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.
Here are 10 wide receivers I am targeting this year when using a Zero-WR draft strategy. Ideally, I want to leave my draft with at least four of these wide receivers on my team. Below we dive into a few notable wide receiver fantasy football draft targets.
- 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Zero WR Wide Receiver Draft Targets
Round 9 & 10 Targets
Ladd McConkey (LAC): ADP 102.3 | WR43
Many expect the Chargers to have one of the most run-heavy offenses this year under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. While the team’s wide receiver core is far from elite, McConkey could become a star early in his rookie season. The former Georgia star has shined since getting drafted. More importantly, McConkey has been working with the first-team offense during training camp. The rookie is the most likely candidate to adsorb a massive chunk of Keenan Allen’s 150 targets from last year. He should quickly become Justin Herbert’s go-to receiver.
Christian Watson (GB): ADP 105.3 | WR44
The concern with Watson is his inability to stay healthy. He has missed 32.4% of the games in his career because of injury, including eight contests last season. However, Watson has been productive when healthy, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game for his career. Furthermore, he had the sixth-most end zone targets (15) and ninth-most end zone touchdowns (five) in the NFL last year despite missing nearly half the season (per Fantasy Points Data). If Watson can stay healthy, the third-year player could be a league-winning pick.
Late-Round Targets
Darnell Mooney (ATL): ADP 173.5 | WR72
Mooney was an afterthought on an inconsistent Chicago Bears passing attack last year, averaging only 4.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, there is hope for the veteran in Atlanta with Kirk Cousins under center. The veteran quarterback has produced two top-12 wide receivers in the same season twice during his time with the Minnesota Vikings (2018 and 2020). While Mooney won’t be a top-12 guy, the veteran is a capable receiver, putting up a 1,000-yard receiving season in his career. He should easily outperform his ADP.
Javon Baker (NE): ADP 230.5 | WR83
Fantasy players have seen NFL Draft Day 3 picks turn into stars as a rookie, including Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Baker could join that group in 2024. He had the 11th-high PFF receiving grade in the draft class last year and posted a higher yards per route run average than Rome Odunze (3.21 vs. 2.93). While Ja’Lynn Polk is a popular late-round sleeper, fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if Baker turns into Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye’s go-to target, especially after making several impressive plays during training camp.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
