Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlooks for Rookie Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze and More

Discussing the landing spots for rookie wide receivers and how their dynasty league values look now.

The NFL Draft is in the books, meaning we are that much closer to the NFL season and fantasy football!

I thought it would be fun to discuss the landing spots for rookies and how their dynasty value was impacted as a result. We already covered quarterbacks and running backs (which had a part 1 and part 2). Now it’s time to discuss wide receivers.

There were 35 wideouts selected across the seven-round draft, so we’ll release a couple stories for this position as well. The first story will hit on rookie receivers taken in the first three rounds along with any additional rookies that were drafted by those teams.

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tejhaun Palmer Fantasy Outlooks

Harrison was the best WR prospect in the draft (and probably in a while) and this landing spot is good for him in the long run. The future of Kyler Murray at quarterback is a bit up in the air, but when he’s on the field, he’s a solid and passable QB.

Harrison has the chance to be the top fantasy rookie in the upcoming season. I think he’s also the best dynasty fantasy option in this class, so he’s got an argument for being the top pick in dynasty rookie drafts (depending on how your league is configured).

If Harrison isn’t the first wideout off draft boards in those drafts, that’ll turn into a big mistake. Take the ultra-talented Harrison and reap the rewards.

Palmer might also be able to carve out a role for Arizona. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are the other projected starters right now, but Palmer could supplant Dortch at some point, maybe as soon as this season. Palmer probably should go undrafted in most dynasty leagues though, so he’s one to keep an eye on during training camp and the preseason.

Malik Nabers Fantasy Outlook

Nabers landed with the Giants, which is not an ideal landing spot. The QB position is up in the air, and the offense is lacking many other playmakers. Of course, a poor season would result in more top picks, but right now, it’s hard to really give a clear indication on what type of career Nabers might have in New York.

Nabers is extremely talented and can make any quarterback look good, but without another consistent wideout around him, Nabers might struggle this coming season. If he does, don’t panic - the Giants should acquire more talent in the years to come, and Nabers will be a good-to-great fantasy option. I like him or the next receiver as the second-best dynasty option.

Rome Odunze Fantasy Outlook

The Bears surrounded Caleb Williams with another playmaker in Odunze. Despite D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen being in Chicago, Odunze should play plenty, although those two might limit his ceiling if all three remain healthy.

Allen is a free agent after this coming season, so Odunze could be the No. 2 receiver (at worst) for Chicago in his second NFL season. I tend to prefer Odunze over Nabers in dynasty leagues simply because he’s got a better team around him right now.

Brian Thomas Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Jacksonville added Thomas, pretty much replacing Calvin Ridley after he left in free agency. Thomas, Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk now form a pretty intriguing receiver trio, and Thomas could end up having the best season of the bunch.

As for Thomas’ dynasty outlook, it really all depends on how Trevor Lawrence progresses. Lawrence was looking like a future NFL superstar early in his career, but he regressed a bit last season. He doesn’t have any excuses next season with the offensive playmakers Jacksonville has in place, and Thomas should be able to carve out a sizable role and be a cornerstone for the team.

Xavier Worthy Fantasy Outlook

Worthy was one of my favorite picks in round 1 of the draft, although really any receiver that gets picked to a team led by Patrick Mahomes would be. He, Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice (if he doesn’t get suspended for the whole season) form a great trio.

If Rice does miss some time, Worthy could play well enough while he’s out to finish as one of the top fantasy rookies this season. In the long haul, Worthy is a player that could rival Harrison for the best fantasy pick from this year’s draft. You could argue taking Worthy third amongst the rookie receivers, but most will take him fourth based on what pick they were.

Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing Fantasy Outlooks

Pearsall landed with San Francisco, where he temporarily joins a fun trio with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr. Any rookie joining an offense like the Niners is a solid fantasy option, and if Aiyuk or Samuel leave in a trade, Pearsall could be a big contributor in the upcoming season.

After Harrison, Nabers, Odunze and Worthy go, Thomas and Pearsall are part of a logjam of rookie wideouts that are hard to differentiate between. Because of his landing spot, I think Pearsall has close to the highest potential right now.

Cowing was the team’s fourth-round pick. He too could benefit from an Aiyuk or Samuel trade, possibly being one of the top-three wideouts on the team. He’s a name to keep an eye on if a trade does happen.

Xavier Legette Fantasy Outlook

Legette was an interesting choice for the Panthers with the final pick in the first round. Carolina was lacking many playmakers, so a first-round talent could immediately be the best receiving threat for Bryce Young.

Legette gets to learn from Adam Thielen, and also has Diontae Johnson to fend for targets with. You can bet Carolina will be trying to create a strong connection between Legette and Young early on, so they can lead the offense going forward. Despite being a first rounder, Legette isn’t a lock to be taken among the first 10 rookie wideouts in drafts. 

Keon Coleman Fantasy Outlook

Coleman was the first pick of round 2, landing in Buffalo. This would have been a better landing spot a season ago, but Coleman is still a good fantasy option because Josh Allen will be throwing him the ball. 

Coleman will likely have Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel starting alongside him. Neither have shown they can be consistently counted on, so there’s a chance Coleman could immediately be the top target for Allen. That makes Coleman a solid option in redraft leagues and maybe the fifth-best dynasty option.

Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson Fantasy Outlooks

It’s a new era in Los Angeles, and McConkey has the chance to immediately become the top target for Justin Herbert. McConkey will have to deal with Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston, who are both talented, but also might not be capable of being go-to options consistently. 

I’d argue McConkey as WR5 in rookie drafts. 

Rice is another name to keep an eye on, especially if Johnston can’t take a step forward or Palmer gets injured again. Herbert can turn just about any receiver into a decent fantasy option, so all three wideouts are intriguing dynasty options - with Rice being one in deeper leagues, of course. 

With his name and Herbert at QB, Rice is a popular sleeper pick in dynasty leagues. I’d have him in my top-25 rookie WRs.

Johnson is likely going to be pretty buried on the depth chart, but with three wideouts becoming free agents after this coming season, Johnson could carve out a decent role in year two if he sticks with the team.

Johnson doesn’t appear in my top 30 rookie wideouts, and is probably best viewed as a waiver wire option for the coming season.

Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker Fantasy Outlooks

Polk was the second-round pick of the Patriots, while Baker went in round 4. On an offense desperate for playmakers, both could carve out roles as rookies.

Obviously, Polk will have the best chance to do that. He probably would start alongside Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas if the season started today. Baker should serve a secondary role, but we simply don’t know how much he’ll be involved in the new-look Patriots’ offense.

Polk and Baker have their dynasty outlooks tied to rookie quarterback Drake Maye. If Maye can turn into the franchise quarterback New England is hoping he is, Polk and Baker could both be solid fantasy assets. To me, Polk is among that big group of receivers that could be drafted among the first 10 rookie wideouts. Baker should go after Polk, but is probably also ahead of several other wideouts drafted before him.

Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould Fantasy Outlooks

Mitchell and Gould both were drafted by the Colts, giving a nice boost to a receiving corps that lacked a bit before the draft.

Mitchell is clearly the one to highlight here as the second-round pick. He should slot in as a starter alongside Michael Pittman and Josh Downs right away. Pittman has done some nice things in his career, and Downs showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, but because Anthony Richardson missed most of last year, Mitchell has just as good a chance of developing a connection with the QB as Pittman or Downs. That means Mitchell could be the first option in a couple years, and puts him near the top of my list of dynasty rookie receivers - he’s part of that big group after the top four of Harrison, Nabers, Odunze and Worthy go.

Gould might not have as clear of a path to playing time at wide receiver early in his career, but he might return kicks, and some electric special teams plays could earn Gould an offensive role in time. He’s a draft pick option in deep fantasy leagues, but will mostly be a waiver wire pickup if he excels as a wideout.

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