RADIO
Wide receivers are one of the most critical components, and a core building block, for all fantasy football teams. This is especially true in PPR formats, where fantasy owners are rewarded for every catch that a wide receiver makes. We are here to help you plan your wide receiver draft strategy, and to target the right players on each NFL team.
Below are our 2015 fantasy football wide receiver depth charts as of Week 2 of the NFL and fantasy football season. For each team you will find the primary wide receiver (WR1), the secondary wide receiver (WR2), the third wide receiver (WR3), and dynasty values. Players listed under "Dynasty Value" have added value in dynasty/keeper league formats and can be targeted on draft day.
It’s important to stay on top of the wide receiver situations and any depth chart changes throughout each week of the fantasy football season, so be sure to check back regularly. By staying on top of all the depth charts changes, preseason position battles, and in-season injuries, you can draft the right receivers, adjust your rosters off the waiver wire, find sleepers, potential breakouts, and dominate your fantasy football leagues.
All WR1/WR2/WR3 listings are based off current Fantasy Football projections, not NFL depth chart values. Players listed under "Dynasty Value" have increased value in a Dynasty league.
AFC EAST: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Solid | Patriots | Julian Edelman | Danny Amendola | Aaron Dobson | N/A |
| Solid | Jets | Brandon Marshall | Eric Decker | Chris Owusu | N/A |
| Questionable | Bills | Sammy Watkins | Robert Woods | Percy Harvin | Sammy Watkins |
| Questionable | Dolphins | Jarvis Landry | Greg Jennings | Rishard Matthews | DeVante Parker |
The Patriots receiver corps will remain unchanged as long as Brandon LaFell is sidelined, with all three options coming behind Rob Gronkowski.
I liked what I saw from Ryan Fitzpatrick and the receiving crew, as both Decker and Marshall caught touchdowns. This pecking order is pretty much set in stone, with Marshall acting as the primary red zone threat.
The Bills depth chart is a mystery right now, as the organization has admitted that they won't feature any particular wide receiver this year. In Week 1 Percy Harvin was the top target, and sophomore sensation Sammy Watkins was held without a catch. This was likely due to the shadow of Colts stud cornerback Vontae Davis, so I'm not counting Watkins out yet. He's still the clear top talent, and I expect him to get his more often than not.
I'm dropping Kenny Stills out of the Dolphins depth chart and replacing him with Rishard Matthews, as Matthews trailed only Jarvis Landry and Jordan Cameron in targets in Week 1. Landry is the clear top option until DeVante Parker gets integrated into the offense, but after that the pecking order will fluctuate weekly.
AFC WEST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Solid | Broncos | Demaryius Thomas | Emmanuel Sanders | Cody Latimer | Cody Latimer |
| Solid | Chiefs | Jeremy Maclin | Albert Wilson | Jason Avant | Albert Wilson |
| Solid | Raiders | Amari Cooper | Michael Crabtree | Andre Holmes | Amari Cooper |
| Solid | Chargers | Keenan Allen | Stevie Johnson | Malcolm Floyd | Keenan Allen |
All of these depth charts are rock-solid, with no jockeying for position after Week 1. I am quite alarmed in regards to the Broncos receivers, as Peyton Manning looked positively awful. I don't expect him to be that bad again, but Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders might not give fantasy owners the returns they paid for on draft day.
Another game, another zero-touchdown day for the Chiefs. Tight end Travis Kelce dominated yardage-wise, but it was Maclin who led the team in targets. This offense looks pretty terrific, and I expect Maclin to be a WR2 as the season progresses.
Derek Carr left the game with a hand injury in Week 1, and predictably Matt McGloin didn't do much for the Oakland wide receivers. Cooper and Crabtree are the only ones with any value--Cooper is a WR2 and Crabtree is a desperation flex, assuming Carr is healthy.
Keenan Allen hauled in an absurd 15 passes on 17 targets, and looked every bit a fantasy WR1. While we may have seen his best game all sesaon, he and Rivers have a clear connection. As long as Antonio Gates is out, Allen and the rest of the receivers should thrive.
AFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Volatile | Ravens | Steve Smith | Kamar Aiken | Marlon Brown | Breshad Perriman |
| Questionable | Steelers | Antonio Brown | Markus Wheaton | Darrius Heyward-Bey | Martavis Bryant |
| Solid | Bengals | A.J. Green | Marvin Jones | Mohamed Sanu | N/A |
| Questionable | Browns | Travis Benjamin | Andrew Hawkins | Brian Hartline | N/A |
That Ravens passing game--yikes. Not a single player provided fantasy value, and top-targeted wide receiver Steve Smith managed just two catches for 13 yards. I'm avoiding this offense for a while until Joe Flacco figures things out.
Regarding the Steelers, Antonio Brown is a stud, Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey are not. This depth chart is relatively stable until Martavis Bryant gets back, at which time he should immediately become the number two option.
The Bengals wide receiver corps didn't do a whole lot in Week 1, although that's mostly due to the fact that Tyler Eifert took over the game. I expect A.J. Green to get his 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns by the end of the season, and Marvin Jones is likely the secondary red zone threat (third if you include Eifert).
If you're starting Browns wide receivers, heaven help you. If you play in some 32-team league and absolutely have to, Travis Benjamin is the one to own.
AFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Solid | Colts | T.Y. Hilton (INJ) | Andre Johnson | Donte Moncrief | Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief |
| Solid | Texans | DeAndre Hopkins | Nate Washington | Cecil Shorts III | Jaelen Strong |
| Questionable | Titans | Kendall Wright | Harry Douglas | Justin Hunter | Dorial Green-Beckham, Kendall Wright |
| Questionable | Jaguars | Allen Robinson | Allen Hurns | Rashad Greene | Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee |
With T.Y. Hilton likely missing at least a game, Donte Moncrief should be one of if not the top waiver wire pickups for Week 2. Andre Johnson looked particularly bad in Week 1, and it would not shock me if Moncrief was the top-targeted receiver as long as Hilton is out.
DeAndre Hopkins is a total monster, regardless of who is playing quarterback. Surprisingly, it was Nate Washington who led the team in receiving yards (105 on six catches and 11 targets), and while I'm not adding him in any format just yet it bears monitoring.
We barely got to see what the Titans receiving corps can do in Week 1, as Marcus Mariota only attempted 16 total passes--they were up nearly 30 points in the first half alone. If the rookie quarterback continues to look this good, Kendall Wright might evolve into a weekly WR2 option. Rookie Dorial Green-Beckham didn't have a catch in the game, but he may very well break out as the season progresses.
Surprisingly, it was rookie Rashad Greene who led the Jags in targets in Week 1. The team's assumed WR1 Allen Robinson was held to just one catch while Greene hauled in seven catches on 13 targets (albeit for only 28 yards) and a touchdown. He suffered a concussion late in the game, so it remains to be seen if he'll be able to remain relevant to the Jaguars passing game. Robinson is still the only receiver I'd consider starting in fantasy.
NFC EAST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Solid | Giants | Odell Beckham Jr. | Victor Cruz (INJ) | Rueben Randle | Odell Beckham Jr. |
| Questionable | Eagles | Jordan Matthews | Nelson Agholor | Riley Cooper | Josh Huff, Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews |
| Solid | Cowboys | Dez Bryant (INJ) | Terrance Williams | Cole Beasley | N/A |
| Solid | Redskins | DeSean Jackson (INJ) | Pierre Garcon | Andre Roberts | Ryan Grant |
The pecking order in New York is pretty stable, but boy was Week 1 bad for fantasy owners. With Victor Cruz possibly still out, the situation should remain unchanged, and I expect the numbers for all Giants to improve in Week 2 in a possible shoot-out with the Falcons.
The Eagles depth chart is only questionable on the back end, as Jordan Matthews and rookie Nelson Agholor are clear the 1-2 punch for Sam Bradford. This offense should stay potent, and I expect big things from both. My money is on Riley Cooper maintaining the WR3 job.
With Dez Bryant out for at least four weeks with a broken foot, the onus falls to Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley to act as Tony Romo's top two wide receivers. I don't expect their usage to increase much, as I predict Dez's targets will end up split evenly among the two of them and the tight ends (Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar). Devin Street will likely be the distant fifth option.
DeSean Jackson also suffered an injury in Week 1, leaving the door open for Pierre Garcon to make an impact. Kirk Cousins is simply too bad to make a fantasy stud out of anyone, and with Jackson gone I'm avoiding this passing attack as a whole. Ryan Grant might make for an interesting waiver wire stash, as the organization seems to really like him. He'll be afforded chances to make some plays.
NFC WEST: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Questionable | 49ers | Anquan Boldin | Torrey Smith | Quinton Patton | N/A |
| Volatile | Seahawks | Doug Baldwin | Jermaine Kearse | Tyler Lockett | Tyler Lockett |
| Volatile | Cardinals | Larry Fitzgerald | John Brown | Michael Floyd | John Brown |
| Volatile | Rams | Brian Quick | Kenny Britt | Stedman Bailey | N/A |
This is probably the most volatile division in football as far as wide receivers are concerned. In San Francisco the roles are pretty clearly defined, but usage will probably be dictated by game flow every week. I still expect Anquan Boldin to routinely lead the team in targets.
The Seahawks situation is completely up in the air. Jermain Kearse actually led the team in targets and catches in Week 1, with Doug Baldwin right on his tail in both categories. Rookie Tyler Lockett was extremely impressive though, showing his burst and elusiveness on a kick return touchdown. This might be one of those situations to avoid due to inconsistency.
Unsurprisingly, veteran Larry Fitzgerald led the Cardinals in both catches and targets in Week 1 (six catches for 87 yards on eight targets), but John Brown did much more with the targets he was afforded (four catches for 82 yards on five targets). I believe the two will go back and forth all season and ultimately end up with very similar counting stats at the end of the year. Michael Floyd seems like a distant afterthought at the moment, but he certainly can't be counted out yet.
How about those Rams, huh? They managed to beat the Seahawks even without projected top wideout Brian Quick, who was declared inactive (likely due to his continued recovery from a torn rotator cuff). I don't know if we'll get any true clarity as to the pecking order in the first few weeks, but ultimately I think Brian Quick will reestablish himself as the WR1.
NFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Depth Charts
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Questionable | Packers | Randall Cobb | Davante Adams | James Jones | Davante Adams |
| Solid | Lions | Calvin Johnson | Golden Tate | Lance Moore | N/A |
| Solid | Bears | Alshon Jeffery | Eddie Royal | Marquess Wilson | Kevin White |
| Questionable | Vikings | Mike Wallace | Charles Johnson | Cordarrelle Patterson | N/A |
James Jones...possible fantasy WR2? Aaron Rodgers looked to the veteran a lot in the red zone, and he ended up with two touchdowns after catching all four of his targets. Davante Adams still led the team in targets with eight, but this might be a WR2A/2B situation in the early goings. Cobb was clearly hampered by the sprained AC joint, and I expect him to be a fantasy WR1 as he heals.
Calvin Johnson is still the unquestioned WR1 in Detroit and a WR1 in fantasy, but it was a bit troubling that Matthew Stafford only looked his way four times in a game that they trailed in. I'm chalking this one up to "bad Matthew Stafford" making an appearance, and I'm expecting a bounce-back from all parties involved in Week 2.
Alshon Jeffery is better at 50% than most are at 100%, and he showed why with a very solid performance in Week 1. I honestly don't expect much out of the other options at wide receiver, especially with highly-touted rookie Kevin White still sidelined by injuries. Avoiding everyone except Jeffery, who is an every-week WR1.
Somehow, Mike Wallace managed to gain nearly all of the attention from Teddy Bridgewater, and it wasn't even on deep routes. Wallace having that much attention is something to obviously monitor and might put him in the forefront of this teams targets.
NFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR)
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name |
Primary Wide Receiver (WR1) | Second Wide Receiver (WR2) | WR3 & Longshots | Dynasty Value |
| Solid | Saints | Brandin Cooks | Marques Colston | Brandon Coleman | Brandin Cooks |
| Solid | Falcons | Julio Jones | Roddy White | Leonard Hankerson | N/A |
| Volatile | Panthers | Corey Brown | Ted Ginn Jr. | Jerricho Cotchery | Devin Funchess, Kelvin Benjamin |
| Solid | Buccaneers | Mike Evans | Vincent Jackson | Louis Murphy | Mike Evans |
The Saints depth chart is fairly stable for the moment, with Cooks the obvious number one and Colston clinging to the WR2 role. Rookie Brandon Coleman actually tied Colston with seven targets in Week 1, and did much more with them, converting them into four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. I fully expect him to supplant the aging veteran by Week 5 at the latest.
Not much to be said about the Falcons--Julio is an animal, Roddy is old and fragile but solid when he plays.
The Panthers wide receiver corps is painful to look at on paper. I don't see anyone firmly grabbing the WR1 role--nobody had more than 54 receiving yards in Week 1. I'm avoiding the situation entirely, but I'll be monitoring rookie Devin Funchess to see if he can carve out a role for himself.
Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson are more of a 1A/1B tandem, with Evans getting a slight edge due to his red zone talents. For me they are both fantasy WR2s, but if Jameis Winston continues to struggle that could change.
NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room
[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]
