Today we examine the best draft targets for fantasy’s deepest position! There are receivers throughout the draft who possess league-winning upside, but today we’re focusing on the guys who we think are undervalued.
So, what causes fantasy managers to overlook certain WRs? Often, issues such as a troublesome injury history, a bad offense or inexperience affect the fantasy community’s perception of a particular player. That doesn’t mean these obstacles can’t be overcome. We’ve asked some of our most accurate draft experts to search for the most undervalued breakout and sleeper candidates at the wide receiver position heading into the season. Here’s who they recommended.
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Q1. Which one player inside the top 40 in our half-PPR WR consensus rankings do you think has the greatest potential to break out relative to his draft cost?
Brandin Cooks (HOU): Consensus Rank – WR20
“I planted my flag at the end of last season on Brandin Cooks, and you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain. With a rookie signal caller under center, Cooks averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game, which would have finished as the WR16. Unfortunately, Tyrod Taylor factored into that equation. Cooks’ efficiency with Mills was on full display, as Cooks saw an uptick in targets and fantasy production while averaging 2.09 yards per route run, which was an even better number than what Tyreek Hill had produced in an explosive Chiefs offense. Game scripts will force the Texans to be throwing more often than not, and when you finished 14th in targets per game (8.4) and have a quarterback who completed 66.8% of his passes as a rookie, you can expect Cooks to be a heavy volume play who could potentially see 150 or more targets while facing a very friendly wide receiver schedule.”
– Matt Donnelly (Dynasty Vipers)
Allen Lazard (GB): Consensus Rank – WR37
“Allen Lazard finished the 2021 season as the WR45 in just 14 games. Of the three games he missed, Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were both active for two of them. Here we are a year later, and Adams and MVS are no longer in Green Bay, vacating 40% of the team’s targets, and Lazard is still being drafted as a WR4. Obviously, Lazard won’t inherit all those vacant targets, but there is no denying that Aaron Rodgers will be looking his way a lot more frequently than Lazard’s 10% target share from a year ago ”
– Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed)
Allen Robinson (LAR): Consensus Rank – WR21
“We saw what a legitimate quarterback did for Cooper Kupp in 2021, and we could see that same narrative play out again in 2022. Allen Robinson has already posted three top-10 fantasy WR seasons despite having the misfortune of playing with Blake Bortles, Mitchell Trubisky, Nick Foles and other unremarkable signal callers. Now, with a legitimate passer in Matthew Stafford targeting him, Robinson should be substantially better this season, perhaps even contending for WR1 numbers. ”
– Jody Smith (FullTime Fantasy)
DJ Moore (CAR): Consensus Rank – WR14
“DJ Moore has posted over 1,150 receiving yards in the last three seasons but can’t seem to find the end zone consistently. Enter Baker Mayfield, a starting QB with a solid touchdown percentage and a penchant for getting the ball downfield. If things break the right way in Carolina, Moore could easily finish top five in 2022. ”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC): Consensus Rank – WR31
“Recent struggles with injuries, poor quarterback play and heavy target competition have made JuJu Smith-Schuster’s brilliant 111 reception, 1,426-yard 2018 season a distant memory. However, with a wide-open wide receiver depth chart, a massive quarterback upgrade and plenty of AFC West shootouts on tap, JuJu is primed for a bounce-back season. Still only 25 years old and two years removed from a top-16 finish, a WR1 season is not unrealistic.”
– Matthew Hill (Fantasy Life)
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – which optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Q2. Which sleeper candidate outside the top 40 in our half-PPR WR consensus rankings do you think has the most upside relative to his draft cost?
Rondale Moore (ARI): Consensus Rank – WR57
“I’m still in on Rondale Moore. We saw a little bit of what Moore could do last season, when he hauled in 11 of 13 targets for 182 yards and a touchdown in Arizona’s first two games before being overshadowed by Christian Kirk. Among slot receivers in 2021, Kirk ranked 10th in targets (75), fourth in receptions (60) and second with 662 yards. Kirk now plays for the Jaguars, which leaves all those opportunities for Moore this season. Missing DeAndre Hopkins for the first six weeks should also guarantee a significant role for Moore, who I like to contend for WR3 numbers in 2022. ”
– Jody Smith (FullTime Fantasy)
KJ Osborn (MIN): Consensus Rank – WR65
“KJ Osborn: New head coach Kevin O’Connell is coming over from a Rams offense that passed the ball nearly 60% of the time, and about 86% of their total plays consisted of three wide receiver sets (11 personnel). That offense bodes well for Osborn, who finished just outside WR3 territory last season and was the WR13 in Weeks 13-17. In this new Vikings offense, Osborn will have his share of opportunities, and there will be plenty of that behind Justin Jefferson. ”
– Rich Piazza (Fantasy Shed)
Jahan Dotson (WAS): Consensus Rank – WR60
“One player I have been targeting late in drafts is Jahan Dotson. Washington and Dotson face the sixth-easiest strength of schedule for wide receivers, and Dotson has no competition outside of Terry McLaurin. Dotson is essentially what Diontae Johnson would be if Johnson could catch the ball. We know Dotson is a lock to play in two-receiver sets, and since 2014, receivers who have been selected in the first round have seen a 17% target share out of the gate on average. Watching the preseason, it’s evident that Wentz already has developed chemistry with the rookie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he outperformed McLaurin in 2022. After all, Dotson did receive more draft capital than the Commanders’ $71 million man.”
– Matt Donnelly (Dynasty Vipers)
Tyler Lockett (SEA): Consensus Rank – WR41
“Tyler Lockett. Why the disparity between teammate DK Metcalf (ADP 52) and Lockett (98) is so great is beyond me. Since 2018, Lockett has totaled 312 receptions for 4,251 yards and 36 touchdowns. He is dependable, consistent and a better fit for the conservative way QB Geno Smith plays the game. Lockett is a steal this late in drafts. ”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
Nico Collins (HOU): Consensus Rank – WR63
“I don’t know if it is because he plays for Houston or if it is because he is going into his second year instead of being an “exciting rookie,” but for some reason, Nico Collins continues to fly under the radar. Collins is locked in as the No. 2 receiver role for a Texans team that is expected to be playing from behind often. The Houston targets should be highly consolidated between Brandin Cooks, Collins and Brevin Jordan (another great late-round target), with an underwhelming group of receivers beyond the top two. The 6-4 Collins makes for a fine WR5/WR6 in best ball and is squarely in the deep-league flex conversation in traditional leagues. ”
– Matthew Hill (Fantasy Life)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
