a lot of first-time quarterbacks, and he plays like this is not going to be his first time playing in this league."
From a talent perspective, McLaurin is unquestionably a top-25 NFL receiver. He’s being drafted where he is because he has been hamstrung by bad quarterback play for essentially his entire career. If you believe in Daniels, you have to believe that McLaurin will be better than his ADP.
WR Sleeper: Calvin Ridley, Tennessee
FBG ADP: WR33
After catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns last year in his lone season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ridley got $92 million over four years to join DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd in Tennessee. Per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Ridley has already made an impression on Titans quarterback Will Levis.
"He's so dang fast," Levis said. "Sometimes you gotta throw a ball a little differently to get him right. It's three and a hitch then throw it 50 yards down the field. We're trying to attack that."
After Levis took over as Tennessee’s starter last year, he averaged (per ESPN Stats and Info) more air yards per attempt (10.3) than any quarterback in the league. With DeAndre Hopkins injured and Levis and Ridley clicking in camp, fantasy drafters are sleeping on Ridley this year.
Was that too on the nose?
WR Sleeper: Courtland Sutton, Denver
FBG ADP: WR48
Sutton’s reception (59) and yardage (772) numbers in 2023 were nothing to crow about, but he scored 10 touchdowns on the way to a WR35 fantasy finish in PPR formats. Sutton told Mike Klis of 9News that he thinks this season can bring bigger and better things.
“Over the years, I’ve been able to maximize each phase of the receiver position,” Sutton said. Becoming more of a route runner. Becoming a route technician. Being able to play inside the hashes and outside the hashes. Last year, being able to score touchdowns in the red zone. There’s more there. I firmly believe there’s more that’s there. Ten was nice but I know I have more in my tank.”
Yes, the quarterback situation in Denver is a question mark. But much like with the aforementioned Jayden Daniels, if Bo Nix is even a capable starter, Sutton should smash this ADP as the unquestioned top option in Denver’s offense.
WR Sleeper: Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas
FBG ADP: WR54
Meyers has never had a 1,000-yard season, but he eclipsed 800 yards in 2023 for the third straight season in 2023 and caught a career-high eight touchdowns. Per Levi Edwards of the team’s website, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said the 27-year-old might be overlooked outside Sin City, but he isn’t in the Raiders locker room.
"Jakobi is that guy," Pierce said. "When you say I need a dog, Jakobi is that dog. Jakobi is an alpha. Jakobi is fearless. Jakobi works probably as hard as any player on our team.”
Yes, Davante Adams is the unquestioned No. 1 receiver in Vegas. But that also means he’s single-covered, well, always. Meyers is more than capable of taking advantage of that single coverage, and while a 1,000-yard season may not be likely, it’s also not outside the realm of reason.
WR Sleeper: Brandin Cooks, Dallas
FBG ADP: WR57
While CeeDee Lamb awaits a giant bag of cash, it has been Cooks who has operated as the WR1 in Dallas. He told reporters from training camp that the reps he has received in that role with Dak Prescott have been valuable.
"The more reps you get, clearly the better you get. Spending that time in the offseason, then in training camp, I think it's been vital," Cooks said. "You know, I do my job. I get open, and (Dak) takes care of the rest.”
Let’s be real here—the Lamb situation will all but certainly be resolved before Week 1. But even in last year’s “down” season, Cooks caught eight scores and finished almost 20 slots above this ADP in PPR points. Cooks may never again be a fantasy WR1, but he’s not exactly ancient, and at worst, he’ll be the No. 2 wideout for a team that could easily lead the NFL in pass attempts in 2024.
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can’t make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.
