Well, folks, my real football season is officially over with the Packers’ loss to the 49ers. We had every chance to win the game and fell just short at the end. Tip of the cap to @SkyGuasco and his Bang Bang, 49er Gang. Best of luck moving forward. The only reason I am still here writing is you, the reader. Our faithful @RazzballNFL are the reason I keep pushing through these emotions. Couple you, the readers, with the appearance that the Packers have a very bright future ahead of them with Jordan Love and company. I will never quit on you or football. Here are my five favorite post-divisional round WR steals for 2024.Â
Since I Am Here For You
I invite you behind the curtain and into my war room. I find the best way to obtain WR value on draft day is to for second, third and fourth year WRs that made a significant jump in production in the prior season. Because I always prefer to be a year early on the player versus a year late, you will see some names that fit that bill on the Steal list below. Other names that will be on my WR value list, but not on the Steal list are Khalil Shakir, Jayden Reed, Josh Downs, Michael Wilson, and Trey Palmer. Though our work is done for 2023, we are here to help and look forward to helping you win your leagues in 2024. Stay tuned for rankings, probably in early February, with updates to follow throughout the offseason. The Quadfathers of Razzball NFL are here with you throughout the football offseason!
Remember To Check-In
The @Razzball NFL team of writers host our Tuesday evening show where we hit on all things offseason fantasy football. Join Bobby LaMarco @BobbyLaMarco, Sky Guasco @SkyGuasco, The Lineup Builder @Derek_Favret, and me, Matt Stiles @stiles08 at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST for the show as we answer all your questions thus keeping you engaged for the 2024 season while looking back at what coulda, shoulda, woulda been in 2023. Come for the analysis, and stay for the laughs!
*Positional Finish indicates the player’s fantasy finish at the position in PPR. The average draft position (ADP) that is inside the () is the positional ADP the player was drafted based on the Razzball consensus ADP this preseason.Â
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WR Steals
Player: Puka Nacua
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Positional Finish (ADP): Undrafted (WR5)
During the 2023 draft season, Nacua was my Mr. Irrelevant, and I drafted him all over the place with my final selection. He was my guy! Check out my article from last week that discussed my rationale for placing Nacua at the top of this list. You can find it and all of our free football content at Wide Receiver Busts (razzball.com)
Player: Rashee Rice
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Positional Finish (ADP): WR61 (WR28)
I am not sure if there has even been a quieter 100-target season than the one just turned in by Rashee Rice. When all was said and done, Rice clearly separated himself as the best, possibly only viable, WR for the Chiefs. What I do not understand is why he was not more involved in the offense once it was clear he was the absolute WR1.Â
Head Coach Andy Reid is a genius, but there were times when I had to search for Rice to see if he was even suited up for the game. I think that changes in 2024 with Rice leading the way for all Chiefs’ pass catchers. If Travis Kelce decides to retire, and the rumors are rampant, then Rice should rocket up your draft board. Regardless of the situation with the HOF TE, you will need to pay up for Rice in 2024. I do not think he slips past the late third or early fourth round in PPR formats.Â
Player: Mike Evans
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Positional Finish (ADP): WR32 (WR4)
What else is there to say about the elder statesman on this list? How about 1,000 yards receiving in every season of his amazing career? Evans has opened his NFL career with 10-straight 1K receiving seasons. Add to that his five double-digit receiving TD seasons, and you have a first-ballot HOF in Tampa. There are two main questions surrounding Evans heading into the 2024 draft: (1) Will Baker Mayfield be signed to an extension by the Bucs, and (2) When will age catch up with Big Game Mike? If Baker returns for Tampa Bay, I will keep Evans as a Round 2-3 target, However, will probably lose out on him as he will undoubtedly be drafted a little too high since fantasy football owners unknowingly subscribe to recency bias.
Player: Nico Collins / Tank Dell
Team: Houston Texans
Positional Finish (ADP): WR58 (WR9) / Undrafted (WR36)
That drum I was banging for Puka Nacua and Mike Evans also saw me pumping up Nico Collins heading in the 2023 draft. Trust me when I say I will be bringing that same drum to all 2024 drafts and hoping I hit three WR studs in later rounds again. Collins came at a 49-pick discount in 2023. You will not be able to replicate that in 2024, trust me.Â
Even with missing two full games and some other time due to injury and getting off to a cold start, Collins provided a significant return on investment with his 80-1,297-8 line. I foresee all three stats ascending next season. With a year under center for CJ Stroud, the Texans look to be a young team on the rise. Keep an eye on both Collins and his running mate, Tank Dell, heading into your 2024 drafts. Noting that Dell missed seven games in the second half of the season means he will be the one of these two that will come with the larger draft day discount. Look for Collins to come off the board in the mid- to late-third, while Dell can probably be had in Rounds 7-9.
Player: Rashid Shaheed
Team: New Orleans Saints
Positional Finish (ADP): WR74 (WR40)
I was all out on Michael Thomas approaching 2023 drafts. At the start of the season, I thought maybe I was wrong. However, then the real Thomas appeared to prove me right. I think his time is over in New Orleans, and I think the Saints are OK with that with the emergence of second-year pro Rashid Shaheed. Though his numbers (46-719-5) do not jump off the stat sheet, I think this is just the beginning for the Saints WR2. Chris Olave will continue to be the alpha WR in New Orleans while Shaheed makes the jump to WR2 ahead of Thomas. Shaheed can probably be drafted in Round 10+ in 2024, but as we always say, sometimes you must pay up to land your guys. If your roster is constructed in a manner where it makes sense to select Shaheed (or any on this list) higher, then pull the trigger.
Follow me @stiles08 on Twitter/X and send questions and comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs.
-Matt-
