WR Fantasy Draft Strategy 2024: Handling Early Rounds, Targets, Sleepers, Busts (Episode 760 with Evan Silva, Mike Leone, and Adam Levitan)
Aug 21, 2024
auto_awesome
Join Evan Silva, a fantasy football analyst, Mike Leone, a season-long strategist, and Adam Levitan, a respected fantasy sports figure, as they break down WR drafting strategies for 2024. They discuss how to prioritize early-round targets and which players to avoid as potential busts. The trio dives into late-round sleepers like Jackson Smith and Jigba, highlighting their breakout potential. Get ready to optimize your draft strategy with their expert tips on exploiting league dynamics and managing player projections!
Understanding the macro strategy for drafting wide receivers can help exploit value in home leagues and competitive drafts alike.
Identifying late-round sleepers and undervalued wide receivers enhances roster depth and potential breakout opportunities during the season.
Deep dives
Macro Strategy for Wide Receiver Drafting
Understanding the macro strategy for drafting wide receivers is crucial for home league participants. The discussion emphasizes that running backs often get picked earlier than they should, allowing wide receivers to fall later in the draft, creating immense value. Analysts suggest that competitive leagues, influenced by trends in best ball formats, may see some wide receivers selected earlier, but many experienced drafters can still find excellent options in the middle to late rounds. Knowledge of your league's dynamics is important; casual players may prioritize popular quarterbacks and running backs, resulting in undervalued wide receivers that can be strong additions to a fantasy roster.
Key Targets and Undervalued Players
Targets identified in the episode focus on wide receivers who are likely to underperform in draft rankings but possess significant upside. Players like T. Higgins, Amari Cooper, and Chris Godwin are highlighted as likely to slide in drafts despite their talent and track record. In contrast, buzzier names such as Malik Neighbors may be overvalued yet, it is those less-trendy options who could provide substantial contributions later in the season. This strategic insight encourages drafters to seize value where it is available, instead of following the crowd on trendy picks.
Flexibility in Draft Strategy
Drafting strategies should be adaptable based on the competition and trends within the league. While a zero-RB strategy can be tempting, it is not necessarily optimal unless specific criteria are met, such as having the ability to start multiple wide receivers. There is a consensus that a flexible approach, taking a mix of wide receivers early but still recognizing the value of veteran players in the middle rounds, is often the winning strategy. Emphasizing depth at wide receiver allows for both star power and breakout possibilities from rookies or lesser-known players as the season progresses.
Navigating Late-Round Wide Receiver Decisions
As the draft approaches its final rounds, the focus shifts to identifying potential sleeper wide receivers. Listeners are encouraged to target young players who possess the ability to break out later in the season, including names like Rashid Shaheed and Dontavian Wicks. Evaluating late-round options can yield high-reward picks, especially in leagues with shallow benches where these players might slip through the cracks. The advice is to prioritize players with proven talent and situational opportunities over more established veterans who may have declining roles, ensuring a blend of safety and upside.
Adam Levitan, Evan Silva, and Mike Leone give a comprehensive breakdown on how to approach the WR position in season-long leagues for the upcoming season.
(1:27) - WR Home League Macro Strategy (6:09) - Drafting WRs after Zero & Hero RB (8:02) - Early Priority WR Targets (15:32) - WR Busts to Avoid (24:02) - Late-Round Strategy & Sleepers
NEED RANKINGS? Our Draft Kit Pro features expert rankings for every fantasy football league format, sleepers, busts, roster management content all season long, and so much more! https://establishtherun.com/subscribe/
WE CAN HELP: Tired of attention-seeking hot takes? Get the highest-quality fantasy football analysis in your inbox, FREE: https://bit.ly/establishtherun
BEST BALL BONUS OFFERS: Looking to play Best Ball? If you don't have an Underdog or Drafters account yet, use promo code “ETR” during signup for a first deposit match on each site:
SPORTSBOOK OFFERS: We’ve partnered with several major sportsbook outlets to help supply you with the best offers in the industry and ensure you’re maximizing your bankroll from the start: https://establishtherun.com/offers/
FOLLOW US: Check out our social media channels for FREE fantasy football & DFS videos, analysis, and more: https://linktr.ee/establishtherun
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode