Bounce-Back Wide Receivers Fantasy Football 2024: Drake London, Christian Kirk and Tee Higgins

It's easy and unfortunate how many of us managers approach every fantasy football draft season with a pinch of ageism. Allow me to run through the wide receiver rankings and pose some hypothetical player vs. player situations. As I do, make a note of who you would prefer.

Brandon Aiyuk or Davante Adams? Drake London or Mike Evans? Jaylen Waddle or Stefon Diggs? DeVonta Smith or Amari Cooper? Tank Dell or Keenan Allen? Jayden Reed or DeAndre Hopkins?

I don't know about you, but I prefer the younger player in each case. Maybe that's my bias, my burden, but over the years, I get the feeling that many of us prefer the shinier new thing.

It only gets harder to consider older players when they're coming off a down season or even a statistical plateau. We all want infinite growth - more catches, yards, touchdowns - year after year.

A lot of the bounce-back potential is already built into a player's average draft position (ADP). If you're looking for a big draft value, that's harder to find. You may like Cooper Kupp after his WR40 2023 season, but he is the 24th WR drafted by ADP, a third-round pick. Despite never producing anywhere close to that level, one of my selections is already close to being a first-round fantasy pick.

Every season brings its share of surprises and disappointments. From injuries to changes in team dynamics, the game finds a way to derail even the most promising players. However, the beauty of fantasy football lies in the opportunity for redemption, and 2024 presents a fresh canvas for several talented wideouts looking to reclaim or claim their elite potential. 

Let's break down some top bounce-back WR candidates poised to make waves in the upcoming season.

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

You don't often see an offense like what the Falcons had in 2023. Former head coach Arthur Smith seemed to relish playing the foil to fantasy managers, his players and himself. 

It can't possibly be as helter-skelter in 2024. Anchored by a great offensive line, Atlanta should benefit from Kirk Cousins' arrival and presence. London didn't have a poor 2023 but didn't build upon his rookie 2022 campaign.

The soon-to-be 23-year-old will have a bonafide quarterback at his disposal. Not only can he stretch the field, but London can cause fits with his length, size, body control and ability to come down with contested catches. 

That said, his ADP already reflects heavy optimism. London has yet to finish among the top 30 PPR receivers in either points scored or points per game.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

The 2023 season could have been more kind to Higgins. There were injuries and performance inconsistencies, and now the former Clemson star isn't at voluntary OTAs and has not signed his franchise tag deal. There have been trade rumors all season, but the news is that he will return.

Higgins finished 2023 outside the PPR top 50, scoring just 11.5 per game (42nd). Undeterred, fantasy managers are drafting him as the WR27 or 43rd overall (4.07). 

Cincinnati has used three draft picks on wide receivers in the last two years, most recently Alabama's Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Even with all that youth on his heels, Higgins is a better talent and will be given at least 100 targets, especially as a deep threat, where he excelled last year.

Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

So often, we admire the big, athletically gifted wide receivers: Julio Jones, DK Metcalf, Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald, to name a few. But sometimes, the quick and efficient slot guy does the most damage. 

Kirk put in work in 2022, collecting 84 catches for 1,108 yards and eight scores on 133 targets. His 2023 season was cut short, though, as he only played 12 games. While the Jags brought in Gabe Davis and drafted LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. to replace Calvin Ridley, fantasy managers should consider what Kirk brings to this offense. 

Volume is the key. Ridley's 136 targets from a year ago are available, plus I doubt Evan Engram's 114 receptions on 143 targets will be replicated. Given that Davis and Thomas are bigger X receiver types, a healthy Kirk should return to what he was in 2022 with the upside to finish as a low-end WR2 in PPR formats.