Fantasy Football: Veteran Buys For Contending Teams – WR and TE Edition

In my last article I gave you a few names at the QB and RB position to buy for your contending fantasy football. This week we are going to look at the pass-catching positions – WR and TE. Now, of course you can go spend your first round pick or multiple first round picks and get more productive names, but the idea behind these two articles is to get the best bang for your buck!

The offseason is the time to build up depth for when injuries and bye weeks pile up. You don’t necessarily want to be giving away your first round draft picks without knowing where your team is going to be. I think it’s a good idea to save those first round picks for midseason once you know exactly where your team is. 

There is no cheaper time to go after veterans than the offseason. If you are in contention you are better off using your late round picks to acquire unwanted veterans than throwing darts. Let someone else do the dart throwing, while you get a proven talent on your team. 

I just want to start off by saying Brandin Cooks is the most underrated player ever and if you can acquire him for a second round pick go and do that right now. Also, Hunter Renfrow is another name to look for in full PPR leagues, if you can get him for a single second do it! These are two guys I love and have written or tweeted about a lot, so let’s look into some other names. 

Veteran WRs

Robert Woods

Cooper Kupp established himself as Stafford’s favorite target, but Woods was still the WR11 through the first nine weeks before his season ending injury. He averaged 12.7 points per game and gave you a safe floor most games. That’s what Woods has done since 2018; provided you a safe floor. I don’t expect that to change on a new team. 

Woods finds himself on a new team and looks to be back on track for Week 1. The Titans acquired him for peanuts and it might work out nicely for him in fantasy football. The Titans shipped off A.J. Brown then drafted Treylon Burks to replace him. Burks was in and out of mini camp with asthma issues and had trouble with his conditioning during the pre-draft process.  

If Woods is fully healthy by the start of the year, I expect him to be the main target. It is possible Burks will take over the role at some point. However, looking back to 2020, Ryan Tannehill supported both A.J. Brown and Corey Davis to top-36 finishes. Brown (11th) averaged 15.2 points, while Davis (31st) averaged 11.4. If the Titans offense can find some of the 2020 magic, there is no reason both Burks and Woods can’t be productive. 

Woods is 30 years old and coming off a serious injury. There is some risk in acquiring him, but his price right now according to KTC is around a late second. If that’s all it is going to cost you to grab him then go and get that deal done.  He is a perfect WR3 for contending teams.

Allen Lazard

From Weeks 14-18 last year, Lazard was the WR7 in fantasy football, averaging 14.5 points per game. He scored 8 TDs on only 60 targets. I expect him to be the lead dog with Adams gone; so what can he do with more targets? The big question is can he still be as productive while facing teams top corners now?

Small sample size, but Week 3 in 2020 with Adams out of the lineup Lazard scored 23.4 points. Then in 2019 as a sophomore from Weeks 6 through 8, he scored 1 TD and averaged 9 points per game while sharing the targets with MVS. 

Lazard is currently 26 years old and is only signed to a one year contract. Rodgers isn’t going to be around forever, but early this month talked highly of Lazard. He said he looks forward to him getting the opportunity to prove himself as the WR1.

There isn’t much competition standing in his way either. The depth chart is Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randell Cobb, 2nd round rookie Christian Watson, and last year’s 3rd round pick Amari Rodgers. 

Lazard’s price is slowly rising, but he can still be had cheap enough. I expect it to continue to rise as we get closer to the start of the season, so now might be the time to pounce. 

Earlier this month he was going for an early third according to KTC, but he is now priced around a late 2nd. Just like Woods, this is a no-brainer for someone who could have a large target share and his targets are coming from Aaron Rodgers! Even if you have to throw a bit more to make it happen don’t hesitate. 

Kenny Golladay 

Alright, I might lose you all with this one, but hear me out, ok! Golladay is going into year two of his four year contract. Last year was a train wreck for both Golladay and the Giants. He missed four games and even when he played, he only caught 37 of his 76 targets.

According to PlayerProfiler, only 49 of his targets were deemed catchable. He had nine red zone targets and only one completion, with zero TDs on the year. That’s not the production you want from someone you are paying 18 million a year. 

Golladay hasn’t had a productive season since 2019, when he was the WR6 in fantasy football, averaging 13.5 points per game. That year he only played eight games with Stafford, the rest were with the backups. In 2018 he finished as the WR21. Then in 2020 he had four healthy games where he averaged 14 points per game, but missed the first two games and the last 10. 

So what makes 2022 different? The answer is hopefully Brian Daboll. What if Daboll can work miracles? Josh Allen looked rough in year one with the Bills. Now after working with Daboll he is arguably the best QB in the league, fantasy-wise at least. I am not saying Daniel Jones can become Allen, but he can’t be worse than last year right? 

Kenny Golladay was paid to be the WR1 on the Giants. I know it was a different coaching staff, but Kadarius Toney and Wan’dale Robinson aren’t built to be the main guy. If Golladay can stay healthy, which is a big if, he should be heavily involved in an offense that should improve under a new coach.

Do I think he can replicate his 2019 year and be a top-10 WR, I certainly do not. I do think he can bounce back and become high-end WR3, with WR2 upside. Those players are valuable depth pieces for contending teams, especially for the price you can get him for.

I saw all over Twitter this offseason that people couldn’t even sell him for a single third. If you are in one of those leagues, do yourself a favor and go offer a 3rd for Golladay right now. Heck, try a 4th first and see if you can get it done. You can’t go wrong here, even if it doesn’t pan out you paid basically nothing. 

Jamison Crowder or Isaiah Mckenzie

This is a camp battle I am paying close attention to, you should be as well. Cole Beasley wasn’t anything special, but he provided fantasy football managers with a safe floor in PPR leagues. Two of his three years with the Bills he finished inside the top-36 WRs in those leagues. Even last year he finished as the WR40, while averaging 10 points per game. One of these two gentlemen will fill in the slot role for the pass-happy Bills. That means they will become fantasy relevant and be someone you can plug into your lineup on bye weeks.

Crowder’s last healthy season was 2019 when he finished as the WR26, averaging 12.4 points per game. In 2020 despite playing in only 12 games, he averaged 14.3 points per game and managed to still finish as the WR39. 

I personally want to see Mckenzie win this job. He has shown well when given the chance. Over the last two years he’s started as the slot WR for two games, and both resulted in fantastic production. Last year against the Patriots in Week 16 he had 11 receptions for 125 yards and 1 TD. Back in 2020 he had a similar game in Week 17 against the Dolphins. His stat line for that game was 6 receptions for 65 yards and 2 TDs. He also provides bonus points if your league offers points for return yards.

Crowder has the resume, but Mckenzie has the advantage of knowing the offense already. Both are signed to similar money, but Mckenzie was given a two year contract. Look to see if Mckenzie is on your waivers and add him if you can. Crowder is probably going to cost you a late 3rd, while Mckenzie you can probably pick up for a 4th.

Veteran TEs

Evan Engram  

I got some flack for having Engram as my TE18 in my recent fantasy football dynasty rankings. Whether you believe in him or not, the price is right to at least take a shot at him.

Between Weeks 5-10 Dan Arnold averaged 7.6 targets per game and became one of Lawrence’s favorite targets before he got hurt. During that span Arnold averaged 8.2 points per game without scoring a TD. Lawrence showed his willingness to throw to the TE.

Now, in comes Doug Pederson who knows how to utilize the TE. He coached Zach Ertz to four top-6 fantasy football finishes. Also, notice how Pederson went and paid Evan Engram 10 million dollars! That is a lot of money and I expect him to be heavily involved in this offense. 

Engram has a chance to be one of the top two targets for this team. Christian Kirk was paid big money, but after that it’s Zay Jones, Laviska Shenault, and Marvin Jones. Travis Etienne will get his share out of the backfield, but Kirk and Engram were paid to lead this team. 

Engram is practically free right now. Go offer your third round pick. He is going to give you a safe floor in PPR leagues. I believe he could jump into the top ten if this offence can take a step forward in Lawrence’s sophomore season. 

Gerald Everett 

Everett didn’t live up to the hype last offseason after signing with the Seahawks. However, he gets another chance to prove himself after signing a two year deal with the Chargers. If the 34-year old Jared Cook can be a top-15 TE in this offense last year, I expect the younger and more athletic Everett can potentially be a top-12. 

His price is dirt cheap; according to KTC a late third can get the deal done. I don’t know about you, but I want pieces of every AFC West team. Those division games are going to bring shootouts and that produces fantasy points. Go and inquire about Everett at least as a depth piece. 

Logan Thomas 

Last year he averaged 8.9 points per game in Half-PPR scoring in his five healthy games. If he was able to maintain that pace over seventeen games he would have finished inside the top-10. 

Greg Olsen had two productive years during his thirties in Ron Rivera’s system, so Thomas could be a safe option. He will be 31 before the season begins, but does have three years left on his contract. 

The Commanders have brought in more competition since Thomas’ blew up in 2020, hence why his targets went from 6.9 per game to 4.1 in 2021 while healthy. Hopefully the QB upgrade can lead to more opportunities for him.

It’s criminal how cheap you can acquire Thomas for right now. If you need a depth piece or even a starter go send a fourth rounder to the owner. If that doesn’t work, then try a 3rd and 4th round swap. 

Cameron Brate 

With Rob Gronkowski announcing his retirement Tuesday afternoon, Brate becomes the next man up. Brate won’t  command the target share that Gronk did. However, he can be a productive safe option with Brady at the helm.

From 2016 to 2018, Brate had seasons with eight, six, and six TDs. In 2016 he finished as the TE7, then in 2017 he was the TE9 in fantasy football. He’s a forgotten name in the industry, but I believe he can make some noise this year again.

Do yourself a favor and check your waiver wires – he’s going to be a popular name. His price will rise as the news spreads. He is 30 years old and hasn’t been fantasy relevant for four years. Go offer a 3rd to any manager and they will likely accept. 

I wish you all the best with your fantasy football seasons. Remember that giving up your first round picks right now could be rough. Even if your team is in great shape today, anything can happen tomorrow. Instead, pivot to some cheaper options now and then strike later when you know where you stand.