In this edition of Contender Clearance Rack, let’s take a look at several wide receivers worth trading for if your team is on the brink of greatness. I’ll be covering running backs and tight ends in future editions, and, if you’d like to see the article on quarterbacks, just click here.
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Since 2011, no wide receiver has been as consistently dominant as Julio Jones. He’s topped 1,390 receiving yards in each of the past six seasons, tying Jerry Rice for the most such seasons in NFL history. During that span, Julio has finished as the WR6, WR2, WR6, WR7, WR4, and WR3. Looking at 2020, Julio easily projects for 150+ targets and another top-5 finish as the Falcons offense should be among the most pass-heavy in the league. For dynasty purposes, however, there is one blemish on Julio’s incredible resume: his age. He turned 31 years old in February, and many dynasty managers are holding their breath, wondering when the decline will begin and just how drastic his drop in production could be.
This is your cue to swoop in and capitalize on the panic. We’ve seen nothing on the field to suggest that Julio Jones has begun to regress. Furthermore, many dominant receivers, such as Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson, posted WR1 production well into their early 30s. If your dynasty roster is lacking in the WR department, why not think big? Julio might not technically be on the “clearance rack” in any dynasty league, but there are most likely owners, who are desperately hoping to avoid being a year too late, willing to move on for a discount.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
There might not be a cheaper potential WR1 in all of fantasy football than Adam Thielen. Thielen was the WR8 in 2017, WR7 in 2018, and, through the first six weeks before his first injury, the WR8 in 2019. As Thielen returns to full health and the Vikings prepare to enter the season with rookie Justin Jefferson taking the place of Stefon Diggs, we should be expecting another season of massive volume and consistent production. Thielen is being undervalued because he missed games in 2019, and his 30th birthday will pass before the start of the season. If a panicked or rebuilding owner wants to move Thielen for a discount, don’t miss out.
Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
Brandin Cooks is the youngest player on this list at just 26 years old. Joining his fourth team in five seasons, Cooks has been something of a journeyman so far during his seven-year career. However, he has been successful in each new destination. Never finishing lower than WR15 from 2015-2018 playing for the Saints, Patriots, and Rams. In 2019, Cooks had a disappointing season as he dealt with concussion issues. These injury concerns have driven his value down tremendously, with many dynasty managers concerned that Cooks could be one big hit away from retirement. If Cooks can stay on the field, though, history suggests that he could flourish as Deshaun Watson’s top receiver in Houston, filling the void that DeAndre Hopkins left behind and once again finishing as a high-end WR2.
Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit Lions
Perennially undervalued, Marvin Jones is once again in a position to outperform his ADP in both dynasty and redraft. Through the first 13 weeks of 2019, before he was injured, Marvin Jones had 91 targets. Kenny Golladay, who is often treated as the undisputed alpha in Detroit’s passing game, had 93 targets during that same span. The truth is, when both players are healthy, they form a dangerous 1A/1B tandem. Without much other competition on the depth chart, there is a clear path for Jones to receive north of 100 targets and finish as a WR2 in 2020. He’s been left for dead in many dynasty leagues because he’s on the wrong side of 30. If a youth-obsessed or rebuilding team owns Marvin Jones, you may be able to attain him for a late 2nd.
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
At 34 years old, Julian Edelman is a ticking time bomb for dynasty owners. However, he presents a juicy value for contending teams. In a recent dynasty startup draft, Julian Edelman was taken with the 18.01, behind receivers like Van Jefferson, K.J. Hamler, and Chase Claypool, and just before Tyler Johnson and Devin Duvernay. This means that Edelman is currently valued, at least in startups, about the same as an early 3rd-round rookie pick. That’s a steal for a player that finished as the WR7 in 2019. The absence of Tom Brady certainly lowers Edelman’s ceiling for 2020. Although we can still expect him to be peppered with targets and rack up plenty of receptions.
Golden Tate, New York Giants
If you just need some wide receiver depth, look no further than Golden Tate. He was on pace for 124 targets last season, receiving a 21.4% target share and finishing as the WR29 in PPG despite a career-low 57.6% catch rate. Sharing the field with a healthy Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard will likely bring the target share down a bit in 2020, but his catch rate could bounce back up as Daniel Jones continues to improve as a passer.
Tate will be 32 when the season begins, but that shouldn’t concern you. Many slot receivers, such as Julian Edelman and Larry Fitzgerald, have thrived in their early-to-mid 30s because they don’t rely as heavily on athleticism as outside receivers. In 2019, Tate manned the slot on 78.6% of his snaps. Sterling Shepard only saw 40.1% of his snaps inside. I expect Tate to hold on to that role in 2020 and provide fantasy owners with a solid floor.
Thanks for reading this article! Look me up on Twitter at @fantasyfreezer if you’d like to hear more from me. I love answering fantasy questions, discussing trades, and engaging in friendly debates. Be sure to drop in and say hello.
