Wide receivers are the backbone of your NFL DFS lineups. It’s a spot where you’ll need massive production if you’re going to take down a GPP, but it’s also a spot where you can save money on occasion. Some of the best values in a given week are likely to be found at the receiver position.
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.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
Top NFL DFS Cash Game Options
Drake London ($6,900 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
London had a slow start to the season, racking up just three targets, two catches, and 15 yards in Week 1 vs. the Steelers. However, since that point, he’s been the fantasy WR1 that he was expected to be this offseason. He’s scored double-digit fantasy points in each of his last five outings, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four. Overall, he’s the No. 9 receiver in terms of PPR points per game.
London has one of the most desirable workloads in the league. He’s racked up a 29% target share for the year, and he’s been at 33% or higher in three of his past four outings. He also has 35% of the team’s air yards and 40% of their end zone targets. It’s an elite combination, giving him a strong floor and ceiling in all three areas for fantasy scoring (receptions, yards, and touchdowns).
London should also be in an excellent game environment in Week 7. The game between the Seahawks and Falcons has a 51-point total, which is the second-highest mark on the slate. The Falcons are three-point favorites, so their implied team total of 27.0 trails only the Commanders’ gaudy 30.5. Add in a price tag that makes him reasonably priced across the industry, and there’s nothing not to like with London this week.
Diontae Johnson ($6,600 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
London and Johnson have been staples of the “cash game section” for weeks, and nothing is changing in Week 7. Johnson continues to deal with ankle and hamstring injuries, and he reportedly picked up a rib injury during practice this week. Still, he was able to suit up despite a questionable tag last week, and he’ll likely be able to do the same this Sunday. If not, guys like Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo would enter the cash game discussion.
As long as Johnson can go, he remains too cheap across the industry. He’s been a fantasy stud since Andy Dalton took over at quarterback. He’s scored at least 19.1 DraftKings points in three of four outings, and his utilization over that time frame has been elite. He’s racked up a 30% target share, 46% air yards share, and 73% of the end zone targets. He has three games with double-digit targets in his last four, and he’s had at least 13 targets in two of them.
Outside of the injury, the circumstances for Johnson couldn’t be better in Week 7. The Commanders have been a very friendly fantasy defense this season. Their offense can put up points in bunches, while their defense remains below average. It sets up a potential game script where the Panthers have to throw a bunch and could potentially have success doing so.
Keep an eye on the injury report, but as long as Johnson is active, he’s an excellent option.
JuJu Smith-Schuster ($4,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel)
There are plenty of strong value options to consider at the position this week, but give me the one that is attached to Patrick Mahomes. Smith-Schuster was not expected to play a huge role for the Chiefs this season, but injuries to Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, and Isiah Pacheco have changed things.
In his first full game without Rice, Smith-Schuster was a focal point of the Chiefs’ passing attack. His route participation increased to a season-high 66%, and while that’s not an elite figure, he was targeted on 28% of his routes run. His eight targets in that contest trailed only Travis Kelce (10), and he responded with seven catches for 130 yards.
Ultimately, JuJu is going to have to continue to produce given the state of this team’s roster. Xavier Worthy is not ready to handle a full WR1 workload, Kelce is 35 years old, and the rest of the team’s receivers are better suited as role players. He leads all receivers on DraftKings in projected Plus/Minus, while his $4,000 salary comes with a 98% Bargain Rating.
Justin Jefferson ($8,500 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel)
Paying up for a stud receiver is certainly doable this week, especially on FanDuel. If you’re going to go that route, Jefferson stands out as the best option in our NFL Models. He leads the position in median projection by more than two full points, and he clears the field in ceiling projection by more than three.
Jefferson has yet to have a truly nuclear game this season, but all the pieces are there. He has a receiving touchdown in four of his five outings, and he had 14 targets vs. the Jets in London. He’s only gone over 100 yards one time, but that’s something that he did regularly in years past.
The Vikings will face their toughest test of the early season this week vs. the Lions, but that could help Jefferson. The Vikings haven’t really been pushed most weeks, which has kept his overall targets down. He still has a massive 35% target share for the year, but he’s had eight targets or fewer in four of five games. If the Vikings are forced to crack up the passing volume a bit, Jefferson could be poised for a massive outing.
The Lions’ defense also lost stud pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to an injury last week, making the matchup a bit friendlier than it looks on paper. If Sam Darnold has time in the pocket, Jefferson should be able to take advantage of this secondary. He torched them for 18 catches, 333 yards, and two touchdowns in their two meetings last season, and none of the Lions’ cornerbacks rank in the top 38 per PFF.
Try out our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
Top NFL DFS Tournament Options
Jakobi Meyers ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
Meyers missed last week’s game vs. the Steelers, and he has yet to return to the practice field this week. What happens on Friday will likely determine whether or not he ends up seeing the field. If he’s able to get in a limited practice, it at least opens the door for Meyers to suit up vs. the Rams.
If Meyers comes back, he could be looking at one of the largest workloads at the position. He’s posted a 32% target share in two games without Davante Adams this season, including a 42% target share in Week 4.
The Rams are also an excellent matchup. Their pass defense is terrible – they’re 31st in pass defense EPA – but their offense is capable of putting up points. They’re favored by roughly a touchdown against the Raiders, so Meyers could easily see double-digit targets against a weak secondary.
If Meyers is unable to go, the rest of the team’s pass-catchers become intriguing options. Brock Bowers is the most obvious answer at tight end, but Tre Tucker would also have some GPP appeal at receiver.
Editor’s note: Meyers was listed as doubtful after this article was submitted.
Terry McLaurin ($6,800 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel)
McLaurin is a candidate to be over-owned this week as the top receiver for the team with the top implied team total. However, there’s no denying his upside. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations more than any other receiver on FanDuel, and he’s No. 5 on DraftKings.
The Commanders struggled to properly utilize McLaurin in the first few games this season, but he’s found his groove of late. He’s gone for at least 100 yards or a touchdown in each contest, including two scores last week vs. the Ravens. Overall, he’s racked up 28% of the targets, 55% of the air yards, and 55% of the end zone targets over that stretch.
There’s no reason to expect much regression this week. In addition to the massive team total, the Panthers are also an elite matchup. They’re 30th in pass defense EPA, and they’ve allowed the most points per game this season.
Jayden Reed ($7,200 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel)
Reed stands out as an excellent option on FanDuel, where his $7,600 salary comes with a 95% Bargain Rating. He has the sixth-highest ceiling projection at the position despite checking in with the 13th-highest price tag.
The Packers’ passing corps is at full strength currently, and Reed did see a solid reduction in snaps last week. His route participation dropped to just 64% after sitting at 80% through the first five weeks. However, he was still one of their top pass-catchers when on the field, racking up a 21% target share while being targeted on 26% of his routes. Last week’s game vs. the Cardinals was also a blowout, so it’s possible he played a bit less than usual in garbage time.
Ultimately, there’s no reason to be concerned about Reed’s workload at the moment. He’s a really good player on a really good offense, and the Packers are implied for a healthy 25.25 points vs. the Texans.
Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside
Jerry Jeudy ($4,800 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel)
It is really hard to click on a Browns’ pass-catcher at the moment. DeShaun Watson is playing like one of the worst quarterbacks in football despite making a ridiculous $46M.
However, someone has to catch the passes now that Amari Cooper is gone. Jeudy stands out as the top candidate. He’s second on the team with a 19% target share this season, and he should see close to a 100% route participation with Cooper out of the picture.
The matchup vs. the Bengals is also elite. Cincinnati has been a prime team to target this season given their elite offense and abysmal defense. They looked slightly improved last week vs. the Giants, but they allowed at least 30 points in each of their three previous games.
Deebo Samuel ($7,000 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)
Samuel is standing out as the most undervalued receiver this week per Sim Labs. He’s projected for less than 8% ownership on DraftKings, yet his showing up in the optimal lineup simulations more than 12% of the time. That’s a pretty massive discrepancy.
Deebo is a better real-life player than he is in fantasy. His swiss army knife role takes away from his production in the passing game, which is far more valuable than his work as a runner. He also has to share the field with a bunch of really talented options, including George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk.
Still, Samuel’s talent occasionally shines through. That was the case last week when he turned five targets into more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He’s always a threat for multiple scores around the goal line, so his upside is being underappreciated vs. the Chiefs.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba ($5,900 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel)
The Seahawks have had to run a brutal gauntlet recently, playing three games in an 11-day stretch. Two of those matchups were against the Lions and 49ers, which is borderline unfair. Unsurprisingly, the team lost both of those outings, and they also lost at home to the Giants.
Things get a bit easier this week. They’ll have a bit of extra rest before their matchup vs. the Falcons, who have been exploitable defensively. It’s a great bounce-back spot for their entire offense.
JSN has posted a negative Plus/Minus in three straight games on DraftKings, but he continues to rack up targets in bunches. He’s averaged just under 10 targets over his past three outings, and his target share for the year sits at 20%. Geno Smith is expected to be popular at quarterback this week, his top pass-catchers could be a bit undervalued. Stacking JSN – and possibly DK Metcalf – with Geno could pay dividends.
Wan’Dale Robinson ($6,100 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
Malik Nabers has been cleared to return for the Giants, which means that most people aren’t going to give Robinson a second thought. However, Robinson was putting up solid numbers even with Nabers in the lineup. Nabers has undoubtedly been the team’s alpha receiver – he has a god-like 39% target share in his four games – but Robinson has still managed a 28% mark in those outings.
Both players have an exploitable matchup this week vs. the Eagles. Their defense has been a disaster dating back to the middle of last year, and they’re merely 26th in pass defense EPA so far this season. They were shredded by Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ passing attack a few weeks ago, so the Giants have some upside in this matchup.
