In Fantasy Football Dynasty leagues, we are looking to draft durable players whom we have to keep on our rosters for multiple seasons. This is the time to begin scoping out some potential dynasty prospects who we think will remain healthy and continue to flourish in their NFL careers, thus making valuable fantasy football assets to our teams for seasons to come.
This article will delve into some under-the-radar dynasty wide receiver options that you may be interested in targeting in your 2014 dynasty drafts. Starting off, let’s take a look at some of our rookie wide receiver options who will hit the NFL fields fresh this fall.
Odell Beckham, Wide Receiver, New York Giants
The Giants made a wise decision to draft a wide receiver, in Beckham, with their first pick in the NFL Draft. Beckham posted a solid 57 receptions and 1,117 receiving yards in his last year at Louisiana State, which clearly must have influenced the Giants’ pick.
As we know, Victor Cruz, is the Giants No. 1 receiver, so Beckham should take on the No. 3 receiver role behind Rueben Randle. With Beckham’s speed, don’t be surprised to see him in the No. 2 slot sometime during the 2014 season, surpassing the mediocre Randle. Beckham surely has upside when you consider him for your dynasty league.
Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers
Another wide receiver chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft was Benjamin out of Florida State, to increase the depth of the Panthers’ depleted wide receiving roster. With his incredible height advantage of 6’-5” Benjamin should have no problem catching passes from lofty quarterback, Cam Newton, making him potentially brutal red zone threat.
Benjamin, who scored 15 touchdowns with 1,011 yards in 2013, adds another set of hands in addition to those of Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery for Newton to target. As he works his way up the Panther’s depth chart, eventually into the No. 1 receiver slot, Benjamin will increase in dynasty value over the course of the next few seasons.
Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Matthews, out of Vanderbilt at a stately 6’-3” totaled over 200 receptions and 1,800 receiving yards during his 2012 and 2013 college seasons. The Eagles let their No. 1 receiver, DeSean Jackson go during the free agency period, leaving them with Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin, who missed all last season due to injury, as their starters.
With Matthews in the mix, he’ll be stealing Cooper’s and Maclin’s targets within no time, as the franchise prepares for him to eventually fill the No 1 receiving slot. Matthews clearly makes for fantastic dynasty material for some years to come.
Not many rookie wide receivers got out of the gate quickly in 2013, making the majority of them poor fantasy football options. However, there is one receiver who definitely deems worthy of owning in dynasty leagues from this point on.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
Serving the majority of 2013 in the kick return position, Patterson racked up a grand total of 1,393 return yards and two return touchdowns. He also posted 469 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdown scores. Obviously, Patterson is too explosive not to take on a meatier role in a receiving slot for the Vikings advancing forth.
With the addition of quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, who should work his way into the role of the Vikings franchise starting quarterback, Patterson’s value only increases, as he should dominate a must-own status in dynasty leagues beginning with this season.
Now, let’s examine some under-the-radar dynasty options for a couple of wide receivers entering their third NFL season.
Kendall Wright, Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans
Wright was selected by the Titans in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and started off his rookie season a bit slow, which can be expected. However, in 2013, Wright surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, with 94 receptions, consistently producing flex-fantasy numbers throughout the season. Unfortunately, for Wright, he wasn’t targeted much in the end zone, resulting in him only scoring two touchdowns.
The receptions and yards, however, were impressive and Wright is just 24 years-old, so he will remain a top receiving option in the Titans’ offense and definitely has the cap space to rise in dynasty leagues.
Michael Floyd, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd, also a first-round draft pick in 2012 by the Cardinals, had a respectable season in 2013, with 65 receptions, 1,000 plus receiving yards and five touchdowns. While defenses were covering fellow veteran receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, Floyd was tallying up yards, making him the 24th-ranked fantasy wide receiver in 2013.
Look for Floyd to eventually own the No. 1 receiver slot down the road, as Fitzgerald is entering his 14th season with the team, making him a must-own in dynasty leagues.
Keep these wide receivers in mind as you plan your drafts for the 2014 dynasty leagues, as they’ve all got high ceilings of potential to bring you multiple seasons of increasing fantasy points.
All college and NFL statistics come from Pro Football Reference and fantasy football rankings in-house.
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