Over the last couple of years, the wide receiver position has become one of the most intriguing in fantasy football. With so much talent in today’s NFL, many fantasy owners shoot for stacking their team at this position. Having a solid core of wide receivers gives you a good chance of competing. This year, guys like Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and CeeDee Lamb are superstars and each are great pieces to build around.
Behind them, names like Amon-Ra St. Brown, JaMarr Chase, Garrett Wilson, and AJ Brown also make for a great foundation for your team. However, every year, some players tend to exceed expectations and prove to be that year’s “steal of the draft”. These types of players are important to fantasy owners. With that, let’s dive in and discuss five specific wide receivers “sleepers” that could help your team this season.
Keep in mind, that rankings via (FantasyPros.com) will be the reference source as we discuss these wide receivers.
Top Five Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Sleepers
Diontae Johnson (Fantasy Pros WR 38)
The talent is there for new Carolina Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson, as it always has been. Not the biggest receiver, Johnson uses his quickness and athleticism to easily create separation and get in the open field for targets. Now in Carolina, he immediately has the opportunity to be the team’s No.1 receiver this upcoming season. In 2023, Adam Thielen was the Panthers’ leading receiver putting together a 1,014-yard stat line while in a struggling offense. Now, with another year under quarterback Bryce Young’s belt and new coach Dave Canales (QB-dominant coordinator) in town, Johnson could be a part of a much-improved offense this season.
What Johnson has shown throughout his career, is that he can be a team’s No.1 receiver. From weeks 7-18 in 2023 while with Pittsburgh, Johnson finished among the top 20 in wide receiver production. He was able to dominate in a porous Kenny Pickett led offense. After nearly getting jumped by George Pickens last year, now in Carolina Johnson is immediately plugged in as the lead pass-catcher. Thielen, 33, along with rookie Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo will battle Johnson. Johnson is currently ranked as the WR 38 ahead of drafts, which is low given his new situation and what could come from it. Johnson could get over-looked as a Panther and slip past round six or seven. If fantasy owners can capitalize on him being overlooked, when the season is all said and done, Johnson could be one of the biggest values at the WR spot.
Chris Godwin (Fantasy Pros WR 39)
Much like his partner in crime Mike Evans, Chris Godwin just screams “dependability” in terms of fantasy football. Godwin, 28, has topped 1,000 yards receiving in four of the last five seasons and has finished among the top 20 in WR production each year. Godwin was in fact in the top 12 in two of those five seasons. Fantasy Pros currently holds Godwin as the WR 39 and going in the mid-7th-early 8th round in most early drafts. Godwin is still in the prime of his career and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved that with Baker Mayfield, they could make some noise. That alone merits greater than a No.39 ranking.
Reports show Godwin will play the majority of snaps out of the slot this season which is where he dominated in 2022. Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen was in Los Angeles (2021- 2022) when Cooper Kuup had his record-breaking season. With Kuup’s and Godwin’s similarities on the field, this could be a great year for Godwin. Will Godwin break NFL records in 2024? That is unlikely. But he can still be a valuable choice for any fantasy team. The only thing that could hinder Godwin’s production, is that currently, Evans and Rachaad White are the first two options in this offense, putting Godwin as No.3. You draft Godwin and feel comfortable playing him as your WR 2 or 3. If he happens to be at your flex position, your team must be loaded. Nonetheless, Godwin will once again outshine his current ranking.
Xavier Worthy (Fantasy Pros WR 43)
Speed, dynamic playmaking ability, and Patrick Mahomes. Those three things are great to have in your favor if you are receiver Xavier Worthy. The 2024 rookie out of Texas, blew people away with his record-breaking speed at the draft combine, forcing them to study his college tape deeper than before. Now he goes into Kansas City where it might seem fairly crowded. However, with the suspension looming over Rashee Rice’s head, Travis Kelce’s age, and Marquise Brown’s injury history, Worthy could still produce.
https://youtu.be/UQ4XeawhX5E?si=MK5YuUQL0m_PgRsc
Worthy is fairly undersized but with his skill-set in other ways, he can be productive. Mahomes and Coach Andy Reid will be able to put Worthy in the right position to produce. Currently ranked at the WR 43, Worthy is seemingly right where he should be at the moment. There is a lot to be seen first before Worthy could be a trusted WR. However, this is a type of player that is “Worth” the wait and can prove to be a steal as the year goes on.
Ladd McConkey (Fantasy Pros WR 50)
Many were surprised that the Los Angeles Chargers did not go after a wide receiver during this past NFL Draft. Instead, new coach Jim Harbaugh seemingly valued Justin Herbert’s protection instead snagging offensive lineman Joe Alt out of Notre Dame. Still, the Chargers were able to strike luck with Ladd McConkey in their lap in round two. McConkey’s 2023 season at Georgia was cut short with multiple injuries. But when he was on the field and with what he showed in 2022, was enough to validate his draft stock. McConkey is a fantastic route runner and his speed alone could make him Herbert’s new No.1 receiver.
Watch: Ladd McConkey Film Study
It is known that Harbaugh loves to run the football, however, McConkey will likely see enough targets to validate drafting him. Fantasy Pros has McConkey as the WR 50 currently and going past the 11th round in most “early” drafts. This is a fair starting position, but the potential to shatter that is there. Currently behind McConkey is Joshua Palmer and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnson. Neither poses too much of a threat to McConkey’s fantasy value. He has the tools to be a good receiver in the NFL as time goes on.
Khalil Shakur (Fantasy Pros WR 61)
With Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis elsewhere in 2024, third-year receiver Khalil Shakir has a chance to be Josh Allen’s new No.1 target. As it stands now, Shakir has rookie Keon Coleman, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and Mack Collins behind him. Similar to Los Angeles’ situation, Shakir is still the lead man. Shakir’s incredible 13.6 yards per target average in 2023 is eye-opening and a testament to the type of dynamic player he is. Diggs and Davis combined for 240 targets last year but Allen will still look to throw the ball
Tight end Dalton Kincaid could also pick away at the left-over targets and take away some from Shakir. Nonetheless, Shakir will receive the most targets that he has ever had while being in the NFL as he should. Shakir deserves the chance to be the Bills’ No.1 guy. Currently ranked 61 on Fantasy Pros, Shakir is still picked late, which is shocking given he will be Buffalo’s top option. Take a chance on the ex-Boise State star and you can get exceptional value here.
Fantasy football season is around the corner and the excitement is brewing. There are lot of aspects to the game but sleepers picks or players who outplay their draft position. Each player is in a perfect situation to come up big and nothing feels better than a late-round choice breaking out. You immediately feel like a fantasy genius! Do yourself a favor and snag one of the players mentioned and watch them be one of the reasons that your team wins this season!
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