By now, fantasy football draft prep should be starting up, so it’s time to dig deep and figure out who you should focus on at each position … and who you should avoid whether it’s based on average draft position or other reasons.
That’s what this series of posts is meant to be. We started with running backs, and now it’s time for wide receivers, a much deeper position than RBs. That doesn’t mean you can completely avoid them for a while and draft WRs late.
Here’s how to approach the position at draft time, along with some sleepers and busts to remember:
Strategy
Look: you could draft Michael Thomas in the first round, or even Davante Adams, and you could be fine — Thomas is above Adams because of his targets, but you’re locking in week-to-week consistency.
But here’s the thing: what if you could wait a round and grab Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Chris Godwin or Kenny Golladay? And what if you even waited another round and Amari Cooper, A.J. Brown, or Allen Robinson is there?
The point? I’m probably waiting until round 3 to grab a wideout. The difference between Hopkins and Robinson may be pretty small, and I know there is even more value in the WR10-20 range as well.
Sleepers
Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams
Brandin Cooks is gone and no one replaced him. Yes, Cooper Kupp will also get a boost, but Woods might get more red zone work to add on to last year’s awesome numbers (90 catches, 1,134 yards). You could get a WR1 at a WR2 price.
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
After a REALLY good rookie year, why is he being drafted so low? He can only go up from there!
WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Rookie CeeDee Lamb took away a ton of value from Gallup, but here’s my theory: in 2020, rookies could take longer than usual to get acclimated with no OTAs, no preseason games and changes in camp. So I’ll take a chance on him approaching similar numbers to last year’s 1,107 yards and six scores.
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens
He’s added weight, the Ravens’ passing game could improve in 2020 and he’s in his second year. What’s not to like?
Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins
DeVante Parker is the WR1, but the receiver depth chart in Miami doesn’t include two players — Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns — who opted out. A HUGE opportunity for the receiver who looked like a future star for eight games last year.
Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders
There’s some buzz surrounding Edwards on a team looking for a No. 1 receiver. Henry Ruggs III may need some time before making an impact, and Edwards could move ahead of Hunter Renfrow. He’s an extremely deep sleeper to keep an eye on.
Busts
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I worry about Tom Brady looking his way deep — he might feel more comfortable throwing to Godwin underneath and Rob Gronkowski over the middle. So I’m not drafting him as a WR1, which is how he’s being viewed.
WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Too many concerns: age, the Vikings going run-heavy, and the fact the Vikes traded Stefon Diggs. Remember what happened to JuJu Smith-Schuster last year when he didn’t have another receiver to take away attention? That’s my biggest worry here.
WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
The breakout we all thought could happen did. But now there’s Jerry Jeudy, Year 2 of Noah Fant and Melvin Gordon who could all catch passes. Temper your expectations.
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
I worry about the change at quarterback now that Philip Rivers is in Indy.
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen will be throwing him deep balls, and we know Allen’s accuracy on long passes isn’t great.
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