What a year for free agent WRs! There is so much talent and a lot of fantasy football implications riding on a handful of these players. I’ll break down the top names in the wide receiver free agent class and give my thoughts on where they could land; and, what you should think about doing with these assets on your fantasy football dynasty squads.
I wanted to give realistic landing spots based on where teams stand with cap space as of right now, as well as the type of WR they might be looking for. Teams always seem to find ways to manipulate the cap and free up space, however I went with the knowledge I have right now according to Spotrac.
In my next article I’ll break down a few sleeper names from the free agent class.
*All points and rankings are based on Half-PPR fantasy football scoring.
Tried and True
Davante Adams
Three top-3 finishes in the last four years, including WR1 last year. He has been tied to one of the best QBs to ever play the game, but will that be the case next year?
Davante Adams just turned 29. His dynasty value peaked last year, and because of age it will slowly go down from here. However, he is still very valuable even if he and Rodgers don’t end up together. If you remember in the offseason, Rodgers and Adams posted the same instagram story, insinuating their last season in Green Bay.
I see two scenarios happening. Rodgers stays with the Packers and Adams is brought back, and they continue dominating. Or, Rodgers leaves and Adams goes to play with his college QB Derek Carr in Las Vegas. Raiders desperately need an alpha WR.
Carr helped Micheal Crabtree and Amari Cooper have productive years, and is no slouch of his own. I don’t see Adams’ production taking much of a hit in this scenario, but the time to sell him was during the season for peak value!
Chris Godwin
Unfortunately, whatever team signs Chris Godwin could potentailly start the year without him; as he suffered an ACL tear in Week 15 of the 2021 season.
Godwin was the fantasy football WR2 back in 2019, while only playing 14 games. He has dealt with injuries the last three seasons now. However, when he is on the field there is no doubting his talent and ability to help your fantasy football team.
On a crowded Bucs offense he was the WR8 in fantasy football this season before his injury, averaging 14.3 points per game.
As far as future potential teams go, the Colts make too much sense. They have plenty of cap space, and a QB they are already paying and need weapons for. Hilton and Pascal are both free agents, and Parris Campbell can’t stay healthy. Pittman can work downfield, while Godwin does his damage in the middle.
The injury shouldn’t scare fantasy football managers into selling a 25-year old stud WR. If there is any dip in his price because of it however, now is the time to pounce.
Allen Robinson
Was there a more disappointing player this year in fantasy football than Allen Robinson? I don’t think so. However, I don’t think it was a talent issue. I believe it was a heart issue. Robinson wants to be on a winning team and I don’t blame him. He has spent his whole career on poor teams.
Robinson has three years as a top-10 WR in fantasy football and only recently turned 28; which means this is a critical year for his dynasty value. There has been a big dip in his value and if you aren’t buying, the question is why not? When he signs with a new team the value will go up; and if he gets back into form, look out!
At this point, I wonder how much large a factor money is for Robinson in his next destination? The easy landing spot to me is the Kansas City Chiefs. They desperately need a reliable third option and Robinson wants a chance to win.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Laugh at me all you want for having JuJu in the same category as these other guys, but when healthy, the worst he has finished in fantasy football is as the WR22.
He hurt so many people in 2019 after many had him as a top dynasty asset. That wound still hasn’t healed for the majority of the people. Use that, and his injury, to buy him where you can!
JuJu is only 25 years old. He has three seasons as a top-24 WR in fantasy football and will find a new home this offseason.
I think the Buccaneers are a realistic landing spot for JuJu. They will be losing Godwin, and recently lost Antonio Brown. JuJu can fill the Godwin role and won’t cost nearly as much to sign. Mike Evans can do his thing, while JuJu can work the slot. Hopefully it is still Brady chucking it.
Odell Beckham Jr.
I considered putting Odell in the coin flip category with him turning 30 in November, and his time in Cleveland was uninspiring to say the least. The drama before and after his release from the Browns is a bit worrisome and gives off a little Antonio Brown vibe.
Does he have a few more productive years left in him? I believe so, but can he stay healthy and mentally motivated to produce for your fantasy football team?
I think with his performance to end the year, Beckham can safely be placed back in the circle of trust. From Weeks 12 through 18 he ranked 21st amongst WRs, averaging 10.2 points per game.
A lot of his production came through touchdowns, as he scored in five of the last seven games. However, I do think his yards and receptions should go up wherever he lands. The Rams signed him for a decent chunk of change, but the fact he joined a crowded WR group at the time shows his ambition to be on a winning team.
Based on history, the New England Patriots seem like a real possibility. Over the years we have seen a number of veterans make their way there. Was that the pull of playing with one of the greatest QBs of all time or the coach? They have the cap space and the team desperately needs an alpha WR for QB Mac Jones.
Right now his market value is around a mid second. At that price he needs to be a target for contending teams, even with the uncertainty of where he will sign. Of course a good playoff run can up this price, so I’d hold if selling!
Coin Flips
Mike Williams
I need to apologize, as Williams was one of my misses on the year. I told you all to hold after his tremendous start, thinking he could up his value more. Shortly after writing my article he disappeared for a five game stretch.
However, did you know Mike Williams still ended up as the WR10 in fantasy football? Ok, if we take out his massive Week 18, he finished as WR15 (12.4 points per game). That’s still higher than you expected, right?
He’s finished inside the top-24 twice in five years. The other three years were sadly outside the top-36.
If it’s not the Chargers signing him back, I believe the Dolphins make a lot of sense. The Will Fuller experiment didn’t work out. They need that big contested-catch WR to open things up for Waddle and Parker down the middle.
His market value in fantasy football dynasty leagues is around an early second. Like the category title says, it’s a coin flip! Will a team pay and utilize him the way Chargers did to start the year? If so, that early second would be well spent.
Williams will be 28 shortly after the year begins. His value likely peaked after the first five games this past year. However, if he comes out hot again with a new team there could be a good selling window. I know I won’t make the same mistake twice!
Will Fuller
Will Fuller has never finished the year as a top-24 WR. However, when we look at his points per game, the guy has played well. Last year, his 14.8 points per game pace would have likely put him inside the top-10. In 2018, he only played seven games, but averaged 12.9 points per game. Every other year he has averaged more than 10 points per game.
The talent has never been questioned, but his ability to stay healthy is his downfall. Besides his rookie year (14 games), he has never played more than 11 in a season. Of course, last year he tested positive for PEDs and was handed a six game suspension; serving five last year and one to begin this year.
Depending on where and if Deshaun Watson gets traded, Fuller could follow his QB. The Eagles are a team that could take a chance on Fuller, and I believe they’d love to trade for Watson!
Regardless of the Watson situation, the Eagles don’t have a ton of cap space to work with. They need help at the WR position. Fuller won’t be able to demand a big money contract, and would add a downfield threat to take some pressure off Devonta Smith.
Fuller’s fantasy football market value is dirt cheap; right around an early third round pick. That is worth a buy right now in my opinion. Go offer a third and fourth rounder to the Fuller manager and see if you can get the deal done!
Upside Youth
Christian Kirk
All Christian Kirk did this past year was quietly have a top-24 fantasy football season. Yes, he finished as the WR24, but he got the job done nonetheless, averaging 10.2 points per game. Nothing outstanding, but he only had five TDs on the year and two came in Week 1.
Last year he flashed between Weeks 4-9, where he averaged 16.1 points per game and was the WR7 during that stretch.
The Cardinals should look to retain him. However, if there is another team that could use him in the slot where he is most comfortable, it’s the Houston Texans. Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins on the outside would open up the middle for Kirk to do his work. Give Davis Mills the weapons he needs going into his sophomore year or make things more appealing to mend the relationship with Watson.
He is the cheapest top-24 WR on the fantasy football market right now. A mid second could get the deal done! Since he just turned 25, his prime years are still ahead of him. I don’t expect him to become the WR1 on any team, but I do think he can be a consistent WR3 in your fantasy football lineup for years to come. Those guys tend to have more value in our lineups than on the trade market.
D.J. Chark
In his sophomore season, DJ Chark finished the year as the WR14 in fantasy football, averaging 13.1 points per game. Last year’s production took a dip with the Jaguars QB carousel, as he averaged 9.8 points per game.
Health is a concern. He has never played a full slate of games, with 2019 being his highest total at 15. He missed all but three games last year with an ankle injury.
With the third most cap space going into the 2022 season, there is a chance the Jaguars could look for a higher priced WR to lead their group. However, it’s hard to say how desirable the landing spot is for the top guys. My guess is Chark is brought back into the fold and will work as the alpha in the offense.
Chark saw 24 targets over the first three games last year, scoring a touchdown in two. His fantasy football market value is slightly lower than Kirk’s. Second round picks can be a bit of a shot in the dark, so why not get a player just entering his prime at 25 years old, and not have to wait for the rookies to develop?
Micheal Gallup
Michael Gallup only has one season inside the top-36 WRs for fantasy football. In 2019 he finished as WR22, averaging 12.8 points per game in 14 games.
After three relatively healthy years, Gallup was hit hard this year. He missed eight games earlier in the year with a calf injury, and suffered a torn ACL in Week 17.
With the Cowboys cash strapped, Gallup will be on the move this offseason. The Detroit Lions come to mind as a team desperate for an outside WR. It would give the Lions an underrated WR core of Gallup, Cephus and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Would this be the best for his fantasy football production? Probably not, but it makes the most sense on paper and would free the Lions up to use draft capital on other holes.
Gallup had a chance to really up his fantasy football dynasty value. However, now many are now stashing him away on their IR’s for the offseason. It will be hit or miss whether he is ready for the start of next year. For the time being, his value has held right around an early second. This makes him the most expensive of this group, while also being the oldest of the three mentioned in this section. However, he is still worth the buy at that price!
Past Their Prime
T.Y. Hilton
Two of the last three years TY Hilton has dealt with injuries. Even in a relatively healthy 2020, he finished outside the top-36 WR in fantasy football for the first time in his career. What a great run for Hilton. He only just turned 32, which means when healthy he can flash a game or two here or there. However, his time in the sun is done. Thanks for all the great years Hilton!
A.J. Green
AJ Green was usable at times this past season. He had a nice stretch from Weeks 2 through 8 where he averaged 10.7 points per game and was the WR23 in fantasy football.
However, his last season as a consistent fantasy football producer was 2018 when he averaged 14 points per game, but that was only over nine games.
He has little dynasty value as he will be 34 before next season begins. Selling him this offseason won’t get you much; though of course it’s better to get something rather than nothing. If you have the roster space, hold and sell when he has a decent stretch next year.
Emmanuel Sanders
Much like Green, Emmanuel Sanders had a decent start to the year. From Weeks 1 through 6, Sanders averaged 13 points per game and was the WR16 in fantasy football.
He turns 35 in March and has dealt with two different injuries to end the year. If he doesn’t retire, I am certain he can still have a few meaningful games next year. However, don’t be scared to cut him if you need to.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.