Jauan Jennings, Jaylen Waddle, and Keenan Allen. All three are versatile. Two play in dynamic offenses. One is playing in a much-improved scheme. And all three have quarterbacks capable of huge weeks. Who offers the most league-winning upside this month?
Welcome to Week 15 of the 2024 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
- Fantasy vs. Reality
- Player Storylines to Validate or Debunk
- Potential League-Winning WRs (see below)
- Dynasty RB Value Check
Let's roll.
Potential League-Winning WRs
Matt Waldman: Consider these three wide receivers.
Pick the player with the highest ceiling who you think could dominate the playoffs.
Justin Howe: Jennings is in the best offense, and he's posted the best numbers of the bunch (by far) when called upon. Last week, Jennings posted 7-90-2 in a blowout win, all while Deebo Samuel Sr. suited up and George Kittle went bonkers.
Jennings' 3.02 yards per route is 5th among qualifiers, ahead of Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. No, he's not better than them, but he's the kind of playmaker Kyle Shanahan's offense can maximize.
Even in a part-time role, he's already been targeted four times inside the five-yard line. He doesn't need an injury to Samuel – but if it happens, he'll go nuclear.
Jeff Bell: Jennings went for 11 receptions, 175 yards, and 3 touchdowns in Week 3. Allen and Waddle have never done THAT.
Waldman: They never faced the Rams' putrid zone defense that gave up 4-130-2 to rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., a 5-121-1 outing to Jameson Williams, and a 7-180-2 affair to previously submerged Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Bell: True! To be fair to those two, Thomas Brown revived Allen after taking over as offensive coordinator, and Allen finished as the WR4 between Weeks 12 and 13. Meanwhile, Waddle has clicked over the last few weeks, earning WR6 value from Weeks 12 to 14.
However, Jennings leads the 49ers in targets, and his performances have shown that he holds the highest ceiling in the group. I'm still rolling with Jennings.
Dan Hindery: In the six games where Jauan Jennings has played at least 60% of the snaps this season, he's averaging 7.2 catches, 90.8 yards, and a touchdown per game. That equates to 22.3 PPR points. Excluding the game when Brock Purdy was out, those numbers improved to 23.7 PPR points per game.
Jennings consistently delivers, and with the 49ers likely to lean on the passing game due to injuries at running back, his fantasy upside is legitimate. Over the next three weeks, there aren't many wide receivers I'd prefer over Jennings.