The most exciting position to own youthful players at, the wide receiver position has seen a value spike that doesn’t show any sign of slowing down in the next few draft classes. The position is receiving more pro-ready prospects from college. The roles entrusted to rookies throughout the season have given dynasty managers more confidence in building around young receivers. The wide receivers with high volume and the ability to put up fantasy points make themselves known quicker nowadays, such as Garret Wilson and Chris Olave. Although the position is young and a sea of talent currently, let’s look at the future to view ten players who could become top assets to build around.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Eligible: 2024
An Ohio State wide receiver was always going to be at the top of this list. Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to top it this time due to his size and speed, combined with his production in 2022 during Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s absence. Harrison Jr. developed quick chemistry with CJ Stroud while en route to 14 touchdowns for the Buckeyes. He’s got speed and is a very physical winner of the football in the air, he should come into the league as a team’s top target.
This player has the NFL size and should again put up numbers in 2023 due to his physical superiority over his competition. Harrison Jr. could play NFL football this season and that’s the reason for his placement at the top. He’s going to need to have a final good season and should be a steady top pick all throughout 2024’s draft process.
Overall, Harrison Jr. could receive similar draft capital or greater capital compared to Jamarr Chase in 2021. Dynasty fantasy fotball managers have already taken note of this player for their 2024 drafts, giving good security to having him on your roster as soon as possible. I believe he will return value either through playing on your team or moving him for more assets. Without a doubt, Harrison Jr. belongs at the top here.
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks had an impressive 2023 NFL Draft and took the most Pro-ready receiver in Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The fit in this offense is sensible for success over the next five seasons. Additionally, the Seahawks are signaling they are competing now by drafting incredible depth in Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet. They also took a look at a future version of this offense that may not include Tyler Lockett. All in all, Smith-Njigba represents a logical new step in this offense’s direction.
Smith-Njigba will likely start in the slot in week one and show steady success at certain points during the season, similar to Chris Olave in 2022. This is a long-term play that’s worth betting on for 2023 and he’s likely to remain at the top of wide receiver lists through the decade. He’s going to see quality targets alongside threats like DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker while providing a separate look for the defense.
Going into 2024, Smith-Njigba should have secured himself as a top-three option for the Seahawk’s offense. If he can grow along with Geno Smith, this player should be a secure player getting targets while becoming a points-per-reception revelation for dynasty football managers.
3. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison also finds himself in a positive situation after being selected by Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is not going anywhere, but Addison is the third-best receiving threat for the Vikings already. He and T.J. Hockenson will begin a fight for targets in 2023, especially in short and intermediate areas. This could lead to a cannibalized production between the two. That, or we could see Hockenson show more natural chemistry and instinct with Kirk Cousins right away. Very few 2023 outcomes would cause me to worry for Addison long term, and dynasty leagues are always about having an eye on the future.
Personally, I believe Addison is as good as Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, with a little less hype to the name, this bumps Addison down to third for this list. Addison is a better talent than the next names on this list and should give fantasy football managers a similar situation to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins long term.
Furthermore, Addison gets separation away from defenders. He does this with a similar ability to Jefferson. Having Addison, Hockenson, and Jefferson all running routes will be difficult for defenders to make. The Vikings may be telling us their goal is to pass more both in 2023 and in the future. Drafting a talent such as Addison is a good step in building a productive passing offense, which should become fruitful for managers who take him.
4. Evan Stewart, Texas A&M
Eligible: 2025
A 2025 prospect, Evan Stewart should get a couple of years of opportunity to up his draft stock. More importantly, allowing dynasty managers to tap into his long-term value and talent. Additionally, he has a nice frame to build his game into and will look to build on a 53-catch season in 2022. He would put up 649 yards receiving his Freshman year for a disappointing Aggies team.
Stewart plays very smoothly and wins well off the line one on one. He’s a decisive route runner and also can win downfield. He should fit into offenses as a top receiving option and should show a lot of his ability over his 2023 and 2024 seasons. Overall, I like his long-term outlook slightly more than Zay Flowers or the Jonathan Mingo’s of 2023. Both are two players whose value could be teetering come 2025.
5. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
This next player has the best current quarterback for future fantasy output. Justin Herbert being tied to Quentin Johnston should excite people. Herbert is the type of talent that can bring up the talent in an offense, at least for fantasy. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both getting older, Johnston could find himself as the top guy sooner than later during the next five years. Johnston just needs the ball in his hands, gaining extra yards and therefore points when he gets in the open field.
Johnston is strong and has some solid speed to him, but his traits should give us the idea that the Chargers view him as a top offensive option. His shiftiness and size should make him a threat right away in the red zone, so Johnston has an early opportunity to show touchdown reliability. It’s a reminder of last year with the physical and productive Christian Watson going in the second round to the Packers. There’s good quarterback play, and there’s talent around the team that should allow Johnston to focus on finding his fit. He has plenty of room to grow and extend his game in Los Angeles, so we should all take note.
6. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Eligible: 2024
Emeka Egbuka is our third Buckeyes receiver to make the list, and he has very similar skills to both of Smith-Njigba and Harrison Jr. Egbuka has the size and agility to play inside and outside, and he showed good football IQ playing last year for Ohio State. He’s an above-average route runner and is able to create separation, especially from the slot. The Buckeyes are producing NFL wide receivers left and right, so it’s difficult to put this player much lower even at this stage.
Egbuka should come into next year starting alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and may even have games outproducing his counterpart. I think it’s safe to say Egbuka will be a top-five receiver in 2024, and his name will receive proper exposure during the year and next off-season. Perhaps the greatest benefit to the Ohio State wide receiver domination is the confidence it gives managers to draft these players high. They often hit in the forms of Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave. As well as more tertiary options in Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown, and Parris Campbell. They’re some of the most ready-made prospects coming from college, and that hype is justified in Egbuka as well.
7. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Zay Flowers has been a difficult prospect for me to evaluate in 2023, but I do believe this is a logical valuation of him in the context of the future at the position. He’s an older declare than Johnston, Smith-Njigba, and Addison, but he boasts production and coveted first-round NFL Draft capital. Flowers is tied to a good quarterback and with Todd Monken now in the coordinator position, this could be a time to start investing in Ravens wide receivers.
Outside of being an older declare, Flowers has a lot to offer an NFL offense. He’s a good route runner that is great when he gets in the open field, using agility and his speed to beat defenders. I have some worries about his strength on the outside and his ability to take on press corners each play. The good news is he won’t likely have to worry about that in this offense. However, he should be able to move around the front line, giving defenses multiple looks.
Flowers can easily be the main slot and target-getter in this offense behind Mark Andrews, but he needs to do it very quickly. If he shows it in year one, he’s going to be higher on a list like this in the future.
8. Malik Nabers, LSU
Eligible: 2024
Malik Nabers and Quentin Johnston have very similar abilities in making plays after the catch. After the top seven guys, this becomes more about a player’s athletic upside or ideal team fit. Nabers provides plenty of upside and hope in 2023. LSU went through some transition and Nabers would only score three touchdowns in 2022. However, he is a big playmaker that lead the Tigers receivers last year. Unfortunately, Nabers doesn’t have the largest frame, but he is tall enough. On top of that, speed is truly his greatest asset.
Nabers has some height but excels with shorter routes. He can take a screen to the endzone and win over the top against safeties, he’s very smooth when he has the ball. Additionally, he put up some numbers with LSU starter Jayden Daniels and should be able to put up similar, if not greater, production this year. Nabers is a similar size to Addison while possessing a skillset closer to Quentin Johnston’s. NFL teams will have him on their radar for next year and he could see a stock bump during next year’s draft lead-up.
9. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have a solid recent history of drafting second-round wide receivers. We have seen this with players such as Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Christian Watson. This year they invested in the productive Michigan State product Jayden Reed. He had three 50-catch seasons between Western Michigan and his years at Michigan State. Aditionally, his Junior season was his best year, going for 1026 yards and being on the receiving end of 10 touchdowns for the Spartans. Finally, he gained 17.4 average yards per catch that season as well.
The Packers invested highly in wide receivers a year after drafting two solid players Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. I think this shows a plan for Reed and those other options this upcoming year. Reed isn’t a large receiver, but he is an ideal slot and should start there on day one. He’s 23 after four collegiate seasons of productive football, he’s ready to go right away. With a lack of defined roles in the Packer’s offense, Reed could find himself as a top-two option in this team very soon. He should be a secure route runner Jordan Love will be able to find, and his target share should grow during this season.
10. Xavier Worthy, Texas
Eligible: 2024
Xavier Worthy has the talent to be a top-two wide receiver in his 2024 class, and he should be on the minds of dynasty owners over the next few years. Worthy has a lot of quick moves that can gain him separation off the line, and he still displays enough speed to completely blow past corners as well. Overall, Texas should be in a good spot to allow Worthy to get open this year. This is largely due to a good rushing game and other threats like Ja’Tavion Sanders in the passing game.
Worthy reminds me of a Marquise Brown-type player, he’s a winner due to his speed and agility but also shows smooth route-running ability. His skills should lead to big plays at the next level, this is a player who gets open and is able to come down with it. Unfortunately, his frame is slight, but he still has plenty of time to grow stronger physically. Once the 2024 draft process comes, Worthy will be a valid wide receiver to take. Furthermore, he can be kept rostered and starting on teams for years to come.
The oldest listed player here was Green Bay Packers Jayden Reed at 23 years old, mainly due to his ideal team fit. When looking down the line at years to come, there’s a method to taking the most athletically gifted players in exercises like this. A couple of these players may fizzle a bit lower before their draft classes. Additionally, players like Jonathan Mingo and Marvin Mims may end up becoming even greater values than this list provides.
All in all, as of right now, these 10 wide receivers are the best NFL fits for the next three classes. More importantly, they’ll give the best opportunities for dynasty football and fantasy football managers to find high-end wide receivers in the future.
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