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The NFL has seemingly shifted toward smaller, shiftier, and speedier wide receivers, but traditional alpha archetypes like Nico Collins, Drake London, and DJ Moore still exist. Each player has massive fantasy football upside in 2024.
Collins looks to build off his breakout season, London is set to play with the best quarterback of his career, and Moore could maintain the WR1 role in Chicago.
Let's dive into each of their fantasy football outlooks below!
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Nico Collins 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Following an injury-riddled first two seasons in the league, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins broke out in 2023. In 14 full games, the 6-foot-4 receiver caught 80 of his 109 targets for 1,297 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. As a result of this dominant season, Collins finished seventh among all WRs in half-PPR fantasy PPG. The Michigan product proved he can be a number-one option on a high-powered offense. Collins almost strictly played on the outside last season.
LET IT FLY 🚀 pic.twitter.com/AFIdqfxJRx
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 7, 2024
This should not be expected to change as Texans' newly acquired star receiver Stefon Diggs and second-year explosive playmaker Tank Dell rotate in the slot. Not only do the counting stats do Collins justice -- but the advanced metrics further prove his elite status. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Collins had the highest passer rating when targeted last season, along with the second-most yards per route run, and ranked third in yards-after-catch per reception among all receivers.
The 25-year-old currently projects as a late second/early third-round pick in best-ball and redraft leagues. You should confidently draft Collins in the second round of all leagues and be comfortable with him as your WR1.
Drake London 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Throw out the first two seasons of Drake London's NFL career. In his rookie season, the Falcons averaged just 158.8 passing yards per game, while in 2023, they averaged 207.3. Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke combined to throw just 34 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. For reference, Kirk Cousins, the Falcons' new signal-caller, threw 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions in eight games last season. He averaged 291.4 passing yards per game.
New head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson come from Los Angeles, where the Rams averaged the 7th-most passing yards per game in 2023 (245.6). Despite finishing as WR31 in his rookie season, London posted the 5th-highest target share (29.4%) and 2nd-highest target rate (32.4%) among wide receivers. His opportunity dipped in 2023, possibly as a result of the Bijan Robinson addition. Robinson saw 86 targets as a rookie, good for a 17.2% target share. The year prior, Tyler Allgeier posted just a 4.6% target share.
So while London should easily eclipse his career-high of 117 targets, don't expect him to see nearly a 30% target share this season. It's more likely he's closer to 25%. With higher passing volume, that could lead to at least 130-140 targets. DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, and DJ Moore were all within that range a season ago. Consider London a high-end WR2 with low-end WR1 upside in 2024.
DJ Moore 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
D.J. Moore enters his second season with Chicago after generating career-best numbers in a plethora of categories during 2023. His ADP soared to Round 2 (18/WR9) in best-ball leagues during February as he appeared positioned to approach the 28.8% target share that he captured while flourishing with Justin Fields under center. Moore also finished ninth in points per game (16.9), while rising to fifth in air yards share (42.6%), and sixth in receiving yards (1,364 /80.2 per game). He was also eighth in both touchdowns (eight), and yards after catch (539), and 12th in receptions (96/5.6 per game), while establishing career highs in each of those categories.
He also vaulted to second in routes run per team dropback (89.8%) according to Fantasy Points Data. Moore will now operate in a Bears offense that has undergone a massive transformation during the offseason. Six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen was acquired from the Chargers in March. Chicago also launched the NFL Draft by seizing Caleb Williams with the first overall selection and securing Rome Odunze just eight picks later. Moore should maintain his status as Chicago's WR1 while leading the Bears in target share, and yardage.
.@justnfields hits @idjmoore for 6
📺: #CHIvsKC on FOX pic.twitter.com/vWofnCSflV
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 24, 2023
However, the additions of Allen, Odunze, and D'Andre Swift will impede Moore from replicating last year's usage and production. Moore should still function as a WR2 for managers. That makes him a viable target in Round 3 of dynasty startup drafts and best-ball drafts.
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