Securing top-tier wide receiver teammates in the ever-evolving landscape of dynasty fantasy football can be a game-changer for your team’s long-term success. Dynamic wide receiver pairs (and trios!) offer explosive weekly potential and provide a stable foundation for your roster.
Let’s dive into the top five wide receiver groups you shouldn’t be afraid to roster in dynasty fantasy football.
Houston Texans – Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell
The Houston Texans’ wide receiver teammates will be a fascinating case study as we approach the 2024 season. Diggs, despite facing a challenging 2023 season, finished as WR9 overall. However, his performance waned significantly from Week 10 onwards. This has led to some fantasy managers cautiously approaching him entering his age 31 season.
On the other hand, Collins emerged as a breakout star, catching 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. His connection with rookie sensation C.J. Stroud was particularly noteworthy, making Collins a valuable asset. Finally, there was Dell. Despite his rookie season being cut short by injury, he showcased his potential with the Texans.
How the situation shakes out between these three receivers will be crucial for fantasy rosters. With Diggs’ experience, Collins’ breakout performance, and Dell’s deep-threat potential, the trio presents many outcomes. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the distribution of targets evolves. Which of these talented receivers emerges as the go-to option for Stroud?
Another factor to consider is the contracts for each of these players. Collins is in the last year of his deal. Diggs will be 31 in November and is playing on a one-year deal. If you already have Diggs, great. Keep him and ride his production out on your roster. If you believe in Stroud, Dell seems to be the wide receiver most likely to remain in Houston. If you can buy Collins on the dip with Diggs getting into town, do it. Not only will he likely give you production this year, but his value could hold steady going into free agency.
Chicago Bears – DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze
The Bears’ trio of Moore, Allen, and Odunze are the NFC North Spiderman pointing back at Houston. Playing the Diggs “old man who just got here” role, we have Allen. Odunze is Tak Dell’s “new kid,” and we will dress up Moore in a Collins costume just for the sake of this analogy. Okay, it’s all a stretch. Regardless, three Spidermen worked well in No Way Home. Great movie. Spoiler alert?
Moore had an impressive 2023 season, putting up 96 catches, 1,364 yards, and eight touchdowns. He should be a reliable target for new quarterback Caleb Williams. Similarly, Allen, known for his precise route running and consistent hands, tallied 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Allen, who finished as WR6 overall last season, provides a steady, safe floor for fantasy points each week. The rookie sensation, Odunze, is the wildcard of the group. Selected ninth overall, he has sky-high potential. Under the tutelage of his veteran teammates, he could make an immediate impact.
This will be another interesting situation to watch unfold, especially with the pairing of rookie Caleb Williams. We just watched Stroud set all kinds of rookie records. Can Williams do the same?
The diverse skill sets of the three wide receiver teammates complement each other, potentially leading to a distribution of targets that could benefit all three. With a new offensive scheme expected to be tailored around their talents and a rookie superstar at quarterback, the Bears’ aerial attack could be one of the most explosive in the league.
That said, it’s tough to recommend any of the three receivers as a trade target. Allen is 32 and in the last year of his deal. He is a potentially cheap buy for a contender, but he is likely already on contending rosters. Although he will likely get extended, Moore’s age and contract are at least worth discussing. He will be 28 next offseason and has two more years left on his contract. However, the Bears could save $16 million (with no cap hit) by releasing him next offseason. Is Odunze the best trade target here? Probably, but he will cost you if you aren’t the one drafting him. Your best bet might be holding and hoping he has a Jaxon Smith-Njigba-esque rookie season. Should this happen, making him a target later during the season wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Miami Dolphins – Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle
Hill and Waddle are again poised to be a formidable force in fantasy football for the 2024 season. Hill, known for his electrifying speed, has consistently been a top performer, finishing as overall WR2 in 2023. His ability to turn short passes into long gains and his knack for finding the end zone have made him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league.
On the other hand, Waddle’s production took a step back last season. However, his underlying metrics remained strong, and despite what many would call a disappointing season, he still finished as WR29. While his weeks were steady, what was missing from Waddle’s 2023 were the expected big weeks of scoring. He only scored over 20 points twice in 2023, half as often as in 2022 when he finished as WR8.
These two wide receiver teammates offer a unique mix of speed and skill that can challenge defenses and rack up fantasy points. With their combined talent, they have the potential to become one of the most productive tandems in the league. Unlike the new and unknown situations in Chicago and Houston, the Miami offensive situation is well-known. However, could the “shiny new model” effect of the rookie class make both of these “old toy” players a buy?
Hill just turned 30 in March, but he has not shown any signs of slowing down. (Literally? Literally.) Although he has pushed retirement rumors, he is under contract for at least this season and next. Let the retirement talk scare your teammates. His explosive weeks can single-handedly win matchups, and he is an excellent buy for contending teams. Get him before your league mates can!
Waddle is still just 25 years old. After his disappointing season, Waddle’s value has never been lower, especially with the influx of this year’s receiver class. If you are contending, I would try to trade a 2025 first-round pick plus a 2024 3rd to get Waddle. At worst, you’re getting a WR3. At best, though? We’ve seen where Waddle can finish. He only scored four touchdowns last season compared to 8 the year prior. Is positive regression coming?
Philadelphia Eagles – AJ Brown and Devonta Smith
Finishing as WR4 and WR16, respectively, Brown and Smith make quite the combo in the dynasty. Both players stayed healthy, playing in all 17 games, but their story is the story of the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles. In the fantasy playoffs, Brown disappointingly finished as WR27. His teammate Smith finished right behind him as WR28. That’s terrible output for two expensive assets at the worst possible time.
The question is, of course, will the Eagles offense rebound in 2024?
Since his move to Philadelphia, Brown has proven to be a powerhouse for fantasy football. He just signed a three-year contract extension to stay with the Eagles. Brown will enter this season at 27 years old, so his value should hold steady for another year or two. He isn’t necessarily a player I would actively trade for, but he isn’t someone I’d trade away, either. Find a manager burned by his end-of-season slump and attempt to buy even a smidgen low?
With Brown signing an extension, Smith may never realize his full fantasy potential. He will be 26 in November, and Smith also signed an extension this offseason. He will be in Philly until at least 2028, when he’s entering his thirties. It’s a very specific move, but if you have Smith on your roster, perhaps trade him for Waddle? Brown’s presence caps Smith’s ceiling.
On the other hand, we have already seen Waddle thrive despite Hill. More importantly, does Tyreek truly
Los Angeles Rams – Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp
The Los Angeles Rams have long been a home for wide receiver teammates to thrive. Brandin Cooks. Robert Woods. We could even go back to the days of Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. Don’t forget about Ricky Proehl, too! If you are an old-timer like me, you may remember Flipper Anderson and Henry Ellard. Fire up Tecmo Super Bowl, and you’ll see what I mean, kids.
The newest iteration of the Greatest Show on Turf is the duo of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
Nacua, coming off a record-setting rookie year, established himself as a top-tier dynasty option. With an impressive ability to secure catches and rack up yards after the catch, Nacua was a pleasant surprise to managers who took a shot on him late in rookie drafts. The seasoned Kupp, arguably one of the best route runners of all time, continues to be an offensive threat for the Rams.
Are either of them trade targets for your dynasty team? If you are a contender, trading for Kupp makes a lot of sense. However, in his upcoming 31-year season, rostering Kupp is a “buyer beware” situation. He has not played a full season since 2021. Kupp also has a potential out in his contract at the end of this season. If Stafford retires and Coach Sean McVay moves on, do the Rams reset and move on from Kupp?
What about Nacua? As WR7 in ADP, his value doesn’t have much room to grow. He finished as WR5 overall, but if you roster him, have any of you been able to get anywhere near that trade value for him? Anecdotally, I have not. Many are still hesitant to buy in on Nacua. He was a mid-round draft pick, and the McVay retirement rumors won’t go away. If you have Puka, you’re likely holding him or trying to tier down.
Wide Receiver Teammates – Honorable Mention
Minnesota Vikings – Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison
No article about wide receiver teammates would be complete without mentioning the top dog in the league, Jefferson. He and Addison form a formidable duo for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Addison finished as WR27 last season, but people are writing him off, saying he only got targets when T.J. Hockenson got injured. I would flip a running back like Rachaad White or Isiah Pacheco for Addison, who will have a much longer career.
Seattle Seahawks – DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett
This bunch is similar to the Chicago Bears trio. That said, as crazy as it may sound, I’d trust Caleb Williams more than Geno Smith. If you have Lockett, he’s retiring on your roster. If you have Metcalf, I would be actively trying to trade him. He may have finished last season as WR19, but the league-winning weeks weren’t there. Metcalf went over 20 points just once last season. Smith-Njigba, however, is a player I’d be trying to buy. He is being drafted near rookies like Ladd McConkey and Brian Thomas, and I’d easily take JSN over both.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans and Chris Godwin
They are the meat and potatoes of wide receiver teammates for your fantasy roster. Evans and Godwin have been one of the most rocksteady pairings in the league. With Godwin moving back to the slot, he is a screaming buy in dynasty leagues. As for Evans? He’s been a buy for contenders for the past several seasons.
Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins
This group has many question marks, but we can be confident in knowing who is going. Higgins is playing on the tag, so this group will look different next year. Who fills the void when Higgins leaves? Is it Jermaine Burton? Burton might be worth the risk in your rookie drafts. If he’s available at the top of the third round, jump on that.
Conclusion
Your biggest takeaway from this article should probably be, “Wow, there are a lot of wide receiver teammates for dynasty!”
And I haven’t even mentioned all of the groups! What about the DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley on the Titans? Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Ricky Pearsall on the Niners? Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, and Malachi Corley catching passes from Aaron Rodgers? This article also doesn’t get into wide receiver pairings with tight ends. What about Amon Ra St Brown and Sam LaPorta? Davante Adams and Brock Bowers? The league is flush with receiving talent, perhaps like never before. The answer might not be which group you want, but how many can I roster?
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