Who is your top wide receiver in a normal fantasy league? Does your answer change for PPR leagues?
Jason Wood
I'm not going to shatter minds and expectations by saying Jerry Jeudy, right? Chances are Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb were atop your pre-draft rookie rankings, and with Lamb landing in Dallas and having to contend with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, I don't see how Jeudy isn't the logical choice. He's pro-ready, and steps into a Broncos offense that is desperate for a quality, full-time starter opposite Courtland Sutton. As long as Drew Lock shows some growth -- and I expect him to -- Jeudy should lead rookie receivers in targets, and won't have a steep learning curve to handle a pro-style playbook.
Phil Alexander
If I'm placing a bet on which rookie wide receiver sees the most targets, I'd go Justin Jefferson over Jeudy. Whereas Jeudy has competition from emerging stud Courtland Sutton, the team's second-round pick, KJ Hamler, and second-year tight end, Noah Fant, Jefferson has to contend with Adam Thielen and that's about it.
The Stefon Diggs trade vacates 6.3 targets per game that no other Vikings receiver is positioned to inherit. And even if Jeudy is able to match Jefferson's target volume, a Kirk Cousins target is worth more than a Drew Lock target until proven otherwise.
If we're comparing size, speed, and burst, Jefferson has a leg up on Jeudy, they were both drafted in the first round, and only one of them is all but guaranteed 90-100 targets. If the Vikings decide to run Jefferson from the slot and kick Thielen outside, watch out. The rookie has top-20 upside in year one.
Matt Waldman
I'm rolling with Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb is a close second. What people are missing about Lamb this year is that despite Ezekiel Eliott rushing for 1,300 yards and Cooper and Gallup earning 1,100 yards apiece, Dak Prescott still delivered over 1,000 yards of passing to Randall Cobb and Tavon Austin last year. The Cowboys have a stacked offense and a quarterback capable of feeding its cast. Jeudy gets the edge for me this year because he'll play flanker and the slot and become a target hound immediately. K.J. Hamler is a physical talent with ball skills downfield but he'll only see time in a contributing role and when Hamler's on the field, it will often place Jeudy in more enviable matchups for targets. Think of Hamler this year as a chunk-play option who opens the middle for Jeudy, who will quickly become Drew Lock's security blanket. Noah Fant doesn't worry me as a player who will take away Jeudy's targets as much as Jeudy's presence will enhance the efficiency of the targets that Fant earns. I expect Jeudy to lead the Broncos in targets and receptions as a rookie.
Jeff Haseley
It is clear to view CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy as the premier wide receivers in this rookie class, but one of my favorite receivers drafted into a good offense and opportunity for immediate playing time is Michael Pittman with the Colts. Indianapolis now has a quarterback capable of moving the ball downfield at will in Philip Rivers. He may be 38, but last year he showed he can still be an effective passer, throwing for 4,615 yards. It marked the 11th time in 12 seasons where he eclipsed 4,000 yards passing. The Colts have veteran wide receiver T.Y. Hilton as their primary target, however, the drafting of Pittman suggests that he might be Hilton's replacement if he is not re-signed after the 2020 season. Pittman is tabbed to start opposite Hilton and be an integral piece of the Colts and Philip Rivers' arsenal. It would not be a stretch to see Pittman come away as the top-producing rookie wide receiver this season.
CeeDee Lamb has two capable teammates in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup to share targets, and Jerry Jeudy will need Drew Lock to take the next step forward to produce numbers big enough to sustain both Courtland Sutton and Jeudy as weekly fantasy starters. Pittman and Rivers have the talent and opportunity to come out on top when the 2020 season is complete.
Chad Parsons
Jalen Reagor is my 2020 favorite for the best rookie season among receivers. Reagor has an elite prospect profile (rare qualifier to the 90-90 club with at least 90% Athleticism and 90% Production scores). Also, Reagor has minimal competition among receivers in Philadelphia for targets, plus has a high-level quarterback pairing. The combination is the best among notable rookie receivers, notably Jerry Jeudy has a question mark in Drew Lock, and CeeDee Lamb has heavy competition for targets in Dallas.
Jordan McNamara
I'll agree with Chad and go with Jalen Reagor. Philadelphia's offense was so limited last year by a lack of weapons on the perimeter so the opportunity is there. While Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson are likely to return, they are more complementary options at this point in their career. Of the six wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft, Reagor has the best combination of quarterback play and an open depth chart as a rookie. Reagor was highly productive from 18 years old at TCU, which projects well for an early role in the NFL.
Andy Hicks
This is such a hard question. There are so many potentially great rookie receivers in good situations in an ever-increasingly dominant passing league.
As usual, it will depend on development, chemistry with the quarterback, and situation.
I love Jerry Jeudy as the best option in a dynasty format and it tore my heart to pass him on the staff dynasty league, but I needed a running back more than another receiver. That said out of all the first-round wide receivers he has the most inexperienced quarterback by far. I have all ranked concerned in Denver ranked high, but there is a downside lower than say, Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb.
There are some really nice second- and third-round receivers in good spots to mull over as well, and if it is to be a non-first rounder, I favor Michael Pittman for the reasons Jeff Haseley outlined.
Ultimately I could make a case for all first-rounders but will side with Jason and Matt here and stick with Jeudy. The upside is worth the risk.
Jeff Pasquino
Put me down for Jefferson with Minnesota. The offense is not changing, aside from Stefon Diggs now gone to Buffalo. Jefferson looks like a very reasonable plug-and-play for him in this offense, and with Adam Thielen on the other side and Dalvin Cook manning the balanced run game, Jefferson should be the top option in fantasy for me. As for Lamb in Dallas, he is competing with several other mouths to feed and an offense that is content to ride Zeke Elliott first and foremost. Reagor seems like a DeSean Jackson clone, so he may be behind him in the offense aside from 3-wide sets.
