Wild Card Round Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Puka Nacua, Terry McLaurin, Ladd McConkey, Jayden Reed, Jalen McMillan and More
Analyzing all the top fantasy wide receivers who could play in the Wild Card Round.
Let’s put together another fantasy ranking list, this time of the top wide receivers for the Wild Card Round.
We already looked at quarterbacks and running backs in separate stories. Check back for a tight end ranking list.
I will only provide writeups for the most-relevant fantasy wide receivers, while simply listing some other guys. I’m going to use PPR scoring when discussing the wideouts.
Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.
Wild Card Matchups
In the game between the Chargers and Texans, both sets of receivers have average or better matchups. The LA receivers have one of the better matchups in the Wild Card Round.
In the Pittsburgh and Baltimore clash, the Steelers’ wideouts have a favorable test, while the Ravens’ receivers have an average matchup.
For the Denver and Buffalo tilt, the Broncos’ wide receivers have a pretty average matchup, while the Bills’ wideouts are in for a tough test.
The Packers and Eagles’ receivers each have tough matchups, with the Eagles having the toughest test of the weekend.
In the Washington and Tampa Bay showdown, the Commanders’ wide receivers have an above-average matchup, while the Bucs’ wideouts have a pretty average test.
In the final game of the week, the Vikings’ receivers have a slightly above-average matchup, while the Rams’ wideouts have the best clash of the weekend.
Wide Receiver Rankings
1. Puka Nacua
I have Nacua as my No. 1 wideout for the season. He was second in PPR fantasy points per week, only behind Cincinnati’s Ja'Marr Chase this season.
It doesn’t matter the matchup, Nacua is a good/great starting option, and that’s especially true in a favorable matchup like he has. In the team’s regular season matchup, Nacua had 18.1 fantasy points, and that was in his first game back from an early-season injury.
2. Justin Jefferson
Jefferson was third in PPR points per game and lands second on my list for the Wild Card Round.
Jefferson is another must-start fantasy player, regardless of matchups. He had 19.5 points in the first meeting with the Rams.
3. Mike Evans
Evans is my No. 3 wideout after coming on strong late in the season. He should be Baker Mayfield’s No. 1 target throughout the playoffs.
Way back in week 1, Evans scored 23.1 PPR points against Washington. He’s primed for another big showing this week.
4. A.J. Brown
Brown didn’t have his best season, but he still averaged 16.7 points per contest. He ended the year scoring in double figures in seven of the final eight weeks.
In week 1 against the Packers, Brown tallied 22.9 points. The only thing to be worried about with Brown’s fantasy outlook is if Jalen Hurts doesn’t play.
5. Terry McLaurin
McLaurin had a very good, and I think underrated, fantasy season. He scored 15.8 points per contest.
In week 1 against the Bucs, McLaurin had just 3.7 points. He had 17 or more fantasy points in five of the final six games.
6. Nico Collins
Collins averaged 17.6 points per contest this season, but also missed five games. Like the rest of the Houston offense, Collins’ numbers down the stretch were a bit underwhelming.
He hasn’t faced the Chargers this season. LA didn’t allow over 250 passing yards in six of their final seven games.
7. Ladd McConkey
McConkey caught fire in the second half of the season, scoring in double figures in the final seven games.
The Texans’ defense allowed over 250 passing yards three times in the past seven contests.
8. Courtland Sutton
Sutton averaged 14.1 PPR points per week this season. He scored over 10 points in the final 10 games.
The Bills and Broncos haven’t played this season. Buffalo’s defense allowed over 250 passing yards three times in the final seven weeks.
9. Jordan Addison
Addison was good down the stretch before scoring just one point in week 18. He averaged 14.2 points per week for the season.
Addison tallied just 4.2 PPR points in the first meeting with the Rams.
10. Cooper Kupp
Kupp averaged 14.6 points per game this season, but really struggled down the stretch. He didn’t even combine for 10 points over his final three games.
He had 16.1 fantasy points in the first clash with Minnesota. That was also his first game back from an early-season injury.
11. DeVonta Smith
Smith dealt with injuries throughout the season, but still averaged 15.3 points per contest. He ended the season with a 30-point showing in week 17 and then rested in week 18.
Smith scored 15.4 points back in week 1 against the Packers.
12. Jayden Reed
Reed started the season hot, but tailed off as the season went along. He scored 11.6 points per game, but didn’t go over that mark in any of the final five games.
Reed erupted for 33.1 points in week 1 against Philly. That was his highest-scoring game of the season.
13. Khalil Shakir
Shakir averaged 12.2 points per contest this season. He only had 9.7 points across weeks 16 and 17 before resting in week 18.
The Broncos’ defense was a bit shaky down the stretch, allowing over 250 passing yards in four of the final seven games - that includes a good week 18 showing against a bunch of Chiefs’ backups.
14. George Pickens
Pickens was in the midst of a pretty good season before suffering an injury and really struggling down the stretch. He scored nine points combined over his final two games.
He had 16.9 PPR points in the first clash against the Ravens. Pickens did not play in the second game.
15. Jalen McMillan
McMillan caught fire at the end of the season. He scored 16 or more points in each of the final five games.
He wasn’t as nearly involved in week 1, when the Bucs played the Commanders, but he still caught a 32-yards touchdown in that game.
16. Rashod Bateman
Bateman will function as the Ravens’ No. 1 receiver after it was announced that Zay Flowers was going to miss the game with an injury. Bateman averaged 10.3 points a game.
He scored five PPR points in the first clash with Pittsburgh, then had 8.4 in the second meeting.
17. Romeo Doubs
Doubs averaged 10.2 PPR points per game, but also missed a handful of games. He alternated single- and double-digit performances in each of his last four appearances.
Doubs scored nine PPR points in the first meeting against the Eagles.
18. Quentin Johnston
Johnston averaged 11.6 points per game this season and tallied 31.6 in week 18, so he comes into the postseason with some momentum.
He was in double figures three times over the final five weeks, but he only combined for 14.6 points in the two games he failed to reach double figures, so there’s some boom or bust to his game.
19. Marvin Mims
Mims was great to end the regular season, combining for 52.3 points in weeks 17 and 18. He averaged just 7.6 per game on the season.
Denver has made a concerted effort to get him the ball down the stretch, with Mims having five or more touches in six of the past eight contests.
20. Amari Cooper
Cooper averaged just 7.7 fantasy points across his seven games with the Bills. He ended the season with a 14.6-point showing in week 17 before getting some rest last week.
Veterans always seem to play their best when the stakes are the highest, so don’t sleep on Cooper this week.
The Others
21. Joshua Palmer
23. Calvin Austin
24. Devaughn Vele
25. Keon Coleman
26. Dontayvion Wicks
27. Diontae Johnson
28. Jalen Nailor
29. Malik Heath
30. John Metchie
31. Van Jefferson
32. Nelson Agholor
33. Mack Hollins
34. Robert Woods
35. Tylan Wallace
36. Sterling Shepard
38. Jahan Dotson
