3 wide receivers you need to draft in the late rounds

I am positive that you are looking at the title of this article and thinking to yourself, “Dude it’s June, WHY are you talking about fantasy football?”. However, I am a firm believer that it is NEVER too early to think about your fantasy football strategy and do research for some possible steals in the draft, especially if you are in a league where money is on the line.

So no need to fear, I am here to help you snag a few players that could possibly help you during bye weeks, late-season pushes, or, most importantly, potential injury replacements at the number three wide receiver position. Now, before moving forward and giving you my three potential late-round steals, I want it to be known that as of June 9, 2022, these guys are listed as the third receivers for their respective teams on ESPN.com.

I am fully aware that training camp competitions could occur and that injuries are a real possibility. For now, we are going to plan as if the following three players are going to start the 2022 NFL season as their teams’ number three wide receiver.

So without further ado, here are three wide receivers that YOU could snag in the late rounds of your draft to help win your league.

 1. Quez Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Now, I understand this may not make a ton of sense when you first look at it. He is the third wide receiver on the Eagles’ depth chart in a run-heavy offense that already features AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.

However, I implore you to take a step back and think with me on this one. Watkins is a deep-ball threat with top speed, which he flashed on a 91-yard reception last year. On top of this, teams will naturally double-cover Brown, as well as focus on Smith and Goedert. There are only so many defenders on each team.

I love Watkins in a one-on-one speed matchup against just about any corner in the league. He had just under 650 yards last season and averaged 15 yards per reception. To add to this, Brown has missed time the past two seasons, so keep an eye out for his health.

The one unknown factor here is Jalen Hurts. If he can improve his deep-ball accuracy and stay in the pocket more as opposed to running, watch out for Watkins. However, it is important to remember these are guys I am suggesting you draft and stash in the event of injury, rest, etc.

In Watkins, you’re getting a legitimate deep-ball threat that could possibly win you a game or two if Brown were to go down for the third consecutive season.

2. Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos

Here is a wide receiver that I feel could be a plug-and-play type of guy. There were a couple of points last season where I highly considered picking him up and starting him. Patrick has been able to put up over 700 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons with quarterbacks such as Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, and Teddy Bridgewater.

He now has a sure-fire Hall of Fame quarterback in Russell Wilson who just makes everyone around him better. Last season, Patrick was also second on the team in receiving yards and first in receiving TDs. However, it is worth noting top wide receiver Jerry Jeudy only played 10 games last season.

That aside, Tim Patrick still has the ability to put up big numbers as the third wide receiver, and having Wilson at the helm will only make him better. Watch out for Patrick as the wide receiver three for the Broncos, and I would not blame you at all for drafting him and stashing him as he has enough potential to become the wide receiver two for Denver before the season ends.

3. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

Not too long ago, Tyler Boyd put up a pair of 1000-yard seasons with the Bengals as their number one receiver. Then, in back-to-back off-seasons, the Bengals drafted receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

While some would expect your numbers to drop pretty heavily when you get leaped by two wide receivers on the depth chart, Boyd has still been able to reel in over 800 yards in each of the past two seasons and establish himself as the clear-cut best wide receiver three in the NFL. Joe Burrow has shown his ability to spread the ball to various receivers as Chase and Higgins each had over 1000 yards and Boyd was close behind with over 800 yards.

There is a multitude of number two wide receivers that are likely to get drafted before Boyd, such as guys like Allen Robinson and Adam Theilen. However, Boyd is a wide receiver two on many teams in this league, and his ability to put up over 800 yards as the third option is a scary thought.

Look for his availability between rounds 11 and 12 of your drafts, but I would not be shocked if he went earlier as he has legitimate FLEX starting appeal, especially in the event of an injury.

All three of these guys are wide receivers that should be available in your drafts after the ninth round. So, if you are someone who typically drafts running back-heavy and needs wide receiver help late in the draft, go and get one of these guys. I promise you at some point in the season, give it injury, bye week, etc, they will help your team out.

As mentioned before, these WRs are listed as the third receivers on their teams as of June 9. If any of them move up OR down, my opinion on their availability could change. And, if for some wack reason your league drafts in June, here’s some help for your bench stash.