In this edition of the preseason fantasy football top 150 rankings, we dive into the key wide receivers who have resigned or have been franchised tagged ahead of NFL free agency. As we always say, we love continuity so while many players will be on the move, we will break down what the return of Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman could mean for fantasy football in 2024.
After this week, we will finally see where all the key NFL free agency will land, and how those new landing spots will impact my rankings! If you want to see the top free agents for fantasy football, check out our article by Jeff here! Let’s dive in!
The Return of the WR1s
- Player: Tee Higgins
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
- Overall Ranking: 45 (ECR 47)
It hasn’t been the smoothest career for Tee Higgins as not only has he dealt with injuries, but Joe Burrow has struggled to stay healthy as well. Since entering the league together in 2020, Higgins and Burrow have played at least 50% of the snaps together in just 43 of 67 games.
If that is the case, why should we be optimistic in 2024? In those 43 games, Higgins has averaged 14.9 PPR PPG, and if you increase his snaps to 70% that jumps to 15.9 or WR15 in 2023. At some point, things will click, and with his return to Cincy, I will be ahead of consensus.
- Player: Mike Evans
- Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Overall Ranking: 29 (ECR 35)
Somehow Mike Evans had 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns for just the second time in his career with Baker Mayfield at QB. Mayfield’s return is pending, but all signs point to him returning in 2024 so what does that mean for Evans?
Last season in his age 30 campaign he finished as the WR10 with 16.6 PPR PPG (minimum 4 games). Since 2010, 11 wide receivers had 14 or more PPR PPG in their age 30 seasons. On average those WRs saw a 9% dip in production the following season. If that happens to Evans in 2024, he will average 15.1 PPR PPG which would have made him the WR18.
- Player: Michael Pittman
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- Overall Ranking: 47 (ECR 23)
Michael Pittman’s return is great news for the Colts offense after he led the team in every receiving category in 2023. Now with him back on the roster, what should we expect from him and most likely Anthony Richardson next season?
Before we go any further, yes, it’s way too early to jump to any conclusions BUT let’s do a little hop. In the two full games that Pittman played with Richardson in 2023, he had an 8-97-1 and 1-15 receiving line. It’s fair to wonder if Pittman doesn’t match 109 receptions will he be worth at top 24 pick next year? I think I will be fading him at that cost for now.
Check out the latest 2023 Flex Fantasy Football Projections on Razzball.com!
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Name | Team | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | SF | RB | |
| CeeDee Lamb | DAL | WR | |
| Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR | |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | RB | |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | WR | |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | RB | |
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | WR | |
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ | WR | |
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | WR | |
| A.J. Brown | PHI | WR | |
| Jonathan Taylor | IND | RB | |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | RB | |
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | RB | |
| Saquon Barkley | PHI | RB | |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | RB | |
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | WR | |
| Deebo Samuel | SF | WR | |
| Nico Collins | HOU | WR | |
| Davante Adams | LV | WR | |
| Chris Olave | NO | WR | |
| Marvin Harrison | ARI | WR | |
| De’Von Achane | MIA | RB | |
| Derrick Henry | BAL | RB | |
| Drake London | ATL | WR | |
| Travis Etienne | JAC | RB | |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | RB | |
| Puka Nacua | LAR | WR | |
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | WR | |
| James Cook | BUF | RB | |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | RB | |
| Rachaad White | TB | RB | |
| Mike Evans | TB | WR | |
| Sam LaPorta | DET | TE | |
| Kenneth Walker | SEA | RB | |
| Rashee Rice | KC | WR | |
| Amari Cooper | CLE | WR | |
| Tee Higgins | CIN | WR | |
| DeVonta Smith | PHI | WR | |
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | QB | |
| Josh Allen | BUF | QB | |
| Jalen Hurts | PHI | QB | |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | QB | |
| C.J. Stroud | HOU | QB | |
| Joe Mixon | HOU | RB | |
| Travis Kelce | KC | TE | |
| Dalton Kincaid | BUF | TE | |
| Jaylen Waddle | MIA | WR | |
| D.K. Metcalf | SEA | WR | |
| Stefon Diggs | HOU | WR | |
| D.J. Moore | CHI | WR | |
| Mark Andrews | BAL | TE | |
| Michael Pittman | IND | WR | |
| Trey McBride | ARI | TE | |
| Zay Flowers | BAL | WR | |
| Raheem Mostert | MIA | RB | |
| James Conner | ARI | RB | |
| Aaron Jones | MIN | RB | |
| David Montgomery | DET | RB | |
| Jordan Love | GB | QB | |
| Kyler Murray | ARI | QB | |
| Malik Nabers | NYG | WR | |
| George Pickens | PIT | WR | |
| Anthony Richardson | IND | QB | |
| Dak Prescott | DAL | QB | |
| Joe Burrow | CIN | QB | |
| Zamir White | LV | RB | |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | RB | |
| George Kittle | SF | TE | |
| Javonte Williams | DEN | RB | |
| Kyle Pitts | ATL | TE | |
| Evan Engram | JAC | TE | |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | WR | |
| Christian Kirk | JAC | WR | |
| Chris Godwin | TB | WR | |
| Marquise Brown | KC | WR | |
| Tank Dell | HOU | WR | |
| Jake Ferguson | DAL | TE | |
| Brock Purdy | SF | QB | |
| Diontae Johnson | CAR | WR | |
| Devin Singletary | NYG | RB | |
| Terry McLaurin | WAS | WR | |
| Calvin Ridley | TEN | WR | |
| Ladd McConkey | LAC | WR | |
| Keenan Allen | CHI | WR | |
| Tony Pollard | TEN | RB | |
| Romeo Doubs | GB | WR | |
| Brian Robinson | WAS | RB | |
| Jayden Daniels | WAS | QB | |
| Christian Watson | GB | WR | |
| D’Andre Swift | CHI | RB | |
| Chase Brown | CIN | RB | |
| Najee Harris | PIT | RB | |
| Jerome Ford | CLE | RB | |
| Joshua Palmer | LAC | WR | |
| Brian Thomas | JAC | WR | |
| Jayden Reed | GB | WR | |
| Austin Ekeler | WAS | RB | |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | RB | |
| Aaron Rodgers | NYJ | QB | |
| Courtland Sutton | DEN | WR | |
| Dallas Goedert | PHI | TE | |
| Jonathon Brooks | CAR | RB | |
| Jameson Williams | DET | WR | |
| Zack Moss | CIN | RB | |
| Khalil Shakir | BUF | WR | |
| Keon Coleman | BUF | WR | |
| Pat Freiermuth | PIT | TE | |
| DeAndre Hopkins | TEN | WR | |
| Brandin Cooks | DAL | WR | |
| David Njoku | CLE | TE | |
| Darnell Mooney | ATL | WR | |
| Rome Odunze | CHI | WR | |
| Chuba Hubbard | CAR | RB | |
| Jordan Addison | MIN | WR | |
| Adam Thielen | CAR | WR | |
| Tyjae Spears | TEN | RB | |
| Rico Dowdle | DAL | RB | |
| Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | RB | |
| Gus Edwards | LAC | RB | |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | RB | |
| Xavier Worthy | KC | WR | |
| Blake Corum | LAR | RB | |
| J.K. Dobbins | LAC | RB | |
| Jakobi Meyers | LV | WR | |
| Trevor Lawrence | JAC | QB | |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | QB | |
| Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | QB | |
| Jared Goff | DET | QB | |
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | QB | |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | QB | |
| Tyler Lockett | SEA | WR | |
| Hunter Henry | NE | TE | |
| Deshaun Watson | CLE | QB | |
| Dalton Schultz | HOU | TE | |
| Rashid Shaheed | NO | WR | |
| Ja’Lynn Polk | NE | WR | |
| Josh Downs | IND | WR | |
| Geno Smith | SEA | QB | |
| Tyler Conklin | NYJ | TE | |
| Rashod Bateman | BAL | WR | |
| Michael Wilson | ARI | WR | |
| Demario Douglas | NE | WR | |
| Demarcus Robinson | LAR | WR | |
| Gabe Davis | JAC | WR | |
| Allen Lazard | NYJ | WR | |
| Zach Ertz | WAS | TE | |
| Mike Gesicki | CIN | TE | |
| Jerry Jeudy | CLE | WR | |
| Nick Chubb | CLE | RB | |
| T.J. Hockenson | MIN | TE |
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For more from Bobby and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @bobbylamarco.
Sources: Razzball.com, PFF.com, FantasyPros, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders
