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.
Players Receiving 4 Votes
Brandin Cooks, Houston
Andrew Davenport: Cooks has somehow earned the reputation as having injury concerns coming into 2020. This despite having played all 16 games from 2015 to 2018 (four seasons), and missing just two games last year. While concussion history is never something to take lightly, that risk is more than accounted for in his current ADP. Deshaun Watson is going to have a wide receiver corps that is made up of several guys with checkered injury histories. Randall Cobb hasn't played a full season since 2015, and Will Fuller is...Will Fuller and has yet to play a full 16 game season in his career. Fading Watson's possible top target seems like an odd thing to be happening but it's what fantasy drafters are doing. Jump on Cooks later in drafts and his upside stretches into the Top 15 at the position.
Andy Hicks: Brandin Cooks is a man of mystery. This will be his fourth team in five years. That usually spells the end of the career or hard to control troublemaker. In the case of Cooks, he gets traded for high draft picks every time. Outside 2020 production isn’t a problem either. The 2020 season can be clearly defined as pre concussion production and post-concussion production. Before his week five knock he was on track to record his usual bottom end WR1 production from 2015-2018. Think Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, or Randall Cobb are a threat? Fuller has missed 22 games in four years and is inconsistent, Stills is a classic WR3 and Cobb hasn’t been a fantasy starter since 2015. Cooks is the main guy here and his current draft price is all value and little downside.
Chad Parsons: Cooks is coming off a lost year with career lows in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. It was the first time Cooks finished outside the top-24 in PPR PPG in the NFL. Cooks has new life (again) with a team change, traded to Houston. Cooks is paired with yet another strong quarterback in his career with Deshaun Watson. Without DeAndre Hopkins, Cooks has a golden opportunity to be the unquestioned WR1 for a top quarterback where top-8 quarterbacks in fantasy (likely status for Watson) produce a top-24 PPR option for their No.1 receiver 89% of the time historically and a top-12 option 58% of the time. The average finish is WR13. Cooks is a glaring target player in 2020.
Jason Wood: Will Fuller being drafted before Brandin Cooks is mystifying and provides one of the best value arbitrage opportunities at any position. Fuller is the incumbent, but he's never been the No. 1 receiver in Houston; he's a very talented one-dimensional player. When healthy, he's an elite deep threat but Cooks is the better player in every other respect. He's a far better route runner, understands how to find the open spaces in zone defenses, has better hands, and has been the more productive player in spite of continually learning new playbooks and building chemistry with new quarterbacks. Cooks' down 2019 was the anomaly in an otherwise stellar career, and he steps into DeAndre Hopkins' 180-200 target vacuum.
Robert Woods, LA Rams
Andrew Davenport: It seems like last year at this time everyone was talking about Woods and how he wasn't getting enough respect where he was being selected in drafts. Fast forward to 2020 and it's happening again, yet his ADP has failed to correct itself yet again. The only thing keeping Woods from being more popular in drafts is the paltry two receiving touchdowns he recorded in 2019 and that has fostered an unconscious bias that ignores some truly elite production from Woods elsewhere. Last season he played in only 15 games but still managed 90 receptions and 1,134 yards receiving. While he's never been a huge touchdown producer, his 140 targets show that his floor is rock solid (131 targets in 2018) and the touchdowns should go back up in the 5-7 range. The fact that Brandin Cooks is no longer in town also points to the fact that there won't be a shortage of opportunities for Woods to catch another 90 passes and 1,100 yards. At his current ADP, all it takes is a few more touchdowns for his price to be a great deal on draft day.
Bob Henry: Woods should continue to be a featured weapon with a heavy dose of targets and positive touchdown regression after finding the end zone just three times last year despite touching the football 107 times. The Rams should continue to play at higher than average pace, armed with Sean McVay’s creative play-calling, and Woods was featured heavily in the second half of the season as the offense turned to more 12 personnel. Woods has two straight years with 130+ targets and he’s one of my favorite receivers to snap up as my second receivers because he can legitimately finish as high as the top 10, with his current ADP much closer to his floor.
Chad Parsons: Woods has been a top-20 receiver for three straight seasons in points-per-game, including a career-high WR11 finish in 2019. The Rams' passing game is more streamlined with Brandin Cooks traded to Houston, leaving Woods and Cooper Kupp notably at wide receiver. The floor of targets is high for Woods. Plus, Woods' 2.2% touchdown rate in 2019 is in the strong regression bucket to add multiple touchdowns to his tally in 2020. The last time Woods was below 5% in touchdown rate (2016), he jumped 7% the following season.
Jason Wood: Robert Woods only scored two receiving touchdowns last year, which is driving down his value. Touchdown production is volatile and hard to predict. Generally speaking, full-time players regress back toward a mean and it's smarter to invest in players coming off low touchdown seasons than overvaluing ones coming off high touchdown tallies. Aside from the obvious positive touchdown regression looming, Woods enters the season Jared Goff's unquestioned No. 1 thanks to Brandin Cooks' trade. Cooper Kupp will have a large role, too, but he's proven suited mainly for the slot.
Players Receiving 3 Votes
A.J. Brown, Tennessee
Jeff Haseley: A.J. Brown took some time to get going in his rookie year, but he finished as the WR22 in PPR scoring at seasons end. This is a common occurrence among standout rookie wide receivers. They show some promise early going, but a consistently high level of play eludes them, at first. This was the case with Brown in 2019. His PPR ranking in Weeks 1-8 was 46th. Weeks 9-17 was 6th. The light turned on for Brown and it's only going to get brighter.
Andy Hicks: Sometimes the fantasy community is justifiably wary of second-year players, but A.J. Brown just screams elite receiver for a long time. Despite his eighth-ranked finish last year his current ADP is nowhere near his potential for this season. His lack of receptions is the only issue scaring people in 2020. What is indisputable is the chemistry he had with Ryan Tannehill. Over the last eight games once Brown found his groove there were four one hundred yard games, all with at least one touchdown. Simply put Brown is a fantasy beast and this will be the last year he is any kind of value. Get in while you can.
Matt Waldman: Pegged as a regression candidate because of his 20-yard-per-catch average in 2019, Brown should earn more targets, catch more balls, and gain similar yardage. Even if his per-catch average drops, I'm buying into the idea that his catch rate will slightly increase from the 61.9 percent mark that he earned as a rookie. I have Brown earning 62.5 percent of his targets, which will lead to top-10 production at the position, which is higher than his current ADP. Brown is far more than a deep threat or after-the-catch option. He's one of the most versatile receivers in the NFL who can star in the slot or dominate outside in an offense that earns effective play-action opportunities thanks to its ground game.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati
Phil Alexander: Green is one of the best wide receivers of this generation, and at 31 years old, he can easily have another top-10 fantasy season in him (especially while playing for his last lucrative long-term deal). The Bengals offense Green carried on his back during the Andy Dalton era is barely recognizable. Cincinnati is loaded at the skill positions and finally has a franchise quarterback. The team played fast under first-year head coach Zac Taylor last season, ranking seventh in situation-neutral pace of play. When you factor in the Bengals' lousy defense, we could be looking at a perfect fantasy storm for receiving volume. If Green is even 75% of the player he was when we last saw him on the field, he should be the primary beneficiary.
Bob Henry: After two straight lost seasons due to injury, it’s hard to buy into Green as he enters his age 32 season without seeing him play in Zac Taylor’s offense or with rookie QB Joe Burrow. The upside, though, is that Green has consistently been an alpha receiver throughout his career and that shouldn’t change now unless injuries continue to keep him off the field. Burrow should be an upgrade over Dalton and if he can stay healthy there is little doubt that he’ll produce far beyond his ADP in the WR3 range. With drafts favoring the selection of running backs early, I can fully commit to Green as one of my favorite targets to add as my third receiver considering his talent and ability to finish in the top 10 or 20.
Dan Hindery: The injuries over the last two seasons and Green’s age (32 in July) are concerning. However, those negatives are more than priced in at his current ADP. If Green can just stay healthy, he will smash his current expectations and easily put up WR1 numbers. Remember, the last we saw Green he had 687 yards and 6 touchdowns in eight games. Green has finished WR8 or higher in every single season in which he played 16 games. Plus, Green put up those impressive numbers with Andy Dalton. There is a very real chance that Joe Burrow will instantly be the best passer Green has ever caught passes from.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh
Bob Henry: I anticipate that Johnson will be a favorite value play for many. What’s not to like? Ben Roethlisberger’s return is the tide that lifts all boats and Johnson’s arrow is pointing straight up after an injury-marred rookie season still saw him produce a pleasant 59-680-5, good enough to finish 42nd among receivers despite having poor quarterback play. If we’re looking at a fully healthy Johnson with the benefit of Roethlisberger leading the offense, I expect a marked improvement across the board. The data point that has me most excited is Johnson’s career average of 16.6 yards per catch. Johnson is a playmaker who was also one of the more explosive returners in the college game. With more targets, much higher quality in targets, and overall more volume for the Steeler offense, Johnson should easily outproduce his ADP. In fact, I think he easily finishes among the top 30 as long as Roethlisberger doesn’t miss a large chunk of the season again.
Jeff Pasquino: If there was one bright spot in a forgettable Pittsburgh season last year, it was Diontae Johnson. Johnson led all rookie receivers with 59 catches, 680 yards, and five scores - without Ben Roethlisberger for nearly the entire season. Johnson is poised to start opposite of JuJu Smith-Schuster with Roethlisberger ready to return to action, making Johnson's upside in his second year potentially in the Top 24 wideout range. Pittsburgh had over 5,000 passing yards just two years ago, and Johnson could certainly be in a position to get 20+% of the receiving numbers for the Steelers. In just his second season, the future is bright for Diontae Johnson in a wide receiver-friendly offense.
Jason Wood: Johnson is grossly undervalued if Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and focused on returning to form in 2020. Johnson made the most of his opportunities as a rookie and finished with 59 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns in spite of playing most of the year with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges under center. Factoring in Roethlisberger's return with the normal progression a receiver makes from Year One to Year Two, Johnson is on a shortlist of young receivers who can leap into the 80-catch, 1,000-yard tier.
Marvin Jones, Detroit
Jeff Haseley: Marvin Jones is one of the most underrated receivers in the league. He is shadowed by Kenny Golladay, but he can be just as productive in any given week. Before Matthew Stafford was lost with a back injury in 2019, Jones was the 15th ranked PPR wide receiver. After Stafford (Week 10-17), Jones dropped to 56th. The return of Stafford also means the return of the consistently productive, Marvin Jones. He may not be elite, but he'll get you positive numbers on a weekly basis.
Bob Henry: Jones was WR13 through the regular fantasy season last year before missing the last few weeks. In 2018, he was WR15 through nine weeks before missing the rest of the season due to injury. In 2017, Jones remained healthy and finished as WR5. In three seasons playing alongside Kenny Golladay, Jones has 23 TDs in 38 games compared to Jones’ 19 touchdowns in 42 games. He is averaging about seven targets per game consistently over these three years, too. Perhaps the specter of Jones being dealt at the trade deadline looms over his ADP, and obviously the injury concerns, but otherwise we’re talking about a highly productive receiver that is going into year two of Matthew Stafford playing in Darrell Bevell’s offense that helped him produce career highs in YPA as the vertical game returned to Detroit after years of dunking under Jim Bob Cooter’s play calling. Jones is criminally undervalued due to his injury concerns, but Jones remains a viable weapon in the Lions offensive attack and I don’t see that changing this season.
Jordan McNamara: Matthew Stafford was in the midst of a career year before his injury in 2019. Marvin Jones was WR16 through his 13 games -- including five games Stafford missed with an injury -- before Jones himself missed the final three games with an injury. Detroit’s offense added DeAndre Swift in the draft and should see a progression from last year’s first-round pick T.J. Hockenson, but Marvin Jones is a unique skillset match with Matthew Stafford. Together, the Stafford and Jones can exploit the perimeter of the field like few quarterback-receiver combinations.
Terry McLaurin, Washington
Phil Alexander: What stands in the way of 120+ targets for McLaurin? Certainly not Kelvin Harmon, Steven Sims Jr, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Trey Quinn, or Jeremy Sprinkle. Not only does McLaurin profile as a target hog, but there are reasons to believe Washington's offense can take a step forward for fantasy purposes. Interim head coach Bill Callahan (and his undying passion for establishing the run) is gone. Ron Rivera and new offensive coordinator, Scott Turner, have taken over. Norv's boy proved smart enough to tailor his offense around the skills of his best players in Carolina last year. Dwayne Haskins has built-in chemistry with McLaurin and the arm to reach him deep when he beats his man off the line. If Haskins can develop into a league-average quarterback under Turner's tutelage, McLaurin has fringe top-12 potential.
Dan Hindery: McLaurin put up 919 yards and 7 touchdowns as a rookie in just 14 games. The numbers are impressive without context but really pop when you consider just how poor the passing offense was. Washington finished dead last in the NFL with just 175.8 passing yards per game. McLaurin is currently priced as if the top receiver in a passing offense that will again be inept. There is no downside given how secure his lead role. However, there is a significant upside if the Washington offense takes a step forward. Dwayne Haskins showed some flashes in the final two games of his rookie season and has worked hard on his physical conditioning this offseason. If Haskins takes even a modest step forward, McLaurin has legitimate WR1 upside.
Justin Howe: McLaurin is still priced outside the WR2 tier, despite boasting a great blend of volume and big-play dynamism. As a rookie, he drew a stout 24.9% target share over Dwayne Haskins' 7 starts - for reference's sake, that's a bigger chunk than Tyreek Hill, Kenny Golladay, and Amari Cooper claimed in their offenses. And with all that volume, McLaurin went hyper-efficient, producing 9.9 yards per target and . He saw red zone usage (13 targets) and found the end zone on 12% of his catches. There's nothing not to like here aside from the putrid-looking state of the Washington offense, but that works to create draft value. From the current public opinion, there's nowhere to go but up for this offense, so any team growth at all will bring ADP value for McLaurin. He boasts top-12 upside in a vacuum, anyway.
Darius Slayton, NY Giants
James Brimacombe: Slayton was a fifth-round draft pick in 2019 and was well behind Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard on the depth chart to start the season but quickly embraced his opportunity and made a name for himself as a rookie. In 14 games and 83 targets, Slayton produced a healthy 48/740/8 stat line and showed some great connection with Daniel Jones. Slayton had three different games where he caught two touchdowns against the Lions, Jets, and Eagles and finished the season with seven touchdowns in his last nine games.
Andy Hicks: One of the most surprising rookies of 2019 was the fifth-round pick of the New York Giants, Darius Slayton. A late-round rookie with a preseason injury is often in danger of not making the final roster. Slayton made it, missed the first two games of the season and little was expected once he debuted. In his first game, he recorded receptions of 14, 46 and 21 yards. He finished the season with three double touchdown games, multiple hundred-yard games, and several other games worth a fantasy start. The Giants didn’t add a receiver of note and while Golden Tate and Sterling Shepherd have either peaked or on their way down, Slayton has improvement to make. Slayton comes at an incredible draft price this year and while he isn’t a sure thing, he is all upside.
Jeff Pasquino: The Giants have three options at wide receiver in 2020 - Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton. Shepard and Tate both had the opportunity to establish themselves as the starters last year for New York, but injuries and lackluster performances opened the door for Slayton. The rookie receiver emerged down the stretch, racking up impressive numbers (31-467-5) in the Giants' final seven games of 2019. The Giants used 11-personnel (3 WRs) 70% of the time in 2019, tied for second-most (Rams, behind Cincinnati at 74%) - which means Tate, Slayton, and Shepard will be on the field often. Since Daniel Jones is going to have to throw quite a bit this year, Slayton has plenty to build upon from his rookie season and could emerge as the top wide receiver on a team desperate for production at the position.
Preston Williams, Miami
Bob Henry: Considering that Williams performed about equally to DeVante Parker before tearing his ACL in Week 9, it’s uncanny that Parker is going so much higher than Williams in drafts this summer. Sure, there is concern and risk that follows an ACL tear, but are we going to discredit Williams while at the same time trust in Parker’s body of work throughout his injury-riddled career? Here’s the deal. Williams had 60 targets to Parker’s 52 at mid-season. Williams had nine red-zone targets to Parker’s six. One could even say that as a wide-eyed rookie, Williams still didn’t know the playbook as well as Parker, and with another offseason to learn the ropes, he could easily be on the same level as Parker in 2020 – with health not a factor. The addition of Tua Tagovailoa, the quality of targets should be there for Williams all season long providing less downside if/when the magic runs out for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Grab Williams as your fourth or even fifth receiver and you’re playing with house money.
Dan Hindery: When we get into the middle and late rounds, we are focused almost exclusively on upside and Williams has a higher ceiling than the other receivers going off the board around him. Williams looked well on his way to a big rookie season before an injury in his eighth game. His playmaking ability was obvious and he was seeing plenty of volume. Williams was on pace for 120 targets on the season and Miami did not add any significant pass-catching competition in the offseason. Miami quietly finished 13th in the NFL in passing yards last season and the combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa should be conducive to big fantasy production.
Jeff Pasquino: Williams is a sneaky wide receiver to grab later in drafts as the Miami offense was considered to be a wasteland last year before Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at quarterback, but if you dig deeper you can find a potential hidden gem here. Williams, a UDFA from Colorado State, not only made the Dolphins’ roster but played significant snaps and was on pace to finish as a lower-end WR3 after eight games last year. The rookie’s amazing season was cut short with a torn ACL after Week 9, but he remains on track to be ready for Week 1. Considering the upside for the young wide receiver and the relatively low price of a later round selection, Williams should be on several sleeper lists.
Players Receiving 2 Votes
D.J. Chark, Jacksonville
Phil Alexander: Fantasy gamers are drafting like they don't expect Chark to improve on his breakout sophomore season, which seems like a mistake. 70-1000-8 receiving lines are rare for players who haven't turned 24 years old. When someone with Chark's dominant athletic traits reaches those milestones, we'd best pay attention. Chark enters the 2020 season without significant added competition for targets, the trust of his starting quarterback, and playing for a team that should threaten for the most garbage time minutes in the NFL. We haven't seen Chark's ceiling yet by a long shot. Don't rule out a top-12 finish at the position.
Jeff Haseley: D.J. Chark turned the corner towards greatness in his second year in the league. Gardner Minshew targeted him heavily in the first 9 weeks (7.7 targets per game) before getting injured. In Weeks 10-17 his targets per game dropped to 6.9. Chark appears to be more productive with Minshew at quarterback which bodes well for the 2020 season. With Minshew, his yards per catch was 16.1. Without him, it dropped to 10.2. People tend to remember the most recent performances, which is why Chark is still viewed as a receiver on the outside looking in as an elite player in the league. If he can capture that success with Minshew again he'll be among the most productive fantasy receivers in the league.
Will Fuller, Houston
Justin Howe: Fair or not, many of us have already written the book on the 26-year-old Fuller. Until further notice, we're trained to expect multi-week injuries to crop up, and we're all downing him on draft boards. Of course, that's built on a faulty premise - Fuller's injuries aren't exactly recurring or chronic issues - so it's unwise to outright project him to miss time. If he does, though, he'll still draw from a deep well of playmaking dynamism, one that hints at week-to-week WR1 upside. Over 28 games with Deshaun Watson, he's posted a scintillating 9.6 yards per target and a 13% touchdown rate. He's developed into one of the game's most feared deep threats while also contributing on manufactured throws underneath. If this is the year he suits up for 14+ games, watch out. Brandin Cooks offers far less target competition than DeAndre Hopkins did, so there's actually a path to seeing Fuller shred defenses as the Texans' No. 1 wideout. The ceiling there would be almost incalculable, which can't be said of any of the so-called safer WR3 plays in this tier.
Chad Parsons: With DeAndre Hopkins gone and Brandin Cooks added, the No.1 receiver role is more unstable than recent years in Houston. Fuller has been dominant at times (read: when healthy) and durability is the watchword for the vertical threat who has rounded out his game over his career to-date. The situation is ripe with upside as top quarterbacks are quality bets to produce multiple top-36 fantasy receivers (54% of the time historically the WR2 in the offense is WR36 or better in PPG) and even 36% of the time the WR2 is a top-24 option. Add the upside of Brandin Cooks missing games or the depth chart being more 1A and 1B and Fuller has top-12 upside. An injury-prone label is risky to apply to players and avoid them regardless of cost as what happens if they are healthy for a stretch or season? The answer is an impact player.
Michael Gallup, Dallas
James Brimacombe: Gallup is an instant value in the wide receiver ranks the moment the Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb. With the Cowboys now having Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb as a strong wide receiver group all of their ADP values have fallen as there is fear that each will steal targets from the other. In 14 games in 2019 Gallup produced a fantastic season with 112 targets and a 66/1107/6 line that was good enough for a WR20 finish. With the trio of wide receivers now in Dallas, Gallup's draft price has become a nice value in the middle rounds.
Jason Wood: Fantasy football enthusiasts have a tendency to grossly overrate rookie receivers, and in turn, they can illogically drop incumbent veterans down draft boards. While CeeDee Lamb has the pedigree to eventually be a bonafide No. 1 receiver, and Amari Cooper is signed long-term as the Cowboys top pass catcher, expecting Lamb to displace Gallup's snaps in 2020 is foolhardy. Gallup missed four games but otherwise was more productive than Amari Cooper. While healthy, Gallup had more targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He's as well-rounded as Cooper, and has a built-in rapport with Dak Prescott; he's far too accomplished with too much upside to fall as far as he's dropping in drafts currently.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis
Sigmund Bloom: Hilton battled injuries and poor quarterback play last year and was a WR1 for the first three games of the season. He’ll get an upgrade at quarterback with the arrival of Philip Rivers. Hilton is not an injury-prone receiver, having played at least 14 games in every year of his career going into 2019, and 16 games in four out of seven years.
Jeff Pasquino: Hilton struggled last year with injuries and the change from Andrew Luck to Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, but now he is good to go and looking forward to playing with new QB Philip Rivers. Hilton was a Top 25 wide receiver for six consecutive seasons prior to last year, so a strong rebound seems rather likely. Hilton needs to put up WR1-type numbers in a contract year, so look for him to step up in what could be his final season as a Colt.
Allen Robinson, Chicago
James Brimacombe: In Robinson's six career seasons he has played a full 16 games just three times. In those three seasons, he has had at least 150 targets and finished as WR4, WR31, and WR12 (last season). Robinson is coming off a 153 target, 98 reception, 1147 receiving yards, and seven touchdown season for the Bears who were lead by Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. The Bears now have a slight upgrade in Nick Foles and Robinson is heading into his third season in Chicago with high promise. The price you can draft Robinson now you get one of the safest floors but also have a shot at some high ceiling games and potential to get a top ten wide receiver without paying a high price in drafts.
Jordan McNamara: Allen Robinson finished as WR8 in 2019 despite Mitchell Trubisky finishing with the worst yards per attempt (6.1) of 32 qualifying quarterbacks. Trubisky’s poor performance did nothing to hold back Robinson as the Chicago offense created a target-funnel to Robinson. Robinson was fifth in wide receiver targets with 153, which accounted for 27% of Chicago’s attempts. This was fourth in the league behind only Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, and Davante Adams. Robinson also accounted for 39% of the offense’s air yards good for fifth amongst wide receivers in 2019. While Chicago added Ted Ginn Jr, Jimmy Graham, and Cole Kmet in the offseason, at this point in their careers, they do not project for major volume. While the quarterback situation is suboptimal, Robinson has been largely quarterback-proof throughout his career. At his cost, Robinson’s projected target volume creates a good bet to return value.
Curtis Samuel, Carolina
Sigmund Bloom: Samuel played much better than his numbers indicate last year. He got open deep at will, but his stats suffered from poor quarterback play. Teddy Bridgewater should improve the accuracy and efficiency of the passing game and new offensive coordinator Joe Brady should improve the play design and playcalling. Samuel could evolve into one of the best big-play receivers in the league this year.
Jeff Haseley: Whispers from the Panthers' new coaching staff have stated that they want to get Curtis Samuel more involved in the offense. New offensive coordinator, Joe Brady said "Curtis is a playmaker. He fits the mold of what we’re looking for." This is coming from the man who helped set offensive records for the LSU offense last season. At age 23, soon to be 24, Samuel is now a veteran in the league entering his fourth year. He understands the game much better than he did when he first started, and he knows what he is capable of accomplishing. Now it appears that his coaches do too.
Emmanuel Sanders, New Orleans
Jeff Pasquino: Sanders finally gets to join a team with a strong quarterback and offense after languishing in both Denver and San Francisco for three seasons (ever since Peyton Manning retired). Now the veteran wideout lands in a great spot in New Orleans with a Saints team that has been desperately seeking a viable second wide receiver to start opposite of Michael Thomas. Just last season, New Orleans completed 36 touchdown passes, but only seven went to wide receivers not named Thomas. As a combined unit, the Saints' non-Thomas wideouts caught only 52 passes on 93 targets and under 700 total yards. Other players had to step up in the passing game, but I expect Sanders to more than fill the WR2 hole and post WR3-type numbers on a semi-regular basis, making him a solid flex option with a higher upside on weeks where he finds the end zone.
Matt Waldman: It's 2020 and we're still stuck in 20th-century thinking when it comes to the way offenses distribute the football. Sanders' production in Denver in Peyton Manning's offense should be an indication an elite passer behind a top offensive line supports multiple high-end fantasy starters in the receiving corps. A top route runner and one of the most productive receivers of the past decade, Sanders will benefit from the presence of Michael Thomas and Jared Cook. Even with a one-dimensional supporting cast beyond Thomas and Cook last year, there was room for Sanders to earn at least 900-1,000 yards. Drew Brees has earned 5,000 yards multiple times when he's had more than two accomplished vertical options. Sanders and Thomas should earn yardage totals that closer than many realize--unless you think Thomas can surpass 1,500 yards again and that's a big gamble.
Players Receiving 1 Vote
Keenan Allen, LA Chargers
Andy Hicks: After an injury-plagued start to his career, Keenan Allen has been a star. For the last three years, he has at least 97 receptions and 1196 receiving yards in every season, as well as six touchdowns each year since 2017. Why then does he seem unwanted at his current ADP? Does the departure of Philip Rivers affect Allen's production that much? That is the crux of the issue. The Chargers offensive coordinator is the same one that took over early in the 2019 season, the receiving and running back group hasn’t changed significantly. Will Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert shy away from their best receiver? Despite this being his eighth season, he is still well under 30 and seeking a new deal. His current ADP has a fail-safe mechanism of being well below his current production. A very solid WR2 to take when the opportunity presents itself.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati
Sigmund Bloom: Boyd remained fantasy-relevant through a lost season last year. The return of A.J. Green is just as likely to be a good thing for his fantasy numbers as a bad thing, based on past production splits. Boyd will also get a likely upgrade at quarterback in Joe Burrow. Everything is pointing toward him continuing to be an every-week PPR fantasy start, just at a big discount this year despite a better situation.
John Brown, Buffalo
Jordan McNamara: John Brown was a bona fide WR1 for the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and finished as WR19. Brown demonstrated he was more than just the deep threat role he was cast in earlier in his career as he won at every level. In 2019, Brown was targeted on 25% of Buffalo’s passing attempts and was the intended receiver on 38% of Buffalo’s air yards, which ranked sixth amongst wide receivers. The addition of Stefon Diggs complicates Brown’s command of the offense, but the abbreviated offseason schedule is an advantage for Brown’s stability because Diggs has limited time to integrate into the offense. When you are looking for wide receivers at Brown’s cost, targeting with a top 24 finish on their resume with a clear opportunity for target volume is a great historic bet, and Brown fits the bill.
Marquise Brown, Baltimore
James Brimacombe: As a rookie who battled injuries before the season even started and throughout the season, Brown managed to catch 46 passes for 584 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. The best part of these numbers is that Brown plays on a team that runs the ball at such a high rate and the number of passing plays was very limited in Baltimore in 2019. I feel like Brown will be healthy to start the year and that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will start to look to the pass more often leading to Brown being one of the best values at the wide receiver position.
Kenny Golladay, Detroit
James Brimacombe: Golladay put up a massive 2019 season with 116 targets and a stat line of 65/1190/11 and finished as the WR3 in fantasy. Golladay led all wide receivers with those 11 touchdowns and only had Matthew Stafford throwing him the ball for eight of 16 games. When you are looking to draft a WR1 this season and trying to get some built-in upside while not overpaying for it, Golladay should be one of your top targets. He is coming off a WR3 overall season where he did so with a backup quarterback for half of the season. No wide receiver has a higher ceiling than Kenny Golladay in 2020.
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City
Jason Wood: Hardman only had 26 receptions as a rookie, but don't let the dissuade your enthusiasm. He averaged 20.7 yards per reception and scored six touchdowns, which portend an explosive upside as a principal downfield threat for Patrick Mahomes II. Don't forget Hardman has only played wide receiver for three years, converting to the position after his freshman year at Georgia. The Chiefs are one of the league's elite offenses, and it's smart to own pieces of that puzzle. Don't be surprised if Hardman overtakes Sammy Watkins as the No. 2 receiver this season.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas
Matt Waldman: Dak Prescott supported two 1,100-yard receivers last year and another 1,100 yards between Tavon Austin and Randall Cobb. This doesn't even include Prescott's work with Jason Witten, Blake Jarwin, and Ezekiel Elliott in the passing game. Lamb's route running is on par with Jerry Jeudy, the more celebrated technician of this rookie class. Lamb is also a better aerial acrobat at the catch point and superior after the catch due to his acceleration. Lamb and Amari Cooper will split time as flankers and slot men in Dallas' offense. Look for Lamb to earn the combined production we saw from Austin and Cobb in 2019 and if Cooper or Michael Gallup gets hurt, Lamb could become even more productive as the full-time flanker or slot man in a prolific offense.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland
Andrew Davenport: It is possible that his ADP starts to correct itself if reports surface that he is coming along well in his rehab from hip surgery and will be ready to go for Week 1. In 2019 Landry did what he's done for his whole career - exceed expectations. He has recorded 81 or more receptions in every year in the league to date and has consistently been a PPR machine that delivers value on draft day. The Cleveland offense should be more efficient in 2020, and while his 2019 WR12 finish may be a bit of a stretch, his current ADP is so low that he is a virtual lock to crush his draft slot with anything approaching his career averages.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle
Sigmund Bloom: Lockett was a WR1 before he got hurt last year, DK Metcalf may become more of a focus for opposing deep safeties, and the Seahawks may continue to trend toward greater passing attempts this year. Even if the pass attempts dip down from the 2019 bump, Lockett has already proven that he can be the most efficient receiver per target in the league.
Devante Parker, Miami
Andy Hicks: There was no happier man in Miami following the departure of Adam Gase than Devante Parker. Parker was almost traded for minor draft capital while the current Jets coach was around, but once Gase left Parker turned into the WR1 he was drafted to be with the 14th overall pick in 2015. How undervalued is Parker this year? Let’s play a game. One receiver had 802 yards and five touchdowns over their last eight games, while another had 850 yards and five touchdowns. One is the first wide receiver off the board in Michael Thomas. The other is being drafted as a WR3. The Dolphins have reasonable continuity on offense and no logical reason for assuming Parker will regress. One of the easiest picks to make this year.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota
Phil Alexander: Thielen's current ADP makes him the ideal WR1 when you start your draft with back-to-back running backs. Why are we holding a fluke hamstring injury against a player who hadn't missed a single game before 2019? Thielen was the cumulative WR13 through seven weeks before he banged into a padded temporary wall while catching a 25-yard touchdown pass against the Lions. With Stefon Diggs' 21% target market share from a year ago up for grabs, it would be surprising if Thielen doesn't get back to 130+ targets. Given similar target volume in 2017 and 2018, he finished as the WR7 and WR8 in PPR leagues, respectively. Take the injury discount for as long as it exists.
Mike Williams, LA Chargers
Justin Howe: Williams is caught in fantasy no man's land, lighter than you'd like on volume and dependent upon splash plays and touchdowns. He's caught just 92 balls over the past 2 seasons, after all, with Keenan Allen dominating targets in an increasingly run-heavy scheme. But there are many reasons to project upticks across the board for Williams, even as the Chargers offense transitions. Philip Rivers hasn't been much of a deep-ball thrower in years, which has undoubtedly dampened Williams' impact. Yet he's still put up an elite 10.7 yards per attempt on that limited usage, and he found the end zone 11 times back in 2018. (Williams scored only twice last year, which looks due for positive regression. Only one of his seven looks from inside the 10 resulted in a touchdown, a rate with nowhere to go but up.) That kind of efficiency, projected over 100+ targets, would bring easy WR2 value in any format. Williams is still just 25 years old, with only 40 regular-season games under his belt. It's likely we've yet to see his true upswing.
