To close out August, we are looking for value. Over the next four days, we'll go position-by-position.
Here are the positions we have already covered: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receiver | Tight Ends
Next up is wide receiver, and the question is simple.
Name a wide receiver who you think will finish far higher than the consensus has them ranked. Why are you so high on them?
Here are the players who received multiple votes:
- No one!
Ten wide receivers got mentions from our staff, but no player received multiple votes. That leaves you with a good amount of value available at receiver up and down the draft board.
Check out all of the commentary.
Jason Wood: Tyler Lockett is the 19th-ranked receiver in our consensus rankings, comprising 28 different analysts. Yet, Lockett's industry ADP is WR30, which is by far the widest delta between our views and ADP across any position. Lockett is older than DK Metcalf, leading many to fear he'll lose relevance with Jaxon Smith-Njigba's arrival. Long-term, that's a concern, but this year, Lockett is under contract, and his role is unchanged. Lockett has outscored Metcalf on a per-game basis in each of the last two seasons, but Smith-Njigba is perceived as a problem for Lockett but not Metcalf. That makes no sense.
Ben Cummins: The market is overreacting to Terry McLaurin's turf toe injury. McLaurin is my WR19, yet can be had later now due to his injury concern and those prematurely anointing Jahan Dotson. Make no mistake, McLaurin is the WR1 on the Commanders. McLaurin runs a 4.35 40-yard dash and received two quarterback upgrades this offseason when it comes to quality deep targets in both Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett. New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will utilize McLaurin as the centerpiece of Washington's passing game. McLaurin will win on volume some weeks and efficiency other weeks.
Phil Alexander: Nico Collins has an ADP of WR55, but I have him ranked at WR45 and think he can finish as high as WR30 in half-PPR leagues. The case for Collins is simple. He is the cheapest WR1 on his own team available in fantasy drafts. Collins proved he could earn targets down the stretch last season, and his preseason results followed suit. He led the Texans with a 91% route participation, 30% target share, and 34% air yards share in their exhibition games (hat tip, Dwain McFarland). A 25% target share and the counting stats that come with it for fantasy football are within reach for Collins in 2023. And those targets should be worth more with C.J. Stroud throwing him the football than they were last year with Davis Mills.
Jeff Haseley: Zay Flowers currently has an ADP of WR49. Historically, Ravens' wide receivers haven't made a significant impact, with Marquise Brown being the only recent exception when he finished as WR23 in 2021. This stigma is well-known in fantasy circles. However, changes are coming to the offense in 2023 to accommodate more passing volume, and the selection of Zay Flowers with the 22nd overall pick in the last NFL Draft suggests that Baltimore's offense will be different in 2023. Expect Flowers to be a key player in what could be a surging offensive attack.
