Fantasy Football 2020: PPR wide receiver rankings (26-50)

Tier 6

This range is for breakout candidates and week-to-week flex options. A would bet there’s a few

WR2s that come from this tier by the end of the year, but most will be WR3s/WR4s. At this point in the draft, targeting the players with upside over the ones without gets very important.

Projections: 15 games, 121 targets, 78 receptions, 858 yards, 5 TDs, 198.8 Fantasy Points

Julian Edelman is 34, has had health issues throughout his career, and lost Tom Brady in the offseason. However, he’s received over 9 targets per game for the past 6 seasons and as of now, he’s the target hog the Patriots will need this year.  He should be a solid flex player when healthy, but don’t count on him to win you your league, as the offense should see major regression this year.

Projections: 15 games, 90 targets, 61 receptions, 854 receiving yards, 5 TDs, 130 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 195.4 Fantasy Points

Deebo Samuel is doubtful not play Week 1 due to a broken foot that he suffered last week during a throwing session. This is very unfortunate for the promising young receiver who showed very useful to the 49ers his rookie season. There’s not a ton of room for targets in the 49ers offense, but there’s enough for Deebo to break into WR2 territory on a points per game basis if everything goes right.

Projections:  117 targets, 74 receptions, 851 yards, 5 TDs, 195.1 Fantasy Points

I think Christian Kirk should benefit from Deandre Hopkins entering the offense, which is a move that could make the Cardinals offense elite. Kenyan Drake and Hopkins will take defensive attention away from Kirk, who should develop alongside Kyler Murray and put up numbers this season. My only concern is that Kirk hasn’t been particularly efficient with his touches, posting a career catch rate of 63.1%, only 11.7 yards/reception, and only 6 career touchdowns in his first two seasons.

Projections: 105 targets, 68 receptions, 877 yards, 6 TDs, 190.2 Fantasy Points

Diontae Johnson received 92 targets on the team with the 4th-fewest offensive plays in 2019, and did it while being a rookie. If Big Ben’s arm is healthy, this offense will be elevated to a top-ten unit and will certainly give Johnson more targets than last year. If he shakes James Washington as a rival to his no. 2 status, he could blow up for a WR2 season. He’s definitely worth a flyer.

Projections: 112 targets, 67 receptions, 972 yards, 5 TDs, 194.2 Fantasy Points

Marvin Jones has quietly averaged a 110 target 16-game pace for the past 4 seasons and that shouldn’t be ignored. Unfortunately, he lacks any kind of upside, as his only season above WR28 was in 2017, when he received little competition for targets. He should be a solid contributor for the Lions and for bye week fill-ins or last resort flex plays in someone’s lineup. Not mine, but someone’s.

Projections: 108 targets, 73 receptions, 861 yards, 5 TDs, 193.1 Fantasy Points

Sterling Shepard is in a difficult situation, with Evan Engram, Golden Tate, Darius Slayton, and Saquon Barkley all primed to receive 80+ targets. Shepard had the second highest targets/game last year on the Giants with 8.3, behind Engram’s 8.5, so he’s projected as their #1 wide receiver… for now. It’s hard to see many games in which you can expect Shepard to go off and have a great week, as the Giants could spread the ball around and/or rely on a different receiver every week.

Projections: 14 games, 90 targets, 56 receptions, 40 yards, 6 TDs, 176 Fantasy Points

Will Fuller has averaged 11 games per season in his 4-year career, but on average in the past 3 seasons, he scores a touchdown every other game. Even with that high touchdown rate, he’s only averaged 12.6 points per game in that span, which would have been 31st among wide receivers last year. With Deandre Hopkins replaced by Brandin Cooks, Fuller’s role should expand, but will remain both an extremely boom-bust player and extremely injury-prone. The chance that you will regret drafting him is much higher than the chance that his potential pans out.

Projections: 102 targets, 63 receptions, 926 yards, 5 TDs, 186.3 Fantasy Points

The acquisition of Stefon Diggs kills John Brown’s value for me. I don’t think Allen can support two fantasy-relevant wide receivers with the type of volume the passing game will get. His lack of upside makes him a boring draft pick with how little value he brings. He’s a bye week fill-in in deeper leagues.

Tier 7

In deeper leagues, these guys could all be solid options for your team. In smaller leagues, they could be dropped by Week 3. I wouldn’t get too attached to these guys. In general, look for upside here, because it doesn’t really matter if you drop your WR4 after he doesn’t pan out as much as someone on the waiver wire.

Projections: 110 targets, 62 receptions, 837 yards, 6 TDs, 181.7 Fantasy Points

Last year, undrafted rookie Preston Williams showed he could play before tearing his ACL in Week 9. If you haven’t seen him, you need to watch his highlight reel; he is an athletic monster. He also had more targets (60) than DeVante Parker (52) before his injury. They should be an impressive duo next season with an improving Dolphins offense that will need to pass the ball to stay in games. If they feed him targets this year, you have a great wide receiver on your team with low-end WR2 potential.

Projections: 110 targets, 70 receptions, 749 yards, 6 TDs, 180.9 Fantasy Points

It’s usually a good rule to stay away from bad offenses in the draft, and that’s what the Jets will be again this year. Some bad offenses have a stud receiver that dominates his team’s target share such as Allen Robinson or Terry McLaurin. Jamison Crowder was that guy for the Jets last year, receiving 122 targets, but he’s not exactly a stud wide receiver, only finishing as the WR26 even while playing all 16 games. I believe that was his ceiling, and new additions Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims will take away enough of Crowder’s target share to make him a WR4.

Projections: 100 targets, 62 receptions, 806 yards, 5 TDs, 172.6 Fantasy Points

Anthony Miller disappointed in 2019, finishing as the WR56 despite playing in 16 games. This performance should be attributed to how bad Mitch Trubisky and the Bears offense were, but how much better will they be this year? With Taylor Gabriel gone, Miller should receive more targets, but don’t expect a major breakout under Nick Foles. He has WR3 potential, and is very droppable at his price if he doesn’t get the targets.

Projections: 104 targets, 62 receptions, 806 yards, 6 TDs, 179.4 Fantasy Points

In the crowded Giants receiving core, Golden Tate is the least enticing option. While I’m projecting him to finish better than Darius Slayton, Slayton’s career hasn’t peaked yet. Tate will be a flex option at best this year, and that’s not exciting enough for me to target him.

Projections: 93 targets, 54 receptions, 864 yards, 5 TDs, 170.4 Fantasy Points

The Raiders showed their commitment to Henry Ruggs by taking him 12th overall in the draft, over other stud receivers such as CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. Clearly brought in to shore up their weak receiving core, he should be their second target behind Darren Waller. He is the most talented receiver on the team and is in a great situation He’s definitely worth a late-round flyer.

Projections: 95 targets, 56 receptions, 896 yards, 4 TDs, 169.6 Fantasy Points

Mike Williams was the WR41 last year. This year, he is without gunslinger Phillip Rivers. Williams averaged 20.2 yards/reception last year, the most in the NFL, indicative of regression. Tyrod Taylor won’t throw it deep nearly as much, leaving Williams out to dry in an offense not suited for his skill set. I would avoid drafting WIlliams this year, as there is no way that he breaks out this year.

Projections: 95 targets, 57 receptions, 798 yards, 5 TDs, 166.8 Fantasy Points

The 34th pick in the 2020 draft will have a chance to be the best rookie wide receiver for fantasy. He enters a Colts offense without an established no. 2 wideout behind T.Y. Hilton, and his biggest competitor is Parris Campbell, who had one game over 25 yards last year. Don’t be surprised if Michael Pittman Jr. is a WR3 this year.

Projections: 95 targets, 59 receptions, 675 yards, 4 TDs, 120 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 168.5 Fantasy Points

He’s not a popular breakout pick like he was last year, but he’s still on a team that will throw the ball a lot and can produce if given targets. His rushing usage increases his value over many others around him. While he will lose attention to Robby Anderson, Samuel was WR36 last year, which is easily within the realm of possibility this year.

Projections:  13 games, 78 targets, 44 receptions, 748 yards, 5 TDs, 151.8 Fantasy Points

Congrats to the Eagles for having the most ambiguous receiving core this year! DeSean Jackson is the top dog when he’s healthy, but that doesn’t happen too often. He’s only played 16 games twice in his twelve-year career, yet somehow hasn’t lost a step, producing 17.7 yards/reception in his three healthy games last year, and 18.9 Y/R in his 12 games in 2018. He’s worth a flyer because he puts up numbers while healthy and you can practically get him for free.

That’s gonna do it for the first edition of my 2020 wide receiver rankings. For the top 25, click here. Next up, running backs!