Fantasy Football draft prep: Henry Ruggs, Jalen Reagor headline post-hype sleeper wide receivers to target

You are not going to be very excited in regards to the prospect of getting any of the names on this record in your Fantasy Soccer roster. That is form of the purpose. No person was enthusiastic about Tyler Boyd in 2018, DeVante Parker in 2019 or Corey Davis in 2020, even though they had been younger, current excessive draft picks with paths to sizable roles on their respective groups. As Fantasy gamers, we are likely to have a two-strike coverage with younger gamers — we’ll draft you (a lot decrease) in 12 months two if you happen to flop, however you are on double secret probation at that time. 

Of the gamers on this record, one has been a helpful Fantasy possibility earlier than, however at this level, he is just about a forgotten man. The remaining? We’re nonetheless ready for his or her first spectacular stretch. I am not saying all of those guys are going to be helpful Fantasy choices — I might wager towards it, the truth is — however it looks like there’s one previously highly-touted large receiver who goes from afterthought to must-start standing yearly. Listed below are 5 who would possibly pull the trick off in 2021:

• Henry Ruggs — Ruggs rookie season did not give us a lot to get enthusiastic about, particularly as a result of he did not earn greater than 5 targets in any sport, however that does not imply there was nothing to pay attention to. He averaged 10.5 yards per goal and caught 60.5% of them, a really stable quantity for a participant with a 17.4 yard ADoT. He was a disappointment primarily based on his draft inventory, however Ruggs did not outright fall on his face. He’s seemingly locked right into a first-team function and whereas I do not assume he’ll ever be a real Alpha No. 1 WR, his WR58 worth is nicely value taking a flier on. Nelson Agholor was very productive in a restricted function on this offense in 2020, and Ruggs is a extra proficient participant. Let’s examine if he exhibits it. 

• Jalen Reagor — Reagor, nicely, he form of fell on his face. He had stretches the place he was extra concerned within the Eagles‘ passing sport than Ruggs was with the Raiders, however he by no means had greater than 55 receiving yards in a sport — together with simply 34.2 per sport within the six the place he had at the least 5 targets. Yikes. Nonetheless, he was simply 21 and suffered a shoulder damage on the finish of coaching camp after which a thumb damage after simply two video games, so it is arduous to say how a lot of his struggles we are able to or ought to pin straight on him. We’re hoping Jalen Hurts can present higher QB play than the Eagles obtained in 2020, and Reagor is so low-cost — WR58 — that there is not any draw back to seeing if he can discover a spark. Particularly with rookie first-rounder Devonta Smith coping with a knee damage in camp. 

• Sterling Shepard — Shepard does not precisely have age on his aspect anymore, and it looks like he is settled in as a boring, low-upside WR4/5 for Fantasy. Nonetheless, he is really settled in as a form of Jarvis Landry/Tyler Boyd-esque possession receiver during the last two seasons, placing up a 16-game tempo of 89 catches, 984 complete yards, and 5 touchdowns; Boyd’s tempo over the identical time is 87 catches, 1,013 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Landry’s is 80 catches, 1,049 yards and 5 touchdowns over the identical time-frame. I am unsure Shepard actually has an excessive amount of upside past that, and the addition of Kenny Golladay ought to reduce into his targets some. Nonetheless, if the Giants are hoping Golladay is a rising tide who lifts all boats within the crew’s passing sport, possibly Golladay’s presence might also make Shepard a more practical participant, making up for what he would possibly lose in quantity. As WR64, it’s possible you’ll be getting a good WR3 from him.

• Parris Campbell — With simply 198 yards by means of two NFL seasons, it is arduous to think about issues going worse for anybody than they’ve for Campbell, who has struggled to remain wholesome on the NFL stage. However the Colts nonetheless love his expertise — the coaches cannot cease speaking about him in camp — and he is wholesome proper now, so I am nonetheless excited to see what he can do with an actual alternative. My expectations aren’t notably excessive, however with Nyhiem Hines doubtless taking over a smaller function and no dependable tight finish playmakers prone to see a giant function, there might be room for a short-area playmaker like Campbell to thrive. 

• N’Keal Harry — There may be a 50-50 probability Harry is not on the Patriots by Week 1, so neglect I mentioned something if he will get reduce. He is been a catastrophe up to now, averaging simply 5.1 yards per goal by means of since being made the thirty second general decide in 2019. And he is obtained extra competitors for taking part in time and targets than ever, a nasty signal when he is had greater than 5 targets simply 5 occasions in two seasons — and he is averaged 41.6 yards per sport in these 5, in addition. Nonetheless, Harry is outwardly having his greatest coaching camp ever, and whereas the Patriots did carry in additional competitors for targets, it is not like all of Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith, or Hunter Henry is a actual obstacle if Harry exhibits any of the power that made him a first-rounder within the first place. It is a lengthy shot — a actually lengthy one, at that — however if you happen to’re in a deeper league, Harry is at the least displaying indicators of life in camp. That is new.