Fantasy Football PREP: Wide Receiver Deep Dive
- iAmMizz!
- Aug 29, 2020
- 20 min read
If you missed my Wide Receiver Top 50, check it out before getting too wrapped up in sleepers.
This article will be a team-by-team deep dive into each NFL WR corps, highlighting players I think you should target, and others to stay away from. With no preseason games, it may be tougher than ever before to find sleepers late in the draft, but because of the looming threat of positive Covid tests, it will also be more crucial than ever to study and know a team's roster depth. Before getting started, let me recap my wide receiver draft metrics, as well as the point setting guidelines for this breakdown.
My six WR metrics I use to determine which players to target:
Pre-Draft Rank (always)
Quarterback (the man throwing the ball is just as important as the man catching it, maybe more... this includes the production of the offensive unit as a whole -- OL+coaching too)
Targets Per Game (how crowded is the WR room? over-saturation can be bad)
Receptions Per Game (is your WR reliant on the big play, or a volume WR? volume guys can be very valuable in PPR leagues)
Red Zone Threat (added potential if your WR is a red zone favorite)
Injury/Covid Risk (you always want to keep an eye on injury-prone players, but this season you need to keep an eye on irresponsible players as well. Players that break protocol could kill your fantasy season, so you might want to avoid character risks this season)
**This article will correspond to a 16-team draft and the score settings below:
ALL TD's: +6, Per Rush/Receiving Yard: +0.1, PPR: +0.5
Bonus: 200+rushing/receiving: +2, ALL 2PC's: +1
Previous 2020 Fantasy Football Previews: Quarterbacks, WR Top50
2020 WR DEEP DIVE
(blue font players were already discussed in the WR Top50, bold= sleepers)
Arizona Cardinals:
1. DeAndre Hopkins 2. Christian Kirk 3. Larry Fitzgerald 4. Andy Isabella 5. KeeSean Johnson 6. Hakeem Butler 7. Trent Sherfield 8. Andre Patton
The Cardinals operate out of a spread formation often, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury is known for his "air raid" offense that loves to throw the football. Because of this, Kingsbury keeps an inordinate amount of receivers on the roster (currently 11 total). This is all great for quarterback Kyler Murray, but it's less helpful for any Arizona wide out's fantasy value. Hopkins and Kirk find themselves ranked in the top 50, but Larry Fitzgerald is the only depth Cardinal that makes the top 150 overall (all positions). Injuries could always change things (Isabella has potential in a PPR league as a shorter yardage slot receiver), but this is a case of over-saturation as of now. I avoid Fitzgerald this year (who started slow in 2019 but finished with 804 yards) with D-Hop on the roster, and I'm also not crazy about Kirk. Outside of maybe Isabella, I don't foresee much sleeper potential on this roster with so many bodies sharing snap counts.
Atlanta Falcons:
1. Julio Jones 2. Calvin Ridley 3. Russell Gage 4. Laquon Treadwell 5. Olamide Zaccheaus
The Falcons signed Minnesota wash-out Laquon Treadwell this offseason, but otherwise they didn't do much to replace veteran Mohamed Sanu. This is very positive news for the fantasy outlook of Russell Gage, who has sleeper potential in deeper PPR leagues. The small slot receiver was solid for Atlanta down the stretch, filling in admirably for Sanu. He had 49 receptions in 2019, 45 of which came week eight or later (AKA after Sanu was traded). Gage is definitely a volume receiver, not a big play threat, but you could do worse if you need a replacement in a pinch. The former sixth rounder is currently ranked 197th overall (all positions) on ESPN.
Baltimore Ravens:
1. Marquise Brown 2. Willie Snead 3. Devin Duvernay 4. Miles Boykin 5. James Proche
This team doesn't throw the ball much, and when Lamar Jackson does air it out he tends to throw at his favorites (Brown, Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, running backs). Hollywood Brown's low average of 5.1 targets per game led Ravens wide outs in 2019, and second was possession receiver Willie Snead with 2.9. In a desperate situation against a perfect matchup, you might give Snead a shot, but he's no sleeper. Rookies Devin Duvernay and James Proche probably have more potential, although Proche is said to be focusing more on special teams in camp. That leaves third round draft pick Duvernay, who has the feel and stature of a Deebo Samuel type. Even Duvernay may not factor much in this run-first offense, but he probably has the highest ceiling in this receiving core outside of Brown.
Buffalo Bills:
1. Stefon Diggs 2. John Brown 3. Cole Beasley 4. Gabriel Davis 5. Isaiah Hodgins 6. Isaiah McKenzie 7. Duke Williams 8. Robert Foster(Q) 9. Andre Roberts
Another deep receiving core, except this one throws the ball less than Arizona. There are some interesting names here however. I was pretty high on Diggs and Brown in the top 50 article, but rookie Gabriel Davis has also supposedly been tearing up training camp. The UCF product is an outside receiver that has a nose for the end zone and good ball-winning ability, although he's not known for his speed or his playmaking skills after the catch. If either Diggs or Brown miss time, expect Davis to play a large role. Beasley is the classic deep PPR slot receiver. He's not really a sleeper anymore, but someone always rosters him and he's usually good for his 8-10 points per game (in 2019 he averaged 10.0). Hodgins (another rookie) has a tall, big bodied frame. There likely isn't a role for him right now with so many outside options on the team. Same goes for Duke Williams and Robert Foster who have shown flashes in the past. Rumor is that one or both may not make the roster, but expect them to sign elsewhere if that's the case. The right situation could make either one a viable fantasy depth option. McKenzie is the speedy backup slot receiver/trick play threat. Think Tavon Austin, but smaller. He only has a fantasy role if Beasley gets hurt.
Carolina Panthers:
1. DJ Moore 2. Robby Anderson 3. Curtis Samuel 4. Seth Roberts(Q) 5. Pharaoh Cooper
Carolina has been shuffling re-treads in and out of their receiver room since head coach Matt Rhule took over. Keith Kirkwood and Omar Bayless are already out long-term. Tommylee Lewis is the most recent signing. Moral of the story, none of these Panthers depth options have any value, including Seth Roberts who has been dealing with concussion problems in camp. This offense will run through Christian McCaffrey both on the ground and through the air, even the top three WR's have fantasy concerns, although I do like Samuel as a low top 50 target.
Chicago Bears:
1. Allen Robinson(Q) 2. Anthony Miller 3. Ted Ginn 4. Javon Wims 5. Cordarrelle Patterson 6. Riley Ridley 7. Darnell Mooney
This passing offense pretty much went no further than A-Rob in 2019, as he received 9.6 targets per game. The problem for Chicago is that Robinson is questionable for Week 1, and with running back David Montgomery already out this spells trouble for the Bears offense. Tied for second in targets per game last year was Taylor Gabriel, who is currently still an unsigned free agent. I do think the possible A-Rob injury helps Anthony Miller, who could even have a possible breakout year if Nick Foles is the starting quarterback. After Miller, don't target boring Ted Ginn, instead take a look at Wims as a watch list type. He has been great in camp and previously showed promise in limited action last season. Cordarrelle Patterson also deserves some mild early season sleeper consideration at running back. If DM is out a few weeks and the Bears don't sign an early down replacement to pair with Tarik Cohen, Patterson will likely get those reps.
Cincinnati Bengals:
1. A.J. Green 2. Tyler Boyd 3. Tee Higgins 4. Auden Tate 5. John Ross(Q) 6. Alex Erickson
Assuming Green misses some time in 2020 (like he does every season), there are some legitimate sleeper options here. Rookie QB Joe Burrow should go through some growing pains behind a poor Bengals offensive line, but either way he'll probably still fire off a ton of passes in year one with this talented receiving core to catch them. I love Tyler Boyd as a lower top 50 target, and I'm a fan of Tee Higgins as well. The Clemson product is already accustomed to the big moment, and he should receive snaps with or without A.J. Green dressing on game-day. If Green does get hurt, then Auden Tate becomes a guy you may want to pick up in his stead. Tate has filled this role in the past, and done it well. The days of John Ross being a sleeper are over, it's time for fantasy managers to finally admit that the speed demon is an NFL bust.
Cleveland Browns:
1. Odell Beckham 2. Jarvis Landry 3. Rashard Higgins 4. Donovan Peoples-Jones 5. Damion Ratley 6. Taywan Taylor 7. KhaDarel Hodge
This very top-heavy receiving core is complemented by an impressive group of receiving tight ends and running backs, making sleeper opportunities and targets scarce to come by. Assuming Landry sets up mostly in the slot, Higgins would probably start in three receiver sets on the outside, but how much will Baker Mayfield look his way? Higgins received 1.0 target per game in 2019. Taylor, Ratley and Hodge don't even seem like locks to make the roster on the other hand, and while rookie Peoples-Jones should make it, he has yet to carve out an important role in camp. I give DPJ the most upside of the bunch if OBJ or Landry has an extended absence, but otherwise it's probably wise to avoid the Browns receiving core outside of the top two.
Dallas Cowboys:
1. Amari Cooper 2. Michael Gallup 3. CeeDee Lamb 4. Cedrick Wilson 5. Devin Smith
CeeDee Lamb was my favorite wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft, so naturally I think he's a surefire sleeper on a very capable Dallas offense. I would actually rather have Lamb over Gallup this season, I just think there is a lot more upside with the rookie who has been torching camp, rather than the generally hot-and-cold Gallup. Plus you may be able to get him a round later. Either way, this trio points to one thing: draft Dak Prescott again in 2020. Aside from the three-headed dragon the Cowboys have, Wilson seems to have locked down the fourth receiver role according to reports, and Devin Smith remains a decent deep ball threat when he's healthy. Neither should be drafted however.
Denver Broncos:
1. Courtland Sutton 2. Jerry Jeudy 3. K.J. Hamler(Q) 4. Tim Patrick 5. DaeSean Hamilton
On a team that had NO complementary receivers last year, Sutton dominated for Denver. I still expect the number one to shine due to the chemistry he's already developed with Lock, but first rounder Jerry Jeudy is an obvious sleeper here no matter how good Sutton is (ranked just outside of the top 50). The two may even make each other better, well that's the hope anyway. Nagging injuries have hindered fellow rookie K.J. Hamler in camp, leaving the slot receiver job up for grabs right now. Hamler may still be someone to watch if he can get himself healthy, but for now you may want to wait out his hamstring situation. My guess is Patrick and Hamilton share snaps in his absence, the latter being the more natural replacement in this role.
Detroit Lions:
1. Kenny Golladay 2. Marvin Jones 3. Danny Amendola 4. Marvin Hall 5. Quintez Cephus
There are some other names like Jamal Agnew, Chris Lacy and Geremy Davis on the depth chart but honestly, a void opened up behind Amendola after free agent signing Geronimo Allison decided to opt out of the season. This makes Golladay, Jones and Amendola even more valuable in all draft formats (Amendola excelling in PPR leagues). These three are all playing for contracts in 2020 as well, making them even more enticing. One name to watch as a deep deep sleeper is Quintez Cephus. The fifth round pick out of Wisconsin has been making plays against first rounder Jeff Okudah in practice, which has caught the eye of coaches and reporters.
Green Bay Packers:
1. Davante Adams 2. Allen Lazard 3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling 4. Jake Kumerow 5. Equanimeous St. Brown
Another team hurt at wide receiver by an opt out, except the Packers' loss was even more dire. Devin Funchess chose to sit 2020 out, AKA the only player Green Bay brought in to aid in their massive receiver depth issue. It was shocking and disappointing that the Packers chose to draft QB, RB and blocking TE over WR in April, but then it all became clear. Green Bay has no interest in throwing the ball downfield anymore. Head Coach Matt LaFleur is clearly trying to recreate his ground-and-pound Tennessee offense in Wisconsin, which tells me to stay away from all of these receivers (besides Adams of course). If you were going to draft one, 2019 history tells us that Lazard is the best option after Davante.
Houston Texans:
1. Will Fuller 2. Brandin Cooks 3. Randall Cobb 4. Kenny Stills 5. DeAndre Carter 6. Keke Coutee(Q) 7. Isaiah Coulter
Texans' head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien made some questionable choices this offseason, the main one being his decision to trade Hopkins rather than pay him, only to pay a similar price for Cooks and take on some of his contract (as well as David Johnson's). Depending on how this season shakes out for Houston, BOB's job could easily be on the line. I have no interest in the injury-prone Fuller or Cooks, but Cobb does offer some intriguing PPR value as the primary slot receiver for Deshaun Watson. Stills (assuming he's not eventually traded) becomes much more valuable if and when either Fuller or Cooks misses time. Definitely a player to keep in mind. I'm not sure there is much value for Carter or Coutee with Cobb now on the roster, especially Coutee who clearly fell out of favor with BOB last season, but rookie Isaiah Coulter has really stood out in camp. He has great speed and has seemed like a natural route runner. Right now there is no place for him, but perhaps he works his way into a role later on, especially if they move Stills.
Indianapolis Colts:
1 . T.Y. Hilton 2. Michael Pittman 3. Parris Campbell(Q) 4. Zach Pascal(Q) 5. Marcus Johnson 6. Dezmon Patmon 7. Daurice Fountain
Michael Pittman is yet another rookie WR I like in 2020, but then again we are talking about the top WR draft class in years. Things have gone great for Pittman's fantasy value in camp though. Slot option Parris Campbell, competitor Zach Pascal and backup Marcus Johnson have all missed practices... and the first two are questionable for Week 1. I listed Campbell as a sleeper last year and even drafted him, but it appeared he was not ready for the spotlight yet. I still like Campbell in deep PPR leagues if he's healthy, but Pascal loses almost all his fantasy appeal with Pittman taking the job opposite Hilton in Philip Rivers' offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
1. D.J. Chark 2. Dede Westbrook(Q) 3. Chris Conley 4. Laviska Shenault 5. Keelan Cole 6. Collin Johnson
The major question here is whether or not the explosive but work-in-progress, Shenault, factors in his rookie campaign. I personally don't think he does (wow, a rookie I don't like as a sleeper possibility). We have seen the Jags take this red-shirt type approach with their WR prospects in the past, remember D.J. Chark's rookie season. It worked out great for Chark, and Shenault could likely still use some refinement before he makes his mark on the league. Chris Conley seems like the larger sleeper candidate behind Chark and Westbrook. The possession receiver out-scored Westbrook in 2019, with his far superior hands and consistency on routes. Conley has a chemistry with Minshew already, so draft him and not Shenault or Cole if you're looking at Jacksonville.
Kansas City Chiefs:
1. Tyreek Hill(Q) 2. Sammy Watkins(Q) 3. Mecole Hardman 4. Demarcus Robinson 5. Byron Pringle
The offensive unit everyone wants to be a part of, but then becomes frustrating to have players on. Outside of Hill, each of these receivers can go off at any given moment with Mahomes throwing them the ball, but they are also accustomed to countless dud weeks. I had Watkins and Hardman last year in different leagues. Deciding whether or not to start them on a week-to-week basis became almost nauseating, mainly because they always did the opposite of what I needed them to do. When benched, deep touchdown. When starting, no catches. It was like clockwork and matchups don't even apply to the Chiefs so it's basically a guessing game. Having said all that, the player I like most here is Robinson. With Watkins fighting through a groin injury and Hill questionable for Week 1 as well, Robinson could be the number one receiver against Houston on opening night. Hardman gets an obvious bump here too, but he's actually ranked number 50 for WR's (high draft status devalues him) and I was not all that impressed by the speedster last season. He seems like a secondary version of Hill, except with worse hands. If the two top guns do miss time, Pringle becomes a flier option as well. The depth receiver has performed in the past when given the opportunity.
Las Vegas Raiders:
1. Tyrell Williams(out) 2. Henry Ruggs 3. Hunter Renfroe 4. Bryan Edwards 5. Nelson Agholor 6. Zay Jones 7. Keelan Doss
A confusing and oversaturated wide receiver room to say the least, especially with Jon Gruden in charge. I'm not even sure how long Derek Carr will stay quarterback on this team, let alone which receiver might emerge in front of him. Projected number one Tyrell Williams has a torn labrum in his shoulder (out a few weeks and playing injured after that), making rookie Henry Ruggs the safest bet for targets and volume Week 1. Ruggs is also the only receiver ranked top 50 here. Renfroe always deserves a look in PPR leagues as well, but the real sleeper could be rookie Bryan Edwards, who has played his way into a possible starting role with Williams on the shelf. Agholor and Jones should be considered nothing more than depth at this point, despite their experience.
Los Angeles Chargers:
1. Keenan Allen 2. Mike Williams(Q) 3. Jalen Guyton 4. Joe Reed 5. K.J. Hill 6. Darius Jennings
With Mike Williams unlikely to play Week 1 (ranked just outside of top 50), there is not much on this roster besides Keenan Allen, and if you have been watching Hard Knocks, HC Anthony Lynn is completely okay with that. "You don't block for me, you don't play," Lynn said in episode three. This will obviously be a run-first team in 2020, with Tyrod Taylor likely starting at quarterback. Austin Ekeler is looking more and more like a top fantasy running back, but nobody else stands out right now on LAC besides him and Keenan Allen (plus maybe Hunter Henry). Guyton is the most likely to start based on reports, while Reed has been used more as a running back in camp, and Hill has impressed most with upside potential in the slot (played this role in college).
Los Angeles Rams:
1. Robert Woods 2. Cooper Kupp 3. Josh Reynolds 4. Van Jefferson 5. Nsimba Webster
This is not a deep core like it once was, which can sometimes be good for fantasy value. Woods and Kupp will garner most of the targets, both huge favorites of Goff and McVay already. The question is which receiver wins the battle for the number three role, Josh Reynolds or rookie Van Jefferson. Reynolds definitely has the leg up to start the season, he already knows this system and the job is really his to lose. Long-term however, Jefferson could easily replace the unspectacular Reynolds. Sean McVay has already talked him up, saying Jefferson's attention to detail and route running has been noticeable in camp.
Miami Dolphins:
1. DeVante Parker 2. Preston Williams 3. Jakeem Grant 4. Chester Rogers 5. Isaiah Ford
After Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson both opted out, the Dolphins went and signed Chester Rogers (also brought back Ricardo Louis) to compete for the slot job behind Parker and Williams. Rogers has not had much time to learn the playbook, so I don't expect much from him at least early on. Jakeem Grant is the only other receiver with value on Miami as of now, and even him I would not rank too high on the sleeper charts.
Minnesota Vikings:
1. Adam Thielen 2. Bisi Johnson 3. Justin Jefferson 4. Chad Beebe 5. Tajae Sharpe
This sets up nicely for Adam Thielen to get a ton of targets in 2020, as stated in my WR Top 50 article. Right now the Vikes are lining up Bisi Johnson with Thielen and keeping Justin Jefferson as the primary slot, but this could easily change the moment Jefferson has his first stellar moment with Minnesota. Beebe offers nothing more than a backup slot option and while Sharpe does have his moments, I see him maybe replacing Bisi Johnson in the top three, not the rookie. I gotta think Jefferson is another idiot-proof sleeper this season, with not much behind or in front of him on this Vikings' depth chart.
New England Patriots:
1. Julian Edelman 2. N'Keal Harry 3. Mohamed Sanu 4. Damiere Byrd 5. Jakobi Meyers
Last year's first round pick, N'Keal Harry (who spent most of his rookie campaign on the shelf), would normally hold some bounce-back value here, but this quarterback competition really scares me. Word from reporters is that neither quarterback has shown much promise at all, and now that Stidham could be out with injury it is again Newton's job to lose. If Cam cannot beat out the journeyman backup Hoyer, that's a big problem for New England. So let's figure that Newton starts Week 1, do you really want any of these receivers outside of Julian Edelman? Sanu was unexciting with Matt Ryan throwing him the ball, Harry struggled to make an impact upon returning last season, Byrd is more of a return specialist, and Meyers has shown little to no consistent fantasy value in the past. The Pats should run the ball a ton in 2020, I'm staying away from their motley crew of receivers after Jules is off the board.
New Orleans Saints:
1. Michael Thomas 2. Emmanuel Sanders 3. Tre'Quan Smith 4. Deonte Harris 5. Bennie Fowler
New Orleans has never been a depth fantasy producer under Brees and Sean Payton. This is partly because Michael Thomas gets the ball a ton, and Sanders will likely clean up on any secondary targets behind MT. The Saints have been talking up Tre'Quan Smith in camp again but I don't really buy it. We've heard this talk from NOLA before, but generally they do not utilize three receivers with enough consistency. I will note that behind Smith there is very little talent on this roster, so he's definitely the next man up should Thomas or Sanders miss time.
New York Giants:
1. Sterling Shepard 2. Darius Slayton 3. Golden Tate 4. Corey Coleman 5. C.J. Board
The Giants are actually only the second team to have three receivers in the top 50 (Panthers were the first) so far. This leaves very little on the roster behind them, with Corey Coleman being the only notable option. I wonder if the G-Men claim a player off waivers to compete with Coleman for that fourth spot once roster cuts occur around the league. There should be some talent that becomes available off some of the deeper WR groups. As for Big Blue's top three, I like Slayton best in 2020, but do think Tate holds nice value in PPR formats.
New York Jets:
1. Breshad Perriman(Q) 2. Denzel Mims(Q) 3. Jamison Crowder 4. Chris Hogan 5. Vyncint Smith(out) 6. Braxton Berrios 7. Lawrence Cager(Q) 8. Jeff Smith(Q) 9. Donte Moncrief
The Jets wide receiver room is a mess right now. When your top wide out is a career slot-man (Crowder) and a player you just signed days ago could start Week 1 (Hogan), you know you're in trouble. I feel for Sam Darnold, who hasn't had much help from NYJ since being drafted in 2018. As I noted with the Giants, I fully expect the Jets to pick up at least one receiver that has been cut by another team before Week 1. Their core is bruised and battered with Perriman and Mims both questionable and Vyncint Smith out till at least Week 3. Perriman is more likely to be back soon than Mims, who has yet to be cleared for practice. Smith's injury is even more unfortunate, but he could be a deep sleeper upon his return (as is Mims). Moncrief signed with the Jets today, but I wouldn't expect much from the veteran wash out. Until guys get healthy it's probably Crowder, Hogan and Berrios moving forward, oh boy.
Philadelphia Eagles:
1. Alshon Jeffery(Q) 2. DeSean Jackson 3. Jalen Reagor 4. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside 5. John Hightower 6. Greg Ward 7. Travis Fulgham 8. Quez Watkins
Similar to the Jets, the Eagles have a ton of question marks at wide receiver. They are actually the first team that does not have a single player ranked in the top 50, which means there has got to be at least one or two sleepers to uncover here. I want no part of Jeffery, who is basically out indefinitely right now (although Philadelphia says he could be back for Week 1... I'm less convinced). D-Jax and rookie Jalen Reagor are the two top-ranked WR's according to ESPN. Reagor has been seeing a high workload in camp, and I like him to take over the Greg Ward slot role that had a lot of success last season, a role Carson Wentz loved utilizing. In PPR formats, Reagor is the guy you want here, no doubt about it. Jackson is hard to trust after last year's injury-ridden campaign, JJAW seems like a glorified red zone threat to me, and Ward's value is zapped by Reagor's presence unfortunately, so that leaves Hightower... who could be an interesting option if Jeffery has another extended absence.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
1. JuJu Smith-Schuster 2. Diontae Johnson(Q) 3. James Washington 4. Chase Claypool 5. Ryan Switzer(Q) 6. Ray-Ray McCloud
This is a tough group to hash out because of the poor quarterback play last season. For what it's worth, Diontae Johnson outpaced both JuJu and Washington in 2019, after coming into the season as the third or fourth option. Unfortunately, Johnson's 2020 status is currently in question as he fights through a sports hernia issue. Slot/screen option Ryan Switzer has also dealt with injury this Summer, leaving the door wide open for rookie Chase Claypool to make an immediate impact. The Notre Dame receiver was actually one of my favorite prospects in the draft, and he has been receiving a ton of hype from teammates and reporters in camp. With the Steelers' long track record of drafting and developing studs at wide receiver, Claypool is definitely a players you want to target in fantasy. If Johnson is in fact out awhile, Washington might not be a bad bounce-back option either with Roethlisberger back, but I rank him fourth on the roster.
San Francisco 49ers:
1. Deebo Samuel(Q) 2. Brandon Aiyuk(Q) 3. Kendrick Bourne 4. Trent Taylor 5. Dante Pettis 6. Tavon Austin 7. J.J. Nelson(out) 8. Kevin White
Kyle Shanahan and San Fran have been taking a whole bunch of wide receivers for test drives this training camp. Some have not lasted more than a day (Jaron Brown), others have gotten hurt or opted out (J.J. Nelson, Jalen Hurd and Travis Benjamin), and one or two have possibly carved out a role (Tavon Austin). With Emmanuel Sanders gone and Deebo Samuel working his way back from injury (Week 1 status uncertain), this starting unit is pretty much wide open. You would of thought first rounder Brandon Aiyuk would have easily secured a starting job, due to the circumstances, but a hamstring injury has hurt his chances. That leaves Bourne, Pettis, Trent Taylor (who missed all of 2019), Austin and Kevin White (who couldn't even make the Jets camp). Not exactly a star-studded crew. Deebo and Aiyuk obviously still have the most potential, once they return, but after that I like Pettis the most for a possible renaissance. Bourne is a decent player, but doesn't supply enough volume or big plays to justify fantasy purposes, Taylor is returning from a long layoff and is no more than your average slot receiver at his best, and Austin is a return specialist and trick play back that only holds value while Samuel is out. Pettis on the other hand always had skill, he just lost his motivation in 2019, after feuding with the Niners' coaching staff last Summer. His attitude is supposedly better now, and his draft status is certainly lower (#459 overall rank), so why not take a extremely low risk flier on him, or even sign him post-draft?
Seattle Seahawks:
1. Tyler Lockett 2. DK Metcalf 3. Phillip Dorsett(Q) 4. David Moore(Q) 5. John Ursua(Q) 6. Freddie Swain
Rumor has it, the Seahawks are on the verge of bringing back Paul Richardson with their injury woes at wide receiver approaching Week 1. Dorsett, Moore and Ursua are all questionable for Seattle's first game, with little depth behind them. The two biggest names are still healthy however, Lockett and Metcalf, so expect them and the run game to carry the load early on. The Seahawks also have a really deep tight end group, which could account for large amount of targets (Olsen, Hollister, Dissly if healthy, rookies). Having said all that, I don't really love any of these sleeper options, and I feel Russell Wilson is still likely to throw a majority of his passes at his top two.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
1. Mike Evans 2. Chris Godwin 3. Scott Miller 4. Tyler Johnson(Q) 5. Justin Watson
I was very interested to see who would win out on the Bucs' slot duties, Scotty Miller or rookie Tyler Johnson, but after the injury Miller pretty much has it in the bag. I love this role in a Tom Brady led offense. The legendary QB is famous for getting the ball out quickly, and Godwin and Miller could benefit most from that. Justin Watson is also a very capable receiver to battle Miller for snaps, but he is more of a bigger red zone target than he is an underneath route runner. Although I like Miller's outlook the best, this is a very competent top five, all which deserve a spot on your watch list.
Tennessee Titans:
1. A.J. Brown(Q) 2. Corey Davis 3. Adam Humphries 4. Kalif Raymond 5. Cameron Batson
This is a really shallow group on a team that likes to run the ball predominantly (as we know). We really don't even need to look any further than Kalif Raymond in the four spot on the depth chart, and even Raymond is just a deep ball threat. That means that I really like both Corey Davis (contract year) and Adam Humphries (PPR possession threat) in 2020, especially if A.J. Brown misses time (injured in practice yesterday). Both have low draft statuses, and both could easily exceed expectations with Brown receiving the bulk of the opposing defense's attention.
Washington Football Team:
1. Terry McLaurin 2. Steven Sims 3. Antonio Gandy-Golden 4. Trey Quinn 5. Dontrelle Inman
After Cody Latimer's legal trouble forcing his release, and Kelvin Harmon's ACL injury putting him on the season-ending IR, this W.F.T. wide receiver group has slimmed down quite a bit. So much so that veteran Dontrelle Inman was signed off the scrap heap for depth. McLaurin is a can't miss target this year, but even Sims and rookie Gandy-Golden could be in for a plus-sized role. Gandy-Golden may be more of a wait-and-see option, as I could easily see Ron Rivera using the more experienced Trey Quinn as the slot receiver to start the year, or even Inman at times. Sims (198th overall on ESPN) however should be jumped on in drafts. During his final four weeks of 2019, Sims averaged 9.0 targets per game and 14.65 fantasy points per game. So long as Haskins is the quarterback, McLaurin and Sims have a leg up with their built-in chemistry.
So as you would expect after the deepest WR draft class in years, a lot of rookies provide sleeper potential in 2020. Not all of these sleepers are draft-worthy, especially in 10 or 12 team leagues. You might want to watch list most of these players in those type of formats... but in 14-16 team leagues and/or dynasty formats, keep this list handy, you never know when you might need it!
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