Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets (2024 Fantasy Football)

Christian Williams analyzes which late-round wide receivers you should target in your redraft fantasy leagues.

The Zero Running Back strategy dominated fantasy football analysis for most of the 2020s, with the NFL’s devaluation of the position providing an opportunity for fantasy managers to seek value in late-round running backs with upside. It’s been a viable strategy for many years, and I can make a case for it again in 2024. Still, the allure of Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, and Breece Hall at the top of fantasy drafts should entice managers, making hitting on a late-round wide receiver or two more critical. Today, we’ll look at five late-round wideouts from the 10th round or later who can potentially provide value to your fantasy rosters this fall, aiding in your quest for a fantasy football championship.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 10th Round | WR49)

The first few weeks of training camp were unkind to Thomas. He failed to separate, disappeared into a cast of cast-offs, and didn’t look prepared for a large workload as the season crept closer. Then, the light bulb went off. Thomas began dominating in joint practices, consistently getting behind defenders, and showed off a route running prowess that was always present, albeit slightly inconsistent, on his 2023 college film. With the Jaguars desperately looking for reliable pass-catchers to complement Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, Thomas should play a vital role in the team’s offensive success. Inconsistent wideouts with drop problems have plagued Trevor Lawrence’s first few seasons, and Thomas could provide stability. There aren’t many wideouts with top-24 upside after Round 10 begins, but Thomas is precisely that. Stacking him with Lawrence late in drafts could be a lucrative strategy this year, despite my tempered projections.

2024 Projections: 10.7 PPG | WR46

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (ADP: 10th Round | WR50)

With Mack Hollins’ return to the lineup in Preseason Week 2, Shakir lined up strictly in 11-personnel out of the slot. Naturally, fantasy managers will panic, further depressing Shakir’s ADP as drafts kick-off. Still, the Keon Coleman showcase hasn’t exactly gone well, and it’d be shocking if he kept Shakir off the field when games count. Furthermore, I’m not sure it matters. Through two games - one with Josh Allen and one with Mitchell Trubisky - Shakir has played on just 19 snaps yet earned four targets. His 21% target per snap share ranks first on the team, and Allen targeted him on four of his five pass-play snaps against Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Many expect Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, or others to step into a prominent role after Stefon Diggs’s departure. Yet, signs indicate Shakir will receive the most considerable boost to his target share. Shakir’s ADP reflects value, and any panic regarding his role in heavy sets that further dampens his ADP will give cerebral fantasy managers a sizable advantage over their league mates.

2024 Projections: 12.1 PPG | WR37

Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (ADP: 14th Round | WR64)

The Packers’ wide receiver room is the most difficult to analyze and navigate this offseason. It’s a fortunate problem for Green Bay, as they have multiple players with cases to become the No. 1 option, giving Jordan Love enough weapons to take a significant step forward. Wicks is one of those options, with the 2023 film indicating he’s the most advanced player in a talented group of pass-catchers. The only remaining question is opportunity, and Wicks looks like a player who has earned more of it. Weekly consistency is unlikely with so many weapons at their disposal, but it’s difficult to find players with more boom upside late in drafts. If Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, or Christian Watson miss time, Wicks could become a mainstay in fantasy lineups. Even if they stay healthy, Wicks could (and should, if the film tells the truth) emerge as the No. 1 wideout in Green Bay.

2024 Projections: 9.3 PPG | WR55

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