The 2025 NFL season is about to kick off, which means the fantasy football season is also here. With plenty of big-name players dealing with injuries heading into Week 1, let’s look at the wide receivers who have missed time in camp or preseason and get their outlook for the coming fantasy football campaign.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is dealing with a mild hamstring strain. He’s being rested throughout training camp, but the Minnesota Vikings are confident about his Week 1 availability. With Jordan Addison set to be suspended for the first three games, T.J. Hockenson could be in line for a hefty early-season target share.
Jefferson is set for another season with a new quarterback — this time it’s first-year starter J.J. McCarthy. I’m projecting a huge year from Jefferson because I have high hopes for McCarthy. And if the young QB can be as good or better than Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins before that, we all know what that will mean for Jefferson in fantasy.
Now’s the only small buying window we’ll get with Justin Jefferson:
– New rookie QB
– Hamstring lingering
– Hype of Chase/Nabers/LambHe’s viewed as an elite asset but he’s not getting as much love as the shiny new toys lately.
He’s still generational.pic.twitter.com/eNXk98ul0P
— Snoog’s Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) August 23, 2025
There are a couple of key factors to consider here. For one, head coach Kevin O’Connell is a quarterback whisperer, having brought out the best in not only Darnold and Cousins but also journeymen like Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens. This is one of the brightest offensive minds in football, one who hand-picked McCarthy to be his franchise quarterback.
How does this relate to Jefferson? Well, this could be his Joe Burrow — a pocket passer with mobility to make off-script explosive plays, becoming the best quarterback that he’s ever played with. We also have to consider that Addison is slated to serve a three-game suspension to start the year, which would make Jefferson even more of a target hog than usual.
Also, if you’re into stacking, pairing Jefferson with McCarthy is easy because the former Michigan standout is available quite late in drafts. Add this up, and you can see why I have Jefferson as my WR2 this season.
So, despite the injury in training camp, Jefferson remains one of the best bets in fantasy this year due to his true WR1 potential. Taking him high in Round 1 is still a fine idea.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Malik Nabers missed two weeks of practice with a minor back injury and is also managing a longtime toe issue. Neither is expected to threaten his Week 1 status. He returned to activity earlier this week and looks ready to go. If he misses any time, Darius Slayton is his direct backup.
Still, drafting a second-year player who is already dealing with multiple injuries can be a little nerve-wracking.
Nabers is a favorite of the fantasy community. This is an elite talent who just caught 109-of-170 targets for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. Such impressive early-career production has vaulted Nabers to as high as the middle of the first round.
While I understand the appeal, we have to remember that Nabers only averaged 14.6 points per game in half-PPR formats, which ranked as WR8. Twelve running backs outscored Nabers last season, including Derrick Henry and De’Von Achane, two players who go later in drafts.
Yes, Russell Wilson is an upgrade at quarterback from Daniel Jones and Tommy DeVito. But this Giants offense isn’t going to have heavy passing volume, nor are they expected to be among the top scoring. In fact, you can argue that it’s one of the bottom-10 offenses in the NFL.
There’s definitely number one overall upside with Nabers, but it feels like he needs Jaxson Dart playing “Hero Ball” to get there. Wilson will be more conservative with some deep shots downfield. With that in mind, I’m below consensus on Nabers, ranking him at the top of the second round. I just think we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves with the current price.
And if the injuries continue to linger into the regular season, Nabers could become a major fantasy bust, despite still being an incredibly promising young pass catcher in real life.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
A.J. Brown has been sidelined by a mild hamstring strain, similar to the one he sustained in Week 2 of the 2024 season. He is fully expected back for Week 1. DeVonta Smith would be the WR1 if Brown can’t go, with Jahan Dotson in the WR2 role. However, as we saw last year, Brown’s absence means more targets for Dallas Goedert as opposed to any wide receivers behind him.
Brown is coming off a disappointing season from a fantasy perspective, going for 67 catches, 1,079 yards, and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Plus, there were multiple times throughout the season where Brown and his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, did not seem like they were on the same page at all.
However, the good news for Brown is that the Eagles played at an unsustainable rate in terms of rushing volume.
With a tougher schedule along with Saquon Barkley coming off a massive workload, there’s a good chance that we see the Eagles pass at a higher rate this year, which would mean more targets for Brown.
That would make both fantasy owners and seemingly the receiver himself much happier, which could lead to a huge year in Philly for the Pro Bowl pass catcher.
Additionally, this is still one of the most talented wideouts in football, highlighted by his five 100-yard games last season. Let’s not forget that he put up 1,400-plus yards in back-to-back seasons from 2022-2023.
If you’re looking for a high-floor wideout with the upside to go nuclear if his situation breaks right, look no further than Brown. This is still a player with a strong track record, playing in an elite offense, catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, behind a top-tier offensive line.
That is a good combination to bet on when you are thinking about using a high pick on a player in fantasy.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Talking about Eagles wide receivers who are dealing with minor injuries heading into the 2025 season, but are still poised for a solid (or even better) season, look no further than DeVonta Smith, who has been out of action with a minor groin issue. In the preseason, any little thing is going to be treated with the utmost caution. Smith is not currently at risk of missing Week 1.
Smith is one of the most consistent wideouts in the NFL, averaging 64-plus receiving yards per game and seven-plus touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. However, his ceiling is capped because the Eagles have one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL.
However, with a much tougher schedule in 2025, the Eagles could be forced to air it out a bit more, which bodes well for Smith. The best part about Smith this year is that there’s a lot less opportunity cost at his current ADP, which is outside the top 27 wide receivers.
As someone who likes to go RB-heavy early in drafts, I love taking Smith as my WR2 or WR3 to catch up at wide receiver. There’s a nice floor here with some upside if the Eagles pass a bit more.
Saquon Barkley is coming off an extremely heavy workload, so there’s increased injury risk with him this year. If he were to miss time, Smith would likely smash his current ADP. That type of contingency upside is what you want to target if you’re waiting on a receiver in drafts.
And, as mentioned above, the WR above him on the depth chart is dealing with a minor injury of his own and also showed some major signs of annoyance with the team’s offense last season. If Brown goes out for any reason, Smith will become a big-time producer.
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers’ rookie wide receiver is dealing with a minor hamstring strain. Tetairoa McMillan is expected to be held out of the team’s final preseason game, but should be ready for Week 1. If McMillan missed any games, Jalen Coker could be thrust into a starting role.
McMillan is a highly-touted wide receiver prospect with top-10 draft capital. He is a pass catcher coming off consecutive 1,300-plus-yard seasons in college for the Arizona Wildcats. Drawing comparisons to Mike Evans and Drake London, McMillan is exactly what you want in a future alpha WR1.
The runway is clear for heavy targets as the top option for an improving Panthers offense. When you consider that this team is likely to struggle on defense and be forced into more shootouts, you have to like the situation for McMillan in Year 1.
The one concern I have is with Bryce Young. Yes, Young showed significant improvement in the second half last year, which gives me optimism going forward, but we can’t just dismiss his larger sample of poor play. McMillan is already priced up as a top-24 wideout in fantasy drafts, so a strong season is already baked into his ADP.
All that said, Young was a No. 1 overall pick and a Heisman Trophy winner who came into the league with superstar expectations. If you are a believer in the QB finally delivering on the hype, then you may be higher on McMillan, too. Because if Young does break out and become a truly elite signal-caller, he’ll likely take at least one, if not more, of his WRs with him to the fantasy promised land.
While this is a relatively fair cost, there’s not much of a value here, so that’s something worth noting. Essentially, it comes down to whether or not you’re willing to take a rookie over proven producers like DeVonta Smith.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
It’s been a rough offseason for Tyreek Hill as he tries to repair his relationship with the Miami Dolphins after saying he was done with the team out of frustration. Recently, he’s missed practice with an oblique strain.
Hill should be ready for Week 1, but we have serious concerns about his focus level, rapport with Tua Tagovailoa, and the potential for production decline at age 31. Jaylen Waddle could end up being the leading receiver on this team. Malik Washington is the WR3.
Throughout the offseason, I’ve gone between fading and being neutral on Hill, but I’ve landed on him as one of my potential busts for this season. He is a veteran entering his age-31 season who showed serious signs of decline last year.
Hill put up 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. His yards per reception plummeted from 15.1 to 11.8. This did not look like the explosive playmaker of old.
When wideouts show decline past the age of 30, it’s time to get a bit concerned. Think about Andre Johnson with the Colts and Julio Jones with the Titans as recent examples. If the bounce back doesn’t come, you’re wasting a valuable second-round pick on Hill. In other words, the opportunity cost is quite high.
There’s also the chance that Hill is traded at some point in the year, as there are clearly some issues with him and Tagovailoa.
That would mean learning a new scheme, which could take some time and affect his overall fantasy value.
And even if the two do make up personally, there is no guarantee they will play together all season, as the QB’s injury history is even more extensive and scary than the WR’s growing list of ailments.
With all that in mind, I’m fading Hill in 2025.
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter suffered an upper-body injury in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first preseason game. The team called his absence strictly precautionary. He’s expected to be fully ready for Week 1. If Hunter is limited, Parker Washington or Dyami Brown would play in two-receiver sets.
Hunter is a polarizing player in fantasy, especially due to his ADP in the fifth round. Supporters view him as a generational talent who is going to see a lot of playing time both at wide receiver and cornerback. Camp reports support this claim, as Hunter has consistently been making plays on both sides of the field.
Meanwhile, detractors are concerned that Hunter won’t be able to keep up with this type of heavy usage. They also claim that the former Colorado superstar is a more polished corner than a wide receiver.
“If [Travis Hunter] doesn’t play both sides of the ball, you WASTED a pick.” 😬
ESPN’s Ryan Clark is skeptical about the Jaguars trading up for Hunter if the #2 pick isn’t able to play both ways.#Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/8vwsRZMWRc
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) August 19, 2025
Not to mention, the Jaguars seemingly already have a young potential WR1 in Brian Thomas Jr. With the second-year star in the mix, how much love will Hunter get from Trevor Lawrence when he does play on the offensive side of the ball?
And speaking of Lawrence, there are legitimate questions around him, too. Can the former No. 1 overall pick live up to his potential and support a massive fantasy-relevant offense under his new head coach?
My take lies in the middle. You have to treat this as a boom-or-bust pick with huge upside and a low floor. If you build your WR room to account for Hunter’s risk, perhaps taking him as your WR3, then it makes sense. But I wouldn’t suggest relying on him as your WR2 due to the risk involved.
Expect the Jaguars’ passing game to be much improved with former Bucs’ head coach Liam Coen calling the shots, so the path is there for an impressive rookie season from Hunter.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Jauan Jennings has dealt with a nagging calf injury this preseason, but it’s entirely possible the real reason for his absence is his contract situation. With Brandon Aiyuk set to miss at least the first month of the season, Ricky Pearsall is pretty locked in as the team’s WR1. George Kittle could also be in line for significant usage.
Jennings is coming off a surprise season, where he put up 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. No one saw this coming, as Jennings had been buried on the depth chart for each of his previous three seasons.
But “the cat is out of the bag now,” as they say, with Jennings slated to play a major role in this 49ers’ passing game.
Aiyuk is going to miss some time as he returns from a torn ACL, so Jennings will be one of the top targets, along with Kittle, RB Christian McCaffrey, and second-year WR Pearsall.
The issue is that Jennings has dealt with injuries throughout camp, but there’s no reason to be concerned that this will linger into the season, so it makes sense to buy the injury dip on this veteran wideout.
The 49ers have one of the softest schedules in the NFL, so you’re going to want pieces of this offense.
That said, the Niners’ offensive attack will likely grow, evolve, and possibly get harder to predict as the season goes along. The team just added Brian Robinson Jr. in a trade, and when Aiyuk comes back, San Francisco may have the most true weapons in the league.
The question you have to ask yourself at that point is, can Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy find a way to spread the ball around enough to make everyone happy and, more importantly in this case, fantasy relevant?
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
Stefon Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL. He is ahead of schedule and on track to play in Week 1. At 31 years old, Diggs does not need to play in the preseason. He is set to serve as the team’s WR1 with DeMario Douglas and potentially rookie Kyle Williams as the next two options.
Diggs is entering his age-32 season and coming off a torn ACL, so there’s a lot of risk in his profile. He is a veteran who was already showing some signs of decline, and I don’t see a high ceiling for him with the Patriots.
Even if Diggs is healthy and ready to step on the field soon, history shows us that knee injuries like this are often a two-year injury, meaning the player doesn’t return to form statistically until the season after the season after the big injury.
The good news is that Diggs is ahead of schedule in his recovery, looking poised to be ready for action once the season starts. As the clear-cut WR1 for Drake Maye, there’s some appeal here.
But even with improvements on offense, there’s likely going to be some growing pains here. If I’m targeting a Patriots wideout, I prefer to wait to take a shot on rookie Kyle Williams, who can make big plays downfield. If I wanted some floor late in drafts, I can go with DeMario Douglas.
Diggs is looking like an avoid for me at the current ADP. It’s just too hard for me to bet on a 30-plus-year-old wideout coming off a serious injury.
What may make more sense than using that type of draft capital on Diggs is adding him to your watchlist and bookmarking him as a possible trade target later in the season as he gets healthier and, hopefully for Pats fans, Maye continues to improve.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Khalil Shakir is sidelined with a high ankle sprain, causing him to miss multiple practices and the entire preseason. He is tentatively expected to be ready for Week 1, but it is not a guarantee. Joshua Palmer is poised to be the primary X receiver, with Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore possibly seeing more snaps if Shakir can’t go.
Shakir is a dependable slot receiver for the Bills, racking up 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games last season. The problem here is that the fourth-year wideout is currently dealing with a high ankle sprain. Not only does that put his status in question for the first few weeks, but even if he does play, it could affect his performance.
With the Bills deploying more of a committee approach at wideout, with Josh Allen spreading the ball around to Palmer, Keon Coleman, and TE Dalton Kincaid, Shakir looks like a player to avoid.
The only spot where I’m cool buying the dip on the injured Shakir is in full-PPR Best Ball, where you get the added benefit of his high receptions but limited big plays. Taking Shakir here adds floor to your WR room, which can keep you afloat during tougher weeks.
Simply put, this is a high-floor wideout with limited upside, but the injury makes him tough to target in redraft leagues.
Ultimately, Shakir seems like a perfect example of the difference between real football and the fantasy variety. While the emerging Bills star is a player who would make nearly any NFL team better, his brand of pass-catching just doesn’t lend itself to big points in fantasy, so when there is a preseason injury involved, it’s probably best to stay away and let someone else take a gamble on a player with limited league-winning upside.
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
Darnell Mooney is dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him out since late July. He remains week to week and could open the year on the sidelines. Head coach Raheem Morris was extremely vague about Mooney’s return, stating he would be back “this year.” If Mooney is out, Ray-Ray McCloud or KhaDarel Hodge will play in two receiver sets.
Mooney was rock-solid in his first year as a Falcon, catching 64-of-106 targets for five touchdowns in 16 games. With the quarterback upgrade to Michael Penix Jr, Mooney could improve on those numbers. Let’s remember that Kirk Cousins was nowhere near himself in his first year off the torn Achilles, so a gunslinger like Penix should benefit the entire offense.
The problem is that Mooney is dealing with a shoulder injury, so his status is in question for the early stages of the season. I recommend buying the dip as your league mates steer clear due to this injury. It feels unlikely that it’ll be long-term, so you can get a discount on this dependable wideout.
As with other high-floor wideouts, I think that the best place to target Mooney is in Best Ball. It’s here where he can add floor to your WR room, helping you out when your other options put up duds. However, Mooney is still desirable in redraft leagues, but I like to go with a bit more upside, such as Luther Burden or Brandon Aiyuk.
A lot of this simply depends on how you feel about Penix, though. If you think the second-year slinger is going to be an upper-echelon QB, then Mooney is worth the risk. If you are still not sold that he can reach those heights or stay healthy for an entire NFL season, it may be best to pass on this offense.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed is nursing a sprained foot and has been in a walking boot this preseason. His Week 1 status is uncertain. If Reed sits, Dontayvion Wicks would be elevated to a more prominent role with Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs as the top two options.
Reed was one of my favorite wideouts to target coming into the offseason. He is a big-play threat who would benefit from a healthy Jordan Love, as the Packers quarterback dealt with injuries last season. This resulted in a more run-heavy offense that likely won’t continue in 2025.
Jayden Reed having fun with fans pic.twitter.com/UGs8jQk9WA
— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) August 23, 2025
However, Reed has been dealing with a foot injury, which puts his status in question for the early part of the season. Add in the fact that rookie wideout Matthew Golden has been tearing it up and playing in 2-WR sets, and you can see why Reed is a bit less appealing now.
There is also the Jordan Love issue. The quarterback had thumb surgery on his non-throwing hand this preseason, and while it seems like he’ll be ready to go for the start of the regular season, an early injury to a franchise QB is never good news for offensive skill players.
If Love goes down again for any extended period of time, all the players on the Green Bay offense are in trouble, as backup signal-caller Malik Willis does not have the ability to lift all boats to fantasy greatness that Love does, and that’s not good for Reed.
Reed’s injury and Golden’s emergence have caused a dip in price for the former. This makes Reed worth a shot, especially in Best Ball formats, where you don’t have to pinpoint when the spike week will happen.
I’m less interested in redraft leagues because Reed will likely be a bit too boom or bust.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs recently suffered a hamstring strain and has not returned to practice yet. His Week 1 availability is unclear. Michael Pittman Jr. would absorb even more targets, with Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell joining him in two-receiver sets if Downs misses time.
Downs is an intriguing target because he’s so cheap in drafts, currently available outside the top-40 wideouts. He put up 72 catches for 803 yards and five touchdowns in only 14 games last season. The problem here is quarterback concerns. Even with Daniel Jones under center, you’re likely getting erratic play under center.
Still, I like taking Downs late in drafts in all formats, especially full-PPR, because he’s unlikely to score a lot of touchdowns on a team with rookie TE Tyler Warren and RB Jonathan Taylor.
With Jones as QB1, if he can secure starts throughout the season, it would raise Downs’ upside, since the Colts are more run-heavy with Anthony Richardson under center. Let’s hope that Jones starts for the entire season.
Downs is my preferred target among Colts’ wideouts, as Michael Pittman Jr. has lingering back issues that suppress his production. Don’t be surprised if he cracks 1,000-plus yards for the first time in his career. Make sure to make him a priority if you’re taking a shot on a Colts stack in Best Ball.
If the injuries go longer than expected for Pittman and Downs, then Mitchell may become the WR to target late in drafts. As a former second-round pick, the Colts obviously think he has the ability to become a solid to elite pass-catcher in the NFL, and while many rookie wideouts struggle in their inaugural seasons, there are ones who break out in their second year (although the third-year WR breakout is the more well-known phenomenon in the league, so this may be 12 months premature).
Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
Hollywood Brown has yet to play in the preseason due to an ankle injury. Fortunately, he has already returned to practice and looks ready to go.
Brown had an injury-plagued first season for the Chiefs, hauling in nine passes for 91 yards in only two games. Now entering his age-28 season, it’s hard to trust Brown to stay healthy this year. The last time he was productive in fantasy was in 2022 with the Cardinals. He’s missed at least three games in three consecutive seasons.
At best, Brown is the No. 4 target behind Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Travis Kelce in this Chiefs offense. While I understand the appeal of getting one of Patrick Mahomes’ weapons, it’s better to aim higher at Brown’s ADP. You can wait a few rounds and get rookie wideouts like Dont’e Thornton or Tory Horton.
Yes, Brown is a name people recognize and someone who has played in prominent positions with some of the best QBs in the NFL. Ultimately, though, he is a player who has rarely produced at a consistent level, although the splash plays sometimes make you forget that.
Simply put, I don’t trust Brown to stay healthy. We also have to consider that rookie Jalen Royals has had a strong camp. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to see Royals overtake Brown.
Let someone else in your league take a major risk and overpay for a player whose name recognition is going to get him drafted way ahead of where he deserves to be. And if he does carve out a role for himself as the season goes along, he may be an interesting trade target as the draft capital invested in him won’t be super high.
Brown will not be someone who shows up on many, if any, of my fantasy football squads this season, though.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston sustained a concussion in the Los Angeles Chargers’ second preseason game. He will obviously miss time and not play in the preseason finale, but with nearly three weeks between the diagnosis and Week 1, he should clear the protocol in time. Rookies Tre Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith are competing for WR3 duties behind Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen.
Johnston showed some flashes last season, catching 55-of-91 targets for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. This included some impressive spike weeks, such as 186 yards against the Raiders in Week 18.
He’s also a former first-round pick, which is why many people remember him and think there may still be some serious upside or untapped potential. Plus, he is entering season No. 3, which is famously the time when many wide receivers destined to become stars break out and start to show the production that will make them a first-round fantasy football staple for years to come.
So, is this the Year 3 breakout from Johnston, or is he the same player he has shown us to be over the first two seasons of his career?
It’s tough to take Johnston, even at a reduced cost following Keenan Allen’s return to the Chargers. Johnston is now fourth in line for targets, behind Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Tre Davis. While there’s a chance that Johnston can get ahead of Davis, we’re talking about a talented second-round rookie, so that feels a bit unlikely.
Add in the fact that the Chargers have a run-heavy offense, and you can see why I’m not interested in Johnston. The one exception I’d make is if he fell two to three rounds past ADP in Best Ball, where I’m looking for a dart throw to round out my WR room. As for redraft, there’s no point rostering Johnston, even in deeper formats.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin remains out after multiple ankle surgeries and hasn’t practiced all camp. However, he will not start the season on the PUP list, as the team felt good enough about his recovery to activate him.
While Godwin is still going to miss the start of the season, the lack of news suggested he might be out into November. That now seems unlikely. Rookie Emeka Egbuka is expected to start opposite Mike Evans. Still, Godwin should be back sometime in October, putting a wrench in the plans of fantasy managers looking to draft Evans and Egbuka early.
Godwin is coming off a dislocated ankle, which prematurely ended his terrific season, where he put up 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns in only five games. It seemed like Godwin was on track for a career year before that injury.
The problem for this year is not only that Godwin’s Week 1 status is in doubt, but what he’s going to look like when he comes back. There’s a reasonable chance that it will take time — some are even saying October — for Godwin to get back to top form. After all, this is a player who is entering his age-29 season.
The good news is that the Buccaneers should still have a pass-heavy offense involved in several shootouts. The injury is also baked into Godwin’s price, as you can take him outside of the top-30 wideouts.
My main issue here is that I prefer to take a shot on first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, who is turning heads in camp. If I want a discount WR coming off an injury, I tend to look towards Brandon Aiyuk, who is available later in drafts.
All that said, if you can get Godwin super late and afford to stash him or keep him on your trade radar, he may help later in the season.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk continues to rehab from ACL and MCL surgery and has not yet practiced. He’s going to open the season on the PUP list, but is expected to be out beyond the minimum five games required. Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings (if healthy and/or extended) will be the top receiving options to open the year.
Aiyuk is one of my favorite value picks in fantasy drafts. While he’s coming off a torn ACL and likely out until Week 6, this is the late-season hammer that you need for the fantasy playoffs.
Remember that this is a player who is one year removed from 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. Now, Deebo Samuel is gone, so the WR room is relatively unproven with Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. There’s a path for Aiyuk to make a major impact down the stretch, once he finds his form.
While we can expect a decline in efficiency coming off a serious knee injury, we’re talking about a proven wideout that you can get outside the top 50 WRs. This is exactly the type of upside that you want to target in your drafts.
If your league has an IR spot, Aiyuk is even more valuable as a late-round stash. The best format to target him, though, is in Best Ball, where you don’t have to worry about deciding when to start him.
Drafting and stashing a player is never an easy decision, as they may never come good, or you may need to get rid of them somehow to deal with an injury or bye week crisis on your roster. That said, stashing a player like Aiyuk is worth the risk, and even if you do have to jettison him before Week 6 or 7, he may have trade value that can bring something good back as his return approaches.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice has dealt with a minor groin tweak during training camp, but that is not a concern. What is a concern is his upcoming suspension. Currently, he’s slated to play the first four games before his hearing on September 30. That would have his suspension start anywhere from Week 5 onward, depending on how long a decision takes.
There is also still a possibility that Rice and the NFL reach an agreement before Week 1, which would allow Rice to serve his suspension to open the season.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
As things currently stand, there’s a ton of uncertainty. Xavier Worthy will be the WR1 with Hollywood Brown as the WR2 during Rice’s absence. When that will be remains unknown.
Rice has consistently proven his ability to earn targets at a high rate. However, the suspension could be in the range of six to eight games. It’s also likely to come midseason, which is bad news because then you have to deal with bye weeks.
While I understand the appeal of Rice as the potential WR1 for Patrick Mahomes, I’d prefer to steer clear given this uncertainty. The better move is to pay up for Worthy, who really came on down the stretch and during the playoff run.
We also have to acknowledge that Rice is coming off a serious knee injury, which could affect his performance when he does suit up. Even though the price has dipped significantly on Rice, there’s real risk that he’ll wind up as deadweight on your roster.
Considering these factors, I’m fading Rice even at the discount, preferring players like Jaylen Waddle instead.
This all adds up to a case where it seems like Rice will be a stay-away this season, and next season, you can target him if you like the talent and long-term potential.
