Last week I covered the landing spots for rookie RBs, with stars Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way, followed by promising talents like Zach Charbonnet and Kendre Miller. This week we turn our attention to the very intriguing WR position, one highlighted by ‘opinion’ this year: Who is the best in the class? Are there any actual WR1s in this draft class? Who reached, and who ended up with a steal?
Let’s put on our gloves, get off the line of scrimmage and run this route toward fantasy glory.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Landing Spot: Seattle Seahawks
You can’t be feeling any pressure when you have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett around, right? “JSN” comes into a prime position for development, one where he won’t be double-teamed while Metcalf and Lockett cause havoc on the outside. JSN doesn’t WOW me in terms of explosiveness and electricity, but he strikes me as a pro’s pro despite his rookie status. I probably won’t have many shares of him in redraft because he was the No. 1 WR selected in his draft class – that sometimes pushes competing fantasy managers to over-draft.
Quentin Johnston, Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers
Johnston is actually in a similar situation to JSN – Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are two of the best at what they do. I must add: Joshua Palmer is a pretty solid WR3 as well. Thus, for redraft, you’d be banking on something happening to Allen and/or Williams (which does tend to occur from an injury perspective). Johnston’s upside makes him intriguing, but the better play – to me – is in dynasty. There have always been rumors about the separation between Allen and the Chargers’ organization. If anything were ever to happen down the line, Johnston would be the primary benefactor.
Zay Flowers, Landing Spot: Baltimore Ravens
Flowers lands in a better spot than both JSN and Johnston because Odell Beckham Jr. is injury-prone and Rashod Bateman hasn’t proven himself in any way, yet. On the flip side – sort of like the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs with Travis Kelce – you could simply argue that TE Mark Andrews is the de facto “WR1” for this team, pushing Flowers into the four-spot in terms of looks.
On tape, Flowers was one of my top two wide receivers in this draft class. My other top guy is coming up right now…
Jordan Addison, Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings
On film, this is ‘my guy’ in this draft class. Plus… shouldn’t we trust the Vikings’ WR evaluators at this point? (Justin Jefferson.)
Addison’s timing is superb off the line of scrimmage, and he gets going a lot quicker than people realize. He’s very technically sound with a wide-ranging set of skills at his position. Plus, though I happen to like KJ Osborn, he strikes me as more of a permanent WR3 than WR2. The door is wide open for Addison to be the No. 2 man behind Jefferson in Minny. I’ll be taking Addison the highest of the first four rookie WRs in redraft. Dynasty is very close between Johnston and Addison for me.
Rapid-Fire the Rest of the Way Out
Jonathan Mingo, Panthers: A bit of a surprise given the Panthers’ acquisitions of Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and Hayden Hurst (all pass-catchers). This high of a selection of Mingo tells me the Panthers have no faith in Terrace Marshall’s development. Mingo isn’t a must-have fantasy play for me.
Jayden Reed, Packers: He’ll have a chance to compete for PT with Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb out of town. Still, so many of those looks are gonna be going to Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs on their upward climb at the wide receiver position.
Rashee Rice, Chiefs: Any Chiefs’ WR is gonna get our attention right away. Tyreek Hill is two years removed and JuJu Smith-Schuster has moved on to the Patriots. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Rice are gonna be competing for Pat Mahomes’ WR looks. I like Rice as a dynasty play over both Mingo and Reed because of Mahomes and the great Andy Reid.
Jalin Hyatt, Giants: Was expected to be one of the top six WRs in his class, but dropped. He didn’t land in the best possible spot, either. In terms of playmakers, the Giants have Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, Darren Waller, and Daniel Bellinger. It’s gonna be tough for Hyatt to get looks from Brian Daboll and Daniel Jones, but we do know that Shepard, Robinson, and Waller are coming off injury-riddled years.
Josh Downs, Colts: This was an absolute steal for new head coach Shane Steichen, as Downs – like Hyatt – was initially expected to be one of the top six or seven receivers off the board in this year’s draft. Instead, Indy gets a gift to go along with young Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce at the wide receiver position. I love this landing spot for Downs, and I think a reasonable argument could be made for him as the rookie WR6 in redraft.
I’ll see ya right back here next week for the rookie tight ends!
John Frascella is a published sports author who has been covering the NFL for 19 years. Follow him on Twitter @LegendSports7 for all things fantasy football, basketball, and baseball throughout the year.
