Fantasy Football managers are getting ready for their favorite time of the year, draft day! This is where you can take all of the knowledge you have acquired throughout the offseason and finally put it to good use. The studying and research, along with the “I have a feeling about this guy” moments, have made their way to late August and early September and now it’s time to put up or shut up. Everyone knows who to draft in the first round as it is typically laid out for all of us but not everyone knows what to do afterwards.
Most of us understand the big names to draft such as Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Breece Hall. Perhaps you’re more of a wide receiver kind of person and you lean toward the direction of Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, or Ja’Marr Chase. It’s the names that we are unsure of because of multiple factors, that we could miss an opportunity on this season. These are the players who are hidden gems or diamonds in the rough, not getting the exposure that other playmakers in the NFL have received. Many factors play a part in why players are avoided or perhaps not even looked at altogether. Here are three players you may or may not know but definitely want on your 2024 fantasy football team.
3 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers You Need to Draft
DeVonta Smith
DeVonta Smith is a great player and most of us are familiar with his role in Philadelphia. He is the number two receiver following A.J. Brown. Everyone understands that Brown runs the receiver show with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even a complimentary player to Brown is hard to defend, especially with who the Eagles brought in as offensive coordinator. Kellen Moore has been hauled over from the Los Angeles Chargers and if there is one thing Kellen Moore likes to focus on, it’s the passing game. While Brown has solidified his alpha role as the team’s primary receiver, DeVonta Smith will likely get matchups with number two cornerbacks as Brown will likely get double-teamed. Smith had over 1,000 receiving yards with under 90 receptions. The Eagles’ strength of schedule for wide receivers is not exactly the easiest this year, ranking as the fifth-toughest for wideouts. This could potentially open up the lane for DeVonta Smith to get more volume this year and stretch those numbers a bit farther.
Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle is in a similar situation as Devonta Smith. Competing against extremely tough defenses this year leaving the Miami Dolphins with the sixth toughest schedule for wide receivers this year. Waddle is also the number two wide receiver on the Dolphins depth chart. Let’s not forget that Miami lost quite a few key players from their defense. The number of starters that are no longer on the team can be troublesome for a team that was in the playoffs last year. They have lost multiple players to free agency including four important defensive starters. These kinds of situations can allow a defense not to click right away, allowing points to be scored by the opposing team, hence, creating a shootout. Tua Tagovailoa is not a player to shy away from throwing the ball, as the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins led the NFL in passing yards in the 2023 season. Creating situations that would make him throw the ball more, should only create more opportunities for Waddle. He had over 1,000 yards with just under 75 receptions. Imagine what he could do with more targets!
Diontae Johnson
The Carolina Panthers made an interesting trade this offseason, acquiring Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Panthers are on a mission this year as they try to find more weapons for their young, new quarterback Bryce Young. Last year’s learning curve is now under the belt and the firepower that Carolina has for their franchise quarterback is quite impressive. Johnson has shown that he can play with the best of them, when healthy, beating some of the most competitive cornerbacks in the NFL at times, to prove his dominance. This is a perfect match for a team trying to get the offense rolling and their quarterback adjusting to the game. Bringing in a veteran presence such as Johnson and Adam Thielen, should be more than enough reason to expect bigger numbers from Diontae this year. Not to mention that the Carolina Panthers have the easiest wide receiver schedule in the league! Being the wide receiver one on the Carolina Panthers depth chart should give Diontae plenty of opportunity to prove his presence in fantasy football leagues this year.
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