Dynasty Rankings vs ADP: Sleeper Wide Receivers
Welcome back to my series exploring rankings vs ADP and looking for opportunities in our dynasty leagues.
Let’s keep it rolling from last week, looking at sleepers who DLF rankers are interested, but this time at the wide receiver position.
Compared to running back, rankings have less in common when it comes to sleepers at wide receivers. There is no consensus waiver wire add and a greater number of players who are rostered, or ranked, by only one DLF ranker than we saw last week.
You can find links to DLF rankings here and the current July Superflex ADP here.
The view from 250
First off, a reminder of how rankings and ADP compare, by position, in round 21 (252 players drafted, 250 players ranked.)
Rankings are always a lot heavier at wide receiver than ADP but by the end of round 21, rankers have taken only four more players at the position (99 vs 95). The main difference is that they are taking them earlier by round.
We have to dig through the raw data tabs to find the missing players, so once again apologies for the lack of formatting.
Wide Receivers being Drafted who are not Ranked
I decided to do this section first, because it’s quick and easy. Only two players are being drafted who rankers currently are not taking the time to rank. Thus suggesting we, as a group, have little to no interest in them.
Marvin Jones, WR DET
It can’t be a great sign that one of the first results when I looked Jones up was the question: “Does Marvin Jones still play?” The answer, however, is yes, he signed a one-year contract for 2023 with Detroit (for $3 million). His path to relevance runs through Amon-Ra St. Brown and sophomore star Jameson Williams (even if he’s yet to be listed on the official depth chart).
Josh Reynolds also exists in Detroit and is a stalwart veteran – at this point – capable and familiar with working a support role should the sophomore star not be ready, or struggle, in his second-year debut.
I’ve always been willing to find room on my bench for previously productive players, but Jones feels like the cloggiest of roster cloggers right now.
Charlie Jones, WR CIN
While it’s a very late pick in the mocks, I don’t take a shot on the depth of the Cincinnati depth chart behind Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. But apparently, they are some who do. Charlie Jones was drafted in 2023 in the fourth round at pick 131. He played for three different teams in college@ Buffalo, Iowa, and Purdue. His senior season in 2023 resulted in 110 receptions and 1,361 yards, which is a nice stat line, but as a senior breakout on a very deep depth chart in the NFL, it’s hard to imagine his path to relevance for fantasy right now.
Standing 5’11” tall and 175 lbs, with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine, some have found enough space in their heart and bench for the college player who managed to elevate well from the MAC to the Big Ten in 2022.
Wide Receivers being Ranked who are not Drafted
Essentially these are the players who rankings are suggesting we search the waiver wire for if we have the space, interest, and tenacity to roster in dynasty – the sleepiest of sleepers, as it were.
Mecole Hardman, WR NYJ
This is the highest-ranked WR who is currently left undrafted in my rankings. I think a lot of drafters are searching for potential upside in New York with their freshly minted ringer, Aaron Rodgers. Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and even Michael Carter are being drafted higher than DLF rankings (heck folks are even taking shots on Allen Lazard again at pick 70) and also higher than redraft ADP right now. But the high variance Hardman is being forgotten.
I still don’t imagine he has the consistent volume we’d like to be a regular starter, but as a flex play, he seems like a decent bet in 2023.
Jalen Tolbert, WR DAL
Mike Havens is the highest on Tolbert and has him ranked higher than any other player WR not being drafted, 138th overall. I find it hard to squeeze players onto the depth chart after they failed to earn volume in their rookie season, however, Tolbert could be an oversight.
If you don’t believe in the continuance of Brandin Cooks or the receiving potential of Tony Pollard, maybe the sterling college profile of Tolbert could still offer an edge. The former third-round pick from last year, with the now, hopefully healthy, return of Dak Prescott in 2023 is interesting.
The rest
There’s also a plethora of players (six) whom one of us has ranked but the rest don’t, who are not drafted in ADP. Something like our own personal pan of sleepers: Xavier Hutchinson (that’s my fella!), Jarvis Landry, Jauan Jennings, Demario Douglas, Tyler Scott and Derius Davis.
UDFA's matter | British ex-pat | Writer of things
- Peter Howard: Dynasty Fantasy Football Superflex Rankings Explained - March 6, 2024
- Dynasty Target and Regression Trends: Week 15 - December 23, 2023
- Dynasty Target and Regression Trends: Week 14 - December 16, 2023
