The wide receiver position is the deepest in all of fantasy football. Thanks to a steady influx of young talent at the position via the NFL Draft, some veteran players can be had at a significant discount each year.
The young, star-caliber players fly off the board fast and furiously in startup drafts but don’t overlook players later in your draft who can help you push for a title in year one. Today we’re diving into who the best value targets are regarding the wide receiver position that you should be targeting in startup drafts.
In case you’ve missed it, we’ve also recently discussed the values present at other positions:
- Dynasty Draft Value Targets: Quarterback
- Dynasty Draft Value Targets: Running Back
- Dynasty Draft Value Targets: Tight End
Dynasty Draft Value Targets: Wide Receiver
All ADP referenced is provided courtesy of DLF.
Adam Thielen (CAR) – ADP 190.83 – WR81
Thielen is not the player he once was for the Vikings, but in round 15 or 16, he’s worth the gamble. The Panthers signed Thielen to a three-year contract that likely ties him to the team for the next two seasons, thanks to a dead cap charge of $11.1 million in 2024.
There’s uncertainty about how the actual pecking will shake out, given that the Panthers will have an entirely new coaching staff to go along with their newly drafted signal caller in Bryce Young. Still, Thielen’s veteran savvy should lead to him seeing a majority of targets early this season while Jonathan Mingo acclimates to the NFL.
Drafting Thielen is a short-term play, but for where he’s going in drafts, he’s a nice bench player to use as a flex option when bye weeks come calling.
Alec Pierce (IND) – ADP 151.17 – WR65
Last season did not go according to plan for anyone on the Colts, but Pierce flashed at times in what was otherwise a disappointing season for the team.
Pierce racked up 593 receiving yards in his rookie season, which was more than Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks and only 18 yards less than Christian Watson, but he’s rarely, if ever, mentioned in the same breath as any of those players.
The arrow will be pointing up on Colts playmakers as soon as we know that Anthony Richardson will be the starting quarterback. Pierce will man one of the boundary receiver spots alongside Michael Pittman Jr. He has very good size for the position and can make plays down the field (he averaged 14.5 yards per reception in 2022), and can be had in round 12 of startups. He’s a player I’d like to come out of every startup with if I can.
Brandin Cooks (DAL) – ADP 111.50 – WR51
Last season was a disappointment for Cooks, as he saw his lowest statistical totals since the 2019 season, but the situation he found himself in was less than ideal.
The Texans were a team in disarray and waiting to find their next answer at quarterback, and now Cooks finds himself in a significantly improved situation. He has an established quarterback getting him the ball in Dak Prescott, and he will be playing across from one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL in CeeDee Lamb.
Despite his undesirable situation in Houston a season ago, if he had played in all 17 games, he still would have been on pace for over 900 receiving yards. In Dallas, there’s reason to believe he can eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh time in his NFL career.
Keenan Allen (LAC) – ADP 73.33 – WR37
While he might not be available as late as the other players mentioned here, Allen still presents a significant value for what I expect his production to be in 2023.
He battled injuries in 2022 and only appeared in 10 games, but had he been healthy, he would have been on pace for what’s essentially been the norm for him over the past several seasons: over 150 targets and around 1,200 receiving yards.
Age is not on his side, and you’re likely only getting a few seasons at best of high production from Allen at this point in his career. Still, if you opt to address other positions early in startups or can secure him as your WR3, Allen is an excellent target in round six or seven.
- More Dynasty Articles & Advice
- Dynasty Startup Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio