- Marvin Mims Jr. had a late-season surge: He demonstrated his potential late within the 2024 season, ending because the Twenty third-ranked large receiver in PPR factors per sport over a vital seven-game stretch and showcasing his skill to be a priceless fantasy asset when given the chance.
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Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes
Once a fantasy soccer draft reaches the eleventh spherical, most rosters are stuffed out with beginning large receivers and, in some instances, a number of backups. While there are many minimal-upside go catchers obtainable at that time in drafts, there are additionally hidden gems with top-20 potential, like Brian Thomas Jr. in 2024 or Nico Collins in 2023.
We’re figuring out 5 large receivers who’re being drafted from the eleventh to 14th rounds and will find yourself changing into weekly must-start choices.
The common draft place listed is from a consensus between ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo! for the place the participant is picked on common in a 12-team, redraft league.
Last up to date: Wednesday, July 2
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (ADP: 11.11)
The Chicago Bears drafted Mooney in 2020, and he put collectively one of the profitable seasons by a fifth-round rookie receiver. His 61 receptions tied with Tyreek Hill for the second most amongst fifth-round rookies prior to now decade, and he ranked simply behind Puka Nacua and simply forward of Stefon Diggs. Mooney surpassed Allen Robinson because the Bears’ prime large receiver in 2021, gaining 1,000 yards for the primary and solely time in his profession.
Unfortunately, his yards-per-game common dropped by 21 between 2021 and 2022, and D.J. Moore‘s arrival in 2023 brought on Mooney’s goal charge to plummet. Part of the issue was that Mooney performed primarily as an out of doors receiver in 2020 and 2021 however then logged extra snaps from the slot than out large in 2022 and 2023. Mooney has averaged 1.92 yards per route run over the previous season when lined up out large, in comparison with 1.12 within the slot.
The Atlanta Falcons signed Mooney in the course of the 2024 offseason to a three-year, $39 million contract ($26 million assured), and he served because the X receiver of their offense. His goal charge shot again up regardless of him being the No. 2 choice behind Drake London. His yards-per-game common matched his finest season with Chicago, and whereas his receptions-per-game mark barely declined, he set a profession excessive in receiving touchdowns (5).
Mooney was a traditional up-and-down third large receiver choice in fantasy leagues final season. He recorded 80 or extra receiving yards in seven video games, together with his 5 touchdowns all coming in these outings. However, he was held to 3 receptions for fewer than 40 yards in six video games. Some receivers are inclined to put up greater numbers in losses than wins as a result of their crew must go extra usually, however Mooney’s good video games typically occurred within the Falcons’ high-scoring, shut affairs, whereas his unhealthy video games have been typically in low-scoring, shut losses.
Mooney will likely be in Zac Robinson’s offense for a second straight season. His offense closely resembles the one the Los Angeles Rams run, utilizing three-receiver units at a excessive charge whereas additionally usually throwing to large receivers. Mooney ought to see a excessive quantity of targets.
By far, the largest change for the Falcons’ offense is at quarterback, the place Michael Penix Jr., who began the final three video games of 2024, will take over full time. Mooney gained 82 yards on 5 receptions in his first sport with Penix final season, injured his shoulder within the second sport and missed the third sport. While Penix zeroed in on Drake London for many of these three weeks, he ought to be a constructive for Mooney, on paper.
Penix threw deep and was correct on such throws at a lot larger charges than the league common. Mooney caught 14 passes on deep makes an attempt final season, the third most within the NFL. He could lead on the league in deep targets if he features extra chemistry with Penix.
Mooney tallied the Thirty eighth-most fantasy factors per sport in 2024. Most groups can have two fantasy-relevant talent gamers if they’ve wherever near a mean offense, and the Falcons have Bijan Robinson and London. It’s usually the standard of the offense that determines if a 3rd goal is fantasy-viable. If Penix performs properly, Mooney would doubtless be that third individual. If Penix performs worse than Kirk Cousins final yr, then the Falcons most likely gained’t have a 3rd fantasy-relevant choice.
Mooney was a borderline WR3 final season and could possibly be a weekly fantasy starter if Penix continues to develop right into a stable NFL quarterback. If not, Mooney will simply be a fantasy backup who can fill in as a consequence of accidents or bye weeks.
Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos (ADP: 13.11)
Mims joined the Denver Broncos because the 63rd total choose within the 2023 NFL Draft. He began final season as a non-factor, enjoying even lower than within the earlier season, and caught 11 passes for 69 yards over the primary 10 weeks. In Week 11, Mims began seeing a a lot larger goal charge. He gained not less than 40 receiving yards in 5 of his final seven video games and caught six touchdowns in that point. He had two video games close to the tip of the season with a 46% snap charge, along with a 69% snap charge within the Broncos’ playoff sport.
Mims ranked Twenty third in PPR factors per sport in the course of the seven-game stretch (15.5). He was the clear second choice within the offense regardless of having run the fourth-most routes within the large receiver room. He posted an elite 89.7 PFF receiving grade and noticed a goal on 30.4% of his routes, resulting in 4.25 yards per route run. After being a deep menace earlier in his profession, Mims averaged solely 4.2 depth yards per goal.
He scored a landing on 3.1% of his routes final season, the perfect charge amongst large receivers, whereas his 0.64 receiving fantasy factors per route ranked second.
Mims has sometimes been a backup exterior and slot receiver, however his position expanded within the playoffs final season. In that sport, he performed Denver’s solely snap in a one-wide receiver set and cut up time with Lil’Jordan Humphrey in two-receiver units, whereas Courtland Sutton performed all the snaps throughout from them. In three-receiver units, he performed 25 of a doable 35 snaps, splitting his trip large and within the slot whereas additionally enjoying two snaps within the backfield. Devaughn Vele tended to play within the slot when Mims was out large, whereas Troy Franklin performed out large when Mims was within the slot. In any case, Denver used almost each conceivable mixture of large receivers sooner or later.
The Broncos moved on from Humphrey this offseason and added Trent Sherfield Sr. to fill the position of the early-down large receiver who can run block. The crew additionally drafted Pat Bryant, which can complicate the large receiver room. Bryant has the physique of an X receiver and has been in comparison with Michael Thomas.
On the intense aspect for Mims, he’s distinctive in measurement because the Broncos’ solely wideout who’s lower than 6 ft tall (5-foot-11). Denver has at all times deployed a rotation at large receiver beneath Sean Payton, and Mims will ideally have the ability to maintain seeing the enjoying time he obtained within the playoffs.
Mims is coming into his third season with Payton as his head coach. Payton’s most profitable receivers have been greater receivers — Marques Colston and Michael Thomas — however he additionally utilized undersized receivers throughout his time with the New Orleans Saints. Most notably, Brandin Cooks introduced an identical measurement and velocity to Mims. Cooks had an identical common depth of goal in his rookie season to Mims’ final season earlier than changing into a extra full receiver. Cooks was the WR13 in 2015 and the WR10 in 2016. Payton has known as Mims an elite participant with the ball in his arms and has raved about his confidence.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix performed moderately properly for a rookie final season, ending with a excessive accuracy charge. He focused large receivers at a really excessive charge and went to his first learn charge at a low clip, which is mostly good for a low-target-depth participant like Mims. He ought to do exactly high quality with Nix at quarterback, and Nix could make much more strides in his second season, wherein case Mims’ ceiling could possibly be even larger.
Mims is only a late-round dart throw, however one value taking. Either he could have a excessive snap charge early within the season, much like late final season and the playoffs, wherein case he has a stable likelihood of being a fantasy starter, or he gained’t see sufficient snaps, which suggests you possibly can drop him early within the season.
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP: 12.05)
Egbuka spent the previous three seasons because the second choice in Ohio State’s passing sport, first behind Marvin Harrison Jr. after which behind Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes have been usually forward in video games, permitting them to run the ball with future NFL working backs. That damage Egbuka’s cumulative statistics, however his per-route numbers are very sturdy relative to different large receivers. His goal charges remained extraordinarily excessive for a No. 2 receiver.
Egbuka checks many containers, together with excessive separation scores and catch charges. While his velocity isn’t elite, it’s what you’d count on from a mid-to-late first-round choose of his measurement. On the draw back, the PFF Draft Guide notes his “route breaks could possibly be sharper” and “his breaks aren’t as sharp or twitchy as some.”
In basic, you hope to see faculty gamers enhance every season, however that wasn’t the case for Egbuka. He performed so properly in his second yr that there wasn’t as a lot room to place up greater numbers, however he additionally by no means exceeded an 85.0 PFF receiving grade in a season — a mark that the majority potential first-round large receivers attain.
Egbuka is projected to be a slot receiver, as he performed almost 75% of his snaps there in faculty, however he might additionally play the Z position.
If you ranked the groups that wanted a large receiver probably the most heading into the draft, the Buccaneers can be close to the underside of the checklist. They retained future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, re-signed Chris Godwin and watched as 2024 third-round choose Jalen McMillan shone late in his rookie marketing campaign. For Egbuka to play important snaps in his most pure position as a rookie, he would want to beat out Godwin — one of the prolific slot receivers of the previous decade and a prime large receiver in fantasy factors per sport final season.
Egbuka’s clearest path to enjoying time is by beating out McMillan for the Z receiver position. McMillan equally performed within the slot in faculty and moved out large with Tampa Bay. Even if Egbuka wins the Z receiver job, there aren’t sufficient targets to go round. McMillan had a 14.8% goal charge final season, which isn’t sturdy sufficient to be a fantasy starter. During the six video games the place Evans and Godwin have been each totally wholesome final yr, all the different receivers mixed averaged simply over 4 targets per sport.
If nobody in Tampa Bay is injured, it’s onerous to think about Egbuka changing into a fantasy starter within the close to future. Even if Evans retires after the season, Godwin, McMillan and Egbuka are all higher suited to be slot receivers or Z receivers reasonably than X receivers, making it difficult for the three to coexist. Both Godwin and McMillan will likely be on the roster for at least two seasons.
Egbuka is a really proficient rookie, however he was persistently the second large receiver in Ohio State’s offense. With the Buccaneers, he’ll doubtless be the third choice within the quick time period — though he nonetheless carries sleeper potential due to his alternative to beat out McMillan.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (ADP: 13.05)
Burden was one in every of Missouri‘s prime two large receivers for the previous three seasons. In 2023, he earned the third-highest PFF receiving grade amongst Power-Five receivers, behind Malik Nabers and Malik Washington however forward of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze. That included a top-five yards-per-route-run determine that ranked simply forward of Ladd McConkey.
Burden’s 2024 numbers weren’t almost as sturdy as a consequence of accidents and Missouri‘s offensive decline. The Tigers’ offense ran the second-most working performs within the SEC in the course of the common season and logged a below-average variety of passing performs. That restricted Burden’s routes relative to another receivers. On a per-play foundation, he remained comparatively sturdy. His separation charge over the previous two years was the perfect among the many prime 5 receivers within the class. The PFF Draft Guide centered on his well-rounded talent set, his skill to play each place and his greatest weak spot being his blocking skill.
Burden spent his faculty profession primarily enjoying out of the slot as a low-average-target-depth receiver. He joins a Chicago Bears crew with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, who’ve spent most of their careers on the skin. Odunze performed 33% of his snaps from the slot final season, whereas Moore has by no means logged greater than 31% of his snaps from the slot. The Bears made two free-agent additions who’ve primarily performed out of the slot in Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay. Still, each have been signed to low-risk one-year contracts, and Burden ought to surpass them on the depth chart comparatively shortly.
It is troublesome to belief a large receiver, for fantasy functions, if they’re enjoying within the slot solely. For instance, Khalil Shakir was the Buffalo Bills‘ finest receiver final season, catching passes from the league MVP. He largely performed in three-receiver units and completed thirty seventh in fantasy factors per sport. Burden would want to beat out Odunze, who was a top-10 choose however underperformed as a rookie and was drafted by the previous regime.
Optimism abounds concerning the Bears’ passing sport due to new head coach Ben Johnson, whose offenses run quite a lot of performs and rating quite a lot of factors. Slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was the focus of his passing sport with the Lions, and Burden is the most probably receiver to fill that position in Chicago. However, St. Brown was additionally enjoying persistently in two-receiver units, and Johnson’s offenses stayed in two-receiver units extra usually than most groups.
Caleb Williams’ improvement is vital. Williams had three video games this previous season with a PFF total grade above 80.0 however ended the season with 5 sub-60.0 marks in his last six video games. The 2024 first-overall choose has a completely reworked offensive line and a number of new receivers to throw to, so he’s being given each alternative to succeed. Burden will not turn out to be fantasy-relevant as a rookie until Williams takes a step ahead.
Burden was among the many most proficient large receivers within the 2025 draft class however landed on a crew with a number of different choices within the passing sport. If he can surpass others on the depth chart, he could also be Ben Johnson’s Bears model of Amon-Ra St. Brown. If he doesn’t surpass others within the goal pecking order, he may not be value rostering in fantasy leagues by the tip of the season.
Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (ADP: 13.10)
Higgins spent his first two faculty seasons at Eastern Kentucky earlier than transferring to Iowa State and changing into the Cyclones’ lead receiver. In 2023, he led the large receiver room in routes run, however there was extra of a rotation of receivers, with 5 gamers who obtained not less than 150 offensive snaps. In 2024, Higgins once more led the crew in routes, however he and Jaylin Noel have been a lot larger than the opposite gamers on the depth chart, as just one different receiver performed not less than 150 offensive snaps.
Higgins was environment friendly in faculty, consistently making catches down the sector on his solution to first downs and a excessive yards-per-route-run mark. His effectivity numbers weren’t all that totally different in 2023 in comparison with 2024, however his goal charge and routes run elevated, main to raised cumulative stats. While he primarily performed exterior and sometimes confronted zone protection, he was capable of finding success no matter the place he lined up and what protection he confronted. He was typically efficient on most routes, however he produced much less on some in-breaking routes.
Higgins is a prototypical X receiver at 6-foot-4 and 217 kilos. While the PFF Draft Guide in contrast him to Tim Patrick, some others in contrast him to his new teammate Nico Collins.
The Texans had a transparent want for extra receivers this offseason, they usually’ve discovered quite a lot of potential replacements. Tank Dell is prone to miss most if not all the 2025 season. Stefon Diggs performed considerably and at a excessive degree final season earlier than his damage. Houston added Christian Kirk by way of commerce, Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios in free company, and Higgins and Noel within the draft.
Collins, Kirk, Higgins and Noel are locked into roster spots, whereas Watson and Berrios will compete with John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson for the final two spots, or the final spot as soon as Dell is obtainable.
The Texans will doubtless go together with Collins and Higgins as the skin receivers, and Kirk or probably Noel within the slot. However, each Kirk and Noel have expertise in Z roles. The Collins-Higgins pairing is uncommon for the NFL. Only 5 instances prior to now decade has a crew had two 6-foot-4 or taller large receivers who every reached 500 receiving yards. In no case have been each large receivers value beginning in fantasy. Higgins could operate primarily as a backup for Collins, a large receiver who has missed not less than two video games in every of his NFL seasons. In that case, one in every of Kirk and Noel will play within the slot and the opposite at Z.
The most probably state of affairs is that there is no such thing as a clear distinction between starters and backups. All 4 large receivers might play important snaps, which limits every’s fantasy worth. If Collins have been to endure an damage, Higgins would naturally fill his position and probably take his excessive goal charge. This would doubtless result in Higgins being a transparent fantasy starter if he can shortly adapt to the NFL degree.
Higgins was the thirty fourth total choose, and any large receiver chosen that top is well worth the threat in fantasy.