10 Backup Wide Receivers Who Need to be Added in Dynasty Leagues

There are wide receivers in fantasy football who always pop up out of nowhere and explode. Last year’s big one was the Rams’ fifth-round draft pick Puka Nacua. Even though at times it does just genuinely happen out of nowhere, there are several instances where there are clues to see it coming. Even with Nacua, there was preseason buzz that suggested he might have at least a role in the offense.

The truth about these dart throws at wide receivers with little value in dynasty leagues is that it’s rare that they will hit. But if just one that you take a chance on hits it is one of the best feelings in fantasy football. I’m going to show you a few that you might want to look into adding in dynasty leagues.

All stats are courtesy of Fantasy Pros, Player Profiler and PFF.

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals

I’m surprised Dortch isn’t talked about more since Kyler Murray is back to fully healthy for the Cardinals. Once Murray returned for the Cardinals in Week 10, Dortch was a valuable fantasy option. Dortch did not play in Week 10 but from Week 11 to Week 18, he averaged 5.6 targets per game and 9 points per game. It was not anything amazing, but that can be a flex or good bench option in dynasty leagues.

The point is just more proven in 2022, as in games with 65% of the snaps or more, Dortch averaged 8.3 targets per game and 14.5 points per game. Only half of those games were with Murray, too. He is more valuable with Murray due to their connection and the quarterback's talent, but even without him, Dortch has proved he can perform when given the opportunity. Behind Marvin Harrison, Dortch is just competing with guys like Michael Wilson and Zay Jones for a starting spot. A valuable role on the Cardinals' offense is attainable.

Javon Baker, New England Patriots

I’m throwing out the Patriots' depth chart when looking at wide receivers because it’s just a big pile of not-great NFL receivers that who knows is going to come out of it on top. There are two receivers in there that I think will actually be good in 2024 and for the forseeable future. Baker is one of those guys.

Baker is coming into the NFL as a rookie. The Patriots selected Baker in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of UCF. At UCF, Baker had a 31.5 percent college-dominated rating, a 34 percent college target share, and an elite 3.21 yards per route run. He was overshadowed by a stacked wide receiver class and could surprise people by coming out of the rubble and starting for the Patriots while also being a valuable fantasy option.

Jacob Cowing, San Francisco 49ers

Cowing has a long way to go before he has fantasy relevance, but the 49ers rookie might be a good stash option to have. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 draft by the San Fransico 49ers to seemingly be a depth option. The hope with this stash is that talent prevails and he earns playing time, and at the very least contributes to another team after his rookie contract.

Cowing’s college metrics out of UTEP are jaw-dropping. He broke out at 18 years old with a college target share of 36.8 percent and a college dominator rating of 61.4 percent. These numbers do more than check off all the boxes for a wide receiver prospect. It was at a smaller school, but that shouldn’t keep you from seeing how crazy the metrics are and how talented Cowing is.

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars

Washington will be entering his sophomore campaign in the NFL in 2024, and I believe can make that big sophomore leap. Ever since getting a chance on an NFL field, he has done nothing but impress. He showed flashes in his rookie season, including his first NFL game with NFL snaps where he caught all six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Those flashes have conveyed to the offseason and preseason.

In the Jaguars' first preseason game of the season, Washington returned a punt for a 73-yard touchdown. This will not only help him secure a roster spot but will also help him continue to earn the trust of the coaching staff. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Washington in a starting wideout role for the Jaguars at some point this season.

Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton, Green Bay Packers

Wicks will be entering his second year in the NFL after being drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Virginia. Melton is entering his third season in the NFL but didn’t play at all in his rookie 2022 season. Technically both are a backup on the depth chart, but I believe that the Packers will run a lot of different variations of the wide receiver and Jordan Love will continue to spread the ball around like he did last season.

Both Wicks and Melton had an opportunity to showcase their talent for the Packers one Christian Watson went down with an injury and didn't play for the rest of the season from Week 14 on. Wicks averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game and 5.5 targets per game during the stretch, missing a game in Week 17. Melton didn’t get playing time until Week 15, and from Week 16 to 18 averaged 14.7 fantasy points and 7.3 targets per game. Don't expect either to be super valuable for fantasy in 2024 due to how crowded the Packers' wide receiver room is, but it is important to stash these players in case they continue to impress and are seen as cheaper yet just as valuable starting options for the team in the future.

Even with how crowded Green Bay's wide receiver room is, injuries from the starters and just overall talent prevailing can catapult either of these two into more premier roles.

Noah Brown, Houston Texans

Brown's opportunity to be great in fantasy in 2024 is tough due to the fact that the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs, which automatically pushed Brown down to fourth on the depth chart. However, if any of Nico Collins, Tank Dell or Diggs miss extended time, Brown has already proven that he can get the job done.

In 2023, Brown was very good when given the opportunity. He even had three top-15 finishes, including a WR2 finish in Week 9 and a WR 7 finish in Week 10. In Week 9 and 10, he combined for 13 catches, 325 yards and a touchdown. As he ages, Diggs is starting to lose a step and is only on a one-year deal, meaning Brown can step up and be the WR3 for the Texans as soon as next year, making him a great stash in dynasty.

Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals

Iosivas is entering the second year of his NFL career and will likely have a much bigger role this season. Though he barely played at all, only having one game of relevance in Week 18 where he had 5 receptions for 36 yards and two touchdowns.

With the departure of Tyler Boyd, there is a competition to be the Bengals’ WR3. According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, Iosivas is the favorite to win the WR3 job. Even looking further than this season, if Tee Higgins does depart from the team next offseason, he could have an even bigger role than WR3 in 2025.

Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams

Whittington was taken in the sixth round of the draft out of Texas by the Rams. He didn't have much production at Texas, but his talent made him a player the Rams were excited to draft. Whittington displays a high football IQ, patience in his routes, strong hands, and excellent yards-after-catch ability. It has been reported that Whittington ran with the Rams starters some. This could mean big things for the rookie, if not for 2024 than in the future.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins

Washington is another sixth-round rookie from the 2024 draft that the Miami Dolphins took out of Virginia. Washington is another player with excellent college metrics. He had a college dominator rating of 47.4 percent, a college target share of 35.6 percent, and 3.15 yards per route run. Washington had great production in 2023, putting up 111 receptions for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns.

Being an agile receiver with strong route running, Washington consistently creates separation and gets open, which is why he had so many receptions. He also profiles as a slot wide receiver. He may not be as fast as Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, as he ran a 4.47 combine at the NFL Combine, but his playstyle fits the Dolphins perfectly. He not only gets open, but he is great at getting yards after the catch, which is what Miami wants with their receivers. It wouldn't surprise me if, at some point in 2024, Washington is the starting slot receiver.