by Kacey Kasem
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Wide receivers are so nice; I had to do this twice! Welcome to Week 1, Part 2 of The WR2 Radar, where I dive into wide receivers who may not be the top option on their teams or at the top of the weekly fantasy WR rankings but have the potential to post WR1 numbers this season. Week 1 offers opportunities for these players to step into the spotlight.
Three wide receivers are highlighted due to their favorable Week 1 matchups. These wideouts can outperform many WR1s in the league with the proper game script and situations.
I also look at five players worth keeping on your radar this season. These wide receivers may be overlooked in fantasy football, but they have the potential to break out as fantasy stars. All of these players are worth considering at Flex as well. Check out the Optimus Fantasy Rankings for more information on the best matchups this week. I hope you are as excited as I am for Week 1 to start—finally, we have football!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba @ Seattle Seahawks
One wide receiver with an excellent opportunity to make an impact in Week 1 is Seattle Seahawk Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He faces a Denver defense that allowed 19.59 fantasy points to wide receivers last season.
Denver was vulnerable to big plays last season, allowing 153.94 yards per game to WRs. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will make sure the ball gets to Smith-Njigba downfield.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as the Seahawks' 3rd target last season, accumulating 628 yards and 4 TDs.
Considering his rising role, I'd lean towards rostering Smith-Njigba over Lockett in fantasy football drafts.
Agree or disagree?pic.twitter.com/SVE1WM6ftk
— Moody (@EricNMoody) July 1, 2024
Wideout Tyler Lockett has been limited in practice with a thigh injury. Although he plans to play in Week 1, he should see a decreased workload if his injury still nags him.
And wideout D.K. Metcalf, the team’s No. 1, should be shadowed by Patrick Surtain. Smith-Njigba should see a more favorable matchup against Ja’Quan McMillan.
Coming off a rookie season with 63 catches for 628 yards and four scores, Smith-Njigba has the potential to post WR1 numbers in this juicy Week 1 matchup.
Jameson Williams vs. Los Angeles Rams
Another wide receiver with a promising matchup this week is the Detroit Lions’ Jameson Williams. He gets the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1.
Detroit’s WR2 was limited in his 2022 rookie season due to an ACL tear he experienced in his final college season. 2023 saw Williams suspended due to gambling. He looks to get things back on track with this Week 1 matchup.
Jameson Williams is so fast 😂 pic.twitter.com/Fh7KLYJfgZ
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 28, 2024
Williams is ready to take full advantage of the Detroit offense’s WR2 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. With Josh Reynolds departing for Denver in free agency, Williams’ role in the offense is set to expand. The third-year wideout’s speed will be displayed against a defense that struggled to limit explosive plays last year.
Reynolds logged 832 snaps last season with the Lions. Additionally, he had 40 catches for 608 yards and five scores. His departure opens the door for Williams to claim more targets.
The Rams gave up the eighth-most receptions of 20 or more yards and conceded 231.1 passing yards per game. Williams is in a favorable position to break off some big gains in what could be a high-scoring affair.
Romeo Doubs @ Philadelphia Eagles (in Brazil)
Romeo Doubs heads into Week 1 with a hand injury, but if he is active, he can confidently be slotted into your flex spot.
The Packers’ receiving room is crowded, but Doubs still stood out last season. He played in all 17 games last year, posting eight touchdowns. Doubs tied with Jaylen Reed for the most touchdowns on the team.
The Dallas Cowboys really had Jordan Love and Romeo Doubs looking like prime Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams last night! 🔥
— Matt FF Dynasty 🏈 (@MattFFDynasty) January 15, 2024
Last season, Doubs tallied 59 receptions for 674 yards. He proved he could be productive despite fighting for targets. Doubs obtained 15 end-zone targets in 2023, showing the team values him when in scoring position.
The Packers are facing the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener. This matchup is favorable, as the Eagles allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers last year.
Given this favorable matchup, Doubs could deliver a strong performance in Week 1 if he’s cleared to play, making him a solid flex option. And Dontayvion Wicks is another Packers WR to keep an eye on in this game, especially if Doubs were to miss time.
Players To Keep On Your Radar
These wide receivers are going to have a bigger year than expected. Consider these guys to be guys who could put up big games in the near future.
Jakobi Meyers: I already discussed Meyers in Part 1 of my Week 1 rundown. He’s gone over 800 yards receiving in his last three seasons.
Rashid Shaheed: He’s the Saints’ deep threat. Last season, he gained 75 targets, 46 receptions, and 719 yards. Additionally, he scored five times.
Jordan Addison: The No. 2 to Justin Jefferson‘s No. 1. He had 70 receptions for 911 yards and ten scores in his rookie campaign. He is dealing with an ankle injury and a potential suspension due to a DUI.
Mike Williams: Williams joins the Jets this season as a deep threat. Last season, Williams tore his ACL. He is playing in Week 1. When healthy, he put up two 1,000+ yard seasons with the Chargers.
Gabe Davis: First, he had four games in the top 12 for WR scoring in PPR leagues last season. Week 1 is not the best matchup for Davis, but he has been known to post spike weeks.
For more from Kacey Kasem, follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @thekaceykasem & find The WR2 Radar right here on Optimus Fantasy every week.
by Kacey Kasem
Share
Wide receivers are so nice; I had to do this twice! Welcome to Week 1, Part 2 of The WR2 Radar, where I dive into wide receivers who may not be the top option on their teams or at the top of the weekly fantasy WR rankings but have the potential to post WR1 numbers this season. Week 1 offers opportunities for these players to step into the spotlight.
Three wide receivers are highlighted due to their favorable Week 1 matchups. These wideouts can outperform many WR1s in the league with the proper game script and situations.
I also look at five players worth keeping on your radar this season. These wide receivers may be overlooked in fantasy football, but they have the potential to break out as fantasy stars. All of these players are worth considering at Flex as well. Check out the Optimus Fantasy Rankings for more information on the best matchups this week. I hope you are as excited as I am for Week 1 to start—finally, we have football!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba @ Seattle Seahawks
One wide receiver with an excellent opportunity to make an impact in Week 1 is Seattle Seahawk Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He faces a Denver defense that allowed 19.59 fantasy points to wide receivers last season.
Denver was vulnerable to big plays last season, allowing 153.94 yards per game to WRs. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will make sure the ball gets to Smith-Njigba downfield.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as the Seahawks' 3rd target last season, accumulating 628 yards and 4 TDs.
Considering his rising role, I'd lean towards rostering Smith-Njigba over Lockett in fantasy football drafts.
Agree or disagree?pic.twitter.com/SVE1WM6ftk
— Moody (@EricNMoody) July 1, 2024
Wideout Tyler Lockett has been limited in practice with a thigh injury. Although he plans to play in Week 1, he should see a decreased workload if his injury still nags him.
And wideout D.K. Metcalf, the team’s No. 1, should be shadowed by Patrick Surtain. Smith-Njigba should see a more favorable matchup against Ja’Quan McMillan.
Coming off a rookie season with 63 catches for 628 yards and four scores, Smith-Njigba has the potential to post WR1 numbers in this juicy Week 1 matchup.
Jameson Williams vs. Los Angeles Rams
Another wide receiver with a promising matchup this week is the Detroit Lions’ Jameson Williams. He gets the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1.
Detroit’s WR2 was limited in his 2022 rookie season due to an ACL tear he experienced in his final college season. 2023 saw Williams suspended due to gambling. He looks to get things back on track with this Week 1 matchup.
Jameson Williams is so fast 😂 pic.twitter.com/Fh7KLYJfgZ
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 28, 2024
Williams is ready to take full advantage of the Detroit offense’s WR2 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. With Josh Reynolds departing for Denver in free agency, Williams’ role in the offense is set to expand. The third-year wideout’s speed will be displayed against a defense that struggled to limit explosive plays last year.
Reynolds logged 832 snaps last season with the Lions. Additionally, he had 40 catches for 608 yards and five scores. His departure opens the door for Williams to claim more targets.
The Rams gave up the eighth-most receptions of 20 or more yards and conceded 231.1 passing yards per game. Williams is in a favorable position to break off some big gains in what could be a high-scoring affair.
Romeo Doubs @ Philadelphia Eagles (in Brazil)
Romeo Doubs heads into Week 1 with a hand injury, but if he is active, he can confidently be slotted into your flex spot.
The Packers’ receiving room is crowded, but Doubs still stood out last season. He played in all 17 games last year, posting eight touchdowns. Doubs tied with Jaylen Reed for the most touchdowns on the team.
The Dallas Cowboys really had Jordan Love and Romeo Doubs looking like prime Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams last night! 🔥
— Matt FF Dynasty 🏈 (@MattFFDynasty) January 15, 2024
Last season, Doubs tallied 59 receptions for 674 yards. He proved he could be productive despite fighting for targets. Doubs obtained 15 end-zone targets in 2023, showing the team values him when in scoring position.
The Packers are facing the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener. This matchup is favorable, as the Eagles allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers last year.
Given this favorable matchup, Doubs could deliver a strong performance in Week 1 if he’s cleared to play, making him a solid flex option. And Dontayvion Wicks is another Packers WR to keep an eye on in this game, especially if Doubs were to miss time.
Players To Keep On Your Radar
These wide receivers are going to have a bigger year than expected. Consider these guys to be guys who could put up big games in the near future.
Jakobi Meyers: I already discussed Meyers in Part 1 of my Week 1 rundown. He’s gone over 800 yards receiving in his last three seasons.
Rashid Shaheed: He’s the Saints’ deep threat. Last season, he gained 75 targets, 46 receptions, and 719 yards. Additionally, he scored five times.
Jordan Addison: The No. 2 to Justin Jefferson‘s No. 1. He had 70 receptions for 911 yards and ten scores in his rookie campaign. He is dealing with an ankle injury and a potential suspension due to a DUI.
Mike Williams: Williams joins the Jets this season as a deep threat. Last season, Williams tore his ACL. He is playing in Week 1. When healthy, he put up two 1,000+ yard seasons with the Chargers.
Gabe Davis: First, he had four games in the top 12 for WR scoring in PPR leagues last season. Week 1 is not the best matchup for Davis, but he has been known to post spike weeks.
For more from Kacey Kasem, follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @thekaceykasem & find The WR2 Radar right here on Optimus Fantasy every week.
Believing in New York to pull off the unlikely victory in Week 1 was most definitely not my finest moment of the week, but I did also advise others to be cautious about the small likelihood of that. I can't beat myself too much over believing in the Giants, as Wan'Dale Robinson did deliver in Week 1's predictions via "Storyline, Storytime."
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Bo McBrayer brings the spice with his fantasy football Week 2 advice, giving you the musings and information you need to keep your lineups hot-n-ready. Have you ever watched football for 11 consecutive hours on a leather couch? I have. My current couch is cloth, but I remember back when I was sticking and peeling […]
Week 1 always has a way of taking the wind out of our sails. Sure, it's lovely having football back. What's not wonderful is when a wide receiver goes down with an injury and has to miss time.
Puka Nacua should be heading to the injured reserve with a sprained PCL. There is no timetable for how long Nacua will be shelved. Fantasy managers are now sprinting to find a decent replacement.
In this week's WR2 Radar, I look at some of the more notable wide receiver injuries to monitor this and future weeks.
I will examine wide receivers that are readily available and that you can use to bolster your squad this week (or in the near future). Plus, find out what WR1s are pulling the wool over our eyes. Make sure to check out the Optimus Fantasy Rankings.
But fear not, folks. It’s early in the season, and there is plenty of time to fill those holes and right the ship. Here are players at every position that can help you get on your way to victory in Week 2 of fantasy football action and beyond.
Each week, I'll provide five players as look-ahead players for the next week, who could be THE waiver wire claims for the following week. But they won't be available in your league because you already have them. We haven't even played a snap of regular-season football yet, but we're already looking ahead to Week 2's players.
Note: If these players get hurt in Week 1, I cannot be held responsible, so please don't tweet me @ktompkinsii if that happens.
Keeping your fantasy football rosters in tip-top shape is no small task; it requires a level of almost psychotic tinkering that only a few in this world are capable of. It can drive some to madness and others to championship glory. We prefer to help you do the latter.
Should I give out bad advice, I’m not really the sentimental type. Being apologetic for failing to predict the future seems disingenuous, anyway. The fine folks at Optimus want me to contribute the stuff that spills from my eyes, ears, and nose, so this column will put just that at your fingertips. Should it aid you in a redraft or dynasty league victory, or even a DFS lineup, that’s cool beans. I aim to win in an entertaining way, so they don’t ever sack me for being boring. Bring on the rush, I’ll stand tall (or scramble) the only way I know: with pizzazz.
Last year, several wideouts surprised us by putting up WR1 numbers when they were WR2 (or WR3) on their teams. DeVonta Smith, Gabe Davis, and Tee Higgins each had four games as a top-12 WR in points per reception (PPR) scoring.
Rashid Shaheed, Jakobi Meyers, and Noah Brown all had three. Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Jordan Addison, Joshua Palmer, and Cooper Kupp tallied two.
In my series this season, I'll examine weekly matchups to determine if an NFL WR2 can outperform a WR1 on another team. It is important to look beyond the label of "WR1." Considering factors such as matchups, injuries, and team dynamics, I'll find what No. 2 options are worth putting in your lineup.
This series is focused on helping you to learn how to play fantasy football.
In this article, we'll focus on the basics of what you need to start your own league. We will discuss how to decide what league format you want to play in, a few of the different platforms you can play on, and how to create your league settings.
First and foremost, let's discuss deciding who you will be playing with.
These rookies stepped onto the stage in downtown Detroit this April and heard their names called for the world to listen to. Now, it is their time to show the world what they are made of. Not all rookies will meet their fanbase's expectations in their first year, but some players will start building a resume on their path to a golden jacket during their rookie seasons.
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