One strategy to consider come draft day is the “zero wide receivers” strategy. This strategy entails waiting on wideouts and loading up on the other positions early. You can mock draft this approach using our Mock Draft Simulator, but which WRs should you target in those middle rounds?
To help out, below are some wide receivers whose ADPs fall after the sixth round. The assumption is that you drafted three running backs, a tight end, and a quarterback in the first five rounds. Following that path, you should be pretty loaded at those positions, but you will obviously have a massive gap at wide receiver. The guys below are our best bets for breaking out and filling that void. Please note that we used half-point PPR scoring as a basis for the numbers below.
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JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – KC) | ADP: 70 | WR29
In 2018, JuJu, who was in his second season, was the ninth-best fantasy wide receiver. Since then, his production has declined to the point where he averaged only 5.5 points per game in the five regular-season games he played last year. But here’s the thing — JuJu is still only 25 years old! He is not some former great on the back side of his career. Smith-Schuster should still have a lot of good football in him.
JuJu’s quarterback the last three seasons was an aging Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben played only two games in 2019, and over the previous two seasons, he was QB14 and QB21. JuJu’s QB this year is Patrick Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the league. On top of that, the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill and his 25% target share to Miami. There’s a huge target void in Kansas City, and Smith-Schuster has the opportunity to fill it.
Drafting JuJu in the sixth round seems like a bargain, given his tremendous upside and likely solid floor. He’s the perfect first WR for your team if you are following the “Zero WR” strategy.
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL) | ADP: 80 | WR33
If JuJu is off the board, Bateman is another solid choice. His situation is similar in that the Ravens’ leading WR from last year, Marquise Brown, is now in Arizona. Brown also leaves behind a 25% target share, and the Ravens did little to find a replacement this offseason.
Enter Bateman, who missed the first five games of 2021 due to a core muscle injury but was a solid third option to Brown and Mark Andrews after he was activated, averaging 8.3 PPG. However, Lamar Jackson played only two games and nine snaps after Week 10, and the Ravens’ offense struggled down the stretch. Bateman showed enough promise for the Ravens to trade Brown, though. He has the opportunity and the ability to be a top-20 receiver this year.
Allen Lazard (WR – GB) | ADP: 102 | WR41
Another receiver who should see a tremendous target share in 2022 is Allen Lazard. Aaron Rodgers targeted new Raider Davante Adams on 29.5% of his passes last year, and someone will need to pick up the slack. Rodgers is comfortable with Lazard, and frankly, there aren’t many other great options. The Packers also lost Marquez Valdez-Scantling and only added the oft-injured Sammy Watkins as a free agent. Two rookies, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, will also be in the mix, but Rodgers has never had a penchant for throwing to rooks.
Lazard feels like he could see a really high target share this season. Maybe not Adams high, but over 20%. He also may be the top red-zone option on the team, as he did have eight TDs last year. Landing Lazard as a WR2 this late in the draft could pay huge dividends, as his volume should keep his floor high.
Christian Kirk (WR – JAC) | ADP: 103 | WR42
The Jaguars turned a few heads with the contract they gave Kirk this offseason. You can debate whether he’s worth it, but clearly, the Jags thought so, which should bode well for his role in the offense. Kirk is coming off his best season and should be the top target for Trevor Lawrence, who could break out this year. Kirk’s competition for targets includes an aging Marvin Jones, an unproven Laviska Shenault, and new tight end Evan Engram — none of whom should scare you from a fantasy perspective.
In addition, Jacksonville’s offense is likely to be much improved under new offensive-minded head coach Doug Pederson, who led the Eagles to a championship in 2018. A former QB, Pederson’s offenses in Philadelphia tended to move the ball through the air. More pass attempts lead to more targets, and Kirk should be a beneficiary. If you can land him in the seventh round or later, you likely won’t regret it.
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