Wide Receiver Depth Charts (2 Viewers)

[Ramblin Wreck]

Similar to the thread about RB's likely to lose their spot atop the depth chart, thought it might be a good discussion to see which WR will ascend to the top of their depth charts this year.

BUF: Shakir, Coleman, Palmer, E. Moore, Samuel
MIA: Hill, Waddle, Washington, Westbrook-Ihkine
NE: Diggs, Hollins, Douglas, Bourne, Kyle Williams, Boutte, Polk, Baker - adjusted order based on Anarchy response
NYJ: Wilson, Lazard, Reynolds, Corley, Gipson, Arian Smith
BAL: Flowers, Bateman, Hopkins, Tez Walker, T. Wallace
CIN: Chase, Higgins, Iosivas, Burton
CLE: Jeudy, Tillman, Diontae Johnson, Thrash, Bell, Woods
PIT: Metcalf, R. Woods, Austin, R. Wilson, Miller
HOU: Collins, Kirk, J. Higgins, Noel, Metchie, Watson (assume Dell is out for the season)
IND: Downs, Pittman, Pierce, Mitchell, Dulin
JAX: Thomas, Hunter, D. Brown, P. Washington
TEN: Ridley, Lockett, Jefferson, Ayomanor, Dike, T. Burks, Restrepo
DEN: Sutton, Mims, Vele, Bryant, Franklin
KC: Rice, Worthy, Hollywood, Juju, Royals, Skyy
LV: Meyers, Bech, T. Tucker, Thornton, K. Phillips
LAC: McConkey, Mike Williams, Tre Harris, Q. Johnston, Reagor, D. Davis

DAL: Lamb, Pickens, Tolbert, Turpin, Mingo
NYG: Nabers, Wandale, Slayton, Hyatt
PHI: Brown, Smith, Dotson, J. Wilson, T. Marshall
WAS: McLaurin, Deebo, McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, N. Brown, Gallup
CHI: Moore, Odunze, Burden, Zaccheaus, Duvernay, T. Scott
DET: ARSB, Jameson, T. Patrick, TeSlaa, Raymond, Lovett
GB: Golden, Reed, Doubs, Watson, Wicks, Savion, Melton, Hardman
MIN: Jefferson, Addison, Nailor, Felton, R. Moore
ATL: London, Mooney, McCloud, Hodge, Nash
CAR: T. McMillan, Thielen, Legette, Coker, Renfrow, Horn
NO: Olave, Shaheed, Cooks, K. Austin, Means, Pettis, C. Wilson
TB: Evans, Godwin, Egbuka, J. McMillan, Tez Johnson, T. Palmer, Shepard
ARI: Harrison, Wilson, Dortch, Zay Jones, Fehoko
LAR: Nacua, Adams, Atwell, Whittington, Mumpfield
SF: Jennings, Aiyuk, Pearsall, D. Robinson, Cowing, Watkins
SEA: JSN, Kupp, MVS, Horton, Bobo, R. White

 

[King of the Jungle]

I like the post idea, but having all of the depth chart listed may entice more conversation. DEN and PIT are interesting to me. DEN has Sutton, Vele, Mims, Franklin, Bryant. They also added Harvey who they like as a pass catcher and Engram at TE. Seems like a mess for FF but great for Nix. PIT signs Rodgers and has DK who I do not see as a guy who Rodgers would trust to throw to 10 ti,es a game. Big play potential for sure, but not the trusty route runner Rodgers has had in the past. This could mean a bigger role for Roman Wilson (unknown) or maybe we see Calvin Austin more focused on (who has some route running chops).

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I like the post idea, but having all of the depth chart listed may entice more conversation. DEN and PIT are interesting to me. DEN has Sutton, Vele, Mims, Franklin, Bryant. They also added Harvey who they like as a pass catcher and Engram at TE. Seems like a mess for FF but great for Nix. PIT signs Rodgers and has DK who I do not see as a guy who Rodgers would trust to throw to 10 ti,es a game. Big play potential for sure, but not the trusty route runner Rodgers has had in the past. This could mean a bigger role for Roman Wilson (unknown) or maybe we see Calvin Austin more focused on (who has some route running chops).

Wasn't sure if that would add too much noise. I mentioned Vele and Bryant with Denver but did leave out Franklin, who I believe is 5th on the depth chart and 4th at best if Bryant gets a slow start.

I don't see Rodgers trusting Austin and especially essentially a rookie in Wilson. Could maybe see him develop chemistry with Woods because he's a savvy vet. I think DK will get massive targets from Rodgers because he's far and away the best pass catcher on that team. If they signed Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper and those guys aren't cooked I would back off DK some. If the Steelers trade for Lazard, obviously he becomes the #1.

Good discussion points. I can add depth charts 5-6 deep and move my comments to a separate post if that helps everyone else generate some good discussion on these situations.

 

[Boone22]

I’d add Dionte Johnson for Cleveland. He’s know he’s a nut job but I expect him to get significant enough targets to be relevant.

 

[Anarchy99]

NE: Diggs & Kyle Williams. Think Williams will pass Douglas and be ahead of Boutte, Hollins, and Polk in terms of targets and production.

I am not searching for and cutting and pasting all my thoughts on the NE WRs. But to summarize, in 20 years as an OC and HC, rookie receivers have been an afterthought in the McDaniels offense. It's extremely complicated, and JMD almost always goes with established vets. Everyone forgets about Bourne, who had a career year and 925 yards in 2021 under McDaniels (ranking as the #32 fantasy WR that year). If they didn't plan on keeping and using him, he would have been gone already. Having already played under McDaniels, he has a big advantage in that regard.

As I see things, the primary guys this year in terms of playing time will be Diggs, Bourne, Hollins, and Douglas with Williams learning on the fly and taking baby steps. The other young guys are probably fighting for a single roster spot (Boutte, Polk, Baker) and may not end up on the roster. They were selections by other regimes, and Vrabel has been quick to move on from players in that category. Boutte has said to have been on the trading block, but I can't imagine they would get much in return. The other guy grabbing headlines has been UDFA Chism, and many people think he will earn a spot on the regular roster.

In general, I am not swayed by any of the reports coming out of camp. The tweets and blurbs on this guys leave out the obvious that some good catches have come in two hand touch sessions in shorts against the #8 CB that will be lucky to make the practice squad. On top of that, a lot of the guys near the top of the depth chart have been skipping practice, meaning that guys like Chism wouldn't normally be getting the reps they have been getting.

 

[Bri]

There's other threads for Titans.
I don't think any team is ever wide open at WR but with that said, they're one of the teams that are pretty close to being wide open at WR and TE.
People tweet "do I want a Titans WR" and that's fair. They haven't had good QB play or line play in a few years and in comes a rookie.

I lean that way but I think try a favorite for FF. IDC who but I think it could certainly be a bye week cover.

In brief, Miami dinked and dunked before taking a shot and that's a fair way to employ a rookie too- comfort risk and everything. Sometimes this is incorrectly said about a stud athlete and ...IDC it's workable for FF.

Lockett can be the short game guy and hit him deep. Or do you like Elic or his boy Restrepo? Are u still hoping Ridley pans out? Dike isn't at all just deep but his writeups present that and he's got that knack for selling routes. Oliver is gonna scratch and claw for the ball. Is that what a rookie needs? Pick one is what I say.

 

[Bri]

I'm very much against Fields. His 23? 2400 yards passing average is disturbing. That's my starting point.
Y'all want to draft Wilson (who I'm a big fan of) then fine but I'm gonna wait and see if he falls.
Did the Jets forget to add WRs? This is fuel for the Fields supporters, no doubt, but Reynolds is the next WR? Really? I'm not buying it.

We're gonna feign surprise when Lazard is a Steeler and the Jets will add someone or maybe Corley or someone else steps up. There's a void that will be filled.

I've already thought too much on a share of 2400 yards for FF.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

First post edited with more full depth charts. Happy to add anyone you all think will make an impact this year or generate discussion

 

[TheWinz]

In terms of WR target leader, most teams have a clear cut #1. Here are teams that may not be so cut and dry:
BUF - Shakir is expected to lead the pack, but Coleman may not be all that far behind
SF - Jennings & Pearsall should be within 20 targets of each other
CHI - Will Odunze take over from Moore this year? My guess is DJ holds him off again.
IND - Pittman/Downs will vie for team lead, while Mitchell/Pierce battle for the #3 spot
SEA - If Kupp looks good and stays on the field, he will even it out with JSN
KC - Worthy got a decent amount after Rice went down. We all saw Rice running cones though.
MIA - Waddle could give Tyreek a run for his money, but I doubt it

I think the remaining 25 teams have a clear target leader.

 

[JohnnyU]

In terms of WR target leader, most teams have a clear cut #1. Here are teams that may not be so cut and dry:
BUF - Shakir is expected to lead the pack, but Coleman may not be all that far behind
SF - Jennings & Pearsall should be within 20 targets of each other
CHI - Will Odunze take over from Moore this year? My guess is DJ holds him off again.
IND - Pittman/Downs will vie for team lead, while Mitchell/Pierce battle for the #3 spot
SEA - If Kupp looks good and stays on the field, he will even it out with JSN
KC - Worthy got a decent amount after Rice went down. We all saw Rice running cones though.
MIA - Waddle could give Tyreek a run for his money, but I doubt it

I think the remaining 25 teams have a clear target leader.

Downs / Pittman will no doubt lead WRs targets, but neither will lead the team in targets most likely.

 

[TheWinz]

In terms of WR target leader, most teams have a clear cut #1. Here are teams that may not be so cut and dry:
BUF - Shakir is expected to lead the pack, but Coleman may not be all that far behind
SF - Jennings & Pearsall should be within 20 targets of each other
CHI - Will Odunze take over from Moore this year? My guess is DJ holds him off again.
IND - Pittman/Downs will vie for team lead, while Mitchell/Pierce battle for the #3 spot
SEA - If Kupp looks good and stays on the field, he will even it out with JSN
KC - Worthy got a decent amount after Rice went down. We all saw Rice running cones though.
MIA - Waddle could give Tyreek a run for his money, but I doubt it

I think the remaining 25 teams have a clear target leader.

Downs / Pittman will no doubt lead WRs targets, but neither will lead the team in targets most likely.

Your money is on the rookie?

 

[King of the Jungle]

I like the post idea, but having all of the depth chart listed may entice more conversation. DEN and PIT are interesting to me. DEN has Sutton, Vele, Mims, Franklin, Bryant. They also added Harvey who they like as a pass catcher and Engram at TE. Seems like a mess for FF but great for Nix. PIT signs Rodgers and has DK who I do not see as a guy who Rodgers would trust to throw to 10 ti,es a game. Big play potential for sure, but not the trusty route runner Rodgers has had in the past. This could mean a bigger role for Roman Wilson (unknown) or maybe we see Calvin Austin more focused on (who has some route running chops).

Wasn't sure if that would add too much noise. I mentioned Vele and Bryant with Denver but did leave out Franklin, who I believe is 5th on the depth chart and 4th at best if Bryant gets a slow start.

I don't see Rodgers trusting Austin and especially essentially a rookie in Wilson. Could maybe see him develop chemistry with Woods because he's a savvy vet. I think DK will get massive targets from Rodgers because he's far and away the best pass catcher on that team. If they signed Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper and those guys aren't cooked I would back off DK some. If the Steelers trade for Lazard, obviously he becomes the #1.

Good discussion points. I can add depth charts 5-6 deep and move my comments to a separate post if that helps everyone else generate some good discussion on these situations.

Not sure how Franklin slipped my mind, that is quite the depth chart to figure out. I imagine Payton will make use of all of them in some fashion. Good point on Woods, I overlooked him as well. I have to think they will add a vet as well.

Zaccheaus in CHI may be a small sleeper for the ARSB role. Burden has a soft tissue injury and Z is getting some early praise.

 

[JohnnyU]

In terms of WR target leader, most teams have a clear cut #1. Here are teams that may not be so cut and dry:
BUF - Shakir is expected to lead the pack, but Coleman may not be all that far behind
SF - Jennings & Pearsall should be within 20 targets of each other
CHI - Will Odunze take over from Moore this year? My guess is DJ holds him off again.
IND - Pittman/Downs will vie for team lead, while Mitchell/Pierce battle for the #3 spot
SEA - If Kupp looks good and stays on the field, he will even it out with JSN
KC - Worthy got a decent amount after Rice went down. We all saw Rice running cones though.
MIA - Waddle could give Tyreek a run for his money, but I doubt it

I think the remaining 25 teams have a clear target leader.

Downs / Pittman will no doubt lead WRs targets, but neither will lead the team in targets most likely.

Your money is on the rookie?

Yeah, I believe Warren will lead the team in targets, or be a close second behind Downs.

 

[TheWinz]

Yeah, I believe Warren will lead the team in targets, or be a close second behind Downs.

At his current rankings, he is a complete steal then. Now I have to figure out the lowest a TE has ever finished while leading their team in targets. I'll get back with the answer.

 

[TheWinz]

Yeah, I believe Warren will lead the team in targets, or be a close second behind Downs.

At his current rankings, he is a complete steal then. Now I have to figure out the lowest a TE has ever finished while leading their team in targets. I'll get back with the answer.

BUF's Charles Clay in 2016. He finished TE18 on 87 targets (57/552/4). He was TE13 in targets.

 

[Lansdowne]

Yeah, I believe Warren will lead the team in targets, or be a close second behind Downs.

At his current rankings, he is a complete steal then. Now I have to figure out the lowest a TE has ever finished while leading their team in targets. I'll get back with the answer.

2024 - Hunter Henry, NE (97)
2023 - Trey McBride, Ari (106)
2022 - Cole Kmet, Chi (69)
2021 - Kyle Pitts, Atl (110)
2020 - Evan Engram, NYG (109)
2019 - Jack Doyle, Ind (72)
2018 - Jordan Reed, Was (84)
2017 - Delanie Walker, Ten (111)
2016 - Charles Clay, Buf (87)
2015 - Jason Witten, Dal (104)
2014 - Jared Cook, StL (99)
2013 - Jared Cook, StL (83/85/86)*

*This is an odd one… ESPN has him at 83, Pro-Football-Reference has him at 85, FantasyPros has him at 86, either way he led the team in targets that year

I couldn’t find a definite answer so I did my own research and came up with this. I used FantasyPros’ historical data since it includes targets and target share. It only goes back to 2013 so that’s as far as I got. Will be hard pressed to find one lower than Kmet’s 69 from 2022. The Bears’ passing attack under Justin Fields that year was truly dreadful.

 

[TheWinz]

Yeah, I believe Warren will lead the team in targets, or be a close second behind Downs.

At his current rankings, he is a complete steal then. Now I have to figure out the lowest a TE has ever finished while leading their team in targets. I'll get back with the answer.

2024 - Hunter Henry, NE (97) - TE11
2023 - Trey McBride, Ari (106) - TE7
2022 - Cole Kmet, Chi (69) - TE8
2021 - Kyle Pitts, Atl (110) - TE6
2020 - Evan Engram, NYG (109) - TE15
2019 - Jack Doyle, Ind (72) - TE15
2018 - Jordan Reed, Was (84) - TE15
2017 - Delanie Walker, Ten (111) - TE5
2016 - Charles Clay, Buf (87) - TE18
2015 - Jason Witten, Dal (104) - TE11
2014 - Jared Cook, StL (99) - TE19
2013 - Jared Cook, StL (83/85/86)* - TE12

*This is an odd one… ESPN has him at 83, Pro-Football-Reference has him at 85, FantasyPros has him at 86, either way he led the team in targets that year

I couldn’t find a definite answer so I did my own research and came up with this. I used FantasyPros’ historical data since it includes targets and target share. It only goes back to 2013 so that’s as far as I got. Will be hard pressed to find one lower than Kmet’s 69 from 2022. The Bears’ passing attack under Justin Fields that year was truly dreadful.

 

[Lansdowne]

^ I might have misread your initial reply @TheWinz , I searched for fewest targets by TE who led team in targets, not necessarily by fantasy position ranking. There could be some other TEs with slightly higher target totals who finished worse in fantasy.

 

[TheWinz]

^ I might have misread your initial reply @TheWinz , I searched for fewest targets by TE who led team in targets, not necessarily by fantasy position ranking. There could be some other TEs with slightly higher target totals who finished worse in fantasy.

No problem. JohnnyU made me curious by suggesting TE Warren could lead IND in targets this year. I'm surprised that some of the folks finished as low as they did. Engram was 4th in TE targets in 2020 (109), and finished as TE15. He got outscored by a guy with 50 less targets!

 

[Lansdowne]

^ I might have misread your initial reply @TheWinz , I searched for fewest targets by TE who led team in targets, not necessarily by fantasy position ranking. There could be some other TEs with slightly higher target totals who finished worse in fantasy.

No problem. JohnnyU made me curious by suggesting TE Warren could lead IND in targets this year. I'm surprised that some of the folks finished as low as they did. Engram was 4th in TE targets in 2020 (109), and finished as TE15. He got outscored by a guy with 50 less targets!

Yup, such is the life of the TE. Most are very TD-dependent to have value. Look at a guy like Kyle Pitts, once considered a generational prospect with fantasy WR1 type upside at the TE position. But rarely has seen the end zone. His historic rookie season of over 1,000 yards was still only good for TE10 on the year because of having just 1 TD. If he had a mere 5 TD season that would’ve made him TE3 overall that year. Pitts has been a disappointment despite putting up low end TE1 numbers because the valleys come a lot more often than the peaks. He’s a garden variety TE for fantasy purposes when he should be a whole lot more. Imagine if he was able to leverage his size and be more of a force in the end zone. He was one of 13 different TE’s to surpass 600 yards on the year. TE’s are more athletic than ever so 600 yards is nothing special. Without the TD’s it’s just empty calories.

Getting back to WRs I think back to Keyshawn Johnson’s 2001 season where he had a 106 rec 1,266 yd season. Stud numbers… except he only caught 1 TD, and finished WR28. It was good enough to make the Pro Bowl, but that was of little consolation to fantasy managers.

I could see a guy like Tyler Warren possibly leading the Colts in targets, but he’ll need to get in the end zone a lot on top of it or it may not matter that much. Trey McBride was a stud last season and the only thing that kept him from overall TE1 was the lack of TD’s. I worry that Josh Downs will gobble up enough targets that Warren will be especially TD dependent even if he somehow has an elite target share (20+%). And between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones I wouldn’t expect a ton of volume in the passing game.

 

[TheWinz]

I think we've hijacked this thread enough. Now, back to your regularly scheduled program...

LAC: McConkey, Mike Williams, Tre Harris, Q. Johnston, Reagor, D. Davis
McConkey is the top dog here, but 2 thru 4 is a crapshoot. I'm rooting for Big Mike to have a healthy season and secure the 2 spot.

 

[Bri]

First post edited with more full depth charts. Happy to add anyone you all think will make an impact this year or generate discussion

Bryce Oliver Titans