Wide Receiver Rankings - 2020
As noted in our prior articles ranking Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Tight Ends, I’ve finally caved. I prefer grouping players into categorical tiers, rather than ranking them, but the people want what they want - and what they want are rankings. So rankings they shall get. Below are my wide receiver rankings for 2020, based on what we know in the COVID19 world of June 2020. These rankings can, and likely will, change by the time drafts roll around in August based on new information. Below are my top 100 receivers based on a standard-scoring 12-team league.
Michael Thomas, Saints. After the year he just had, it would be foolish to rank him any lower than this. He sent a single-season record with 149 receptions, and he also chipped in 1,725 yards and 9 touchdowns. His rookie year, he had 92 catches; every season since, he’s been well over 100. He is money in the bank, and is well deserving of a first round pick.
Julio Jones, Falcons. They don’t come much more consistent than Julio. For six straight years, he’s had at least 80 receptions and 1,400 yards. Touchdowns have always been hit or miss with him, but he’s had at least 6 scores in all but 1 of the last 6 years. He’s been the focal point of the Atlanta offense for the better part of the past decade, and that doesn’t figure to change in 2020.
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs. Hill’s 2019 got off to a rocky start due to injury, but he’s still the premier deep threat in the league and is playing with the best quarterback in the league. If he can get back to 2019 form - 87/1,479/12 - he’s well deserving of a top-3 selection.
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers. In his first season as a full-time starter, Godwin delivered with a 86/1,333/9 line. He may well have taken over for Mike Evans as the #1 receiver in the Buccaneers offense.
Allen Robinson, Bears. Poor Allen Robinson. He’s the second coming of Larry Fitzgerald: an elite WR talent whose entire career is spent with subpar quarterbacks (save a couple seasons where Fitzy got to play with an aged Kurt Warner). In college, A-Rob was stuck with Christian Hackenberg. In the pros, he’s been saddled with Blake Bortles and Mitchell Trubisky. It’s a sad state of affairs when Nick Foles might end up being the best quarterback Robinson ever plays with. But despite playing with bottom-5 quarterbacks, Robinson still manages to produce. Last year, he was third in the league in targets (behind only Thomas and Julio) and delivered 98/1,147/7. The Bears didn’t add any competition to the wide receiver room in the offseason, so Robinson is poised to carry the load for Chicago yet again.
DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals. I’ll catch some flak for this ranking. I’m cool with that. Hopkins was viewed as the top receiver in the league heading into last season. So why aren’t I showing him more love? Well, first, I generally fade players who have changed teams in the offseason. We don’t truly know how they’ll gel with new teammates and new schemes. Second, I’m not completely sold on Kyler Murray. If he doesn’t make the second-year leap everyone is expecting, that could hurt Nuk’s stats. Finally, there are a lot of mouths to feed in that Arizona offense: Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, and second-year players Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler. The sheer number of guys who should also be on the field could cap Nuk’s ceiling. I still think he’s going to have a good year, but taking him among the top 3 receivers, which is where I see him going in most drafts in early summer, is too rich for me.
Kenny Golladay, Lions. Back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, and last year he exploded with 11 touchdowns. Let’s not forget, Matt Stafford missed a huge chunk of last season, and “Babytron” was instead catching passes from guys like Jeff Driskel and David Blough. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Golladay is still only scratching the surface.
Mike Evans, Buccaneers. He’s kicked off his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons, and now he gets to play with Tom Brady. He has double digit TD upside (he’s done it twice in his career), but he also has a low TD floor (only 3 in 2015) and he splits looks with Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, OJ Howard, and Cameron Brate. Evans should again post a great season, but I am concerned that his touchdown totals might decline as a result of Gronk’s presence.
D.J. Moore, Panthers. I was initially very concerned about Teddy Bridgewater potentially tanking Moore’s value. But then I realized: Michael Thomas set records last season even though he had Bridgewater throwing him the rock for several games. So now I breathe a little easier. This ranking is a bet on Moore’s talent. He was the first receiver taken in the 2018 draft for a reason, and he came on strong in the second half of last year (playing with Kyle Allen, who is certainly no better than Bridgewater). His 87 receptions in only his second year in the league foreshadow a Year-3 breakout.
Odell Beckham, Browns. The Browns were a mess last year. Their left tackle was nonexistent, Baker Mayfield regressed, and Beckham played hurt. In addition, as noted above, it’s usually a bad idea to invest in a guy who changed teams in the offseason, and that was exactly Beckham’s scenario in 2019. Despite all those issues, Beckham still managed a 25% target share (good for top 10 among WRs in the NFL). He’s now healthy, the Browns addressed their left tackle problem with their first round draft pick, and Beckham is still young enough (27) to revert to his prior dominant form. He’s a worthy selection as your first wide receiver.
AJ Green, Bengals. Maybe this is a homer pick from a Bengal fan. (It probably is.) But you either believe or you do not. I believe. People are writing off AJ Green as “old,” but they forget that he entered the league in the same year as Julio Jones, and no one hesitates to rank Julio in the top 3. If you exclude last year (when he missed the entire season due to injury), this is a guy who averages 75 receptions, 1100 yards, and 8 touchdowns per year. And now he gets to play with the best quarterback of his career. Sign me up.
Davante Adams, Packers. Aaron Rodgers’ top target is a touchdown-maker. But touchdowns are fluky. I prefer to focus on targets, receptions, and yards. And in the yards department, Adams is lacking. Although he’s been in the league for six years, he has only one season with over 1,000 yards. ONE. Although he certainly has the potential for more, his track record suggests he’s more of a TD-heavy WR2 than a WR1.
Keenan Allen, Chargers. He likely will never score enough touchdowns to put him in the WR1 conversation, but man, Allen is everything you want in a WR2. He is a virtual lock for 100 receptions, 1,200 yards, and 6 touchdowns - because that’s pretty much been his stat line each of the last three seasons. The only thing that may hold him back is the transition from Philip Rivers to Tyrod Taylor (or first rounder Justin Herbert) this season.
DJ Chark, Jaguars. Baby Chark was one of the biggest surprises of the 2019 season after he was left for dead following his rookie campaign. He established a great rapport with Gardner Minshew, and enters the season as the clear-cut primary passing threat in the Jags’ offense. His workload is far from guaranteed, though, with Jacksonville selecting Colorado WR Laviska Shenault in the second round of the draft. This ranking reflects my healthy bet that he continues to improve following a breakout 2019.
AJ Brown, Titans. I think the hype train for A.J. Brown has gone a little off the tracks, but there’s no denying that he’s the only aerial threat in the Titans offense that scares anyone. There is no way he repeats his 20.2 yards per catch average, but maybe with increased volume he can make up for any shortfalls. He had 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie; a similar stat line this season would land him in WR2 territory. But if he makes that second-year leap, we could be talking about him in the WR1 conversation next year.
Cooper Kupp, Rams. Cooper Kupp is the red zone threat for the most creative offensive mind in the NFL. Last season, he set a career high with 94 receptions and 10 touchdowns. With Brandin Cooks having been shipped to Houston in the offseason, Kupp is poised to at least repeat, if not improve upon, last season’s stats due to a greater target share. But buyer beware: down the stretch last year, the Rams opted to go with more “12” personnel, which kept Kupp on the sidelines. He can’t produce for your fantasy team if he’s not on the field.
Amari Cooper, Cowboys. He’s long been a disappearing act, but his year-end stats make him worthy of a WR2 selection. With the Cowboys offense remaining intact (and adding CeeDee Lamb), Cooper should continue to provide decent ROI for those who invest in him. Just be ready for those clunker weeks. He’s a guy who is far more valuable in total points leagues than in head-to-head.
TY Hilton, Colts. With Andrew Luck, Hilton was always viewed as a low-end WR1. His 2019 season was hijacked by playing injured, with an injured Jacoby Brissett. He should find it to be smoother sailing now that he’s fully healthy and with Philip Rivers under center (assuming Rivers can still get it down the field). He’s a high-upside WR2 with the potential to be a WR1 by year’s end.
Juju Smith-Schuster, Steelers. I’m not a Juju fan. I think he’s a glorified slot receiver who wet his pants once Antonio Brown left town and all the defensive attention was focused on him. And I don’t think he’s good enough to beat double teams. I have him this high solely because he had an early breakout age both in college and in the pros, and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because he played the whole season without Ben Roethilsberger. But if he can’t produce with Big Ben this year, his fantasy value is shot. If he can get back above the 100-catch threshold, though, like he did in 2019, he’s definitely worthy of a selection in this range.
Adam Thielen, Vikings. Adam Thielen is at his best lining up in the slot. This year’s first round pick, Justin Jefferson, is at his best lining up in the slot. Something’s gotta give. If Thielen is being forced outside, I don’t think he’s going to provide the return on investment you’re looking for with your WR2. If he stays in the slot, he can flirt with WR1 value.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos. Year 2: More than 70 catches, more than 1,100 yards, and 6 touchdowns. And that was with garbage quarterbacks until December. Now that he’s got Drew Lock for a full season (and Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler to help take defensive attention off of him), he should have no problem repeating - if not improving on - his 2019 stat line.
Terry McLaurin, Redskins. McLaurin was a revelation for Washington last year, but Dwayne Haskins is still terrible. Scary Terry should surpass 1,000 yards this year, but Haskins likely caps his upside.
DK Metcalf, Seahawks. I missed hard on Metcalf. I thought for sure he was a bust, due to his inability to smoothly transition in and out of his breaks. But his rookie year stats were certainly appealing: 58 receptions, 900 yards, 7 touchdowns. Even a modest leap in year two makes him a locked-and-loaded WR2. Russell Wilson has thrown 30+ touchdowns in 4 of the past 5 seasons, so Metcalf is pretty solid bet to post solid numbers in the touchdown department.
DeVante Parker, Dolphins. I know, I know. I hear you. I know. It makes me feel gross, too. But Parker was an absolute stud last year. Is he just a late bloomer, or was 2019 (72/1,202/9) just an outlier? I’d be willing to take the plunge to find out as a WR2 with upside.
Robert Woods, Rams. But for his allergy to scoring touchdowns, Robert Woods would be one of the top receivers in the league. He has caught at least 86 passes and racked up over 1,100 yards in each of the past two seasons, and plays for one of the most creative offensive coaches in the NFL. But for whatever reason, he’s never scored more than 6 touchdowns in any season of his 7-year career. In fact, he’s had 3 or fewer touchdowns in more than half of his seasons. He certainly gives a reliable high floor, though, with an added boost in PPR leagues.
Deebo Samuel, 49ers. Samuel enters 2020 as San Francisco’s #1 WR (Emmanuel Sanders was let go in the offseason and Dante Pettis is in the doghouse), although Shanny is surely going to scheme up touches for first round pick Brandon Aiyuk and lead dog George Kittle. Samuel is a multi-faceted talent, though, who can help both rushing and receiving. As a rookie, he had 800 yards receiving, but he also had over 150 yards rushing and 3 rushing scores. With anticipated improvement as a sophomore, he may very well outperform his draft position.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks. Tyler Lockett is an overrated player. There. I said it. His first four years in the league, he was below 1,000 yards receiving. Last season, as pretty much the only viable pass-catcher returning, he posted his first 1,000 yard season. I think it’s a mirage. With DK Metcalf emerging as a rookie and the signing of Greg Olsen, Lockett figures to see less volume than he did in 2019, which will hurt his bottom line. He’s a speedy player, and still a threat to take it to the house, but he’s probably closer to a 57-catch player (his career high before 2019) than an 82-catch player (his total last year).
Jarvis Landry, Browns. I’m always lower on Landry than consensus, and he never winds up on my teams. He just lacks the touchdown upside, which is why I can never pull the trigger to draft him. He had a whopping 29% target share last year, though (top 5 in the league), and like OBJ, he should benefit from Cleveland drafting a left tackle in Round 1 this year. He’s had at least 81 receptions in every season of his six-year career, and he’s had at least 975 yards in every season since his rookie year. He typically only scores around 4-5 touchdowns a year, though.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals. I’m not sure what else this guy needs to do to get the fantasy community to buy into him. He’s had 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, and he set a career high last year with 90 receptions. He’s exactly what you want in that WR3 spot.
Stefon Diggs, Bills. Again, the whole “player changing teams” thing. Plus, Diggs had nearly 40 fewer receptions in 2019 than 2018. His stats are really all over the board in terms of receptions, ranging from 52 to 102 with very little consistency year to year, so it’s hard to know what you’re getting from him. He’s talented enough that you definitely have to have him in the WR3 conversation, but it’s hard for me to trust him more than that. (And that’s hard for me to say, because i am really impressed with his skills.)
Michael Gallup, Cowboys. I’m eating crow a little bit here, because I was not a believer in Gallup coming out of college. But in just his second year in the league in 2019, he surprised with 1,100 yards receiving. The Cowboys’ offense is a well-oiled machine, and even with the addition of CeeDee Lamb, I am not convinced that Gallup’s stats are going to take much of a hit in 2020. Fire up Gallup with confidence, as another 1,000 yard season should be on the horizon.
Calvin Ridley, Falcons. I loathe Calvin Ridley. Always have. But there really aren’t any options in the Atlanta passing game outside of Julio Jones, and Matt Ryan loves to chuck it. He’s a decent TD-maker, but he’s not great yardage-wise and his receptions are only so-so. To take Ridley in this range, you need to believe that he’s going to make a third-year leap. He’s old for a third-year player, though; he turns 26 during the season.
DeSean Jackson, Eagles. I haven’t given up on DeSean Jackson just yet. He made sweet music with Carson Wentz early on last season when both were healthy… but they didn’t stay healthy for long. Jackson is getting older, but he still has his deep speed, and if he can stay on the field - always a question with him - he could wind up providing high-end WR2 value at low-end WR3 cost.
Will Fuller, Texans. Full disclosure: I went to Notre Dame, and it’s hard for me to take off the rose-colored (or is it Kelly-green-colored?) glasses. But I love Will Fuller. For some people, scoring touchdowns is just a skill. And it’s been a skill for Fuller dating back to college. His problem has always been staying healthy. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been traded, he is the de facto #1 for Deshaun Watson. This might finally be the season that Fuller puts it all together.
Golden Tate, Giants. Tate is being underrated this year on a lot of other sites. This guy had 90+ receptions four seasons in a row in Detroit from 2014-2017. 2018 was a lost season due to a midseason trade, and he took a bit of time to get up to speed in his first year in New York last year while they were breaking in a rookie quarterback (and following a PED suspension). Heading into this year, he should be more acclimated to his surroundings and supporting cast. His past performance suggests that he should be, at worst, a solid WR3, but potentially a WR2 if he can return to the form he had in Detroit.
Brandin Cooks, Texans. Wasn’t this guy previously seen as a WR1? And what has he done to run his way out of town for three different organizations before his 27th birthday? Throughout Cooks’ career, he’s been playing in ideal situations. He got drafted by New Orleans and got to open his career playing with Drew Brees. He got traded to the Patriots and upgraded to Tom Brady. Then he got traded to the Rams and got to play for offensive genius Sean McVay. Now he gets to play with Deshaun Watson. Has any receiver ever been traded that much, and put in that many good situations? He’s a boom-or-bust player, but before last season, he had 4 straight seasons of 1,000 yards. He’s probably still got that in him if he can stay healthy. But like a lot of other guys in this list, I’m wary of Cooks because of his changing of teams. However, I’m probably more comfortable with him than I am with a lot of other guys who have switched teams, because he’s already done that multiple times in his career without skipping a beat.
Hollywood Brown, Ravens. This is the only Ravens’ wide receiver I’m looking to own this year. He has elite speed, and the Dolphins game in Week 1 last year showed us what he can do against a bad defense. He had seven touchdowns as a rookie, which is a really promising start to his career. It’s really exciting to think about how he might develop with Lamar Jackson over the next several years.
Mecole Hardman, Chiefs. The 2019 second-round pick flashed at times as a rookie, and has the deep speed to make use of Patrick Mahomes’ big arm. Don’t be concerned about Sammy Watkins blocking his path on the depth chart. Watkins is more of a slot guy and Hardman plays on the outside. With Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce commanding the defensive attention, Hardman should be able to capitalize on single coverage. He’s an ideal bye week wide receiver who has the potential to develop into a fantasy star.
Darius Slayton, Giants. The Day 3 pick turned out to be a diamond in the rough for the G-Men. Aside from Evan Engram, he’s really the only downfield threat that the Giants have. His ability to improve on his 740 yards and 8 touchdowns from a year ago will be critical to QB Daniel Jones’ development.
Marvin Jones, Lions. He’s probably never been appreciated for just how good he is, and now he is returning from injury. He’s never been a consistent yardage guy, but he’s a reasonable touchdown threat. He has 3 seasons in his career with 9 or more touchdowns.
Michael Pittman, Colts. One of my favorite players in this draft class, Pittman landed in a great situation. The depth chart is wide open opposite TY Hilton. Pittman should slot in immediately as the chains mover and red zone threat, at worst. I’ve heard some Vincent Jackson comps, but I don’t see it. I see more of a cross between Dwayne Bowe and Jarvis Landry.
Christian Kirk, Cardinals. It’s now or never for the former five star recruit. The defensive attention should be on Hopkins, so Kirk should have the opportunity on the opposite side of the field or in the slot to make hay. Can he make the third-year leap? There’s certainly upside here, but exercise caution before relying on him as a fantasy starter.
Julian Edelman, Patriots. Edelman is usually a PPR machine, but I’m scared off of the Patriots offense given their QB situation. Edelman looks to be getting overdrafted this year. How many yards and touchdowns can we realistically expect out of Jarrett Stidham?
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys. Lamb probably goes before this in most leagues, but I have an aversion to trusting rookie WRs with starting spots on my fantasy squad. (He certainly is much more valuable than this rank in dynasty or keeper formats.) Some player comps I’ve seen for him are DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham, Chad Johnson, and . . . Jerry Rice. That’s pretty darn good company. If he can become like any of those players, he’ll be a perennial WR1 in fantasy.
Emmanuel Sanders, Saints. You are what it says on the back of your football card. In 5 of the last 7 seasons, Sanders has had between 66 and 79 catches (with the two exceptions being 2014, when he had 101 catches in his first year in Denver, and 2017, when he was hurt and missed several games). In 5 of the last 7 seasons, he has scored between 4 and 7 touchdowns (with the same two outlier seasons). And the last couple years, he had racked up between 800 and 900 yards. So if we’re projecting what he’ll do now that he’s in the Saints offense, it’s probably reasonable to project something like 70 catches, 850 yards, and 5 touchdowns. That’s ideal out of your first guy off the bench, as that is someone you can start in a pinch or in the event of an injury.
Henry Ruggs III, Raiders. I don’t love Henry Ruggs. Frankly, I think he’s a one-trick pony, and I’m concerned because he never really “broke out” in college. But he’s got great draft capital associated with him, and there isn’t really much ahead of him on the Raiders depth chart. He is walking into a great opportunity. Much of the time fantasy football driven by volume, and Ruggs figures to see volume right out of the gate.
John Brown, Bills. No one gets excited to draft John Brown these days. But he’s the deep threat for a team that has a big-armed quarterback. In his first year in Buffalo last year, he posted a career high in yards and receptions. With another year of familiarity with the system and a continued rapport with Josh Allen, he may be able to repeat those totals in 2020, despite the addition of Stefon Diggs.
Justin Jefferson, Vikings. See the commentary on Adam Thielen above. Jefferson is best out of the slot, and so is Thielen. One of these guys is going to have to play on the outside this year. If it’s Jefferson, it could retard his transition to the NFL game. I am a firm believer that college prospects translate well to the pros when NFL coaching staffs ask them to do the exact same things they were successful doing in college. Thus, in Jefferson’s case, it makes sense to ask him to play the slot. If that’s where the Vikings play him, he’s primed for a Year 1 impact, because a ton of targets got vacated with Stefon Diggs’ trade to Buffalo. If they’re asking him to play on the outside, I’m more skeptical.
Mike Williams, Chargers. Which Mike Williams are we getting: the guy who scored 10 touchdowns in 2018, or the one who scored 2 in 2019? In both seasons, he had between 40 and 50 catches; but last year, he finally added yardage to his game, topping 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. A repeat in that department likely hinges on how quickly Justin Herbert can develop.
Devin Funchess, Packers. I don’t get it. The last time we saw Funchess fully healthy, he was a WR2. He lost his lone season with the Colts to injury last season. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. But many are blasting the Packers for not getting Aaron Rodgers more help in the draft. Has anyone considered that maybe Green Bay feels that it already got Rodgers the help he needs? Funchess is certainly more than capable of filling the #2 role behind Davante Adams. In his third year in Carolina, he had 63 receptions, 840 yards, and 8 touchdowns - and that was catching passes from the errant Cam Newton. Don’t we trust Aaron Rodgers a little more? I get the feeling that I’m going to wind up with Funchess on a lot of fantasy teams this year.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals. It’s been at least a half-decade since anyone got excited about drafting the future Hall of Famer, but Fitzgerald continues to provide value. Seriously - we’re talking about your WR5 here. His days of 100 catches and 1,000 yards are long behind him, but last year he had 75 receptions for 800 yards, and that’s definitely something you can use this late.
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers. San Francisco traded up to secure Aiyuk’s services, and Kyle Shanahan is a pretty creative play-caller, ya know? There are several reasons Aiyuk isn’t higher on this list, though. First, he had a late breakout age. Second, he was not able to overtake N’Keal Harry as the primary receiver at Arizona State, and Harry has not been a good pro thus far. Third, Jimmy Garoppolo is #notgood. I am not convinced that he can support more than two relevant pass catchers, and I’m a believer in both George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Aiyuk is likely going to enter the season as a starter for the 49ers, but I would temper my expectations.
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos. This is probably lower than a lot of other sites have him, but we just don’t know what the Broncos offense is going to look like. Drew Lock is entering his first full season as starter, Noah Fant is entering year 2, and fellow rookie KJ Hamler is going to be competing for the slot role. Jeudy is dripping with upside as a prospect, but I’m not certain how much of an impact he’s going to have as a rookie. Perhaps his talent wins out, but there are a number of things that need to “break right” for him to be a meaningful fantasy contributor in 2020.
Curtis Samuel, Panthers. Among players with 50+ receptions, no one had a higher average depth of target than Samuel’s 15.3. Given that stat, the potential for big plays is certainly there. His overall production has been lacking, though, as he posted only 627 yards receiving last year. Perhaps the quarterback transition from Kyle Allen to Teddy Bridgewater and the coaching change from Ron Rivera to Matt Rhule/Joe Brady can maximize Samuel’s talents. At the same time, there could also be more competition for targets this year with the Panthers signing Robby Anderson in free agency. On balance, Samuel seems like a low risk (WR5 cost), high reward type draft choice.
Sterling Shepard, Giants. The fantasy community generally likes Shepard a good bit more than I do. I guess I’ve never really understood the appeal. He’s been in the league for four years at this point. He always has between 57 and 66 receptions. He averages just over 700 yards. Aside from his rookie year, he’s never surpassed four touchdowns. To me, that’s the definition of mediocre. Not a ton of catches, not a ton of yards, slim touchdown upside. With all of the other options in New York’s passing game, it’s hard to fathom a big season for Shepard.
Breshad Perriman, Jets. Was Perriman’s emergence last year for real? Tampa Bay didn’t try very hard to keep him, but the former first round bust lit it up last December, closing the season with three straight games going over 100 yards receiving, with 4 touchdowns in that span. Was it all a mirage, or a sign of things to come? There isn’t much competition in New York for targets, so he’s a good bet to start the season with one of the starting wideout spots. Now that Sam Darnold has a real left tackle (first rounder Mekhi Becton), he may have enough time to chuck it deep to Perriman.
Preston Williams, Dolphins. I’d be higher on Williams but for the knee injury that ended his season prematurely. He - not DeVante Parker - was the Dolphins’ best receiver last season, and Parker didn’t really take off until Williams’ season ended. Don’t be surprised if Williams is the player with the better stat line in 2020.
Denzel Mims, Jets. This is a volume-based call. Mims projects to start immediately for the Jets, as their WR depth chart is shallow behind slot man Jamison Crowder and former first round bust Breshad Perriman. He should see something in the range of the 90+ targets that Robby Anderson got last year if he can nail down a starting job.
N’Keal Harry, Patriots. One of only two wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2019 draft, Harry’s rookie season was marred by injury and was otherwise forgettable. And now, he gets to play with Jarrett Stidham instead of Tom Brady. It’s hard to be terribly optimistic, but he is finally healthy, and has an opportunity to play on the outside for a team sorely lacking in playmakers on the perimeter. But sadly, he’s not a perimeter playmaker. He’s best suited to play a “big slot” role, but the slot position is typically manned by Julian Edelman in New England.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, Redskins. I’m a good bit higher on Gandy-Golden than many others in the fantasy community, and it’s all about opportunity. We know Scary Terry McLaurin has one starting spot locked down, but who is starting on the other side? Cody Latimer? Kelvin Harmon? I’ll take Gandy-Golden, the small-school guy with good size.
Parris Campbell, Colts. Three words come to mind when assessing Campbell: Post. Hype. Sleeper. He was a second round pick last season, and he excels on routes at or near the line of scrimmage. Playing with popgun-armed Philip Rivers, the speedy Campbell has a great shot to be frequently targeted in 2020, despite the presence of fellow second round pick Michael Pittman.
Sammy Watkins, Chiefs. How many times are we going to let this guy disappoint us? He had a huge Week 1, and was then pretty much useless until the NFL playoffs. Watkins is about as boom or bust as you can get, and he’s more name than game at this point in his career. You can’t discount him entirely because of the offense he plays in, but you certainly shouldn’t be targeting him as a player to rely on in 2020.
Hunter Renfrow, Raiders. Renfrow quietly had a very good rookie season for the Raiders, with 49 receptions for 605 yards and 4 scores. Even a modest increase in production in 2020 could see him wind up with 60/750/5, which is great value this late in the draft. I likely won’t wind up with him on many fantasy teams this year because most sites have him rated higher than I do, but he’s certainly someone worth a look in the later rounds.
Laviska Shenault, Jaguars. Jacksonville is going to find a lot of different ways to get Shenault the ball, whether it is on runs, sweeps, returns, or in the passing game. He’s a multifaceted weapon for a team that desperately needs to get more multiple. This guy strikes me as a mix of Percy Harvin and Golden Tate - WRs that are built like running backs and can do a little bit of everything.
Jamison Crowder, Jets. We’ve reached the point in the rankings where we’re alternating between upside and safety. Crowder is the latter. He’s never going to be a huge yardage guy, and he rarely scores more than 2 or 3 touchdowns in a season, but he’s a nice safety blanket from the slot and provides a decent PPR floor.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Eagles. Many have written off JJAW after a subpar rookie season, but the dude played hurt. He had a fantastic average depth of target (almost 18 yards) and gutted out some tough snaps while playing at far less than 100%. It would not surprise me at all if the Eagles starting receivers in 2021 are Jalen Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside. He’s a great jump ball/red zone weapon, and could become one of Carson Wentz’s favorite targets in scoring situations this year.
Alshon Jeffery, Eagles. Most seem to have written off Alshon Jeffery. I’m not one of them. Although a malcontent, he’s still a talented player. Before last year, he had 4 straight years in the ballpark of 800 yards receiving. He’s always been a dangerous red zone threat. Even with Philadelphia’s crowded wide receiver room this year, Jeffery should again be a starter and flirt with 800 yards and 5-7 touchdowns.
Tyrell Williams, Raiders. At this point, we know what Tyrell Williams is. From 2017-2019, he had 43, 41, and 42 receptions respectively. He has scored between 4-6 touchdowns each of those seasons. He’s a WR3/bye-week-filler type, but he deserves to be rostered, and he will have some big weeks. He opened last season with 5 straight games with a touchdown, but really fizzled in the second half. Hopefully the presence of Henry Ruggs will take some of the defensive attention off of him.
Jalen Reagor, Eagles. I love Reagor as a prospect. I just think he’s a guy that’s going to take at least a year to adjust to the NFL game. The Eagles have the luxury of bringing him along slowly, given the number of other options they have in their receiver room. He could get on the field more quickly than expected if Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson get hurt again, but assuming their health, my gut tells me Reagor won’t be seeing significant snaps until 2021.
Tee Higgins, Bengals. Bengals beat writers are projecting Higgins to be on the field in 3-wide sets. I’m not so sure. Like Reagor, he should be a guy that provides a greater impact in 2021 than 2020. The Bengals will certainly have AJ Green and Tyler Boyd on the field as much as possible; the question is who the third WR will be. Although it will likely be situation-dependent - for example, Auden Tate seems like a logical choice as the third wide receiver in the red zone and in goal-to-go situations - it seems that speedster John Ross would the logical choice to serve as the third wideout in most situations, as he brings a speed and field-stretching element that the other receivers lack. But Higgins is certainly a high-upside player, and he should eventually be given the opportunity to grow alongside rookie QB Joe Burrow.
Chase Claypool, Steelers. I LOVE Chase Claypool. As an unashamed Notre Dame fanboy, I’ve been a Claypool truther since his sophomore year in college. He really turned it on towards the end of his senior season, catching 9 touchdowns over his final 5 games. His production is even more impressive when you consider that his quarterback, Ian Book, is no better than a middling talent. Claypool should be the dominant big-bodied receiver that the Steelers have lacked since Plaxico Burress left town. The problem is, like many of the other guys on this list, his path to targets in 2020 is likely blocked by the crowded depth chart in front of him: Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and Jimmy Washington. Absent an injury or a trade, Claypool probably won’t be on the field much in 2020.
Corey Davis, Titans. Many have written off Davis, but this just may be the year that he blossoms. Entering the last year of his rookie deal, he has something to prove. Plus, with the emergence of AJ Brown, it looks like Davis will be getting to regularly face #2 corners for the first time in his career. If Ryan Tannehill continues to play the way he did last year, who knows? Davis has high draft capital associated with him, so you know the dude’s got talent. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to use your last bench spot on him and see if he can finally emerge.
Van Jefferson, Rams. People seem more excited about the landing spot than the player. Jefferson gets praise for his route-running chops, but his on-field production leaves you wanting. Fantasy football is a numbers game, and this is a guy who doesn’t put up numbers. Despite playing in just about every game across four years in college (two at Ole Miss and two at Florida), Jefferson never recorded a 100-yard game. We can’t reasonably expect that to improve in the pros. If anybody can maximize his abilities, it’s Sean McVay, but I’m still skeptical about the impact he could have in fantasy.
Robby Anderson, Panthers. If he were to have returned to New York, I would have ranked him a lot higher. He was the de facto #1 for Gang Green, but he’ll be no better than the fourth option in the passing game for a Teddy Bridgewater-led offense. Has the 4th option in a Teddy Bridgewater offense ever been relevant before? (For that matter, has the third?)
John Ross III, Bengals. You can’t teach speed. Ross was miscast as a #2 wideout in his first few years in the league, but this year, with a healthy AJ Green and Tyler Boyd, he should have the opportunity to focus solely on what he does best: serve as a role player who takes the top off the defense. As a Ted Ginn-esque lid-lifter, he could occasionally reward fantasy managers with a long touchdown score.
James Washington, Steelers. This is some take-lock for me. I loved Jimmy Washington coming out of college, and I just don’t understand why it hasn’t translated to the pros. It will be interesting to see how their WR depth chart shakes out. Juju’s spot is safe, but beyond that, it should be a wide open competition. I can envision a scenario where Jimmy Washington overtakes Diontae Johnson in camp (if there is a camp) for the #2 role.
Anthony Miller, Bears. The Bears traded up in the draft to get him a couple years ago, but so far, they haven’t seen much return on their investment. Then again, it could be because Mitchell Trubisky seems incapable of throwing accurate passes. I’d like Miller a bit more if Nick Foles were under center.
Adam Humphries, Titans. His first year in Tennessee was a disappointment, but he did miss four games and was adjusting to a new offense. In the three years prior, he was a lock for 55 or more receptions. He’s a low-upside, but relatively safe, floor play.
Miles Boykin, Ravens. He’s a starting wide receiver for one of the best offenses in the league, and he’s entering his second season. There is certainly high upside here. Boykin is unlikely to put up huge yardage numbers due to Lamar Jackson’s low volume passing totals, but he’s a sneaky bet for a high touchdown total. His athletic profile has always exceeded his on-field production, though. He’s always been much better in shorts than in pads.
Andy Isabella, Cardinals. He’s become a “forgotten man” in the Cardinals offense ever since the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins, but don’t write him off just yet. He was a second round draft pick last year, so the high draft capital is there, and the Cardinals love to run 4-wide sets. The first three spots are spoken for - Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, and Christian Kirk - but the fourth spot is up for grabs. Isabella is likely to get the first crack at it, so there could be value here (but don’t sleep on Hakeem Butler either, last year’s fourth round pick). If Kyler Murray takes the step forward that most are projecting, that could be enough to vault Isabella into fantasy relevance.
Kelvin Harmon, Redskins. Harmon got a lot of love leading up to the 2019 draft, but fell all the way to the sixth round. Either he or Antonio Gandy-Golden is going to wind up with starting duties for Washington. There’s always a chance that a starting WR turns into something, given the opportunity and volume.
Antonio Brown, Free Agent. Hey, as a final-round dart throw, why not? The last time we saw the dude play, he was the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Randall Cobb, Texans. He’s probably deserving of going a lot higher than this, but I’m so over Randall Cobb. Guy hasn’t been a useful fantasy player in a long, long time.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He’s probably in line for the slot role in Green Bay again, so there’s value there. In Rodgers we trust.
KJ Hamler, Broncos. Small guy, not as fast as advertised, going to a team that drafted another WR ahead of him. Although he’s a decent bet to get some run in the slot for Denver, I question how many fantasy receivers Drew Lock can support in his first season as a starter. Courtland Sutton is going to get his, and Jerry Jeudy is a decent bet to be second in line. In my opinion, Noah Fant is probably the next likely option in the passing game. Hamler may have some big plays here and there, but he’s unlikely to get the volume to be a consistently-viable fantasy option.
Tyler Johnson, Buccaneers. From an analytics perspective, Johnson is a great prospect. He was very productive in college, and lands in a situation in Tampa where he could immediately earn a role as the third wide receiver in a Tom Brady-led offense. Problem is, Johnson was at his best in college playing from the slot, and Chris Godwin has a strangehold on those duties in Tampa. He’ll have to learn to play the outside quickly if he wants to make an impact in year one.
Cole Beasley, Bills. Yeah, I mean, whatever. Does anyone ever feel good about starting Cole Beasley? He’ll play a ton of snaps, but there’s not much upside.
Steven Sims, Redskins. There aren’t a whole lot of certainties in the Washington offense, but one thing that seems pretty solid heading into the season is that Sims will man the slot instead of Trey Quinn. He was actually pretty productive once he got a chance last year.
Bryan Edwards, Raiders. In 2020, the likely starters are Henry Ruggs and Tyrell Williams on the outside, with Hunter Renfrow in the slot. But Edwards may allow the team to move on from Williams in 2021. He was one of my favorite WR prospects in this year’s draft class, and he landed with a team that should give him a starting opportunity within his first couple years in the league. Could a strong camp convince the team to cut ties with Williams a year early?
Allen Lazard, Packers. Aaron Rodgers loves him, but he’s really not a very good player. My gut tells me Devin Funchess wins the #2 job, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling earns slot duties, which will relegate Lazard to the bench.
Gabriel Davis, Bills. The Bills traded for Stefon Diggs, John Brown had the best season of his career in 2019, and Cole Beasley has dibs on the slot duties. There doesn’t seem to be much opportunity for Davis in 2020. However, the team may get him on the field in red zone packages, as he has more size than any of their other receivers.
Devin Duvernay, Ravens. A lot of people are high on Devin Duvernay. I’m not one of them. I just don’t think the Ravens offense - prolific as it is - can support more than 2-3 fantasy-relevant receivers. Mark Andrews has already carved out his role, and Hollywood Brown is the smart money for next in line. How much can possibly be left over for Duvernay?
Dante Pettis, 49ers. San Francisco traded up in the 2nd round two years ago to get this kid. They loved him. (I did, too. [Insert sad face emoji]). Now, it’s exactly the opposite. The guy is immensely talented, but for whatever reason, it’s just not working. If he gets a change of scenery, I’d be very intrigued. One potential trade partner could be the Falcons, who lack wide receiver depth behind Julio and Ridley.
Dede Westbrook, Jaguars. Some people love Dede Westbrook. I’m not one of them. The Jags drafted his replacement in Laviska Shenault. Westbrook probably only sees the field this year in three-wide sets, assuming he can fend off Chris Conley.
Kenny Stills, Texans. He’s a one-trick pony as a deep threat. But he’s not as good at that same trick as Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks. It’s hard to believe he’s going to have any value absent an injury to one of those two. But then again, given their injury history…
Mo Sanu, Patriots. It’s hard to get excited about Mo Sanu. He’s been in the league a long time at this point, and he’s never been a starting-caliber wide receiver. It’s hard to imagine him gaining considerable value now that his quarterback is Jarrett Stidham (or Brian Hoyer).
Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs. Pretty much any wide receiver seeing meaningful snaps with Patrick Mahomes has value, right?
Albert Wilson, Dolphins. Wilson always seems to have a couple games a year where he explodes, but throughout the course of his career he’s never proven to be a reliable option.
Marquise Goodwin, Eagles. He seems duplicative of the skill set brought by DeSean Jackson, and I question whether he makes it past final cuts. But if he’s on the team… who knows? Carson Wentz has been an MVP candidate before. He can chuck it.
Jalen Hurd, 49ers. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk should start for San Francisco, but the third receiver spot is up for grabs. Hurd, last year’s third round pick, has as good of a shot as anyone.