Three must-draft wide receivers in fantasy football

The 2024 NFL season is rapidly approaching, which means fantasy football drafts are about to ramp up.

The wide receiver position has never been more important in fantasy than it is today. While it's imperative to attack the position early in drafts, there are still plenty of talented wideouts available outside of the first two rounds.

With that in mind, here are three wide receivers you shouldn't leave your 12-team ESPN PPR fantasy draft without.

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

The 25-year-old was one of the most disappointing selections in fantasy drafts last season. Even though the Dolphins boasted the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL, Waddle, who caught 72 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, finished as the WR34 overall after being drafted as a top-12 wideout.

However, missing three games due to injuries and Miami's emergence of one of the league's top rushing attacks played a significant role in Waddle's lackluster fantasy output.

While he still won't be the No. 1 option in the Dolphins passing game, Waddle's fantasy outlook for 2024 is extremely promising, especially for a player being drafted in the fourth round on ESPN. On the surface, Waddle's 2023 stats indicate he regressed considerably from 2022, though his per-game stats and underlying metrics suggest there shouldn't be much cause for concern.

On a points-per-game basis, Waddle finished as the WR21 last season (14.2 PPR ppg), which isn't a dramatic decline from the 15.2 PPR points per game he averaged in 2022 when he finished as the WR8 overall. Additionally, Waddle ranked eighth among wideouts in yards per route run in 2023 with a career-high 2.52, according to Pro Football Focus .

The Dolphins should remain one of the NFL's top passing offenses in 2024, and they could get into more shootouts after losing star DT Christian Wilkins in free agency, boosting their offensive players' fantasy values.

As one of the focal points of an elite passing offense, expect Waddle to bounce back in the touchdown department this season and, in turn, have a similar fantasy finish to his 2022 season.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans

Quarterback C.J. Stroud's sensational 2023 rookie season made the Texans offense a surprise fantasy goldmine, producing breakout stars Nico Collins and Dell. After acquiring four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs earlier this offseason, Houston's offense should be even more explosive in 2024, but its now crowded receiving corps presents a dilemma in fantasy drafts.

If you want to draft a piece of the Texans offense this season, prepare to pay a premium. As per ESPN's draft rankings, Collins is ranked as the WR15 and No. 26 overall player in fantasy, whereas Diggs is coming off the board as the WR25 and No. 46 overall player.

With the upgrades made to the receiving corps, it's hard to imagine Collins replicating his 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown 2023 season in 2024 and living up to his fantasy price tag. Not to mention, it's unclear where the 30-year-old Diggs will find himself in the pecking order for targets or if he can rebound from the disappointing finish to last season.

As a result, Dell — ESPN's WR28 — is the best Texans wideout to target from a value perspective.

Dell, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, showed why Stroud asked Houston to select him, catching 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie. From a points-per-game standpoint, Dell finished as the WR19 in PPR scoring formats.

He might not have the same massive spike weeks he had last season, but Dell should still have several outings with at least 20 PPR points, making him an ideal WR2 or FLEX in fantasy.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Rice's legal issues have forced him to fall dramatically down fantasy draft boards. The SMU product is facing eight charges due to his involvement in a multi-car accident in March. Rice was also a suspect in an assault that took place at a Dallas nightclub in May, though no charges were filed.

In all likelihood, Rice will receive a multi-game suspension, but that doesn't mean it will come this season. Last month, Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters that he hadn't "heard anything" regarding a potential Rice suspension. Considering the first civil suit against Rice will begin trial on Dec. 9 (h/t KMBC 9 News ), it's possible Rice won't be disciplined by the NFL until 2025.

We saw a similar situation unfold with Saints running back Alvin Kamara , who was suspended for the first three games of last season due to his February 2022 battery arrest.

Unless his situation changes before your fantasy draft, Rice, who was the WR4 overall from Week 12 to the end of last season, should be a target in the late seventh round.

While Rice faces competition for targets from new additions Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy, he should still be the top wideout on an offense with the potential to be the NFL's best.