We’re coming off a season in which Puka Nacua and Nico Collins each delivered WR1-level production at outrageously modest draft prices, so the viability of fantasy football sleepers at this position isn’t really an open question.
If you need more convincing on this subject… well, then chances are you’ll need to retake some lower-level classes at Fantasy U.
Just like last season, the receivers in this year’s league will likely be a group of players ages 25 and under who — in addition to their obvious talent — possess strong statistical metrics that suggest serious upside. Some of the top contenders are also clearly heading towards greater use, like this third-year burner…
Last year, one of the best ideas in football was a deep shot to Shaheed. These bids usually ended like this:
Shaheed has reached the end zone five times on attempts of 20-plus yards in 2023, capitalizing on 12 of his 21 chances. His passer rating when targeted for deep throws was 121.5, which was obviously among the highest in the NFL. This year, under new OC Klint Kubiak (formerly the Niners’ passing game coordinator), we can reasonably expect to see the usual deep shots for Shaheed, along with more quick-hitting opportunities from YAC.
Let’s remember that the only notable move New Orleans made at receiver in the offseason was releasing Michael Thomas. Otherwise, this team is commanding with Chris Olave, Shaheed, Alvin Kamara and AT Perry at the top of the receiving pecking order. No one should be surprised if Shaheed sees triple-digit targets and surpasses 1,000 yards next season. He’s been an unfair offensive weapon since the moment he first took to the field for the Saints.
If you gave the average NFL fan a hundred guesses, it’s very unlikely they could name the guy who led all receivers in passer rating when targeted. Shakir caught 39 of his 45 chances for 611 yards and two scores (and zero picks), resulting in an outrageous 133.6 rating when targeted. He had a relatively low ADOT (8.6) and a relatively high yards per reception average (15.7), so you can probably deduce that he ranked among the NFL leaders in YAC.
Here’s a ridiculous example of Shakir’s post-catch ability:
The offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis leave well over 200 targets up for grabs in Buffalo’s offense, many from which they must flow to Shakir. He has already established himself as one of the most efficient and effective receivers in the game and is now heading toward a potentially significant increase in workload. Shakir should be a mid-draft priority.
Even by the standards of a position that requires extreme athleticism, Thomas is like a lab-made mutant. He’s 6-foot-2 with 4.33 speed and 38.5-inch vertical, and all these characteristics jump out of the tape.
As we have previously discussed here, the elite attributes possessed by Thomas align perfectly with things that A) the Jaguars desperately need and B) Trevor Lawrence has always done well for. Thomas was a verifiable big-play machine at LSU, averaging 17.3 yards per reception as a junior while scoring 17 times, earning his first-round draft status. If he approaches his ceiling as a rookie, he could lead all first-year receivers in touchdowns.
Let’s try to imagine a version of the Chiefs offense where deep and intermediate pass attempts are actually caught:
Last season, Patrick Mahomes completed just 18 of 63 deep attempts, throwing one TD pass and six interceptions on balls that traveled more than 20 yards. It goes without saying that the best QB on Earth isn’t actually bad in completing deep shots. The big problem in 2023 was the gallery of rogue receivers KC was sending onto the field. So it wasn’t a huge shock that the Chiefs used their first-round pick on an outrageously fast start (4.21 speed) with a multi-year history of excellent college production.
We make no guarantees about Worthy, but there is simply no doubt that he possesses skills that we haven’t seen recently in KC and that the team desperately needs. This is the type of player that can tilt and reshape the field for every Chiefs skill player. If Worthy enters Mahomes’ circle of trust, he certainly has a chance to reach fantasy WR2 status.
For the record, we’re not promising you another Puka in this year’s rookie class, because there’s never been anything like that guy’s 2023 season.
But if we’re simply looking for second- and third-day receivers who have a clear shot at immediate fantasy relevance, Burton is clearly among the strongest candidates. He wasn’t necessarily a volume receiver at Alabama last year, but he made the most of his opportunities, averaging 20.5 yards per catch and making eight calls on 39 receptions. Burton has fantastic hands and obvious YAC ability:
The rookie is stepping into the No. 3 receiver role in a top-tier passing attack and should consistently find himself in favorable coverage situations alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Burton has a clear path to 90+ targets, a volume that would make him a near lock for weekly WR3/flex status.
