The WR Pool in PPR and Half-PPR leagues may be the most-coveted group to look at as your season draws near. Who is going to be getting all the looks? Who's making the grabs? But most importantly... who's getting that TD pass? We've got quite a few guys who can make a case for #1... and even more you could log in the Top-10. Let's see who made the cut!
A.J. Brown - Philadelphia Eagles 16 Games | 256.1pts | 16.01VpGP | 100% Start | 0.74RelVal A.J. Brown had one of the most prolific years of his career after moving from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s all it took - Brown saw his production nearly double in the change of scenery. Of the WR’s who played more than 75% of the games last season, Brown only trailed Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Justin Jefferson with his impressive 0.74RV… and it’s just beginning. The Eagles are heading into another exciting year as the favorites in the NFC East. You could say they “revamped their backfield” by acquiring DeAndre Swift from the Lions, but it wasn’t really much of an upgrade from Miles Sanders - who finished as RB11 in the AJFFL last season (compared to Swift, who was projected to be a Top10 guy but finished RB28). Regardless, it should open the door for Brown to become more of the Deep Threat WR that he was in college. Expect Brown to be going in the 1st Round this fall.
Davante Adams - Las Vegas Raiders 16 Games | 290.2pts | 18.14VpGP | 100% Start | 0.84RelVal Davante Adams was excited to be a part of something new in Vegas with his former college quarterback Derek Carr - but that was short-lived unfortunately. Carr is now a part of the New Orleans Saints, but Adams shouldn't be worried. His output last season was stellar, no matter who was throwing the ball to him. Last season, it was really Adams or Josh Jacobs getting the call for the Raiders. It wasn't bad for their fantasy production, but it hopefully isn't the same story this year. Hunter Renfrow is back to WR3 on the depth chart as Jakobi Meyers came over from New England. Darren Waller was dealt to the Giants, but Austin Hooper is signed to fill the void. The Raiders seem to have done the right things to get Adams less attention on passing plays, but only time will tell in the deployment of those guys. Adams will finish a Top-5 WR once again. Get him while you can!
Ja'Marr Chase - Cincinnatti Bengals 12 Games | 205.1pts | 17.09VpGP | 75% Start | 0.79RelVal Ja'Marr Chase wasn't able to start every game for the Bengals last year, but he made his presence known when he was out there. His 0.79RelVal was still a Top-5 WR, so his performances were still hitting. He's young still too, so if you haven't scooped him up in any Dynasty/Keeper formats, you're missing out. The Bengals are going to be in a tight race for the AFC-North against the Ravens, but if they can get the routine performances Chase has been able to handle in the past, they should be a Top-5 offense once again this year.
Tyreek Hill - Miami Dolphins 16 Games | 298.5pts | 18.66VpGP | 100% Start | 0.86RelVal Cheetah is a big BOOM or BUST guy - the thing is... he doesn't bust very often. Last year, he only fell below the 10pt production mark TWICE all season long. As WR2, Hill has found a new home it seems with QB Tua Tagolvailoa in Miami. Jaylen Waddle as a complimentary 1-2 punch in the WR room makes them one of the most exciting teams to watch this year once again. That being said... Tua's health is a big concern for Hill's output - not to mention some alleged off-field incidents this past summer. Could it impact Hill's overall impact? If he misses time, then yes. Otherwise - green light the fastest man in the NFL for another big year.
Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings 16 Games | 310.86pts | 19.43VpGP | 100% Start | 0.90RelVal JJettas at the WR1 mark isn't a surprise anymore - he's THAT GUY. Jefferson has taken the NFC North by storm and is a lights-out WR. His 19.43VpGP is the second-highest WR output in AJFFL history - behind Cooper Kupp's monstrous season in 2021. There have been two major changes since the beginning of last season on the Vikings though... Dalvin Cook appears to be gone to the open market, and they are expected to sign T.J. Hockenson to a long-term, big money contract before the season begins. Add that in with 1st Rd Pick Jordan Addison, and Kirk Cousins has options to throw the ball downfield now... if he decides to throw it. Last season in 2022, Cousins had a 14% completion rate for throws going 20yds or further in the air... but was on-target 52% of the time. How much was on him, and how much was on his receivers? Maybe this year will be the year we really see who Kirk Cousins really is.
Stefon Diggs - Buffalo Bills 16 Games | 274.9pts | 17.18VpGP | 100% Start | 0.79RelVal Diggs is on the edge of bursting. He's had stellar seasons dating back to his time in Minnesota, and now his contract is about to balloon and put the Bills in a bad spot cap-wise. Still, he's the kind of guy you want on your team when it comes to superstar power. He makes plays he has no business making, and that's why some people reach for him in their fantasy drafts year after year. Diggs has the ability to be the league MVP, but his frustrations reside with the play-calling rather than Josh Allen. He wants the ball. He wants to win. And this may be his last crack at it in Buffalo as a Bill. Expect big things.
CeeDee Lamb - Dallas Cowboys 16 Games | 234.8pts | 14.68VpGP | 100% Start | 0.86RelVal CeeDee Lamb has been slowly climbing the ranks as one of the most reliable WR's in the NFL. Over the past few seasons, he's been getting a good mix of Dak Prescott and Cooper "Big Red" Rush. And he's been doing great while on the other end of those passes. Lamb has proven his consistency and ability to be a must-start in just about every scenario fantasy-related. Dak is about to head into a contract year... well, he has a potential out after this year. Otherwise, Prescott (like Diggs) will have an absurd cap-hit ($59.5mil) next year. So I'd expect both Lamb and Prescott to be at their best this fall.
Cooper Kupp - Los Angeles Rams 9 Games | 168.0pts | 18.67VpGP | 56.3% Start | 0.86RelVal Cooper Kupp shocked the world with his 2021 WR1 performance, and we coudln't wait to see how his 2022 would unfold. Unfortunately, his season was cut short - along with his QB Matthew Stafford. As they gear up to make what could be Stafford's final run as an NFL QB, has Los Angeles done enough to make up for what they lost when they traded FOR Stafford? The Rams not only lost out on a young QB, but three key draft picks that could have changed the way they approached their team restructuring. Was it worth it for the rings? The players will say yes. Kupp can be a top-tier WR for this team, but he may be one of the only guys catching passes out there. Much like Megatron with the Lions, you can expect him to put up some respectable numbers this year - even if he's the only one downfield. Don't expect an MVP finish though.
Jaylen Waddle - Miami Dolphins 16 Games | 225.9pts | 14.12VpGP | 100% Start | 0.65RelVal Jaylen Waddle put together a great year alongside one of the fastest people in the game, and he's getting ready to do it again. As long as Hill is dancing his way to the end zone, Waddle will be putting up numbers very similar. Waddle stock is high - I shouldn't need to say much more.
DK Metcalf - Seattle Seahawks 16 Games | 182.3pts | 11.38VpGP | 100% Start | 0.52RelVal DK Metcalf had a surprisingly slow year for how much noise his QB was making. Part of it was probably because the ball was getting spread around the formation a lot more - and by that I mean given to the RB's. Kenneth Walker III bursting onto the scene may have hindered Metcalf's targets, but it didn't slow down is effectiveness. If it comes DK's way, expect him to come down with it. Geno Smith is preparing to step into his second full-season as QB in Seattle, and you can expect an up-tick in plays and experiments by this seasoned offensive group. Metcalf has the ability to be a Top10 WR this year once again as a result.
Honorable Mentions:
Amari Cooper (CLE), DeVonta Smith (PHI), Brandon Aiyuk (SF), Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), Allen Lazard (NYJ)
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