Dynasty Wide Receiver Cheap Buys for 2021 and Beyond
In dynasty, owners are always looking for that lottery ticket wide receiver that could become a stud in the future. Taking shots with trading late-round rookie draft picks can often pay off if you acquire players that are in beneficial situations or have the physical tools to succeed. Nailing cheap buys is one of the best ways to accumulate value, and these three guys will help your team improve at a low cost.
1) Bryan Edwards, Las Vegas Raiders
Edwards may be the most expensive to acquire of the three wideouts on this list, but he has the most long-term potential. Coming in at 6’3″ and 212 pounds, the University of South Carolina’s all-time leading receiver has the prototypical size and strength needed to dominate in the NFL. During his four years with the Gamecocks, he posted a stunning college dominator rating at 48.4 percent (a 94th percentile mark) and a breakout age of 17.8 (100th percentile) per PlayerProfiler. The only perceived issue with Edwards was the broken foot he suffered preparing for the 2020 combine which caused him to drop to round three as the second Raiders wideout selected during the draft behind round one pick Henry Ruggs.
Advanced Metrics Profile via PlayerProfiler.com
In his rookie campaign, Edwards played in 12 games producing 11 receptions on 15 targets for 193 yards and one touchdown. He suffered an injury in week three against the Patriots, causing him to miss the next four games. While his rookie season didn’t produce in the fantasy department, there is reason to be excited about his future. The Raiders allowed last year’s leading wide receiver Nelson Agholor to walk in free agency, and the team did not draft any pass-catching competition. With his first full offseason in 2021 and 120 vacant targets available in the offense, he is primed to see an increase in playing time and an uptick in stats.
A player with his pedigree, size, and ability is the type of guy that you should be looking to acquire in dynasty. He comes into his age 22 season with a clean bill of health and will be starting for a team that finished seventh in passing yardage and 11th in passing touchdowns in 2020. Don’t forget about all the hype he has been receiving the past two offseasons. Quarterback Derek Carr compared the then-rookie to Davante Adams, while Raiders legend Tim Brown named Edwards his player to watch for the 2021 season. Buy Edwards cheap before the price goes up.
2) Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints
An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, Callaway played himself onto the field in his rookie year, contributing on special teams and offense (43.25 percent snap share). Tre’Quan Smith has been a bust in New Orleans thus far in his career after being selected in the third round and has a tentative hold on the number two position behind Pro Bowler Michael Thomas. If the 2021 NFL draft taught us anything, it’s that the Saints are comfortable with their receiver room to this point, boding well for Callaway’s chances at a substantial role. The team drafted wideout Kawaan Baker in round seven and did nothing else to address their pass catchers even with the loss of veterans Emmanuel Sanders and Jared Cook.
Advanced Metrics Profile via PlayerProfiler.com
While Marquez Callaway may not have the immediate potential of Bryan Edwards with Thomas present, he still has a chance to make noise as the potential number two should he surpass Smith on the depth chart. New (presumed) starter Jameis Winston bodes well for the offense as Drew Brees dialed back the deep passes in his final year, while Winston projects to throw the ball deep more often. On top of the potential passing boons with the quarterback change, the Saints have 169 available targets entering 2021. This could be the perfect storm for Callaway, all signs point towards a breakout for the second-year pro.
Coming into his second year at 23, Callaway will be cheap to acquire in dynasty formats. He is available for a late-round pick or on the waiver wire in less deep leagues. Immediate potential opportunity on a projected pass-heavy offense is what owners should look to buy in the leadup to the season.
3) Tyrell Williams, Detroit Lions
The departures of superstars Matthew Stafford, Marvin Jones, and Kenny Golladay this offseason stung Detroit Lions fans and took much of the excitement for the offense along with them. D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson both project to be relied upon heavily within the offense, but who else will step up? Enter veteran signee, Tyrell Williams. Williams comes to Detroit fresh off a year of rest after a labrum tear ended his 2020 season with the Raiders in Los Vegas before he could see a regular-season game. So why the excitement for Williams?
Advanced Metrics Profile via PlayerProfiler.com
While he may not be as enticing as Bryan Edwards or Marquez Callaway, he has a much greater opportunity target-wise than the other two players in this article. The Lions have the most vacated targets this season of any NFL team: a whopping 362. Williams is the only wide receiver on the team with more than 645 yards in a season and has a 1,059 yard seven touchdown season under his belt from his time with the Chargers in 2016. With the available targets, his history of solid play, and his size (6’4″, tallest amongst Lions wideouts) he will be relied upon in the offense as an experienced presence. He will also be a preferred option in the red zone with the ability to win jump ball contested catches.
Given the fact that he is older than the other receivers on this list coming into the season at 29, he will be heavily discounted. Couple that with the public perception of new starting quarterback Jared Goff and the lack of noise from Williams in a few years and you have a player that many won’t want to roster in dynasty. Detroit has one of the most unproven receiver rooms in the league with one guy that has a history of NFL production: Tyrell Williams. There have also been rumblings about teammate Breshad Perriman not performing well during offseason practices, boding well for Williams’ prospects of being the top guy at the position.
He is a great cheap flier with a significant opportunity as Detroit’s potential number one option and he is sailing far under the radar. Williams may be a flex play this season as the Lions will be behind in most contests and throwing at a high rate, and that is worth a late-round trade or waiver wire add. If his value appreciates enough, you may even be able to sell later for a better pick or a throw-in piece. Easy buy.
