They say there is no offseason in dynasty leagues, and for the most part, that’s true. But there are definitely ebbs and flows.
Weeks 1-17 are a mad dash, the NFL playoffs are must-see TV, free agency, and the NFL draft shakes up dynasty player values, and then we get the pure rush of our rookie drafts. And if there is any offseason, this little pocket of time between rookie drafts (which are now over in most leagues) and when training camp heats up in late July is a much-needed reprieve.
Thankfully, the true dynasty addicts among us in most leagues still have moves we can make during “The Quiet Time:” trades and waiver wire adds.
That’s where this article comes in. Today, we’ll look at some veteran wide receiver sleepers for dynasty. Most of them are guys you can acquire relatively cheaply via trade, while there might even be one or two you can scoop up for free from the waiver wire, depending on the size of your league. So let’s get shopping.
- Dynasty Veteran Sleeper Quarterbacks
- Dynasty Veteran Sleeper Running Backs
- Dynasty Veteran Sleepers: Tight Ends
*Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Dynasty League Football (DLF).
Christian Kirk (WR – JAX) (ADP: WR47)
I recently discussed Kirk as a buy on the FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast and then took my own advice by acquiring him in my league for Adam Thielen and a 2023 third-round pick.
The massive contract the Jaguars handed Kirk has become a subject of ridicule on social media, but whether he’s worth it is beside the point. Instead, the contract is proof that Kirk will be the No. 1 receiver for Trevor Lawrence for at least the next two seasons and that Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson wants to build his offense around his newly-signed top receiver.
Kirk experienced a mini-breakout in his final season in Arizona thanks to the opportunity to regularly play out of the slot while DeAndre Hopkins was hurt. He was a top-10 WR in PPR leagues over the seven games that Hopkins missed and should get similar usage in Jacksonville with Lawrence, who had a lot of success targeting slot receivers in college. If TLaw had as productive a rookie season as many anticipated, there is no way his 25-year-old No. 1 receiver would be this affordable in dynasty. But if Lawrence breaks out this season, Kirk’s dynasty value will likely skyrocket.
Allen Lazard (WR – GB) (WR61)
Lazard has never seemed like the logical choice to be the heir apparent to Davante Adams in Green Bay, but as we sit here in late May and examine the Packers’ roster, it sure looks like Lazard is set to be Aaron Rodgers‘ top target for 2022.
Sammy Watkins has underwhelmed at every stop on his NFL journey. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Amari Rodgers are intriguing talents, but they’re all first or second-year players and won’t be heavily relied on until they earn Rodgers’ trust. The only receiver besides Lazard who has a strong rapport with Rodgers is Randall Cobb, but he’ll be 32 years old by Week 1 and is more likely to serve as a mentor than a target hog.
The opportunity available to Lazard with Adams gone cannot be understated. Only Cooper Kupp exceeded Adams’ 169 targets in 2021. Lazard managed to produce 513 yards and eight touchdowns on just 60 targets last year, so imagine what he might be able to do if his targets double. Sure, Green Bay could still sign a free agent, but if they don’t, the 26-year-old Lazard has a real shot at big numbers as he approaches free agency in 2023.
Jarvis Landry (WR – NO) (ADP: WR79)
Landry’s numbers took a tumble during his final two seasons in Cleveland, but that may have had more to do with Baker Mayfield‘s erratic play and the Browns’ run-heavy scheme than it did with Landry himself. Now in New Orleans, Landry will man the slot in a Jameis Winston-led offense that should be more aggressive through the air than it was last season.
As a result, Landry has a good chance to begin the year as Winton’s No. 2 target behind Michael Thomas as rookie Chris Olave acclimates to the NFL. And if Thomas should suffer any more setbacks in his prolonged recovery from a now nearly two-year-old ankle injury, Landry could emerge as one of the most highly-targeted receivers in the entire league.
Will Fuller (WR – FA) (ADP: WR83)
It can be tough to remain patient with veteran players who remain unsigned this far into the offseason, but that patience can be richly rewarded. Fuller’s career has been littered with injuries, but there is no doubting that he has been an impact fantasy option when healthy. He’s frequently provided WR2 value and sometimes performed as a WR1 for stretches. As one of the top remaining WRs on the free-agent market, several prolific passing offenses could benefit from Fuller’s services, including Green Bay, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Cleveland, where he could reunite with Deshaun Watson.
Jamison Crowder (WR – BUF) (ADP: WR87)
If you’re looking for a sneaky bet to be an every-week WR3 in 2022, look no further than Crowder. The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Bills this offseason to fill the slot role vacated by Cole Beasley, who finished as the WR34, WR27 and WR39 in PPR leagues during his three seasons in Buffalo.
However, under Josh Allen, the Bills project to be once again one of the most high-scoring and pass-happy teams in the NFL. And while Buffalo did bring in competition for Crowder by spending a fifth-round pick on Boise State’s Khalil Shakir, it’s unlikely the rookie gets a shot at the slot role until 2023, when Crowder will have a chance to find another good landing spot in free agency.
Cole Beasley (WR – FA) (ADP: > WR120)
Beasley is currently a forgotten man who is going outside of the top-120 wide receivers in dynasty startup mock drafts, meaning he could be available as a waiver wire pickup in your league. As mentioned above, Beasley consistently put up WR3 numbers in PPR leagues during his time in Buffalo.
Even at age 33, he should still have another year or two of viable production if he can find the right team, whether it be Green Bay, Cleveland, Dallas, Tampa or even Tennessee. He’s a cheap depth piece to add to a contending roster, and if he doesn’t find a good landing spot, you can always drop him in August for the hot training camp name of the moment.
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Andrew Seifter is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrew_seifter.