In this piece, I highlight wide receivers who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
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Top NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks in the FantasyLabs Models
On DraftKings, there are three wide receivers near the top of the individual Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Christian Kirk
- Brandon Powell
We’ll discuss why these three are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other wide receivers.
Top Model NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Ja’Marr Chase ($8,300 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel): Cincinnati Bengals (-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (45 total)
We’ve been awaiting the Ja’Marr Chase breakout game, and boy, did he deliver. Chase saw a monstrous 19 targets last week, catching 15 balls for 192 yards and three touchdowns. His 55.2 DraftKings points vaulted lineups to the top of the leaderboard and sunk those who didn’t have him.
Tee Higgins is officially listed as questionable, and his status is certainly worth monitoring. I don’t think Higgins’ status will affect my interest too much, but a healthy Higgins could lower ownership for Chase.
Seattle has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to opposing wide receivers, setting up perfectly for Chase. He’s a strong click in cash games, and his ceiling makes him a prime tournament target as well. He has the second-highest ceiling projection and the highest floor projection of the week.
Chase is the top receiver in our Tournament Model.
Christian Kirk ($5,400 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel): Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5) vs. Indianapolis Colts (44 total)
Zay Jones has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest, which thrusts Christian Kirk into an elite role. With Jones off the field, Kirk has seen a team-high 24.6% target rate per route run.
We usually prefer Kirk in man coverage matchups, while Indianapolis plays the most Cover-3 in the entire league. However, Kirk does have a team-high 23% target share against zone coverage.
Kirk had a poor performance in Week 1 against Indianapolis, catching one of three targets for 9 yards. Since then, he’s heated up, with 24.96, 15.4, 16.4, and 14.4 DraftKings points.
He’s an easy click in cash, as he leads our Cash Game Model this weekend.
Brandon Powell ($3,000 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel): Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Chicago Bears (43.5 total)
Journeyman Brandon Powell is a direct beneficiary of the Justin Jefferson injury. Powell had seen just one target in the first four games but saw six last week, catching four balls for 43 yards in Jefferson’s absence. It’s a very small sample size, but Powell does lead the team in targets with Jefferson off the field.
It’s highly unlikely this trend continues, as I’d safely assume he falls behind at least Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in the target hierarchy. However, he’ll probably run a route on over two-thirds of the dropbacks, and he’s shown an ability to earn targets.
There are worse ways to spend your salary this week, and it’s unlikely the ownership will get outsized. Powell is a solid salary relief play, as he’s the top option in Chris Raybon and Sean Koerner’s Pro Model.
Other Notable NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Tyreek Hill ($9,300 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel): Miami Dolphins (-14) vs. Carolina Panthers (47.5 total)
Tyreek Hill is borderline a cheat code at this point, as he’s consistently ravaged opponents outside of the AFC East. In his three games against non-divisional opponents, he’s had 47.5, 33.7, and 35.1 DraftKings points. Of all receivers with over 100 pass routes, Hill is first in target rate per route run and yards per route run.
Carolina has nothing to slow him down. There are no holes to poke in Hill’s outlook from a matchup perspective. There’s a realistic chance that Miami is able to take their foot off of the gas pedal, as they’re two-touchdown favorites at home. However, for Miami to put the game out of reach, there’s a strong chance that Hill will produce.
Jordan Addison ($5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel): Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Chicago Bears (43.5 total)
Someone needs to step up in the Vikings’ receiving room, and who better than first-round pick Jordan Addison. He’s the most talented of the group, certainly. He already had a strong role, running a route on about 75% of the team dropbacks. He’ll surely be in an every-down role now.
There are targets to be dispersed with Jefferson out, and Addison is the most talented going against a poor Bears secondary. The Bears have allowed the sixth-most yards per target and sixth-highest touchdown rate to opposing receivers on the year. Addison is a strong play this week and will almost certainly be higher priced in the coming weeks.
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My Favorite NFL DFS Wide Receiver Leverage Pick(s)
DJ Moore ($6,500 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel): Chicago Bears (+3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (43.5 total)
DJ Moore had an absolute field day last Thursday night against Washington. He saw 10 targets, catching eight balls for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Don’t look now, but Moore now has 82.1 DraftKings points in just the past two weeks.
However, no one is running to play him this week. Everyone was so excited to play Kansas City players against Minnesota, but no one had an interest in Chicago here. Yes, I am well aware that Patrick Mahomes is far better than Justin Fields, but the Bears are heating up!
Minnesota also blitzes heavily, and Moore has averaged 3.9 yards per route run and has a team-high 25% target share when Fields is blitzed. I’ll have DJ Moore on a lot of my lines this week.
Marquise Brown (5,300 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel): Arizona Cardinals (+7) at Los Angeles Rams (48.5 total)
Arizona’s passing game struggled last week, but Marquise Brown still came through, and I will be going right back to the well. He caught four of 10 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. He saw a third of the team targets last week and now is at 30.6% over the past four weeks.
The Rams have allowed the seventh-fewest DraftKings points to opposing receivers but the 13th-most points per game to opposing WR1s. Whether you’re stacking the Stafford side or the Dobbs side, Brown makes a lot of sense this week. He’s too cheap for his role and volume, and soon he’ll have an efficient game that lights up the stat sheet. He’ll be a staple of my lineups this week.
