As fantasy football managers look to fill holes made by injuries to other players on their team, picking up the right players on waivers separates good GMs from bad ones.
When looking between Los Angeles Rams receiver Jordan Whittington and Carolina Panthers receiver Xavier Legette, which player should fantasy managers use their waiver wire selection on?
Should You Add Jordan Whittington or Xavier Legette in Week 5?
Through four weeks of the NFL season, neither Whittington nor Legette has emerged as a top fantasy receiver in 2024. However, after Week 4, they could both be worthy of a waiver wire pickup.
Whittington has added value to his name for the near future, given the loss of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nucua in Los Angeles.
Kupp suffered an ankle injury in Week 2, missing the last two weeks. Nacua, on the other hand, was placed on the injured reserve, meaning his earliest return would be Week 7. So, if both receivers miss significant time, Whittington is the team’s top receiver. As well, he showed promise for L.A. during the preseason:
#Rams rookie 6th round pick WR Jordan Whittington first half stats:
🏈5 Catches
🏈67 YardsDid the Rams find another Puka Nacua? 🤔pic.twitter.com/OyfO5yT3qb
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 11, 2024
Behind Whittington are Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyler Johnson. It’s safe to say that, without Kupp and Nacua, the Rams will need their depth players to step up to the plate.
Week 4 was Whittington’s best performance this season, totaling six receptions for 62 yards. Up to Week 4, he totaled just five receptions for 50 yards. While his production might dip following the return of Kupp and Nacua, Whittington could be a strong waiver wire addition.
On the other hand, Carolina’s rookie could also be a smart waiver wire add this week. Legette, the 6’3″, 227-pound rookie receiver out of South Carolina, has had a quiet start to his NFL career. However, it’s not all Legette’s fault.
In his first two starts, he caught passes from Bryce Young, who got benched after his Week 2 performance. However, when Andy Dalton took over for Young, Legette’s production increased immediately.
It’s no secret that Young struggled through his first two seasons in the NFL. Young’s future with the Panthers is uncertain, but while Dalton leads this air attack, Legette is likely to be utilized more frequently.
When choosing between Whittington and Legette, it’s more dependent on what the manager wants. Whittington is likely the choice for a short-term fix due to his expected target share for the next handful of weeks. Once Kupp and Nacua return, the Whittington experiment could be over, though.
When Whittington’s fantasy contributions could be lightening up, Legette could still be a strong contributor. However, with the Panthers placing Adam Thielen on the injured reserve, Diontae Johnson has led Carolina in targets both weeks Dalton has started. Considering the competition for targets in Carolina, it lowers Legette’s value a little bit.