In recent years, fantasy football has seen a drastic shift in positional value. Wide Receivers have emerged as the most coveted assets to roster, especially in half-PPR or full-PPR formats. At the same time, the running back position further depreciates with every passing season.

There are certain players, including the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, who hold unquestioned roles in their respective offenses. Regardless of matchup or game script, these WRs will unequivocally be the team’s primary pass-catcher on any given Sunday. That being said, this value is reflected in draft price. You’ll need to invest a first-round pick to acquire one of the sure-fire bets at the WR position.

Receivers who find themselves in more ambiguous target trees can be acquired for much cheaper. A key part of any fantasy manager’s offseason research should be to identify these murky situations and determine which WR is most likely to emerge as the alpha. Those who are correct in their assessment will be able to acquire great value with their later-round draft selections.

Puka Nacua‘s historic 2023 season is a great example of this. He accumulated 105 receptions and six touchdowns en route to setting the NFL record for receiving yards as a rookie. With Cooper Kupp‘s offseason injury struggles, analysts across the industry struggled with the target distribution in L.A. It was anyone’s guess as to who would inherit Kupp’s massive volume in the offense. Nacua ended up winning the positional battle against the likes of Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell, leading to league-winning fantasy production.

Below are some of the more intriguing wide receivers in NFL position battles to monitor over the remainder of the offseason.

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NFL Position Battles to Monitor: Wide Receivers

Receivers who find themselves in more ambiguous target trees can be acquired for much cheaper. A key part of any fantasy manager’s offseason research should be to identify these murky situations and determine which WR is most likely to emerge as the alpha. Those who are correct in their assessment will be able to acquire great value with their later-round draft selections.

Puka Nacua‘s historic 2023 season is a great example of this. He accumulated 105 receptions and six touchdowns en route to setting the NFL record for receiving yards as a rookie. With Cooper Kupp‘s offseason injury struggles, analysts across the industry struggled with the target distribution in L.A. It was anyone’s guess as to who would inherit Kupp’s massive volume in the offense. Nacua ended up winning the positional battle against the likes of Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell, leading to league-winning fantasy production.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Calvin Ridley (TEN)

Calvin Ridley’s first season upon return from suspension was a disappointment. He was a very underwhelming fantasy asset despite being given every opportunity to succeed in Jacksonville. He was targeted 132 times as the primary pass-catcher for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.

Admittedly, some of Ridley’s struggles can be attributed to simply needing to shake off rust. His 8.4% Pro Football Focus (PFF) drop rate, while higher than expected, is likely a result of spending nearly two full seasons on the sidelines. However, other aspects of his statistical profile are far more alarming. Among WRs with at least 50 targets, Ridley ranked 41st in receiving grade, 46th in yards per route run and 72nd in yards after catch per reception, per PFF. At 29 years old, it’s fair to question whether Ridley will ever return to the levels of efficiency he displayed during his tenure in Atlanta.

The 2023 season was far more kind to DeAndre Hopkins. He proved he’s still the ultra-reliable WR he’s been for nearly a decade. Among qualifying WRs, Hopkins ranked 18th in PFF receiving grade and in yards per route run. As impressive as this is, it’s also fair to question whether he’ll start to feel the effects of age and attrition in 2024.

The distinct edge Hopkins has over Ridley is the established rapport he has with QB Will Levis. In 2023, Hopkins had at least 59 targets more than every other pass-catcher on the Titans. On the other hand, Ridley’s contract would suggest the team is expecting him to be a focal point in the offense. He signed a lucrative four-year, $92 million deal in the offseason.

All things considered, Hopkins currently has slightly higher odds of being Tennessee’s WR1. He was a key pillar for this passing game in 2023 and still has plenty to offer from a production standpoint. At any rate, it’ll be key to monitor the training camp reports.

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