The 2024 Season is in the books. While there’s still some playoff football to help us see how players do in the clutch, for dynasty players, it’s a time to sit back, take stock, and see how players fared. Over the next few months, I’ll look back at the 2024, 2023, and 2022 classes by position. I’ll evaluate if their stock rose, remained the same, or dropped during the season. Now could be the time to sell high, buy low, or hold on to a winning hand. Today, I continue with the 2023 Wide Receivers.
Stock Up: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
About: After a quiet rookie year, JSN looked every bit the top receiver in the draft class. He finished as WR9 and looked like the best part of the offense. Now, he’s the last wide receiver standing. While that makes me a little nervous, he’s clearly the piece of the passing game the Seahawks want to build on in the future. So, if you took him, it feels like the wheels are up, heading into 2025.
Stock Up: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
About: With all the mouths to feed in Minnesota, starting with Justin Jefferson, how would Addison remain fantasy-relevant? Turns out those fears were overblown. Addison is a great WR2 option and continues to eat. He finished as WR21 despite missing two games. He looks like a solid fringe WR2 moving forward, which is great for those who snagged him.
Stock Up: Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos
About: Had I done this roundup mid-season, Mims would not be in the Stock Up category. It looked like another limp season from the Broncos’ second-round pick. But he ended with a flourish, showing promise for him with Bo Nix in this offense. Post-bye week, Mims was WR14 to end the season. He made some huge plays and started to come alive. If you’ve been holding him, I like him as a sleeper in 2025. He might also still be a great buy low.
Stock Up: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
About: Would Puka be a one-year wonder? It was a fair question after his surprise breakout in 2023. He did miss time with an injury in 2024, but he also finished with an average of 18.8 points per game when he was in, second among receivers. He appears to be the future of the Rams, too. So, if he was a late-round flier in your rookie draft, you’re looking good right now!
Stock Up: Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
About: After not seeing much of anything during his rookie year, Tillman got his shot after Amari Cooper was traded. He flashed when he was available. He had a three-game stretch where he was unstoppable. Then, injuries did stop him. But it’s a sign of life and enough to have him worth a roster spot going into the 2025 season. Can he repeat it? Was it a three-game outlier? Those questions have to be answered. For now, I’m taking it as a sign of hope.
Stock Up: Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
About: Anthony Richardson didn’t work out great in 2024. In fact, the Colts’ passing game, in general, was hit-or-miss. However, he did finish as the top receiver for the team in fantasy. He averaged more than 13 points per game and finished at WR35. That’s a start. With more consistent quarterback play, there’s room for improvement. It’s a positive sign for Downs heading into year three.
Stock Up: Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
About: When you think of receivers on the Patriots, there probably isn’t a lot of enthusiasm. I get it. But Boutte had a strong second season that shows he has the potential to be a contributor for an offense in desperate need of weapons. He was only WR62, and the Patriots will likely go WR again, so let’s not get crazy. But if he’s on waivers, he should be on your bench.
Stock Up: Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals
About: All the talk leading up to the season was about rookie Jermaine Burton stepping up to fill the WR3 void for the Bengals. But when push came to shove, and the Bengals needed another passing game option, Iosivas proved worth a roster spot. He will never be a top-end receiver for you, but Iosivas is a low-end flex option with upside, especially if Tee Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase misses time. That makes him worth a roster spot.
Stock Neutral: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
About: Flowers remains a solid if unspectacular receiving option. He is the Ravens’ top receiver, which resulted in a WR25 season. If you have him, he’s on the WR2/3 cusp and worth a weekly start at flex at a minimum. But he’s not likely to explode to a more significant role in this offense.
Stock Neutral: Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
About: He was better in his second year. In fact, Johnston was a factor in the offense and had some good weeks for fantasy. But he also disappeared at critical times. Ladd McConkey is the clear WR1 option, and the Chargers seem to be in the market for more receivers. That leaves Johnston’s position and target share in flux. I’m not dropping him, but you probably can’t sell him for much, either. I’d hold and hope for a huge showing early in the season, then move on.
Stock Down: Jonathan Mingo, Dallas Cowboys
About: Remember when Mingo was going as a First-Round pick in rookie drafts? Yeah, those were good times. He never did anything for the Panthers, despite their obvious need at receiver, leading to him being traded to the Cowboys. He didn’t do anything there, either. While you might harbor some optimism, given the Cowboys’ depth chart behind CeeDee Lamb, I wouldn’t blame you for dropping him, either.
Stock Down: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
About: Between his injury, his off-the-field stuff still looming this off-season, and the Chiefs adding to that receiving group, it’s hard to feel confident about Rice. He enters year three with decidedly more questions than at the beginning of year two. Does he have Top 24 potential? He does, and we’ve seen it in spurts. But could he fade into WR4 obscurity, losing targets to Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, Travis Kelce, and Elijah Mitchell? That’s also a possibility. He’s a hold right now unless I find a true believer to off-load him.
Stock Down: Tank Dell, Houston Texans
About: Another year, another brutal leg injury late in the season. It was a slow start for Dell in year two, but when he seemed to be getting it together, he was lost for the year. And as it stands now, he’s likely out most if not all of 2025. That will leave him with questions going into year four, the final year of his rookie deal. You’re not moving him right now, but it’s also hard to count on his value. All we can do is hope he bounces back strong in 2026.
Stock Down: Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants
About: Remember when the Giants took Hyatt? Remember taking him in rookie drafts and hoping. Two years later, he’s produced 31 receptions… total. The Giants just gave Darius Slayton $36 million, which tells you all you need to know about Hyatt’s chances of improving that production in 2025. He’s droppable.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
