As we roll up on the final two big draft weekends of the 2021 preseason, we’re wrapping up our positional roundtable series with a healthy serving of wide receivers (and a scoop of tight ends on the side). Contributing to this collaborative exercise are the usual suspects from The Athletic fantasy staff — Nando Di Fino, Jake Ciely, Michael Beller, Derek VanRiper (DVR) and Michael Salfino.
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Which receiver should you target in the wee hours of your draft? Which teammate receiving duo will post the most combined fantasy points this season? What will be Kyle Pitts’ rookie season stat line? Read on for our answers to these questions and much more!
Q. Which WR has had the most helium (rise) in your rankings from the beginning of the summer to present?
Funston: Darnell Mooney — I’ll be most excited when he’s finally paired with rookie Justin Fields’ arm talent, but we already know that the Bears don’t have a wide net of receiving targets, and his head coach has compared Mooney’s talents to that of Tyreek Hill and DeSean Jackson. Hyperbole? Perhaps, but it’s part of a stars-aligning offseason for Mooney (which includes the Anthony Miller trade) that has seen me vault his ranking from outside the Top 50 receivers to inside the Top 40.
Di Fino: Michael Gallup — I was kind of casting him aside and ignoring him early this draft season, figuring he was the WR3 in Dallas. But he’s just one season removed from 1,100 yards, he had all kinds of hype surrounding him before CeeDee Lamb showed up, he’s only 25, and he still managed 105 targets and 843 receiving yards last year with a mostly Dak-less QB rotation. I get that people view him as the clear No. 3, but it’s relatively close, stats-wise, between Gallup, Lamb and Cooper — he could end up with the most fantasy points of the three (I’m willing to admit that isn’t likely) but his 80-ish ADP doesn’t reflect that upside.
Ciely: Marquez Callaway — I’ve talked about how it’s far from a guarantee that Callaway is the Saints No. 1 receiver. However, how much does that matter? Tre’Quan Smith and Callaway will be the top two receivers with Jameis Winston, and that alone (being a starter) moves Callaway up.
Beller: Tee Higgins — A few guys could take this honor, but I’ll say Tee Higgins. I’ve come around on him as the No. 1 receiver in an offense that could easily lead the league in pass attempts, and let’s not forget that the person slinging those attempts is a potential star in the making.
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DVR: Darnell Mooney — I don’t have a lot of confidence in Andy Dalton in the early weeks of the season, but it’s a pretty skinny tree as far as pass-catchers go, so Mooney should be a clear-cut No. 2 option behind Allen Robinson and take a nice step forward in Year 2.
Salfino:Marquez Callaway
Q.Conversely, which WR has sunk like a lead balloonin your rankings from the beginning of the summer to present?
Funston: D.J. Chark — Between the “minor” hand surgery (that has cost him valuable chemistry-building time with rookie Trevor Lawrence) and Urban Meyer calling him out for basically being soft, I’ve dropped Chark from being the top-ranked Jags receiver to being my third-highest ranked Jags receiver (as you will see below).
Di Fino: EH— This is one of those Jake answers where I don’t have a direct answer. I apologize. But I haven’t really downgraded anyone. Even a guy like Cole Beasley, who has managed to complete a BINGO card of “holy sh*t what now??” this offseason is actually moving up my board a little because he’s being so undervalued, given 200+ targets the last two years.
Ciely: Jalen Reagor — I had Reagor inside the Top 40 as a prime post-hype slee… second-year player. With Quez Watkins emerging as the primary slot option, Zach Ertz still around to see time with Dallas Goedert on the field, and given Reagor’s own struggles, I had to temper expectations.
Beller: JuJu Smith-Schuster — Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are the vertical threats in the offense. Juju may out-target one, but he won’t out-target both, and Najee Harris is going to command major usage.
DVR: Tyler Boyd — In full PPR situations, he’s a nice floor player, but is it hard to envision a scenario in which he’s Joe Burrow’s third-favorite option in the Bengals’ passing attack by mid-season?
Salfino: Michael Thomas — He is undraftable in managed leagues with benches of five players or less.
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Q.Who is your favorite final-round WR target in half-PPR 12-team drafts?
Funston: Marquez Valdes-Scantling — I’ve bounced around a bit with Sterling Shepard and Jakobi Meyers among my prominent late targets. But I’ve been turning my attention to MVS lately, who you can land even later than the other two I mentioned. His strong second-half finish to 2020 (WR37) has been largely forgotten, and there’s been encouraging reports out of Green Bay camp that MVS is solidifying his standing as the No. 2 wideout opposite Davante Adams, and the clear top deep threat for this offense. Those who want to anoint Randall Cobb the second-best receiving option in Green Bay need to go back and look at Cobb’s final three seasons with the Packers from 2016-2018.
Di Fino: Donovan Peoples-Jones— Pretty much everything Zac Jackson has written this preseason from Browns camp has included some kind of praise for Peoples-Jones. I don’t know how he’s going to wedge his way into 100 targets, but I’m willing to take a leap of faith late based on all the good stuff Zac has seen.
Ciely: Stering Shepard — All the Sterling Shepard for me. I actually like Shepard more with Kenny Golladay on the field, but even if Golladay keeps standing on the sideline, the increased volume will offset potential lost efficiency playing outside more.
Beller: Tyrell Williams — To make things a little more precise, I’ll say we’re talking about a standard 16-round draft, which makes the final-round picks in the 181-192 overall range. Looking in that ADP range, it’s easy for me to get on board with Tyrell Williams. Someone’s going to catch 60+ passes in Detroit. Williams didn’t play last year, but he had floors of 41 catches, 651 yards and four touchdowns from 2016-19. Chris Burke, our Lions beat writer, expects Williams to be the team’s No. 1 receiver.
DVR: Emmanuel Sanders — Sanders has a 178.31 ADP in NFFC leagues since August 20, and those are full PPR drafts. I’m absolutely in at that price point, especially in an offense that should put a ton of points on the board again this season.
Salfino:KJ Hamler — He’s the poor man’s Mecole Hardman, going 10 rounds later.
Q. Which receiving teammate duo would you bet will produce the most combined half-PPR fantasy points this season?
Funston: DK Metcalf/Tyler Lockett — Don’t call me a homer, and don’t call it a reach. This would just be Metcalf and Lockett repeating as champions of this category, as they were the top fantasy duo last season.
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Di Fino: Mike Evans/Chris Godwin— I really do believe it’ll be the Seattle combo, but everyone said that (even Salfino!), so I’d like to remind people that Tampa Bay has Tom Brady, as old as he may be, in a Bruce Arians offense, throwing passes to two WR1s.
Ciely:CeeDee Lamb/Amari Cooper — This is an easy one for me — both Lamb and Cooper are WR1s.
Beller:CeeDee Lamb/Amari Cooper — Give me Lamb and Cooper narrowly over Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. If this were a bettable prop at a sportsbook, I’d love to see what kind of odds you could get on Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase winning this. But yeah, Lamb and Cooper are my Nos. 10 and 14 receivers, so I have to go with them.
DVR: CeeDee Lamb/Amari Cooper
Salfino:DK Metcalf/Tyler Lockett — You’re not going to let me count Kyle Pitts as a WR (to pair with Calvin Ridley), so Metcalf and Lockett because they are basically the entire Seattle passing tree.
Q.Rank these Jaguars and Dolphins receivers in order of expected 2021 fantasy value — Will Fuller, Marvin Jones, DeVante Parker, Laviska Shenault, Jaylen Waddle, D.J. Chark
Funston: Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, D.J. Chark, Jaylen Waddle
Di Fino: Laviska Shenault, Will Fuller, D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle
Ciely:Marvin Jones, Will Fuller, Laviska Shenault, D.J. Chark, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle
Beller: Marvin Jones, Will Fuller, Laviska Shenault, D.J. Chark, Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker —For what it’s worth, Jones and Fuller are the only ones I have in the Top 36 at the position.
DVR: D.J. Chark, DeVante Parker, Laviska Shenault, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Jones, Will Fuller
Salfino: D.J. Chark, DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, Jaylen Waddle — This quiz was so easy up until this question.
CONSENSUS: Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, D.J. Chark, Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle
Q.If you pass on tight ends until the end-game of a 12-team draft, who is the tight end you are hoping to land?
Funston: Tyler Higbee/Gerald Everett — Now that they aren’t cannibalizing teammates, I’m happy to take either one given the increased volume expectations — Higbee as a back-end TE1 pick, and Everett as an upside back-up.
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Di Fino: Evan Engram— He had 109 targets last year in a Jason Garrett offense — and Garrett oversaw most of Jason Witten’s big years. If Engram can control the drops, he can have a big year.
Ciely: Tyler Higbee — If I wait even later, then it’s Evan Engram (look at his 2020 numbers again, even with drops), then Gerald Everett.
Beller:Cole Kmet/Jonnu Smith — I expect both to play major roles in passing games where the receivers leave enough on the table for them to be consistent starters.
DVR: Jonnu Smith — Give me the $50 million man
Salfino: Dan Arnold — I’ve talked about Jared Cook but will go fresh this time with converted WRDan Arnold forTE-loving QB Sam Darnold.
Q.Predict Kyle Pitts’ 2021 final stats (receptions/receiving yards/TDs)
Funston: 69 catches/865 yards/6 TDs
Di Fino: 80 catches/1060 yards/5 TDS — Lots of yards on bulk receptions, but not a ton of TDs.
Ciely: 71.5 catches, 868.2 yards, 6.6 TDs
Beller: 70 catches, 900 yards, 5 TDs
DVR: 75 catches, 900 yards, 6 TDs
Salfino:73 catches, 1,070 yards, 9 TDs
PLAYER PICK ‘EM
Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk
- Higgins 6 votes; Aiyuk 0 votes
Salfino says: “Higgins because of expected passing volume.”
Beller says: “Higgins, based largely on the offenses in which they play.”
Elijah Moore or Rondale Moore
- Elijah 3 votes; Rondale 3 votes
Beller says: “Rondale all day. He’s tailor-made for this offense. My bet is he’s second on the team in all receiving stats behind DeAndre Hopkins.”
Salfino says: “Elijah easily. Rondale is the latest Tyreek Hill imposter. Stop looking for the next Hill!”
Jerry Jeudy or DeVonta Smith
- Jeudy 5 votes; Smith 1 vote
DiFino says: “I think Jeudy hits the next level this season”
Salfino says: “Jeudy by many miles.”
Beller says: “I love Smith and am going after him everywhere, but this is pretty comfortably Jeudy.”
Kenny Golladay or Courtland Sutton
- Golladay 3 votes; Sutton 3 votes
Salfino says: “Don’t like either of these guys now. Golladay is maybe too big to fail? “
Beller says: “Give me Sutton. I hate Golladay’s environment. Daniel Jones is a massive downgrade from Matthew Stafford. I know Golladay has succeeded with Jeff Driskel and David Blough in the past, but I think things could get ugly for the Giants.”
Ciely says: “Sutton — his knee issue sounds more precautionary than Golladay’s mysterious “can’t practice” status.”
DVR says: “Golladay, but what if the Broncos had a good QB? “
Di Fino says: “DVRRRRRRRRR!”
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Julio Jones or Adam Thielen
- Jones 5 votes; Thielen 1 vote
Funston says: “Thielen — It’s entirely a health concern thing for me regarding Julio.”
Salfino says: “Inner-circle HOFer Jones. Thielen is old, too, and the TD outburst last year was highly out of character.”
Beller says: “I’m not ending up with either at cost, but I’d rather have Julio.”
Tyler Higbee or Logan Thomas
- Higbee 0 votes; Thomas 6 votes
Salfino says: “Thomas easily.”
Beller says: “Logan Thomas, far and away. Higbee is still living on an anomalous five-game run that happened 20 months ago.”
Jonnu Smith or Irv Smith
- Jonnu 4 votes; Irv 2 votes
DiFino says: “Jonnu Smith was already a good fantasy TE, and now he heads to New England, where there’s most definitely a game plan involving him.”
Salfino says: “Neither. Irv I guess. I would never pay his ADP. Go big at TEor go home (lastround, waivers)”
Beller says: “Jonnu — It’s Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen in Minnesota, with everyone else left fighting for scraps.”
Q.Which four receivers would you put on a Mount Rushmore of the NFL’s all-time greatest receivers?
Funston: Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Steve Largent — When Steve Largent retired after the 1989 season, he held the NFL career receiving records hat trick — receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns. He was the most prolific receiver of the first 20-25 years of the NFL’s modern era.
Di Fino: Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson
Ciely:Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson
Beller:Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson — Rice, Moss and Owens should be unanimous. The Washington, Lincoln and TR of this question, in that they’re no-brainer selections. Although a Mount Rushmore built now would include FDR as a no-brainer. That’s not the point of this question, though. I gave the fourth spot to Calvin narrowly over Marvin Harrison.
DVR:Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson — Megatron was ridiculous, and the Lions ruin everything.
Salfino:Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, Randy Moss, Raymond Berry (founding father)
Q.Which four tight ends would you put on a Mount Rushmore of the NFL’s all-time greatest tight ends?
Funston: Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, Kellen Winslow Sr.
Di Fino: Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Shannon Sharpe, Mike Ditka
Ciely:Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe
Beller: Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates
DVR:Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten
Salfino:Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow Sr., Travis Kelce, Mike Ditka (founding father)
(Top photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
