A couple of weeks ago, our experts took a look at breakout candidates. Identifying breakout candidates is a great way to get more production at a lower cost on draft day. But every player on your team won’t be a breakout candidate. You need those safe and reliable players to provide a solid foundation for your fantasy squads.
Our analysts combed through the NFL rosters and identified the safest picks on every team. The results and accompanying justifications are below. Previously, our analysts took a look at the most overrated and underrated players, the top rookies, and the top breakout candidates on each NFL team.
- Most Overrated Player on Each Team
- Most Underrated Player on Each Team
- Top Rookie on Each NFL Team
- Top Breakout Candidates on Each NFL Team
- Safest Pick on Each NFL Team
- NFL Head Coach & Staff Consensus Rankings
- Biggest Question for Each NFL Team
- NFL Offense Consensus Rankings
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Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill is a projection. Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle is a reality we saw unfold last season. Waddle posted nine top-24 PPR finishes — 8th-best at the position and more than Hill did in KC.
– Andrew Erickson
Jakobi Meyers finished as a WR4 or better in 80% of his games last season.
– Andrew Erickson
Brandin Cooks finished as a WR2 or better in 53% of his games played last season. That was better or equal to the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, Hunter Renfrow, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Williams, Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins and Amari Cooper.
– Andrew Erickson
Davante Adams ASKED for this! He wanted to be with Derek Carr in Vegas. When I think safe, I think talent and Adams is one of the most gifted WR in the NFL. They are going to get him the football.
– Joe Pisapia
Keenan Allen never finished a week last season as a top-6 WR. But he also busted just once in 15 games played.
– Andrew Erickson
Terry McLaurin has been one of the few stable components of a perennially unstable Washington offense. He’s gone over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, and he probably would have gone 3-for-3 had he not missed a pair of games as a rookie and fallen 81 yards short. Even though the Commanders spent a first-round draft pick on WR Jahan Dotson, McLaurin is expected to be the go-to receiver for new QB Carson Wentz.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Darnell Mooney is the man in Chicago, and by the man I mean the only WR I can even consider drafting. I’ve loved Mooney since his rookie year when he was fighting for balls like a mad man against the Bucs in a primetime game. He’s the WR1 in CHI, but a WR2 in fantasy.
– Joe Pisapia
Justin Jefferson may be the safest investment of any elite WR. Cooper Kupp is coming off a gigantic workload and you can argue Jefferson is not only the safest Viking, but also the safest fantasy receiver there is.
– Joe Pisapia
1.2K yards and 4 TDs, every year, the same deal. What D.J. Moore lacks in upside, he makes up for with floor. I still think he;s being drafted too high, but at least you know what to expect.
– Joe Pisapia
Alvin Kamara is facing a suspension, Michael Thomas is trying to come back from a major foot injury, Chris Olave is a rookie, and Jameis Winston is rarely described as a safe fantasy option. That leaves Jarvis Landry, a reliable slot man and possession receiver who had only missed one game in seven seasons before missing multiple games with a knee injury in 2021.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Mike Evans has averaged over 1K yards and 13.5 TDs since Tom Brady rolled into town. He has 1K yards in all eight of his NFL season. He is Mr. Consistency.
– Joe Pisapia
Cooper Kupp finished as a top-12 WR in 81% of his games last season. Next closest was Davante Adams at 47%.
– Andrew Erickson
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
