Why Jaxon Smith-Njigba is everyone’s favorite sleeper wide receiver pick
Why Jaxon Smith-Njigba is everyone’s favorite sleeper wide receiver pick
OK, not everyone’s, but the second-year WR and these others are getting the most sleeper buzz from experts this summer.
Before training camp developments completely skew everyone’s preseason fantasy analysis, I’m wrapping up my unofficial “experts’ favorite sleepers” series with wide receivers. I also just updated my draft rankings (for paying subscribers). Lastly, let me know your favorite WR sleeper pick in the comments or the poll below.
ADP source: fantasypros.com, 12-team PPR drafts
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (ADP: 103, WR46)
By far the most-cited sleeper receiver by reputable fantasy experts, the second-year wideout is dishing out rave reviews of his own for his new coach Ryan Grubb, who is busy implementing a high-powered offensive scheme that was used to great effect with the Washington Huskies over the past two seasons. “When I see the playbook, my eyes get wide,” Smith-Njigba said on Monday.
“Smith-Njigba was extremely overvalued in 2023 drafts, but now is the time to take the late-round discount,” writes ESPN’s Mike Clay. CBSSports’ Dave Richard calls Smith-Njigba his top sleeper WR, pointing to Grubb’s heavy use of the slot WR position, and “Smith-Njigba is best suited for that role and was even shouted-out by Grubb for his route-running and ability to get open in one-on-one matchups,” he writes.
Smith-Njigba is expected to leapfrog “a soon-to-be 32-year-old Tyler Lockett (who was almost an offseason cap casualty) to become the second pass-catching option in what should be a considerably improved, potentially potent offense,” writes The Athletic’s Jay Felicio.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (ADP: 136, WR52)
With Stefon Diggs shipped off to Houston, there are varying opinions on which Bufallo WR to target in fantasy drafts this season. Some like second-round NFL Draft pick Keon Coleman, but most cite either Skakir or Curtis Samuel (more on him below).
“Koleman at MSU and FSU was a low-volume, low-separation WR who thrived at the catch point. If I were a fantasy drafter, I would much rather put my eggs in Shakir’s basket. Shakir is a true slot receiver that can separate at all three levels of the field. Additionally, he can explode after the catch for TDs. With an Underdog ADP of 109.3, I believe Shakir will be the Bills WR1 in 2024. Shakir will go over 1,000 receiving yards,” writes PlayerProfiler’s Alexander Regan.
ProFootballNetwork’s Derek Tate doesn’t quite have him at topping 1,000 yards, but lays out a promising scenario. “In an ideal world, Shakir could see a similar role to Cole Beasley’s in 2020, when the former Bill finished as the WR27 with 82 receptions for 967 yards and four scores from 107 targets,” he writes.
Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills (ADP: 134, WR51)
The veteran in the running to be Josh Allen’s favorite target, “Samuel 's biggest edge may be his relationship with Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady, who coached Samuel in Carolina. That year, Samuel totaled 1,051 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in 15 games on 97 targets and 41 rush attempts,” writes CBSSports’ Heath Cummings.
While he is the veteran of the group, with seven NFL seasons under his belt, PFF.com’s Nathan Jahnke reminds us that he’s still only 28. “One of the three wide receivers is definitely going to be a steal, and given the quality of the Bills offense in the past, possibly two. I’d give Samuel the edge over Shakir based on his production without Allen compared to Shakir’s production with Allen, and Coleman is simply harder to draft as most rookies are,” he writes.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: 97, WR42)
OK, enough Bills talk. But similar to Buffalo, “There are ample opportunities available and McConkey might have a bigger role than expected with little competition in the receiver room,” AthlonSports’ Kyle Wood writes of the second-round pick out of Georgia. “He has the potential to be the team’s top pass-catching option, with Chark, Joshua Palmer, and Quentin Johnston being his top competition for targets,” adds RotoBaller’s Mike Barner.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (ADP: 116, WR48)
Unlike in Buffalo and Los Angeles, the Lions already have a lot of established weapons, “with St. Brown, LaPorta, Gibbs and Montgomery, but Williams adds a speed element that could help Goff and the offense be more explosive,” writes CBSSports’ Jamey Eisenberg. Plus, as SI.com’s Michael Fabiano points out, “With Josh Reynolds off the roster, Williams will be the unquestioned No. 2 wideout in what figures to remain an explosive offense.”
Honorable Mentions
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints (ADP: 170, WR63): “Heading into 2024, the Saints wide receiver room has thinned out, and Shaheed will be relied on to a greater degree. It’s expected that he will be a full-time player with a full route tree. In six games where he ran a route on at least 80 percent of dropbacks, Shaheed cleared 15 PPR points three times.” — Michael OHara, The Sporting News
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (ADP: 138, WR53): “Doubs has room to improve on his numbers from last year — 674 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in the regular season — but it was in the playoffs that he and Love really hit their stride. If this offense is as good as projected, Doubs in Round 11 is going to be a nice stash.” — Renee Miller, The Athletic
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 122, WR49): “Christian Kirk and Evan Engram will be the primary competitors of BTJ for targets but I feel his field-stretching ability, touchdown upside, and draft capital will mean an emphasis as a rookie.” — Nick Skrip, fantraxHQ.com
Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (ADP: 227, WR76): “After weeks of speculation, Darren Waller announced his retirement from the NFL. Robinson is the biggest beneficiary from Waller’s retirement. Daniel Jones loves to target the middle part of the field, which will help the slot receiver.” — Mike Fanelli, RotoBaller
