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. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Top NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks in the FantasyLabs Models
On DraftKings, there are three wide receivers near the top of the Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.
- Stefon Diggs
- Tyler Lockett
- Rondale Moore
We’ll discuss why these are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other wide receivers.
Top Model NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Stefon Diggs ($8,400 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel): Buffalo Bills (-2.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (53.5 total)
After monster performances in Weeks 1-2, Stefon Diggs cooled off with 14.4 and 10.2 DraftKings points in Weeks 3-4. He returned to form last week, catching eight balls for 102 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo’s 38-3 rout of the Steelers. Diggs ranks in the top six in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns on the year.
Opposing WR1s have torched the Chiefs this year, as they’ve given up the second most fantasy points per game to the opposing team’s top option. They have given up at least 70 yards or a touchdown to all of Marquise Brown, Mike Williams, Michael Pittman, Mike Evans, and Davante Adams.
When these teams have matched up in the past, Kansas City’s defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has sold out to stop Diggs. In their four matchups since Diggs’ arrived in Buffalo, he’s posted stat lines of 6-46-1, 6-77-0, 2-69-0, and 3-7-0. After Gabe Davis ripped apart this defense for 8-201-4 in last year’s playoffs, there is a chance that Spagnuolo adjusts. However, it’s likely he wants to make secondary options beat them as opposed to Diggs.
Diggs leads our Tournament Model this week.
Tyler Lockett ($5,600 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel): Seattle Seahawks (+2.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (50.5 total)
Apparently, DraftKings didn’t want to adjust Tyler Lockett’s salary, so we’re going to take advantage. Lockett saw six targets from Geno Smith last week, catching five balls for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Lockett has seen at least a 25% target share in four straight games and has totaled 378 yards and two touchdowns on 29 catches in that span.
The matchup is a beatable one, as although Arizona has been fairly good against opposing top wideouts, they’ve given up some work to secondary receivers. Mack Hollins (5-66-0), Hunter Renfrow (7-59-0), and Devonta Smith (10-87-0) have all posted solid games against Arizona. With a game total north of 50, it’s likely Seattle is airing the ball out and moving up and down the field quickly.
Lockett has historically torn up Arizona as well. Despite the performances coming with Russell Wilson, Lockett posted lines up 5-98-2, 4-115-0, 9-67-1, and 15-200-3 in his last four games against Arizona. Geno has been absolutely slinging it, and Lockett has been producing, so it’s hard to put too much of a downgrade on Lockett’s outlook this time around.
Lockett leads the Cash Game Model and Sean Koerner’s Pro Model while ranking second in both Projected Plus/Minus and Points/Salary.
Rondale Moore ($4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel): Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at Seattle Seahawks (50.5 total)
Similarly to Lockett, DraftKings saw Rondale Moore’s performance last week and decided not to change his price. In his first two games back from injury, Rondale Moore has run a route on 95% and 91% of dropbacks, while receiving 18% and 21% of team targets. He’s also seen three rush attempts, and they’ve moved him all over the field. Arizona is clearly trying to get the ball in Moore’s hands.
With A.J. Green back healthy, Moore was able to return to the slot, which is where he’s best suited. That will give him an advantageous matchup this week too, as Seattle is allowing 11.5 yards per target, and three touchdowns to opposing slot receivers, both ranking bottom-three in the league.
Seattle’s defense has been in rough shape, giving up 27, 27, 48, and 39 points in their last four games. This Cardinals offense has gotten off to slow starts, but this matchup may be just what they need to get off to a hot start. In a back-and-forth game with a high total, Moore should be flying around the field.
Moore is the top receiver in Chris Raybon’s Pro Model and leads all receivers in Projected Plus/Minus and Points/Salary.
Other Notable NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Cooper Kupp ($9,700 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel): Los Angeles Rams (-10) vs. Carolina Panthers (41.5 total)
Despite the Rams struggling as a whole, Cooper Kupp, unsurprisingly, has still been able to produce. He’s put up at least 28.9 DraftKings points in four of five contests, with 100+ yards in four games and five total touchdowns on the year. Kupp also continues to be the focal point of the offense, seeing 34% of team targets and 38% of the air yards. He leads the NFL in targets per game at 12.8, receptions per game at 9.8, and is second in yards per game at 105.4.
Kupp is as matchup-proof as it comes, as he’s been putting up monster performances despite the offense scoring ten or fewer points three times. If you can afford him, Kupp is a great target this week, as well as every week.
Marquise Brown ($7,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel): Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at Seattle Seahawks (50.5 total)
Marquise Brown has quietly been a workhorse for the Cardinals, seeing 49 targets over the past four games and 20+ DraftKings points in each of his past three games. He’s run more routes than any other receiver in the league and has a 26.6% share of team targets.
Seattle has done fairly well slowing down opposing WR1s, but with Brown seeing as much volume as he is, I’m not too concerned with the matchup. They’ve given up only 7.4 yards per target to perimeter receivers, which ranks in the top 10 in the league. It was a difficult matchup for Brown against the Eagles last week as well, where he went for 78 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
Chris Godwin ($6,100 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel): Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (45 total)
Chris Godwin was held in check last week, catching six balls for 61 yards on six targets. A lot of this was due to game script, as Tampa Bay wants to ease Godwin back in and not put too much work on him. Godwin ran 22 routes in the first half but only five in the second half after Tampa Bay had built a solid lead. With Tampa favored by over a touchdown. there’s potential that Godwin splits time again.
However, while Tampa was building their lead, Brady kept looking Godwin’s way to move the Bucs down the field. The matchup is beatable, as Pittsburgh has allowed eight different receivers to get into the end zone through the first five weeks.
Romeo Doubs ($4,800 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel): Green Bay Packers (-7.5) vs. New York Jets (45.5 total)
After back-to-back solid performances against Tampa Bay and New England, Romeo Doubs had a middling performance against the Giants. He caught three of five targets for only 29 yards. Despite the poor performance, Doubs’ underlying metrics are still positive. He ran a route on 87.8% of team dropbacks, and it was his first game that he was targeted on fewer than 20% of his routes.
The Jets have given up a 7.6% touchdown rate to opposing receivers, and with Doubs slowly becoming one of Rodgers’ favorite targets, Romeo could find himself in the end zone on Sunday. Doubs is cheap for a receiver running a route on the majority of dropbacks on a team with such a high team total.
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