With so many talented receivers headed to the draft and one or two due back from injury, there will be plenty to choose from in September. Here’s an early look at some worth choosing in the later rounds of your fantasy draft. You’re going to need at least one high-scoring receiver after all.
Read More: Way-too-Early WR Rankings (1-12)
Way-too-Early WR Rankings (12-24)
Way Too Early Wide Receiver Rankings Part Three
25. Drake London
The Falcons offense can’t be any worse now Arthur Smith has left. They might have a new quarterback. Although Zac Robinson should be able to simplify things enough for Desmond Ridder. London doesn’t really need to be open to catch the ball or to gain yards. He’s six foot, four inches tall so he always has an advantage over defenders competing for the ball. And tacklers have been known to just bounce off him.
26. Chris Olave
Derek Carr isn’t exactly Tom Brady, but he did seem to develop a good relationship with Olave last season. He said of his young receiver Olave “He’s developing into what I think is going to be a tremendous player for a long time”. Olave played five games with 100+ yards last season. But despite having six games with 10 or more targets, he never caught more than nine balls in a game. It’s that sort of inconsistency that lands him outside the top 25.
27. Amari Cooper
As he demonstrated with his 11 catches and 265 yards on Christmas Eve Cooper is still a machine. But the Browns are seemingly in a never-ending transition period. Who knows who the starting quarterback will be come September?
28. Josh Cephus
Another rookie receiver, Cephus looks like a YAC monster. Just give him the ball and watch him gallop downfield. He was a UTSA Roadrunner and when he’s running away from defenders he looks like Roadrunner. “Meep Meep!” indeed
29. Khalil Shakir
He’s the consistent Bills receiver. He caught 73.3% of his targets in 2023. And he averaged 15.5 yards per touch! If Josh Allen can take his eyes off Dalton Kincaid, Shakir will catch a lot more than the measly 39 passes he hauled in last season.
30. Ja’Lynn Polk
Another rookie and another absolute burner. Polk ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. But he looks even faster than that when defenders try to keep up with him. He’s ranked as a top 50 prospect and there seems to be a lot of buzz about him going to the Browns. Like Cooper, his success will depend on who is quarterback in Cleveland next season. But Polk is a very good player.
31. Zay Flowers
He had a great regular season and pretty good playoffs as a rookie (you know until he upset L’Jarius Sneed). And with Mark Andrews available to catch passes for a full season Flowers will have even more space to operate in.
32. Jakobi Meyers
If Chip Kelly is the Raiders OC, a wide receiver who used to play quarterback is going to be really fun to watch. And a nightmare to defend.
33. Rashee Rice
Rice was the best of a bad bunch in 2023. Even Patrick Mahomes couldn’t make his receiving corps look like a threatening bunch. But by the end of the regular season, Rice had hauled in seven touchdowns and racked up three 100+ yard games. With a few additions to the roster, Rice should be able to fill a role that he’s more suited to. And if he can continue his red zone efficiency, he’ll score decent fantasy points.
34. Jordan Addison
Addison was outstanding as a rookie receiver in an offense that was beset by problems. No Dalvin Cook to begin with. Four different quarterbacks, Justin Jefferson injured and T.J. Hockenson injured by the end of the season. But Addison averaged 12.9 yards per touch and hauled in 10 touchdowns. If Kirk Cousins is back as the starting quarterback Addison could have a massive year. But that’s the big question at the moment.
35. DeAndre Hopkins
If the Titans’ new coaching team lets Will Levis cook Hopkins could have a huge season. But like the Vikings quarterback situation, the Titans’ future is far from clear right now. “Nuke” still had 1,057 yards at an average of 14.1 yards per reception. He only scored seven touchdowns though, so 2024 could be even bigger.
36. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Seahawks don’t have an offensive coordinator at the moment, but Smith-Njigba is a star receiver. Last season he made highlight reel catches look easy. But after recovering from a serious knee injury in college he needed wrist surgery in August. And despite playing all 17 games this season he only started three. And, didn’t really hit his straps until late in the season.
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