In fantasy football, no position has seen such a glow up over the last few years than the wide receiver position. Early rounds of drafts used to feature maybe a handful of elite wide receivers, one elite tight end and the rest would be all running backs.

 

 

 

However, with PPR formats becoming more of the rule than an exception, the NFL game itself has evolved to more of a downfield passing league. With the elite skill players coming from college football now playing wide receiver, we are starting to see more fantasy draft strategies taking on a wide receiver-heavy approach.

Fantasy Football ADP: 2024 Wide Receivers

As we dive into the wide receiver tiers regarding 2024 fantasy ADP, make sure you also check out the Dynamic Tier Fantasy WR Rankings and Target Totem Pole articles from Andrew Cooper as he gives a great look at the wide receiver position.

Before diving into my breakdown of the current fantasy football wide receiver tiers for the upcoming 2024 draft season, there is one important thing we need to address first...

What Does ADP Stand For In Fantasy Football?

We've previously dissected this topic in our Fantasy QB ADP article, but ADP in fantasy football means “Average Draft Position”. It serves as a valuable tool for fantasy enthusiasts, indicating where a player is typically selected in various drafts. This data is derived from both real and mock drafts, excluding computer-generated selections to maintain accuracy. 

Understanding ADP is crucial for draft preparation as it reveals a player's perceived value and the sentiments of fantasy football managers towards them. By grasping fantasy football ADP, you can gauge how other players evaluate certain individuals, aiding in making informed decisions and devising a solid draft strategy. 

Without further delay, here is my approach to analyzing the tiers in fantasy football WR rankings as we gear up for the 2024 draft season!

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 1 Wide Receivers

The talent in the first round is incredibly elite. CeeDee Lamb was the best wide receiver in football last season while Tyreek Hill led the league in receiving yards. It’s an obvious statement to say that they would be my top two choices if in a position to draft either player in the first round. 

In the second half of the first round, we see Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown and Puka Nacua. ARSB has gotten better every single year and how he plays his game sets him up to be incredibly consistent week-in-week-out. A.J. Brown last season went on a record run of six straight games with at least 120 receiving yards, which included three straight games over 130. What’s more impressive is the fact that, at times last season, he and Jalen Hurts didn’t seem 100% in sync with each other. He’s played a full 17-game season in both of his years with the Eagles, and he has nearly registered 1,500 yards both years. 

Now we get to Puka Nacua. He is my Round 1 fade. Nacua was taken in the fifth round last season and was immediately given the opportunity to replace the injured Cooper Kupp in the Rams offense and he exploded in that role from Day 1. He went on to set rookie records and finished with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six scores. So, why am I fading him? 

Well, I feel like there is a greater chance he fails to repeat last year's totals than meet or exceed them. At least for now, we should have a fully healthy Cooper Kupp to begin the season. There also needs to at least be some concern about Matthew Stafford's ability to stay healthy, something he has rarely done over the past half decade as he enters his age-36 season. Nacua can still have a good campaign, going over 1,000 yards, but without approaching the 1,300-1,400 range, he isn’t a first round talent. 

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 2 Wide Receivers

Round 2 is quite interesting because there aren’t a ton of receivers I personally am looking to draft. My favorites from this group are Garrett Wilson and Drake London. With Garrett Wilson, we will hopefully get a full season of Aaron Rodgers, who would be the best QB that Wilson has played with to date, which says something considering he has finished with over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first two years in the league. Rodgers should be able to elevate Wilson’s game just simply by being a better QB and putting the Jets offense in better positions to score points. 

After Wilson it’s Drake London for me. The Falcons went and signed Kirk Cousins in free agency and like Garrett Wilson, he’s never had a good quarterback. During his time with the Vikings, Cousins averaged nearly 4,300+ yards and 30+ touchdowns per season while helping Justin Jefferson become a star receiver. With many bullish on the Falcons offense this year with Cousins under center, it is hard not to like the man that should be his top wide receiver. 

As someone who is a big Kyler Murray truther this season, I will also be taking stabs with rookie receiver Marvin Harrison The league has been waiting a few years with anticipation for MHJ to come out of Ohio State as he has shown to be the best receiver in college and obviously has the genetic pedigree with his dad being Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison. MHJ has great hands, size and speed, which is why he was the fourth overall pick in the draft. He will immediately be the top receiver in Arizona, and it wouldn’t shock me to see him give us rookie numbers that the likes of Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. 

For my Round 2 fade, I’m looking at Nico Collins. This isn’t necessarily a hit on Collins’ ability, but the Texans brought in Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills and that is just naturally going to take away targets and opportunities from Collins.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 3 Wide Receivers

Round 3 offers up a few of my “core targets" at the wide receiver position this season and that is Mike Evans and Jaylen Waddle. I will also say that if either Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk get traded from San Francisco, I would immediately take the WR that remains with the 49ers in this category as well. 

With Mike Evans, everyone was ready for the down year with Baker Mayfield under center and instead we got one of his best seasons of his career as he hauled in 79 passes for 1,255 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns. We’ve now seen Evans be a top-end fantasy WR with the likes of Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield throwing him the football. The man is QB proof. 

With Waddle, all we need to do is look at his 2022 season to realize the man is being disrespected. His 2023 season was derailed by injuries. Yes, his game logs say he appeared in 14 games, but those that followed along know that he left a handful of those games with injuries, was very clearly limited at times and ultimately missed a few along the way as well. 

We can’t just ignore the fact that in a season where Tyreek Hill had 1,710 yards and 119 receptions, Waddle was a clear WR1 right alongside him and now you are getting him at a bit of a discount because of last season’s production. Tua Tagovailoa is likely going to challenge for the league lead in passing yards again this season and defenses will be so concerned with Tyreek Hill that Waddle is absolutely going to get his. 

For my fades, a common theme here is going to be the Bears receiving group. We have a rookie QB and a loaded new group of offensive weapons. Keenan Allen entering the fold along with Rome Odunze and a rookie QB has me worried about what the ceiling for Moore is going to be here

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 4 Wide Receivers

As we work our way day the list of fantasy football ADP, the tiers get a bit smaller. Unlike Nico Collins in Round 2, I’m much more comfortable taking Stefon Diggs here in Round 4. 

I don’t believe that the Texans would go out and acquire Diggs without the intention of featuring him as their top receiver in their offense. While some may view Diggs as on the decline, I’d argue that he would be rejuvenated in Houston, playing with an up-and-coming QB on a team looking to make noise in the AFC. A clearly-frustrated Diggs still finished with 107 catches for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns last season, which is more than good enough for a fourth round selection.

As for my fade of this tier, I go to a guy that has actually been a core target for me over the past few seasons in Amari Cooper. Cooper has been great in his two years with the Browns and last season he set a career high with 1,250 yards despite playing just 15 of 17 games. So, why the fade? Well, the QB situation is still iffy at best. The team brought in Jerry Jeudy and he himself is currently holding out for a new contract. Should he not report to camp, that would only set him back heading into the season.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 5 Wide Receivers

Round 5 has some nice upside plays as we look to see if George Pickens can take that next step in his development with the Steelers and new QB Russell Wilson. For me though, I’m looking at Zay Flowers. 

Flowers was as good as advertised during his rookie season, finishing with 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. The Ravens offensive play style can be somewhat limiting when it comes to receiver upside, but the role Flowers plays should keep him consistently involved as a top two target in this offense, and the 108 receptions he saw last season will likely be more of a floor than a ceiling. 

I also want to comment briefly on Malik Nabers. Obviously having Daniel Jones or Drew Lock as your QB is not great, but with the Giants moving on from Saquon Barkley, the offense is going to be more balanced and rely more on Daniel Jones or whomever is the QB to move the football. Nabers was the sixth overall pick and some even had him ahead of Marvin Harrison on their draft boards. If nothing else, he should be force fed the football, so the opportunities will be there. 

My fade here is Keenan Allen and it's for all of the same reasons I’m fading DJ Moore. We just do not know how this offense is going to look. Allen will be competing with Moore for targets, they have a rookie QB and Allen has to learn a new offense. Even though Round 5 would be a steal for Keenan Allen in past seasons, I’m letting someone else take the risk here this year.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 6 Wide Receivers

Round 6 has one of my top values in Terry McLaurin. The Commanders drafted Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick and unless the Commanders make a move for Brandon Auyik, then McLaurin is the top receiver in this new-look offense led by Kliff Kingsbury who wants to push the ball down field. 

With average-at-best QB play during his career, McLaurin has four straight 1,000-yard seasons with two years where he was just shy of 1,200-yards. My expectations here, again, assuming that Brandon Aiyuk isn’t acquired, is that what we’ve seen from McLaurin these past years will be closer to his floor than his ceiling with Daniels under center. 

I also am a big fan of Chris Godwin in this tier. While the Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator and a questionable offensive line, the move of Godwin back into the slot should set him up for a lot of easy targets from Baker Mayfield in this offense. 

For my fade, I go back to Houston. Dell is a great field stretcher, but I can’t see him being more than a WR3 on his own team with Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins demanding targets.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 7 Wide Receivers

This is an interesting round for wide receivers. We have two Titans receivers, two Chiefs receivers and Diontae Johnson with his new team in Carolina. My favorite of this group is Hollywood Brown. 

He joins the Chiefs in an effort to bring stability and a downfield presence that the team lost when Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins. With Rashee Rice, we do not know, though looking less and less likely, if he will suffer any sort of league discipline stemming from his offseason issues. I’m fine taking both Chiefs receivers in this range knowing that they are playing with the best QB of this group.

My fade is going to be Diontae Johnson. I understand that Adam Thielen had a great season for the Panthers last year, but there has been yet another turnover in Carolina when it comes to their offense. They drafted a receiver in the first round and Johnson has to learn a new offense and get on the same page with Bryce Young, who is coming off of a horrible rookie season. The downside just outweighs the upside for me here.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 8-10 Wide Receivers

As we get deeper into drafts, the 2024 fantasy ADP tiers extend a bit, so now looking at Rounds 8 through 10, we have a group that consists of rookies, potential breakouts and a veteran receiver in a bad spot. For my favorites in this group, I’m going with Christian Watson. 

This is one of those guys I just can’t quit on. There is too much to love about what could be with his skillset as a playmaker down the field in an offense that is on the up with Jordan Love under center. We’ve seen glimpses of Watson making impact plays, but injuries and drops have really slowed down his development. This offseason he put a lot of work into understanding his body so he can be prepared to play a full season. If this holds true, he could easily lead the Packers in receiving yards this year, and later in drafts, this is a guy I’m willing to target. 

My other favorite from this group is Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey. This offseason, the Chargers moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams which leaves Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston on the roster. While the offense is going to look a lot different, along with the offensive philosophy under Greg Roman, the Chargers will still throw the ball and they still have a good QB in Justin Herbert to throw it. I’m looking for McConkey to immediately step into the void left by Keenan Allen and be that go-to target for Herbert this season. 

For my fades, I have a trio of players here. First, Jordan Addison; he already has to compete with Justin Jefferson but knowing that Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy will be the QB has me completely off Addison this season. 

With Courtland Sutton, the QB position is just as bad on his team with the likes of rookie Bo Nix potentially starting right out of the gate, or we see either Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson under center. Either way, not great. 

Lastly, yes, another Bears receiver. Odunze was taken in the top 10 of the first round but he is behind Keenan Allen and DJ Moore on the depth chart and also has to learn a new system with a rookie QB.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Round 11-13 Wide Receivers

We are deep into the fantasy football ADP here with these WRs coming off the board as WR50-WR62. My favorites this late are Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed. 

Meyers was outstanding last season in Las Vegas as he played opposite Davante Adams in an offense that had a lot of average-to-below-average play at the QB position. Meyers proved to be an excellent route runner with the same sure handedness that was on display during his time with the Patriots. This offseason, the Raiders brought in Gardner Minshew, and it is looking like Minshew has the inside track for the starting gig. Defenses will still be doing what they can to keep Davante Adams from burning them, which allows for Meyers to settle into the softer coverage zone for Minshew to hit him. 

I also like Shaheed here this season. He is the clear number two receiver on this Saints roster, and we know he can make big plays down the field. Much like Meyers, opposing defenses are too concerned with Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara and that allows for the easier matchups for Shaheed to take advantage of. 

For my fades, we have a trio with Shakir, Jeudy and Davis. With Shakir, the Bills signed Curtis Samuel and drafted Keon Coleman. They also have Dalton Kincaid who is expected to maybe end up as the team’s leading receiver this season. That just doesn’t leave a lot of room for Shakir to be a consistent, week-to-week contributor. 

With Jerry Jeudy, he goes to a new offense with a questionable QB and, at best, is the number two receiver behind Amari Cooper, and with how productive David Njoku was towards the tail end of last season, we could see him utilized more. 

Gabe Davis should be a bit self-explanatory. We know what he is, and we know what he isn’t and what he isn’t is a week-to-week contributor that you can set in your lineup and trust. He is a home run hitter that will make some plays, but he is now on a new team and competing not just with Christian Kirk but first round pick Brian Thomas as well for targets.

WR ADP 2024 Tiers: Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets

From Round 14 on, we will change up how we break this down. We look for some late-round dart throws and depth pieces to help fill out your roster and maybe fill in as a flex or WR3 depending on how the season goes.

Here is a list of my favorite targets for the rest of the wide receiver depth:

2024 Fantasy Football: Related Draft Guide Articles

Don't hesitate to check out our other draft guide articles for more tips and advice to help you get ready for the upcoming 2024 fantasy football season: