Scott Engel is in his 13th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and fantasy football rankings at RotoBaller.com.
In recent years, wide receivers have gained more prominence in fantasy football. The days of running backs dominating the first round are now many years behind us. Current Average Draft Position Reports indicate that six to seven of the first 12 picks in a 2024 fantasy football draft might come from the wide receiver position. Last season, seven of the top nine scorers in Points Per Reception (PPR) leagues among non-quarterbacks were wide receivers.
In many leagues, you will have to start three WRs, so there will be a significant emphasis on addressing the position in the early rounds and in the first half of drafts. The Seahawks passing game should be sparked by new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and we feature in-depth fantasy football scouting reports on DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett in this feature while providing outlooks for many key players at the WR position. My WR rankings follow the analysis, which leans to PPR formats.
Fantasy Football Draft Board Focus: The Top Wide Receivers
The Top 6 to 7 WRs are generally being drafted in the first round, according to Average Draft Position reports from FantasyPros.com. CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill are usually the first two players at the position to be taken off the board. Lamb was the No. 1 WR in overall fantasy scoring (403.2 points) and Fantasy Points Per Game (23.7) last season. Hill was a close second in Fantasy Points Per Game (23.5). I essentially see those two elite WRs as being tied for the No. 1 spot. Both will continue to play similar roles to last season in top passing attacks.
Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase will frequently be picked in the middle of the first round. QB changes should not hold back the Vikings superstar. He finished last season with two 140-plus-yard performances in his final three games. A healthy Joe Burrow should ensure that Chase finishes among the top fantasy scorers at WR. After those two are taken, Amon-Ra St. Brown and A.J. Brown will be primary draft targets. The Lions' WR finished third in fantasy points at the position last season (330.9). Brown has a top 10 WR statistical floor and a ceiling in the top 5 range.
Late in the first round, drafters will often aim for Garrett Wilson and Puka Nacua. In 2024, Wilson should come through with the best season of his career so far, as Aaron Rodgers appears to be on track to make a return to regular starting action. Nacua was the premier fantasy sleeper play of the 2023 campaign. He finished fourth in receiving yards at WR (1,486). A preseason knee injury could bump him to the second round of some drafts, but published reports indicate the injury is not considered to be serious. A first-round return in fantasy production remains very possible.
Wide Receiver Rankings: More Prime Targets
Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. may immediately leap into the range of the top-shelf fantasy WRs. He models as an instant impact performer who enters the NFL with a prime skill set and strong fundamentals. Davante Adams will continue to see heavy receiving volume. He has caught 100-plus passes in five of the last six seasons.
Mike Evans developed a good rapport with Baker Mayfield last season and should approach double-figure TD reception totals again. Nico Collins averaged 17.4 FFPG in 2023, which ranked seventh at WR. Even with Stefon Diggs joining the Texans, Collins should still be drafted as a top 15 fantasy WR. He will remain a featured weapon for the ascending C.J. Stroud.
Drake London is expected to rise to at least higher-end fantasy WR2 status with Kirk Cousins upgrading the passing game outlook in Atlanta. Chris Olave was targeted 138 times last season and will again be the clear and unrivaled top target in New Orleans.
Harrison and Adams will often be taken in the top half of the second round. ADPs suggest the others besides Evans might be drafted later in the second round or in the first half of the third round. The Tampa Bay standout might slip to the end of the third round or even to the fourth in some drafts, positioning him as a bit of a value type.
DK Metcalf Fantasy Scouting Report: 2024
When we get to the mid-teens portion of my 2024 fantasy football rankings, I start to veer away from what the ADP reports are suggesting. For instance, Metcalf has an ADP of 20th at WR, which puts him in mid-fourth round range, and I have him ranked at No. 16. Last year, he finished as fantasy WR21, but I am expecting the two-time Pro Bowler to exceed that seasonal showing in an invigorated Seahawks passing game.
Under Grubb, look for the Seahawks' air attack to conjure up more big plays, which will obviously cater to Metcalf's skill set. Seahawks fans and fantasy players who have rostered him in previous seasons are well aware that he is a major downfield threat. Last season, he averaged a career-best 16.9 yards per catch, which ranked fifth among all WRs. The Seahawks' passing game will aim to highlight the abilities reflected in that stat this season.
Metcalf will continue to be a top TD option for Geno Smith. In 2023, he ranked sixth among WRs in red zone targets (24), according to PlayerProfiler. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba continuing to emerge, Tyler Lockett remaining a consistent option, and Noah Fant being a clear top target at tight end, defenses will not be able to devote nearly as much attention to Metcalf as in some past seasons. Expect him to benefit and provide some impressive statistical spike weeks in fantasy football this season.
If you can draft the Seahawks' standout in the later teens or early 20s at WR at his current ADP (43rd overall), be very satisfied that you have landed a WR that has a strong chance to outperform the expectations marked by such a draft slot. Metcalf has high-end fantasy WR2 promise for 2024.
When To Draft A Wide Receiver: No. 2 WR Types
Several other preferred fantasy WR2 draft targets can be found in the 15 to 25 range at the position in my rankings. Brandon Aiyuk ranked second in Yards Per Reception (17.9) and Yards Per Target (12.8) last year, according to PlayerProfiler.com. Michael Pittman Jr. may post his best overall numbers yet if Anthony Richardson breaks out over a full season. Deebo Samuel is a versatile playmaker who totaled 12 TDs from scrimmage last year.
George Pickens now moves into the No. 1 WR slot in Pittsburgh and is projected to take on a major share of the receiving workload. Giants rookie Malik Nabers will immediately step in as a No. 1 WR for New York, and he will be an exciting upside play. Amari Cooper ranked third in Yards Per Reception (17.4).
Preseason reports on Cooper Kupp have been encouraging, and he will still be a top playmaker for the Rams. Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith can bust out for big plays in any given week. Tee Higgins should rebound after injuries caused him to miss five games while Burrow also battled health issues in '23.
Pittman may go off the board in the late third round range, according to the ADP reports. Pickens and Nabers are good fifth round targets, although the latter two may be taken a round earlier in some drafts. Kupp, Smith, and Waddle are fourth-round types. Higgins can pay off nicely as a late fifth-rounder or sixth round pick.
NFL Fantasy Football Tips: Eye on No. 3 WRs
Outside of my top 25 WRs, you will find several quality WR3 targets with fantasy WR2 potential. Calvin Ridley might be able to re-emerge as a No. 2 fantasy WR as a top receiver for Will Levis, who will not hesitate to gun the ball. Jacksonville's Christian Kirk finished as fantasy WR12 in 2022 and may have a high ceiling again after Ridley signed with Tennessee.
Last season, Baltimore's Zay Flowers ranked sixth at WR in Route Win Rate (55.9 percent), a PlayerProfiler stat that measures how often a WR gains enough separation to be open during a route run. He has quickly become the No. 1 WR for Lamar Jackson, who was more prolific as a passer last year. Terry McLaurin can move back into the WR2 area with Jayden Daniels arriving as the new QB in Washington. Diontae Johnson will operate as a needed No. 1 WR for Bryce Young in Carolina.
Tank Dell was another late-round fantasy WR revelation last year. The Texans traded for Diggs, though. Dell will still come through with some impressive outings, yet he and Diggs may take some turns as the better fantasy producer. Buffalo rookie Keon Coleman has a clear path to the WR1 job in Buffalo if he can build on the preseason buzz. Kansas City's Xavier Worthy will be a welcomed new downfield artist in Kansas City. Look for some spike statistical weeks from the rookie.
Fantasy Football Depth Charts Feature These Promising WRs
My top fantasy WR4 targets include Kansas City's Xavier Worthy, who will be a welcomed new downfield artist in Kansas City. Look for some spike statistical weeks from the rookie. Detroit's Jameson Williams, a nifty upside target, is ready to roll for a full season. Ladd McConkey is another first-year WR who can seize an opportunity as the potential new No. 1 WR for the Chargers. Christian Watson is the preferred WR to draft among the Green Bay pass-catchers. He can be a productive fantasy WR3 if injuries are not an issue this season.
Breakout Candidate: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Current ADP reports position the second-year Seahawk as the 45th player being drafted at WR, and 103rd coverall. He is being positioned as a ninth-round fantasy football draft pick, which marks Smith-Njigba as a potential value fantasy draft target. His production can certainly improve after gaining a season of experience. "JSN" flashed his promise as the 2023 season progressed.
From Weeks 9 through 12 last season, Smith-Njigba had long receptions of 30-plus yards in three of four games. He also finished with six-plus receptions and 60-plus yards in Weeks 9, 13, and 16. The 22-year-old also showed a flair for making a key catch when needed, with a 29-yard TD reception with 28 seconds remaining to beat Philadelphia in Week 15.
Last season, JSN ranked sixth among all WRs in Target Separation, a PlayerProfiler stat that illustrates which receivers are best at getting open against defenders. Target Separation measures a receiver's average yards of separation from a defender when a pass arrives. For Smith-Njigba, the number was 2.32. This advanced statistic is another signal that shows he is capable of delivering significantly improved fantasy output in 2024.
Smith-Njigba can challenge opponents at every level of the defense and on all types of routes, much as longtime Seahawks standout Doug Baldwin used to. He will be another beneficiary of Grubb installing a potent passing attack. JSN is a fine fantasy WR4 target who should outperform his draft day ADP indicator.
Fantasy Football Sleepers: Pick 'Em Late
Here is a sampling of value and sleeper WR targets: Some fantasy analysts are backing Rashod Bateman as a possible breakthrough candidate. … Don't overlook Romeo Doubs as a later pick, as he caught eight TD passes last season. … New England's Ja'Lynn Polk is yet another rookie with a chance to be a WR1 for his new team. … Jahan Dotson had seven TD catches in 2022 and might resurface fantasy-wise with Daniels arriving in Washington. … A move to Cleveland may spark Jerry Jeudy to provide his best fantasy output yet.
Malachi Corley could get a shot to become a No. 2 target for Rodgers in his first pro season with the Jets. … Giants speedster Jalin Hyatt is a fun deeper WR sleeper flier.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett: Always Available
Lockett is heading into his 10th NFL season in 2024, and fantasy football players are very familiar with his penchant for quality annual output in past years. In every season from 2018 to 2022, Lockett caught eight-plus TD passes and reeled off four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns from 2019 forward.
In my 2022 edition of the All-Time Fantasy Football Rankings of the Top 12 Seahawks in team history, Lockett was ranked fifth, second only to Steve Largent at WR. He will remain a very important part of the Seahawks passing game in 2024, especially on key passing downs. You can always count on Lockett for durability, as he has never played less than 15 games in a season. Consider him a good fantasy draft pick as a WR5. The three-time All-Pro will be worthy of lineup consideration when you are dealing with injury issues or bye week needs at WR.
Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 40 WRs
For more of my WR rankings beyond the Top 40, visit RotoBaller.com
- CeeDee Lamb
- Tyreek Hill
- Justin Jefferson
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- A.J. Brown
- Garrett Wilson
- Puka Nacua
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Davante Adams
- Mike Evans
- Nico Collins
- Drake London
- Chris Olave
- Brandon Aiyuk
- DK Metcalf
- Michael Pittman Jr.
- Deebo Samuel
- George Pickens
- Malik Nabers
- Cooper Kupp
- Amari Cooper
- Jaylen Waddle
- DeVonta Smith
- Tee Higgins
- Calvin Ridley
- DJ Moore
- Christian Kirk
- Stefon Diggs
- Zay Flowers
- Terry McLaurin
- Diontae Johnson
- Tank Dell
- Keon Coleman
- Keenan Allen
- Rashee Rice
- Jameson Williams
- Xavier Worthy
- Hollywood Brown
- Chris Godwin
