Wide receiver is the most drafted position and usually the most started. With the rise of PPR leagues, finding wide receiver sleepers or streamers can often make or break your week. With that in mind, each week, we will give you three wide receiver sleepers or streamers to help you win your fantasy matchup.
For our purposes we will consider a streamer as a player started in under 70% of Fantrax leagues, and a sleeper as someone started in under 40% of Fantrax leagues.
Wide Receiver Streamers
Jaxon Smith Njigba – Seattle Seahawks: 48% started
It’s curious to me that Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett are back-to-back in terms of start percentage. Season long I lean towards Lockett who has proven to be a solid WR3 for your team year after year, despite Smith-Njigba being a post-hype sleeper. I’m worried about Lockett for Week 1. He is dealing with a leg injury and hasn’t practiced or played in a while. This has opened the door for J.S.N. to get first-team reps and build chemistry with Geno Smith. He will be facing the Broncos who aren’t super deep at the cornerback position which will open up space for Smith-Njigba. With D.K. Metcalf taking the top off defenses and pulling star safety Brandon Jones away J.S.N. should be in the WR3 if not higher range this week making him a solid wide receiver streamer.
Keon Coleman – Buffalo Bills: 45% started
I know he is a rookie and that is scary since we have never seen him in meaningful NFL games. When I’m looking for a wide receiver streamer I want someone who can be first or second on his team in targets, has a favorable matchup, and a game script that leans towards passing. Keon Coleman checks both of those boxes. He was drafted to be the guy in Buffalo. We know that the offense will throw the ball at least 30 times. The Arizona Cardinals are capable of putting up points with Kyler Murray at the helm so the Bills can’t completely go run heavy. Coleman will also be covered by one of two Cardinal defenders who PFF.com has rated as the 89th or worse in the league. The Coleman train is leaving the station. Don’t let those fantasy points get left behind on your bench.
Jakobi Meyers – Las Vegas Raiders: 44% started
We forget that Jakobi Meyers had eight touchdowns and finished 2023 as the WR24. It was his best season as a pro and it came with a revolving door at quarterback. The Raiders have their quarterback for 2024 in Gardner Minshew. Now Meyers has to reproduce or improve his 2023 season numbers. He gets a great chase to start off strong against the Los Angeles Chargers. Top coverage of Asante Samuel Jr. and probably safety Alohi Gilman will be on Davante Adams. This leaves Kristian Fulton to cover Meyers. Rated as PFF.com’s 113th best cover corner it should allow Meyers to match if not better his 2023 Week 15 production. In that game, he scored 15 fantasy points on the back of a touchdown and two receptions for 32 yards. It’s not great volume or yardage but as a wide receiver streamer, I like having someone who has a high touchdown percentage. Meyers had 16 red zone targets last season.
Wide receiver Sleepers
Romeo Doubs – Green Bay Packers: 37% started
It’s crazy to me that both Jayden Reed and Christian Watson are started more than Romeo Doubs. Doubs to me is the more consistent receiver in that offense and should see a higher snap and target share. The big question for all the Green Bay Packers wide receivers is who will see the Philadelphia Eagles top cover man, Darius Slay. I think at times he will be on Doubs but won’t travel with him. I expect safety Reed Blankenship to stay back to prevent Watson from getting deep. The other two corners for the Eagles are Isaiah Rodgers who is coming back after serving a year-long suspension and rookie Quinyon Mitchell. Both have looked good in preseason but could show some rust and inexperience in Week 1. Doubs is a wide receiver sleeper because of his route running and ability to be the safety blanket for Jordan Love who should see plenty of pressure from the Eagles pass rush.
Tyler Boyd – Tennessee Titans: 16% started
The Tennessee Titans are all in this year. They made a ton of moves in free agency to bolster their skill positions and one that is often overlooked is Tyler Boyd. He rejoins Brain Callahan who is now head coach after spending years as the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. Boyd is a sneaky wide receiver sleeper play this week. Star DeAndre Hopkins is projected to be a go for the game but has been dealing with a knee injury all preseason. If Hopkins is less than 100% it would mean more time outside for Boyd where he gets a better coverage matchup. The slot corner for the Chicago Bears is Kyler Gordon who was solid last year. We’ve seen Boyd have blow-up weeks when one of the top guys is down, If Hopkins misses or isn’t 100% Week 1 could be that sort of week.
Adonai Mitchell – Indianapolis Colts: 19% started
I know everyone is high on Anthony Richardson this year as a potential top 5 fantasy football quarterback. He doesn’t get there without supporting two solid pass-catching options for fantasy football. Michael Pittman will clearly be the top guy but there is plenty of room for another to step up. I expect rookie Adonai Mitchell to be that guy. He looked good in preseason and should be able to beat out Alec Pierce and Josh Downs for snaps and targets. Week 1 he will benefit from Houston Texans top cover guy Derek Stinglry Jr. shadowing Michael Pittman. That puts Mitchell against fellow rookie and second-round pick Kamari Lassiter. It’s a matchup he can exploit. He’s a great wide receiver sleeper for fantasy football Week 1.
Check out the rest of our Week 1 Sleepers and Streamers!
Still have one more draft to go? Then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.