Wide receiver is a varied and deep position, with a lot of options available to you every week. Well, usually that’s the case. As of writing this, Tyler Lockett, Brandin Cooks, Chris Godwin, Jarvis Landry, Cole Beasley, Elijah Moore, Calvin Ridley, Allen Robinson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Michael Thomas are all unavailable. The Michael Thomas thing isn’t surprising, nor is the Calvin Ridley thing, but when we built our teams in August, we all sort of expected those options to be around. But, they aren’t! So, let’s take a look at the week sixteen wide receiver sleepers/streamers. To make this list, the wide receivers must be off of rosters in at least 50% of leagues, as determined by Yahoo! roster rate. Figures are as of Thursday morning.
Gabriel Davis at New England (35% rostered)
Davis has taken over for a hobbled Emmanuel Sanders, and the team will also be without Cole Beasley for this rematch of the Week Thirteen Snow Game. Gabe Davis managed to score double-digit fantasy points against the Patriots in gale-force winds, so how will he fare with just normal cold? He has fifteen targets in the last two games, and he’s turned that into ten catches, 128 yards, and three touchdowns. The Gabriel Davis we’d hoped for might just be around the bend.
Mecole Hardman versus Pittsburgh (34% rostered)
Tyreek Hill is currently on COVID-19 IR, and so, I turn to the team’s Tyreek Hill replacement. That’s not hyperbole; he’s literally the guy they drafted when they thought they might not have Tyreek Hill anymore. Well, like your Discount Double Check, the University of Farmers Degree, or whatever it is Geico is doing these days, they didn’t need their insurance… until they did. Hardman isn’t Tyreek Hill, but he is a speedster who can take the top off of the defense. He hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities this season, but now KC will likely look his way against Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are strongly middle-of-the-pack against opposing wide receivers, but they’ve allowed six double-digit fantasy days to wide receivers in their last five games. Someone is going to beat them, the only question is who. Hardman? Byron Pringle? Demarcus Robinson? I am going to bank on Hardman fulfilling his destiny as a Poor Man’s Tyreek Hill.
Josh Reynolds at Atlanta (10% rostered)
Goff2Reynolds picked up where it left off when he rejoined the Lions. Reynolds has at least three catches in four-straight games, and he has scored two touchdowns in that span while averaging a hair under 65 yards per game. He gets the Falcons this week, who can’t stop a cold. Atlanta allows the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including six wide receivers snatching double-digit games in the last three weeks. They’re the defense to attack right now; your only worry is if Jared Goff (COVID-19 IR) will play or not.
Do you want more 2021 NFL discussion? Then check out these links!
Discord!
Podcast!
Patreon!
Twitch!
