Fantasy Football Aging Wide Receivers To Target in 2024

July 15, 2024

Which aging fantasy football wide receivers are undervalued in the middle-to-late rounds? Martin looks at three veteran WRs who are currently undervalued in 2024 drafts.

Every year, regardless of position, we want the brand-new, young toy instead of the old, washed has-been. However, fantasy football managers consistently build successful squads around experienced players whose draft stock undervalues them due to age. While some players risk declining performance due to aging, their low Average Draft Position (ADP) already reflects this concern.

A prime example from 2023 is Mike Evans, who slipped to the seventh round in redraft leagues mainly due to age-related concerns. Despite worries about adapting to a new quarterback and offensive system, the prevailing doubt was that Evans had passed his peak and would see a decline in performance. Yet, he defied expectations by tallying 79 receptions, 1,225 yards, and 13 touchdowns, finishing as the WR4. This success underscores that veteran wide receivers still can excel. Looking ahead to 2024, Evans is now valued with a late second or early-third-round pick, illustrating how many underestimated him too soon last year.

So, who will be this year's Mike Evans? With some big names aging into this veteran category, some are already falling too far in drafts. For our sake, we will define aging wide receivers as anyone who will turn 29 or older during the season and is being undervalued (ADP outside of the fifth round). Who will be this year's aging sleeper?

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin will turn 29 during his sixth NFL season in 2024, and he has waited this long to play with an above-average quarterback. Despite Jayden Daniels being a rookie, he might already be the most talented quarterback McLaurin has teamed up with in the NFL. No one has ever doubted McLaurin's ability; the real question is whether Washington can find a consistent playmaker to target him effectively.

Terry Mclaurin says he has the ability to be a Top 5 receiver this year he just needs the correct quarterback play.

via @thepivot #Commanders #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Q4jgM87xq0

— 𝖊𝖑𝖎 (@CMNDERS) July 1, 2024

Even with the clown car of quarterbacks he has dealt with, McLaurin has still produced four straight 1,000-yard seasons and came very close in his rookie year with 919 yards. This consistency mirrors Evans, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in all 10 seasons.

However, the critical difference lies in touchdowns. Evans achieved double-digit touchdowns last year, a feat McLaurin aims to emulate to surpass his current ADP. In his six years, McLaurin has never exceeded seven touchdowns, a mark he hit in his rookie season. Fortunately, McLaurin now partners with a new quarterback who threw 40 touchdowns at LSU last season, raising hopes for similar success in the NFL.

Another avenue for Daniels to elevate McLaurin's performance is by connecting on more deep passes. McLaurin ranked 13th in air yards last season, accumulating over 1,500 yards, indicating considerable potential with a more precise quarterback. During his college campaign the previous year, Daniels completed 53 out of 79 passes of 15 yards or more in the air, amassing 1,783 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just one interception. Now paired with one of the league's premier deep threats, Daniels is poised to convert those air yards into substantial gains on the field.

McLaurin epitomizes the dependable veteran wide receiver with a proven track record, making him a promising investment. There's optimism that a new coaching staff and a former Heisman-winning quarterback can unleash McLaurin's full potential, long anticipated by fans and analysts alike. With McLaurin currently slated as a potential sixth-round selection, he emerges as a strong candidate to exceed expectations.

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

Calvin Ridley might surprise some as an aging veteran despite entering the league at 24 and facing setbacks like injury and suspension. His age didn't deter the Tennessee Titans from signing him to a substantial four-year, $92 million deal featuring a $20 million signing bonus, $50 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $23 million. As Jerry McGuire famously said, "Show me the money!"

In fantasy football, following the money often proves prudent, and the Titans' significant investment in Ridley designates him as their top receiving option. Ridley looks poised to have a more stable season under new head coach Brian Callahan, who has experience guiding the potent Cincinnati Bengals passing attack.

Callahan envisions Ridley playing a role akin to his former top receiver, stating this offseason, "You're looking at a very similar role to what Ja'Marr played." If Ridley can emulate Ja'Marr Chase's impact for the Titans, he can potentially exceed expectations relative to his ADP.

I asked Brian Callahan about Calvin Ridley.

"You're looking at a very similar role to what Ja'Marr played."

That got us into a great discussion on QB-WR chemistry, Joe Burrow, Peyton Manning and the communicaiton that makes an offense great. *Awesome* This Is Football today. pic.twitter.com/RsjyFjMW5Q

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) March 26, 2024

Ridley was the deep threat for the Jaguars last year, accumulating nearly 1,800 air yards. However, his new teammate, DeAndre Hopkins, led the league with 1,968 air yards, indicating that the Titans' young quarterback, Will Levis, favors an aggressive passing approach.

In 2023, Levis averaged 10.4 air yards per attempt, ranking first among NFL quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts. While this may translate to less efficient overall numbers, it bodes well for Ridley, who should see ample opportunities for big plays in the Titans offense.

Ridley is currently ranked as the 35th wide receiver and the 71st player overall, placing him on the cusp of the sixth/seventh round in drafts. This marks a significant drop from his earlier draft position despite finishing as the WR17 in PPR leagues in 2023.

While it's unlikely he'll lead the league in red-zone targets again (24), it's reasonable to anticipate his touchdown numbers remaining stable in a more effective red-zone offense. At worst, Ridley presents a strong option for the flex spot, but he carries the potential to ascend into the top-15 wide receivers if everything aligns favorably in Tennessee.

Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys

If you're seeking a deep sleeper among veteran wide receivers, consider Brandin Cooks. Despite a slow start due to acclimation and injury (an MCL sprain), Cooks emerged as a dependable fantasy asset last season. From Week 6 onward, he ranked as the WR22 overall and WR25 in points per game in half PPR formats. Cooks currently holds a rank of 137th overall and 56th among RotoBaller's wide receiver rankings, presenting a valuable late-round steal to bolster your bench with crucial wide receiver depth.

Brandin Cooks had his best game as a #Cowboys player Sunday against the Giants.

9 catches for 173 yards.

It his first 7 games he had
17 Catches for 165 Yards.

The #DallasCowboys offense needs him in the game plan.

pic.twitter.com/3qUuWMeJq8

— Alex Esquivel (@esquivelalex22) November 14, 2023

The Dallas Cowboys made no significant additions to their receiving corps during the offseason, setting the stage for Cooks to contend once more for the No. 2 spot alongside Jake Ferguson. Despite CeeDee Lamb's expected dominance of the target share, the Cowboys ranked fourth in pass rate over expected last season, indicating ample targets will be available. This trend will likely persist into 2024, especially with Ezekiel Elliott past his prime and Rico Dowdle still unproven in the backfield.

Cooks proved invaluable to the Cowboys last season with his efficiency in the red zone, hauling in 55.6% of his targets for five touchdowns. If Dallas amplifies Cooks' red-zone targets this year, his production could significantly boost. Cooks is a worthwhile late-round selection at his current draft price, even if he maintains last year's output. With familiarity in the system and coaching staff, presumed health, and potentially increased targets, Cooks appears poised for an even more promising year in 2024.

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