Wide receiver is once again the deepest position in fantasy football in 2021, with significant contributors and potential breakouts usually available late in drafts. To explain why, let’s just stick with the obvious reason — teams roll out anywhere between two and four receivers on any given play. We know, we know — “What’s next, you’re gonna tell you a pass-first league?” None of this is new or groundbreaking information, but it’s relevant when trying to pinpoint WR sleepers and draft steals who are too low in the rankings.
Mike Williams, Chargers
Think of Williams as a discount version of Kenny Golladay. He won’t catch a lot of balls, but he will deliver chunk plays that often produces good weeks. In 2019, he caught just 49 passes for 1,001 yards, averaging over 20 yards/reception (all career highs.) In ’20, he caught just one less pass for 250 fewer yards and put up 13.2-plus fantasy points four times, having lackluster outings otherwise. In ‘21 his ceiling is raised with year-two Justin Hebert. Rocket-armed QB plus aggressive deep-ball field-stretcher equals fantasy success, especially in standard formats.
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
Jeudy didn’t exactly make the immediate impact some had hoped for in his rookie season. Even without Courtland Sutton in the fold, Jeudy caught just 52 of 113 targets, producing 6.6 FPPG. Teddy Bridgewater is now QB1 in Denver, and Jeudy did draw a large number of targets last season where Bridgewater loves to throw the ball — the shallow to intermediate parts of the field. Even if Sutton returns healthy and ready to take over the No. 1 WR spot, any improvement in Broncos’ quarterback play could mean an uptick for Jeudy. There will still be plenty of targets to go around.
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
Like Jeudy, Pittman Jr. had quite the underwhelming rookie campaign. He was used primarily as an underneath target, with an average depth of target (aDOT) of 8.45 (lowest on the Colts). However, he is in prime position to be the No. 1 WR in Indianapolis. If Parris Campbell can stay healthy and take over the underneath role, the 6-4, 223-pound Pittman possesses the size to be an alpha receiver out wide. The last time Carson Wentz was adequately protected by his offensive line, he was in the thick of the MVP race. If Frank Reich pulls that Carson Wentz out, Pittman should see deep, accurate targets.
Gabriel Davis, Bills
Davis is the likely WR2 in a top-three offense, but Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley will have something to say about that. The good news is Josh Allen trusted Davis in 2020. He caught 35 balls on 52 targets for 599 yards and seven touchdowns acting as the Bills primary deep threat. Like the equation we learned with Mike Williams — rocket-armed QB plus aggressive deep-ball field-stretcher equals fantasy success — Davis could really break out this year. Of course, with all the mouths to feed in Buffalo, he could also be a total boom-or-bust play most weeks. Either way, he’s worth a late middle-round pick.
Henry Ruggs III, Raiders
No rookie receiver was more of a letdown than Ruggs III in 2020. It’s important to remember that players with first-round draft capital get plenty of time and patience, so he should still see opportunity. The hope is he’s not just “one of those fast guys.” You at least hope for those kinds of players to score loads of touchdowns, but Ruggs charted just two, with one seemingly being a Jets attempt at tanking. However, since he has the first-round draft capital, his price is low enough in fantasy drafts (WR49 ADP in PPR) that he’s worth a flier.
