Fantasy Football Draft Values: Jaylen Waddle, Nico Collins, DeAndre Hopkins (2024)

In this article, I’ll provide some receivers I’m targeting between the WR13-WR36 range who could offer some serious value this season. Here are fantasy football wide receiver draft values at the WR2 and WR3 rankings.

Fantasy Football Draft Values: WR2s & WR3s

If you were to ask me what the deepest position in fantasy football is entering the 2024 season, I would say wide receiver hands down. That’s especially true after we saw the decrease in appealing mid-tier options at quarterback; the only position that could hold a candle to the depth at receiver.

As the NFL becomes a passing league, more teams boast impressive wide receiver duos. The level of depth at the position makes it tougher to gauge upside on a week-to-week basis. But there are more starting-caliber receivers in the league than ever before.

Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA): ECR WR19

Jaylen Waddle was a frustrating fantasy player last season. He struggled to stay healthy and underwhelmed as the WR11 in ADP last season. However, ranking Waddle 19th among wide receivers entering the 2024 season feels like a bit of an overreaction to his injury-plagued season.

Waddle should benefit from better luck on the injury front. And while many will point to Tyreek Hill‘s presence as the alpha in the passing game, I’ll counter with the fact that Waddle finished as the WR7 in half-PPR formats in 2022, which was Hill’s first year in Miami.

We’ve seen how high the upside can be in Miami’s offense. While Waddle won’t reach his ceiling every week, I’ll gladly take him to be my WR2 toward the middle of Round 3. Buy the dip.

Nico Collins (WR – HOU): ECR WR17

I’ve been a Nico Collins fan since he came into the league out of Michigan, and it was wonderful to see his potential rise to the surface with a quality quarterback in C.J. Stroud.

Last season’s WR9 will face more competition for targets this year after the Texans acquired Stefon Diggs from Buffalo. Tank Dell is there to serve as the team’s home run hitter. However, I’m much more willing to take Collins at his price point than Diggs at his. I think last year might’ve been a sign that Diggs was falling off and I don’t think his presence will result in a massive hit to Collins’ opportunities and production. Collins is a baller and should still be a go-to target in the red zone.

Perhaps Collins’ upside is capped with Diggs in town, but consistent WR1 production isn’t completely out of the question either in an offense that should be excellent. Like Waddle, I’ll be thrilled to get Collins as my WR2 and would draft him over guys ranked above him like D.J. Moore, Mike Evans and Drake London.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN): ECR WR36

Hopkins’ ranking is a little puzzling. I get he’s 32 years old and his team just brought in Calvin Ridley, who probably has more weekly upside. However, the only difference between Hopkins and Ridley in half-PPR leagues was that Ridley scored eight touchdowns to Hopkins’ seven. Anyone who drafted Ridley last year knows the ride wasn’t as pretty as the WR17 finish might indicate.

Even in his 30s, I maintain that Hopkins is the better receiver than Ridley, and I’m confident his game will age just fine. Plus, he’s already established rapport with quarterback Will Levis, while Ridley will have to adjust to his second quarterback and second offense in as many seasons. If Levis turns out to be good, there’s a scenario where both receivers can thrive. I just think Hopkins is more likely to lead the team in receiving if he stays healthy. I believe fantasy players have taken Hopkins for granted since he hasn’t been on too many relevant teams lately. I’ll gladly take him as my WR3.