Since 2021, there have been 83 players with at least 50 games played, and Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers ranks 17th among them in receptions per game (4.97). For context, that ranks him ahead of Mike Evans, DeVonta Smith, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, and others.
Meyers may lack the splash play ability that those options have, but in this era of umbrella defenses, couldn’t you argue that what he does on a weekly basis is uniquely valuable?
The Raiders WR isn’t being drafted as a top-35 receiver despite an upgrade under center and very limited competition for targets outside of the historic Brock Bowers. Lock him in after the first 60-70 players are off the board in your PPR draft this summer?
Jakobi Meyers’ Fantasy Outlook
Meyers wasn’t drafted coming out of NC State and evolved into a big slot option during his four seasons with the Patriots. Much was made of his career-opening scoring drought (38 games and 198 targets), and that stigma sullied how he was thought of in the fantasy community.
He caught 83 balls for New England in 2021 and was largely ignored by the fantasy football community entering 2022. He then tripled his career touchdown output in 14 games, and guess what?
Crickets. He signed a three-year deal with the Raiders, and any forward momentum was lost. I had to put air in his tires for the entire summer to get our users to consider taking him in the late stages of their 2023 drafts.
He paid off. He cleared 800 receiving yards for a third straight season and doubled his career touchdown total with eight for the Raiders. Scoring is fickle, and we saw Meyers fall back in that regard a season ago (four on 129 targets), but, in a brutal offense (26th in yards per pass, 27th in passer rating, and 29th in scoring) that was seeing Bowers explode, PPR fantasy managers were still satisfied with their investment.
- Puka Nacua
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Justin Jefferson
That could just be a random list of elite receivers in today’s game.
It could also be a list of the players who had more games with 90+ receiving yards in the second half of last season than Meyers.
Jakobi Meyers propagandapic.twitter.com/SyPXeU3NY2
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 26, 2025
During his time with Vegas. Meyers has seen his slot usage decline. Is that the result of his no longer being able to win in that regard or the need for his savvy elsewhere to try to mask the inefficiencies of this offense?
DJ Turner spent plenty of time in the slot last season for the Raiders. What if Las Vegas prioritizes that area on the field now that they have some competence at quarterback?
Meyers averaged more PPR points per slot target last season than Bowers, and we could see that usage spike this year as the Raiders move closer to respectability on that side of the ball. In 2024, Geno Smith led the league in passes thrown to the slot (197) and completed 77.7% of those attempts, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL.
Hmm, interesting.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Our FREE Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator has Meyers’ value settling in around WR40. That’s in the same range as receivers with star potential with lesser QB play (Chris Olave and Jerry Jeudy), fantasy stars from yesteryear whose best ball is behind them (Deebo Samuel and Stefon Diggs), and the race for average at the top of the Green Bay WR depth chart.
For whatever reason, Meyers’ name still doesn’t carry with it the value of those in this range. The price isn’t as disrespectful as it was in years past, but it would seem that managers are happy to overlook him, and I, again, think that’s a mistake.
Dan Fornek’s Jakobi Meyers Fantasy Projection
Jakobi Meyers is perpetually underrated in fantasy football. Since joining the Raiders in 2023, Meyers has 117.5 targets, 79.0 receptions, 917 receiving yards and six touchdowns per season. He has back-to-back top 24 finishes at wide receiver, averaging over 13.0 PPR points per game despite having some of the worst quarterback play in the NFL during that time.
Meyers won’t lead the team in targets with Brock Bowers at tight end, but he’s a dependable receiver who can consistently get open, play out wide or in the slot, and secure the football. 2025 might be the best offensive environment he has played since his days with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
MORE:Â Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Meyers got upgrades at head coach (Pete Carroll), offensive coordinator (Chip Kelly), and quarterback (Geno Smith). Smith was the third most accurate passer from a clean pocket in 2024 (73.3%) and the 10th when pressured (44.1%).
There will be plenty of targets to support Meyers and Bowers in the passing attack while having enough left over for rookies Ashton Jeanty, Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech to all have a role in 2025. Meyers will be underrated again in PPR leagues and should finish as a WR2 in an offense that consistently plays from behind on the scoreboard.
