Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings – Welcome to The Show
We went a couple of weeks with crickets on the WR front. Last night those crickets disappeared as possibly the best WR class ever was drafted. While most people were watching six QBs go off the board in the first 12 selections, I was homed in on the WR and where they landed. Frankly, I like all landing spots for four of the top five WRs. Keep reading to find out which of the five picks I am not sold on. You might notice my rankings being higher that ECR. I am OK with being the outlier here based solely on the fact that WR classes have been getting better each year over the past 3-4 and I feel the 2024 class is the best during that timeframe. Guys are coming out of college with an ability to be immediate difference makers if placed into the right situation and I am here for it!
Post draft, I feel it is incumbent upon me to update my 2024 rankings for the WR position. You will not see the fifth WR selected, Xavier Worthy, as he did not crack my Top 60, but the others will be discussed below. Since you are here @Razzball, check out the QB rankings updated by my buddy @Derek_Favret. In fact, you can see the latest Running Back (Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings (razzball.com) and Quarterback (Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings – Free Agent Frenzy (razzball.com) articles and rankings for free over at Home – Razzball Fantasy Football.
Top Wide Receiver Draft Picks
- Player: Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Drafted By: Arizona Cardinals
- My Rank (2024 ECR): WR37 (WR54)
Marquise Brown walks away to Kansas City and in steps the undisputed top WR of the class. If you are of a certain age, you remember his father tearing up defensive backs. Buckle up because the experts feel the son is better than the father. Time will tell, but I am willing to bank on the kid drafted #4 overall especially considering the Cardinals will need to throw to stay in games and there is no WR1 currently on the roster.
- Player: Malik Nabers
- Drafted By: New York Giants
- My Rank (2024 ECR): WR42 (WR61)
Nabers’ talent is undeniable. Nabers coming from the same WR tree that produced Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase says to me that LSU knows what it is doing by growing NFL-ready WR talent. My only trepidation over this selection is it feels like the New York Football Giants now have 11 WRs and no QB. Sure, they are paying Daniel Jones $40M+, but that means nothing if he cannot find his NFL game and improve. Can Nabers come in on Day #1 and make a difference? Absolutely he can. The questions surround the QB play, the running game with Saquon Barkley gone, and the offensive line. Those are a lot of holes to fill prior to allowing Nabers to run wild. Love the player. Hate the landing spot.
- Player: Rome Odunze
- Drafted By: Chicago Bears
- My Rank (2024 ECR): WR45 (WR64)
As much as it pains me to type these words, here they come popping off my fingers. Give me the Bears WRs in 2024! If Caleb Williams is anything like the pundits tout, then both DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are going to light it up in 2024. If Caleb Williams is the next can’t miss QB that bombs in the Windy City, then any stock in Moore and Odunze could be wasted draft capital. It is possible for the Bears to jump over the Vikings in 2024, but they are nothing more than a 3rd place team in the NFC North. I am willing to take the chance on Odunze over veteran names in the same tier (Godwin, Lockett, Cooks, G. Davis) because the upside is so massive.
- Player: Brian Thomas Jr.
- Drafted By: Jacksonville Jaguars
- My Rank (2024 ECR): WR59 (WR92)
It is possible…possible not likely…that Thomas turns out to be a better NFL WR than Nabers. They are both studs from the LSU WR tree and I much prefer Thomas’ landing spot over Nabers’. I look for Trevor Lawrence to have a bounce back 2024 and look for Thomas to outperform newly added Gabe Davis. Not only do I think Thomas will be a better statistical WR over Davis, but I think the fantasy draft day discount will be hefty. Currently, I have Thomas 33 picks higher than ECR. This does not mean you should scoop up Thomas as WR59. What you should do is find that sweet spot between WR59 and WR92 that makes sense for your roster construction and be ecstatic with the return on investment while someone else trudges along with their Gabe Davis selection as WR49.
Here is the full list of my Top 60 WRs:
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| CeeDee Lamb | DAL | |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | |
| Justin Jefferson | MIN | |
| Tyreek Hill | MIA | |
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | |
| Puka Nacua | LAR | |
| DJ Moore | CHI | |
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | |
| A.J. Brown | PHI | |
| Davante Adams | LV | |
| Chris Olave | NO | |
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ | |
| Deebo Samuel | SF | |
| Mike Evans | TB | |
| Michael Pittman Jr. | IND | |
| Keenan Allen | LAC | |
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | |
| Nico Collins | HOU | |
| Drake London | ATL | |
| Rashee Rice | KC | |
| DK Metcalf | SEA | |
| Stefon Diggs | HOU | |
| Tee Higgins | CIN | |
| DeVonta Smith | PHI | |
| Calvin Ridley | TEN | |
| Jaylen Waddle | MIA | |
| Mike Williams | NYJ | |
| Zay Flowers | BAL | |
| Jordan Addison | MIN | |
| Jayden Reed | GB | |
| George Pickens | PIT | |
| DeAndre Hopkins | TEN | |
| Christian Kirk | JAX | |
| Amari Cooper | CLE | |
| Tank Dell | HOU | |
| Courtland Sutton | DEN | |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI | |
| Terry McLaurin | WAS | |
| Marquise Brown | KC | |
| Christian Watson | GB | |
| Diontae Johnson | CAR | |
| Mailk Nabers | NYG | |
| Jakobi Meyers | LV | |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | |
| Rome Odunze | CHI | |
| Chris Godwin | TB | |
| Tyler Lockett | SEA | |
| Brandin Cooks | DAL | |
| Gabe Davis | JAX | |
| Jameson Williams | DET | |
| Romeo Doubs | GB | |
| Rashid Shaheed | NO | |
| Jahan Dotson | WAS | |
| Josh Downs | IND | |
| Adam Thielen | CAR | |
| Curtis Samuel | BUF | |
| Michael Wilson | ARI | |
| Jerry Jeudy | CLE | |
| Brian Thomas | JAX | |
| Khalil Shakir | BUF |
How high are you willing to draft rookie WRs in your 2024 leagues? Let’s discuss in the comments.
Look for my articles right here each week and be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Stiles08. Also, tune into our Tuesday @RazzballNFL podcast on YouTube from 6pm PST/9PM EST as I join @BobbyLamarco, @SkyGuasco, and @Derek_Favret to discuss all things fantasy football. Come for the analysis. Stay for the laughs.
-Stiles-
