Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. However, the Zero-WR strategy rarely gets mentioned. Yet, it’s one of my favorite draft strategies because of the depth at the wide receiver position.
How does the Zero-WR draft strategy work? Like a Zero-RB strategy, you don’t avoid that position the entire draft. Instead, you focus on other positions early in the draft before targeting wide receivers starting in the fifth or sixth round.
Ideally, you load up at the running back position in the early rounds, grabbing two star-caliber guys. Fantasy players also want to draft an elite quarterback and tight end before picking their first wide receiver with this draft strategy. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at the wide receiver position to have a star-studded lineup everywhere else.
Below are wide receivers I am targeting this year when using a Zero-WR draft strategy. Let’s dive into some middle-round fantasy football draft picks to target at the wide receiver position.
Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. However, the Zero-WR strategy rarely gets mentioned. Yet, it’s one of my favorite draft strategies because of the depth at the wide receiver position.
How does the Zero-WR draft strategy work? Like a Zero-RB strategy, you don’t avoid that position the entire draft. Instead, you focus on other positions early in the draft before targeting wide receivers starting in the fifth or sixth round.
Ideally, you load up at the running back position in the early rounds, grabbing two star-caliber guys. Fantasy players also want to draft an elite quarterback and tight end before picking their first wide receiver with this draft strategy. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at the wide receiver position to have a star-studded lineup everywhere else.
Below are wide receivers I am targeting this year when using a Zero-WR draft strategy. Let’s dive into some middle-round fantasy football draft picks to target at the wide receiver position.
While the Giants have one of the least appealing passing attacks, Nabers is my favorite WR1 target when using a Zero-WR draft build. Following Darren Waller’s retirement, the former LSU star will be the focal point of the team’s passing attack. Meanwhile, he ranked first in the NFL Draft class in yards per route run (3.64) among wide receivers with at least 20 targets last season (per PFF). Nabers has made several highlight-reel receptions during camp. He should challenge Marvin Harrison Jr. for the league leaders in targets among rookies.
Cleveland started five quarterbacks last year. Yet, Cooper was the WR18, averaging more half-point PPR fantasy points per game (12.7) than Davante Adams, Michael Pittman Jr. and Chris Olave. Furthermore, the veteran was outstanding playing with any quarterback besides Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Cooper averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game in the 12 contests he played that Thompson-Robinson didn’t start, which would have made him the WR6 on a points-per-game basis. If Deshaun Watson stays healthy for all 17 games, Cooper could be a top-12 receiver despite the addition of Jerry Jeudy.
The Texans have arguably the most talented wide receiver core in the NFL. While Houston traded for Stefon Diggs and gave Nico Collins a massive extension, don’t forget about Dell. The explosive receiver missed the final five games of his rookie year with a broken fibula. However, he was the WR16 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 12.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest, a higher average than Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, and Chris Olave. While Collins should get drafted first, Dell has similar upside at a far cheaper price.
Many have had high hopes for McLaurin since his rookie season. The former Ohio State star averaged a career-high 12 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in 2020. However, he has never ended higher than the WR14 any year of his career, finishing as the WR20 or lower in all but one season. McLaurin has been held back by awful quarterback play in Washington, ranking 70th or worst in catchable target rate every year since his rookie year (per PlayerProfiler). Thankfully, that should change with Jayden Daniels under center.
Fantasy players struggled with starting Godwin in 2023, as he scored 9.6 or fewer half-point PPR fantasy points in 64.7% of the games. Furthermore, he averaged under 10 fantasy points per game for the first time since 2018. However, Godwin is prime for a bounce-back year, with the Buccaneers moving him back into the slot. The veteran averaged 0.41 fantasy points per route run in the slot compared to 0.26 lined up outside last season (per Fantasy Points Data). There is a chance Godwin outscores Mike Evans this year.
Johnson was the WR8 in 2021, averaging 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, the veteran has averaged only 8.8 fantasy points per game over the past two years despite seeing 7.8 targets per contest. He has struggled because of awful quarterback production, ranking 70th in catchable target rate last season (per PlayerProfiler). Thankfully, he gets a quarterback upgrade in Carolina and gets to play in Dave Canales’ fantasy-friendly offense. The head coach recently said that Johnson will be the focal point of the team’s passing attack in 2024.
