Wide Receiver might require a little more patience than running back in developmental spots on your dynasty squad, but identifying talent-situation-potential opportunity alignment before your leaguemates is the key to maximizing those roster spots in the offseason.
Snorkel
J.J. Nelson, ARI - Could probably be 70-80% of John Brown in a pinch, and Arians loves him.
Kenny Stills, MIA - Stills was a coveted dynasty prospect at this time last year, and all he needs is opportunity to show that he is one again. He’s only 23.
Robert Woods, BUF - Woods is the classic “second contract breakout” receiver. He’s only a what the heck flex in a low volume offense with Sammy Watkins, but he could be more on his second team a la Golden Tate.
Mohamed Sanu, CIN - Sanu is a good talent blocked by better talents. He’ll be a free agent and could find green fantasy pastures.
Terrelle Pryor, CLE - Guys with Pryor’s size, speed, and ball skills don’t come along too often. If he hits, he’ll hit big.
Cody Latimer, DEN - Latimer will have a real shot to develop on the post-Peyton Broncos.
Rashad Greene Sr, JAX - Greene is part of that new breed of slot receivers who can be high volume PPR studs in good pass offenses with a good quarterback. It’s yet to be seen if Jacksonville and Blake Bortles will become one of those.
Devin Smith, NYJ - Smith has had a horrid rookie year, but he’s still an intriguing deep ball specialist in this offense if he can recover well from his ACL tear.
Sammie Coates Jr, PIT - Coates has not developed enough in his rookie year to contribute, but that was expected. He is in maybe the best pass offense in the league, and Martavis Bryant is in the NFL drug program, so you do the math.
Seth Roberts, OAK - Roberts has been a big play and red zone wonder in limited work this year. The Raiders have their two wideout spots on lockdown, but any injury could make Roberts have value, and in the meantime, the undrafted free agent has a bright future.
Justin Hardy, ATL - Next year, Hardy should have a shot at becoming the third cog this offense is missing.
Corey Brown, CAR - If Brown develops, there’s no reason he can’t do what Ted Ginn Jr is doing, and maybe do better because he *might* have better hands.
Jared Abbrederis, GB - Rodgers seems to like him and the wide receiver corps has an opening because Davante Adams is floundering.
Jeff Janis, GB - Janis hasn’t seemed to garner trust from the team, but if he does, his elite athletic package could create fireworks.
Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN - Patterson has rare speed and open field running ability. His next team will be one that sought out his services knowing that he probably doesn’t have much more than that as a football player.
Charles Johnson, MIN - Johnson has been a dud in Minnesota this year, but some other team will get fascinated with his size/speed combination and give him a shot.
DeAndre Smelter, SF - Smelter is a Georgia Tech size/speed freak who might have been forgotten because he has been out recovering from an ACL tear suffered while he was in college. San Francisco isn’t fertile fantasy soil, but Anquan Boldin isn’t a long-term obstacle to opportunity.
Kenny Bell, TB - Vincent Jackson got banged up twice this year and the team is still reportedly high on Bell. He could become Jameis Winston’s long-term #2 receiver.
Jamison Crowder, WAS - Crowder has made a strong impact for a rookie waterbug slot receiver, and he has a bright future in a league that makes better use of players like than it has before.
Scuba
Dontrelle Inman, SD - Inman has hung around the Chargers after going to the CFL and he’ll be a restricted free agent next year with Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd wearing down this year.
Jeremy Butler, BAL - Butler has been developed by the Ravens and has had his moments since their wide receiver corps lost Steve Smith. Long-term opportunity is there in Baltimore.
Darren Waller, BAL - Another Georgia Tech size/speed freak, with a long-term spot open for the Ravens.
Duron Carter, IND - Carter didn’t live up to his hype, but neither did the Colts offense. He could still join the roster next year and continue his development which includes a high ceiling.
Quincy Enunwa, NYJ - Enunwa is a big, rugged speedster of a wideout who could move into a heir to a starting role spot if Devin Smith flops.
Andre Holmes, OAK - Holmes has shined at times as a big/fast deep threat, but the Raiders went in a completely different direction in their offense and wide receiver group. He’ll be a free agent next year.
Brandon Coleman, NO - Coleman’s size/speed combo is good, but his hands and ball skills can be suspect. He had some nice plays recently that made me feel more of a reason to stash him and see what happens.
Paul Richardson Jr, SEA - Richardson has been banged up on and off for a while now, but we can see what Russell Wilson does for the fantasy value of his receivers this last month.
Submarine
Tyrell Williams, SD - Williams has a breathtaking size/speed/movement combination at times, but he is raw. Still, opportunity is coming in San Diego.
Tre McBride, TEN - McBride has great size and ball skills, and Tennessee might have an opening at wide receiver if Kendall Wright walks.
Cameron Meredith, CHI - Meredith has stuck as a long-limbed receiver with good movement. His desirability as a stash hinges of Alshon Jeffery’s status.
Corey Fuller, DET - Fuller came into the league as a raw track guy, but he could blossom next year if Calvin Johnson is gone in Detroit.
DeAndre Carter, NE - Carter has a Steve Smith feel to his game, and he’s on the practice squad of the team Smith turned down for the Ravens.
Chris Harper, NE - Harper has classic slot skills. A bad play on a punt got him knocked down to the practice squad, but they are keeping him in the organization.
Rasheed Bailey, JAX - Bailery was a prolific small school player like Carter, and Jacksonville is a good place to be with the quality of their pass offense.
Corey Washington, DET - Washington is a big target who could be a red zone wonder, and the Lions practice squad will get a longer look if Calvin Johnson is released this offseason
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