Wide receivers are now ahead of running backs in the pecking order of fantasy football drafts. With the league becoming more passer-friendly, wide receivers are everything in fantasy football, especially in PPR leagues. That said, I have three late-round wide receivers priced at WR40, WR50, and WR67. These three Wide Receivers are being viewed as WR4s and below.
These three wide receivers are Diontae Johnson, Curtis Samuel, and Darnell Mooney. Diontae Johnson is the only one out of the three being drafted somewhat early. Even with his ADP of halfway through the fifth round at 67.5, Johnson is a top-15 receiver.
3 Late-Round Wide Receivers to Target in 2024 Fantasy Football Drafts
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers, WR40, ADP 67.5
Although Diontae Johnson has finished as the WR39 in consecutive seasons, it was not his fault. He appeared in just 13 games last season. Also, he was the product of horrid Quarterback play in 2022 and 2023. Now, he has found a new home on the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers did their best this off-season to get Bryce Young help on the offense. Yes, Young had one of the worst rookie seasons a Quarterback could have had, but the positive is that things can only improve. With Dave Canales taking over as the head coach, he has done a tremendous job improving the offense for his young Quarterback.
In addition, it was just three seasons ago that Diontae Johnson finished as the WR8 on a ppg basis with the ghost of Ben Rothlisberger. Since 2019, there have been only seven other players to have more targets than Diontae Johnson. Furthermore, his 2021 season featured him being ranked first in routes ran, second in targets, fifth in receptions, and ninth in receiving yards. With a grandpa version of Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette, along with Jonathan Mingo, and Terrace Marshall as the other Wide Receivers, Diontae Johnson is DESTROYING his ADP in 2024. Diontae Johnson returns to his 2021 form in 2024. Are you in?
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons, WR67, ADP 147.0
First of all, Kyle Pitts and Drake London are the top dawgs in the passing attack for the Atlanta Falcons. This is known information, but they cannot catch every single pass attempt Kirk Cousins throws in 2024. Darnell Mooney is a fantastic value amongst the late-round wide receivers taken around him in drafts. Mooney is three years removed from finishing as the WR27 on a ppg basis. His quarterbacks were Justin Fields, Andy Dalton, and Nick Foles that season. Since then, he has remained quiet but finds himself with an amazing opportunity. Key members of the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff have found their way to the Falcons.
Year in and year out, the Falcons always have a steady offense that performs well. With a monster at Running Back in Bijan Robinson and two towers in Kyle Pitts and Drake London, Mooney is in the perfect position to crush his WR67 ADP. An ADP of 147 is in the 13th round. No one, and I mean no one, has Darnell Mooney on their radar. He is the perfect sleeper wide receiver. expect to see him among the top 30 wide receivers when the season ends.
Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills, WR50, ADP 91.0
First of all, there will be people who love to look back on old seasons and make comparisons that can help them avoid or draft certain players. Also, there are times we make Fantasy Football hard, but at times, it can be very easy. Now, the Buffalo Bills lost not just their WR1, but their WR2, as well. The last time Curtis Samuel was with Joe Brady (Bills offensive coordinator), he had the best season of his career with a WR27 finish on a ppg basis. He also had over 90 targets in back-to-back seasons but had bad quarterback play that did not result in much.
Samuel now gets to play with the best quarterback of his career and one of the greatest fantasy football quarterbacks, ever. Josh Allen elevates anyone he plays with and losing his top two wide receivers means that leaning on Samuel is something that can easily happen. Keon Coleman is the day-two pick of the Bills, but his college resume is not something to be going ballistic about.
Courtesy of David Gautieri’s research, Coleman averaged just 1.82 YPRR vs. Man which ranked him 115th out of 175 Wide Receivers. The thought is that since the Bills lost Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs Coleman will automatically see WR1 numbers. I do not see it. I see Dalton Kincaid setting fantasy football on fire being a top 3 tight-end and Curtis Samuel leading the Bills Wide Receiver room in 2024.
Who’s your favorite dark horse QB1? Drop some names in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.