Must-Have Fantasy Football Wide Receivers for 2024

The 2024 fantasy football season is almost here. While the preseason is entertaining after going seven months without NFL-caliber football, there is something more important happening over the next few weeks -- fantasy football drafts.

There are several draft strategies fantasy players can use to win their fantasy football league. However, fantasy players always want to leave the draft with the guys on their must-have list. Every fantasy player wants to grab their guys, whether it’s a high-priced quarterback, a mid-round running back, or a sleeper tight end.

Below are nine wide receivers on my must-have list this season. I won’t draft all of them in the same league, but I want as many shares of these wide receivers as possible this year. The ADP used in this article is via RotoBaller.

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Early Round Fantasy Football Targets

Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): ADP 8.2 | WR4

There haven’t been many wide receivers who have been more consistent than St. Brown since he entered the NFL. The veteran finished as the WR8 in 2022 and the WR3 last season, averaging 15.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over those two years. St. Brown is the focal point of Detroit’s passing attack, posting the sixth-highest target share (27.9%) and the fourth-highest targets per route run rate (30%) among wide receivers with at least 70 routes in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data).

The former USC star is coming off the best year of his career, setting career-highs in receptions (119), targets (164), receiving yards (1,515), and touchdowns (10). Furthermore, the superstar was one of seven players with double-digit receiving scores despite his teammate, Sam LaPorta, also scoring 10 touchdowns last season.

A wide open @amonra_stbrown gives the @Lions the lead ‼️#DETvsGB on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/zUoTWf7h2y pic.twitter.com/gsxRGKhDzY

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2023

Justin Jefferson (MIN): ADP 9.2 | WR5

Jefferson has been the most dominant wide receiver since joining the NFL. The former LSU star has averaged 98.3 receiving yards per game in 60 career contests. Puka Nacua (87.4 in 17 games) and Calvin Johnson (86.1 in 135) are the only two other receivers in NFL history to average more than 85 receiving yards per contest in their career with at least five games played.

More importantly, Jefferson has never finished lower than the WR8 in half-point PPR scoring on a points-per-game basis any year of his career. The superstar missed seven games and left two others early because of injury last season. Yet, Jefferson had over 100 targets and 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth consecutive year in 2023. Although J.J. McCarthy (knee) is out for the season, he should be peppered with targets by Sam Darnold.

Nico Collins (HOU): ADP 36.3 | WR15

The former Michigan star was a popular third-year breakout candidate last year and one of my favorite draft targets. Collins was a fantasy stud, ending the season as the WR9, averaging 14.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had a higher fantasy points per game average than Puka Nacua (14.5), Mike Evans (14.3), and A.J. Brown (13.9).

While he will have target competition, Collins is Houston’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver. Tank Dell is coming off a massive leg injury, while Stefon Diggs is on the wrong side of 30 and has had back-to-back years with late-season struggles. More importantly, Collins had a significantly higher yards per route run rate (3.37) than Dell (2.40) and Diggs (2.06) in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data).

Mid-Round Fantasy Football Targets

Malik Nabers (NYG): ADP 46.1 | WR21

The Giants will have one of the worst passing offenses this year because of their quarterback situation. However, Nabers will succeed because of his expected high target share and elite talent. The team lacks a proven pass-catcher following Darren Waller’s retirement, opening the door for the rookie wide receiver to become the focal point of the offense.

Meanwhile, Nabers ranked first in the NFL Draft class in yards per route run (3.64) among wide receivers with at least 20 targets last season (per PFF). The former LSU star has made several highlight-reel receptions in training camp and has been the star of the offense for New York. Don’t be surprised if Nabers is a top-12 wide receiver as a rookie.

@whyguard13 showing why not. Daniel Jones puts it on him after double move. Cor’Dale Flott didn’t have a chance. Malik Nabers earned that one after getting praise from Shea Tierney and Jones for his block on WR screen to Wan’Dale Robinson #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/rqWZPau6QV

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 1, 2024

Amari Cooper (CLE): ADP 57.1 | WR25

Cleveland started five quarterbacks last year. Yet, Cooper was the WR18, averaging more half-point PPR fantasy points per game (12.7) than Davante Adams, Michael Pittman Jr., and Chris Olave. Furthermore, the veteran was outstanding playing with any quarterback besides Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Cooper averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game in the 12 contests he played that Thompson-Robinson didn’t start, which would have made him the WR6 on a points-per-game basis. If Deshaun Watson stays healthy for all 17 games, Cooper could be a top-12 receiver despite the addition of Jerry Jeudy.

Chris Godwin (TB): ADP 72.8 | WR32

Fantasy players struggled with starting Godwin, as he scored 9.6 or fewer half-point PPR fantasy points in 64.7% of the games last season. Furthermore, the veteran averaged under 10 fantasy points per game for the first time since 2018. However, Godwin is primed for a bounce-back year.

The Buccaneers are moving the veteran wide receiver back to his natural position in the slot. The former Penn State star averaged 0.41 fantasy points per route run in the slot compared to 0.26 lined up outside last season (per Fantasy Points Data). There is a chance Godwin outscores Mike Evans in 2024.

Late-Round Fantasy Football Targets

Darnell Mooney (ATL): ADP 169.1 | WR63

Mooney was once considered one of the better young wide receivers in the NFL. Unfortunately, he was an afterthought on an inconsistent Chicago Bears passing attack last year, averaging only 4.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, there is hope for Mooney in Atlanta with Kirk Cousins under center.

The veteran quarterback has produced two top-12 wide receivers in the same season twice during his time with the Minnesota Vikings (2018 and 2020). While Mooney won’t be a top-12 guy, the veteran is a capable receiver, putting up a 1,000-yard receiving season in his career. He should easily outperform his ADP.

Wan'Dale Robinson (NYG): ADP 199.1 | WR72

New York’s receiving corps lacks a proven pass-catcher. While Malik Nabers should be a fantasy star as a rookie, Robinson is the better value at draft cost. Daniel Jones loves to target the middle part of the field, which will help the slot receiver.

In the five games he played with Jones last season, Robinson had a 26% targets per route run rate and a 20.2% first-read target share (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, the former Kentucky star had six or more targets in nearly half of his games last year. Don’t be surprised if Robinson has a third-year breakout.

Javon Baker (NE): ADP 295.2 | WR86

I have been a massive fan of Baker’s all offseason, picking him in nearly every dynasty rookie draft and many of my best ball teams. We have seen NFL Draft Day 3 picks turn into fantasy stars as a rookie, including Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown. More importantly, Baker had the 11th-highest PFF receiving grade in the draft class last year.

The former UCF star posted a higher yards per route run average than Rome Odunze (3.21 vs. 2.93) in 2023. Furthermore, Baker ranked in the 97th percentile in college target share. Fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if he turns into Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye’s go-to target, especially after making several impressive plays during training camp.

Bake brings it down 👀@JBrissett12 | @Javondbaker1 pic.twitter.com/O33I7TSmSu

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 29, 2024

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