by Kacey Kasem
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Welcome to the second installment of “The WR2 Radar,” my look at weekly fantasy WR rankings and what WR2s are in the position to put up WR1 fantasy football numbers for the week. I’ll also view the NFL WR1s that won’t achieve WR1 fantasy football numbers.
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.
And don’t get me started on how many players showed up in the top 12 of Week 18. No one should be playing for the championship in Week 18 (and I’ll kindly ask you to talk to your commissioner about changing this).
But if you did play in Week 18, I hope you started Dontayvion Wicks (WR5), Quez Watkins (WR6), David Bell (WR7), Jakobi Meyers (WR9), Andre Iosivas (WR11), or A.T. Perry (WR12). Whew. Now, let’s get on to talking about THIS season.
WR2s to Start as Fantasy Football WR1s (Week 1)
I believe these players will put up fantasy football WR1 numbers this week. If you are already set at WR1, I suggest flexing these players.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) at JAC
Jaylen Waddle is a strong play for Week 1. The Dolphins ended last season with an 11-6 record and led the league in total yards per game with 401.3.
Waddle finished as WR21 in PPR scoring, tied with DeVonta Smith. This put him ahead of players like DK Metcalf and Zay Flowers.
Last season, Waddle posted 1,014 yards. That was more than Terry McLaurin, Drake London, and Deebo Samuel.
JAYLEN WADDLE!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SubkmXMsyM
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) December 17, 2023
With Tyreek Hill drawing defensive attention, Waddle constantly made big plays. He ranked in the top 12 in PPR points for wide receivers in two games.
This week, Waddle faces the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranked 22nd against wide receivers last season. They allowed 21.12 fantasy points per game to the position.
The Jaguars also gave up 1.05 touchdowns per game to wide receivers. While Waddle only had four touchdowns last season, his volume and yardage should lead to a big game against this defense.
Chris Godwin (WR – TB) vs. WAS
The Buccaneers battle the Commanders in Week 1. Mike Evans is the Buccaneers’ top receiving option. The team’s WR2, Chris Godwin, benefits from facing the secondary’s weaker coverage.
Last season, Washington’s defense ranked 31st in points allowed to wide receivers, giving up 19.82 targets and 13.35 receptions per game.
Washington allowed 186.29 receiving yards per game and 28.24 fantasy points per game to the position.
Chris Godwin WHAT. A. CATCH. pic.twitter.com/b80Kl6ADIy
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 27, 2023
The veteran wide receiver is expected to play more in the slot this season. He took 293 snaps from the slot last season, down from 489 in 2022 and 464 in 2023.
Godwin is known for scoring a few touchdowns (three last season), but his consistent target volume makes him a solid play.
Last year, he posted 83 receptions for 1,024 yards on 131 targets, with a 23.8% target share. Even without a touchdown, Godwin should rack up plenty of yards and targets against Washington.
Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) at LAC
Jakobi Meyers is a sneaky play for WR1 fantasy numbers this week. This contest has him facing the Los Angeles Chargers.
Last season, the Chargers struggled against wide receivers. They allowed 24.76 fantasy points per game, which ranked 29th in the league.
The defense also gave up 19.41 targets, 11.88 receptions, and 172.12 yards per game to wideouts. Additionally, they conceded 1.18 touchdowns per game to the position.
JAKOBI MEYERS 🥶
pic.twitter.com/3EpdcycVLZ— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 10, 2024
Meyers dealt with unstable and poor quarterback play in 2023. Last season, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell, and Brian Hoyer were under center.
With Gardner Minshew II under center, it’s hard to tell if the quarterback situation has improved.
Meyers, who finished WR24 in PPR leagues last season, has shown he can produce WR1 numbers. He produced three top-12 finishes last year.
He’s a top-24 wideout with upside, making him a solid play in Week 1 (especially as a flex).
NFL WR1s To Bench (Week 1)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) at SEA
Courtland Sutton should see the most Denver Broncos targets, with Jerry Jeudy traded to the Browns and Tim Patrick recently cut.
He was the leading target earner on the team last season. Sutton recorded 772 receiving yards on 59 catches from 90 targets. He was fantasy-relevant due to his ten touchdown grabs.
This year, he has a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix, which could limit his consistency.
The Broncos WR1 will be up against either Riq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon, both of whom are high-quality cornerbacks.
Sutton’s fantasy value is heavily touchdown-dependent, making him a risky play in this tough matchup.
Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR) at NO
After playing five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Diontae Johnson starts the 2024 season on a new team.
He immediately takes over the WR1 role in Carolina as a weapon for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
I strongly suggest that Johnson sit this week, even if he is his team’s WR1. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore should follow Johnson this week.
Lattimore injured his hip flexor in training camp. He is now practicing and will be ready to go for Week 1.
With Young attempting to bounce back from a mediocre rookie season and the challenging matchup, you should leave Johnson on your bench.
George Pickens (WR – PIT) at ATL
Johnson’s former Steelers teammate, George Pickens, is another wideout option I’d bench this week.
The Falcons were lacking a good defensive unit last season. The team traded a 2025 third-round pick for linebacker Matthew Judon to help bolster the defense.
Atlanta gets to face Russell Wilson in Week 1. It’s the version of Wilson we see now, not the Super Bowl-winning version.
Oh yes, and talk about a revenge game. The Steelers offensive coordinator is former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. You know, the guy they finally fired after three mediocre seasons.
Pickens is on the bench this week. I doubt you were going into this season with Pickens as your WR1, but you never know.
I can’t wait to get this first week of football under our belt. I’ll be keeping a close eye on WR2s this weekend, and I hope you do, too.
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
Welcome to the second installment of “The WR2 Radar,” my look at weekly fantasy WR rankings and what WR2s are in the position to put up WR1 fantasy football numbers for the week. I’ll also view the NFL WR1s that won’t achieve WR1 fantasy football numbers.
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.
And don’t get me started on how many players showed up in the top 12 of Week 18. No one should be playing for the championship in Week 18 (and I’ll kindly ask you to talk to your commissioner about changing this).
But if you did play in Week 18, I hope you started Dontayvion Wicks (WR5), Quez Watkins (WR6), David Bell (WR7), Jakobi Meyers (WR9), Andre Iosivas (WR11), or A.T. Perry (WR12). Whew. Now, let’s get on to talking about THIS season.
WR2s to Start as Fantasy Football WR1s (Week 1)
I believe these players will put up fantasy football WR1 numbers this week. If you are already set at WR1, I suggest flexing these players.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA) at JAC
Jaylen Waddle is a strong play for Week 1. The Dolphins ended last season with an 11-6 record and led the league in total yards per game with 401.3.
Waddle finished as WR21 in PPR scoring, tied with DeVonta Smith. This put him ahead of players like DK Metcalf and Zay Flowers.
Last season, Waddle posted 1,014 yards. That was more than Terry McLaurin, Drake London, and Deebo Samuel.
JAYLEN WADDLE!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SubkmXMsyM
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) December 17, 2023
With Tyreek Hill drawing defensive attention, Waddle constantly made big plays. He ranked in the top 12 in PPR points for wide receivers in two games.
This week, Waddle faces the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranked 22nd against wide receivers last season. They allowed 21.12 fantasy points per game to the position.
The Jaguars also gave up 1.05 touchdowns per game to wide receivers. While Waddle only had four touchdowns last season, his volume and yardage should lead to a big game against this defense.
Chris Godwin (WR – TB) vs. WAS
The Buccaneers battle the Commanders in Week 1. Mike Evans is the Buccaneers’ top receiving option. The team’s WR2, Chris Godwin, benefits from facing the secondary’s weaker coverage.
Last season, Washington’s defense ranked 31st in points allowed to wide receivers, giving up 19.82 targets and 13.35 receptions per game.
Washington allowed 186.29 receiving yards per game and 28.24 fantasy points per game to the position.
Chris Godwin WHAT. A. CATCH. pic.twitter.com/b80Kl6ADIy
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 27, 2023
The veteran wide receiver is expected to play more in the slot this season. He took 293 snaps from the slot last season, down from 489 in 2022 and 464 in 2023.
Godwin is known for scoring a few touchdowns (three last season), but his consistent target volume makes him a solid play.
Last year, he posted 83 receptions for 1,024 yards on 131 targets, with a 23.8% target share. Even without a touchdown, Godwin should rack up plenty of yards and targets against Washington.
Jakobi Meyers (WR – LV) at LAC
Jakobi Meyers is a sneaky play for WR1 fantasy numbers this week. This contest has him facing the Los Angeles Chargers.
Last season, the Chargers struggled against wide receivers. They allowed 24.76 fantasy points per game, which ranked 29th in the league.
The defense also gave up 19.41 targets, 11.88 receptions, and 172.12 yards per game to wideouts. Additionally, they conceded 1.18 touchdowns per game to the position.
JAKOBI MEYERS 🥶
pic.twitter.com/3EpdcycVLZ— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 10, 2024
Meyers dealt with unstable and poor quarterback play in 2023. Last season, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell, and Brian Hoyer were under center.
With Gardner Minshew II under center, it’s hard to tell if the quarterback situation has improved.
Meyers, who finished WR24 in PPR leagues last season, has shown he can produce WR1 numbers. He produced three top-12 finishes last year.
He’s a top-24 wideout with upside, making him a solid play in Week 1 (especially as a flex).
NFL WR1s To Bench (Week 1)
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) at SEA
Courtland Sutton should see the most Denver Broncos targets, with Jerry Jeudy traded to the Browns and Tim Patrick recently cut.
He was the leading target earner on the team last season. Sutton recorded 772 receiving yards on 59 catches from 90 targets. He was fantasy-relevant due to his ten touchdown grabs.
This year, he has a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix, which could limit his consistency.
The Broncos WR1 will be up against either Riq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon, both of whom are high-quality cornerbacks.
Sutton’s fantasy value is heavily touchdown-dependent, making him a risky play in this tough matchup.
Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR) at NO
After playing five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Diontae Johnson starts the 2024 season on a new team.
He immediately takes over the WR1 role in Carolina as a weapon for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
I strongly suggest that Johnson sit this week, even if he is his team’s WR1. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore should follow Johnson this week.
Lattimore injured his hip flexor in training camp. He is now practicing and will be ready to go for Week 1.
With Young attempting to bounce back from a mediocre rookie season and the challenging matchup, you should leave Johnson on your bench.
George Pickens (WR – PIT) at ATL
Johnson’s former Steelers teammate, George Pickens, is another wideout option I’d bench this week.
The Falcons were lacking a good defensive unit last season. The team traded a 2025 third-round pick for linebacker Matthew Judon to help bolster the defense.
Atlanta gets to face Russell Wilson in Week 1. It’s the version of Wilson we see now, not the Super Bowl-winning version.
Oh yes, and talk about a revenge game. The Steelers offensive coordinator is former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. You know, the guy they finally fired after three mediocre seasons.
Pickens is on the bench this week. I doubt you were going into this season with Pickens as your WR1, but you never know.
I can’t wait to get this first week of football under our belt. I’ll be keeping a close eye on WR2s this weekend, and I hope you do, too.
For more from Kacey Kasem, follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @thekaceykasem & find The WR2 Radar right here on Optimus Fantasy every week.
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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.
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