Still Got It: Veteran Receivers

We’re knee deep in redraft season. Leagues renew, and charity tournaments hit something different. With dynasty drafts coming to a close, there’s still a desire to take the rookies high up the redraft board. It’s been quite apparent when picking a wide receiver this year.

But don’t forget those veteran recievers who’ve still got it! Here are three of those boys who could be slipping down your board. They may offer you some value in the later rounds. 

Jarvis Landry – New Orleans Saints

If you recall, I floated Landry on an Injury Risk article several years ago. That season, events unfolded as told – and Landry spent time on the sidelines. Granted, it might not be noticable if you’re playing in a run-first, run-second, run-last offense. Last year, the 29-year old ended up with a rank outside the top 50 recievers. And he finished with the lowest number of targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns in a career season so far. 

As we have already heard and seen, the move to New Orleans could means significant gains for all involved. Landry’s eighth season in the NFL sees an uptick in opportunity, production and popularity. The Saints gain a reciever who has often featured inside the top 20 at the position when he stays on the field. And any drafter gains a sneakily well-valued player in the face of a potential Michael Thomas return. And that’s not mentioning the tantalising Olave signing! 

Thomas’ position on the PUP, Kamara’s potential punishment and paltry picks ups all add up. It could map out Landry’s route to the WR1 on the team, particularly while MT recovers from his everlasting injury. He’s going at an average ADP of 148.9 on Sleeper. Bengals WR3 Tyler Boyd, Cowboys WR2 Michael Gallup and Bucs WR3 Russell Gage are seeing picks ahead of him. If you can pull down a little longer, you could have a player with volume ready to pick!

Robert Woods – Tennessee Titans

I will keep banging the drum for Bobby Trees until he retires from the league. 

I was hitting it hard for Woods last season at the Rams, and didn’t stop when he got traded to the Titans. I’ve even got him lodged in my Top 10 wide receivers for the season, that’s how committed I am to be a Woodsman! 

The concern about his mid-season injury has put people off drafting his as highly as last year. And his Sleeper ADP has dropped far from his 2020 drafting position. He now languishes with Gage and Claypool in the 120s. But camp reports are very encouraging. The ACL tear suffered midway through the year looks all but gone. Recent reports have Woods throwing himself into pre-season camp. And, while rookie receiver Treylon Burks is bouncing back after initial asthma concerns, he looks to feature opposite Woods – not usurp him.

Like Cleveland, Tennessee love to run it until the wheels come off. And Derrick Henry will expect a large workload. But to keep the momentum going, they need to keep the beast healthy. And, whether that’s using backup runners or turn to the pass offense, something has to give. On such a limited offense, there’s a huge opportunity for a veteran receiver to continue crushing it. 

Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings receiver heads into his ninth year as an NFL player – at the graceful age of 31. 

Playing opposite Justin Jefferson may seem like a daunting prospect for many of those who draft him. But don’t be put off. Thielen has done incredibly well in the presence of Jefferson. The veteran receiver saw 7.3 targets per game in 2021 (95 in 13), and 7.2 tpg in 2020, bagging touchdowns in the double digits for both years.  While JJ finished as 2020’s WR6, Thielen also graced us with a 10th place finish in PPR – and just one place behind the rookie in Standard scoring formats. 

Part of this was down to his dominance in the red-zone, which came from an incredible connection with Kirk Cousins. And, with no significant skill piece movements in or out of the team, and that ankle injury behind him, Thielen looks to line up alongside Jefferson and Cousins once more. 

And, much like his Quarterback’s feature in the Veteran QB article, the reciever stands to benefit from Kevin O’Connell’s guidance in the passing game. His current ADP means you can pick him up outside the top 100 overall. And, in doing so, you could have another top 24 wide receiver on your roster without stretching too much! 

Keep rushing!

Rob 

@5yardrob