2024 preseason rankings: Top 40 wide receivers

40. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 31
2023 rank: 34 (standard), 32 (PPR)
Quarterback: Geno Smith, Sam Howell
Other receivers: DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant (TE), Jake Bobo

At 31, Lockett could be due for a regression, especially with the expected improvement of Jaxon Smith-Njigba after a letdown rookie year. Lockett still finished as a solid WR3 in 2023 as the short-yardage slot receiver for Geno Smith but after nine years in the league, a slight decrease is to be expected for a payer who relies on speed as much as he does.

39. Ja'Lynn Polk, New England Patriots

Age: 22
2023 rank: NA
Quarterback: Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye
Other receivers: Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, KJ Osborn, Hunter Henry (TE)

From what all early reports have stated, Polk is leading the New England receiving room out of the gate. Considering Demario Douglas led the group in 2023 with a measly 561 receiving yards, the path for Polk to immediately become the alpha is wide open. His quarterback situation could be murky all year but he had arguably the best hands of a Washington team in 2023 that included Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan.

38. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Age: 28
2023 rank: 28 (standard), 35 (PPR)
Quarterback: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham
Other receivers: Marvin Mims, Josh Reynolds, Adam Trautman (TE), Troy Franklin

There tends to always be hype around Sutton in the preseason as a sleeper pick in fantasy but this is not going to be the year he finally shows it. With just one 1,000-yard season under his belt, Sutton will have to deal with the headache of his quarterback room that could be a revolving door of Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. If Nix is not the quarterback Broncos fans hope he can be, it will likely be a long year for all the Denver receivers.

37. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

Age: 24
2023 rank: 58 (standard), 61 (PPR)
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky
Other receivers: Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins

The hype in Buffalo is behind Keon Coleman but Shakir will have the inside track to becoming Josh Allen's top receiver in the absence of Stefon Diggs. His 611 receiving yards in 2023 did not bring home any awards but was a substantial increase from his rookie year. Now with Diggs in Houston, the star receiver leaves behind his 160 targets up for grabs with Allen not expected to throw any less than usual. Historically, Allen's WR1 has thrived in fantasy.

36. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Age: 28
2023 rank: 33 (standard), 31 (PPR)
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota
Other receivers: Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, Zach Ertz (TE), Dyami Brown

After years of suffering from incompetent quarterback play, McLaurin has hope with No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels set to take over but the rookie needs to prove himself before either can be trusted in fantasy. Although Howell was not effective in 2023, he was competent enough to raise the floor of Washington's skill position players. The confidence that Daniels can replicate that is not there yet.

35. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 22
2023 rank: 19 (standard), 23 (PPR)
Quarterback: Sam Darnold, JJ McCarthy
Other receivers: Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson (TE), Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell

In a year that Justin Jefferson missed seven games and Kirk Cousins went down in Week 8, Addison showed a lot of promising signs as a rookie. Though he finished as the WR19 last year, he figures to take a step back in 2024 with Jefferson back to full strength and Cousins being replaced by the vastly inferior Sam Darnold. Maybe JJ McCarthy can give this offense life once he gets his feet beneath him but until then, all Minnesota skill players will be severely limited by Darnold.

34. Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

Age: 32
2023 rank: 11 (standard), 8 (PPR)
Quarterback: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
Other receivers: DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet (TE), Tyler Scott

Allen had a vintage season in 2023 with Mike Williams on the mend but joins a new team in 2024 and will accept what is almost surely to be a minimized role. Even a prospect as big as Caleb Williams will most certainly take an adjustment period and Allen will experience that process second on the totem pole behind DJ Moore. At 32, Allen's health is also a concern, having not played a full season since 2019.

33. Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 27
2023 rank: 47 (standard), 47 (PPR)
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones
Other receivers: Brian Thomas Jr., Evan Engram (TE), Gabe Davis, Parker Washington

Without Calvin Ridley on the team, Kirk will be the de facto WR1 in Jacksonville, even with rookie Brian Thomas Jr. across from him. Evan Engram will still get his share but Kirk was the WR11 in 2022 before Ridley joined the team, making him an excellent buy-low candidate entering 2024. Having roughly half the catches of Engram in 2023 is not what managers would want to see but the form he showed in his first season in Jacksonville is too much to ignore.