After looking at my favorite fantasy quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends, it's time to hit the wide receiver position. Eight players -- in multiple tiers -- who are on my fantasy radar heading into the summer. I'm also including Mike Clay's projections to give you a better idea of each wide receiver's outlook for the 2020 NFL season. Let's get into it, starting with Aaron Rodgers' No.1 target in Green Bay.
Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Current ADP: 10.1 (WR3)
Clay's 2020 projections: 91 receptions (137 targets), 1,152 yards receiving, 7 TDs
From Week 9 and on last season, Adams was the fourth-highest-scoring WR (149.9 fantasy points) and his 31.8% target share was even higher than his rate of involvement from 2018 (29.4%). And, really, why should we expect anything different in 2020 after the Packers decided not to address the wide receiver position in the draft? Remember, Adams missed four games in 2019 (25% of the season), yet his 997 receiving yards not only led the Packers, it was more than their next two best receiving threats combined.
Plus, we have to look at Adams' combination of high ceiling and high floor in 2020. In the two playoff games last season, Adams registered 58.8 PPR fantasy points. The Packers' next-best receiver in those games? Allen Lazard and his 7.1 fantasy points. And in his past 37 regular-season games, Adams has been held to less than 16 PPR points just seven times. He's a high-level route runner, who is a master at shaking coverage off the line. And with the consistent volume he sees from Rodgers -- as the unquestioned top target in Green Bay -- I believe Adams can make a run at Michael Thomas for the WR1 spot this season.
Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
Current ADP: 27.9 (WR8)
Clay's 2020 projections: 65 receptions (116 targets), 1,114 yards receiving, 8 TDs
I'm all-in on the upside with Golladay. Give me the matchup ability here, the deep throws in the Lions' offense and Golladay's receiving traits in the red zone. Since he entered the league in 2017, 99 players have at least 105 receptions. Of those players, Golladay's 16.8 yards per catch leads the way. And it also meshes with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who averaged 10.8 air yards per attempt in his eight games played last season. Plus, even with Stafford missing the second half of 2019, Golladay never went more than two consecutive games without a touchdown.
With a Lions defense that I believe will still struggle to rush the quarterback consistently -- or protect the end zone -- we should expect a healthy Stafford to push the ball down the field again this season. That leads to volume for Golladay, end zone throws and the deep in-breakers. He's a legitimate WR1 with top-five upside, and one of my prime targets in both PPR and non-PPR mocks.
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Current ADP: 46.4 (WR17)
Clay's 2020 projections: 85 receptions (130 targets), 999 yards receiving, 5 TDs; 4 carries, 25 yards rushing
Allen isn't in the WR1 discussion anymore and his scoring upside is limited, but I'm targeting the veteran here as a high-floor WR2 in PPR formats. Why? Look at the route tree in L.A., plus the volume for Allen on short-to-intermediate throws. Let's not forget that Allen is one of the most detailed route-runners in the game, with the traits to create consistent separation on the leveled concepts within the Chargers' playbook.
Over the past three seasons, only Michael Thomas (378) and DeAndre Hopkins (315) have more receptions than Allen (303). And during that stretch, 53.8% of Allen's receptions have come on those intermediate routes (five to 15 yards down field). Now pair that with the throwing traits of new Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
In his latest season as a regular starter -- 2017 with the Bills -- Taylor ranked 15th in air yards per throw, with 42.2% of his completions on passes of five to 15 yards (eighth highest among QBs; league average is 37.9%). And if we do see rookie quarterback Justin Herbert under center at some point this season for the Chargers, I fully expect a heavily schemed pass game to create defined reads on middle-of-the-field throws. Again, that sets up Allen as a high-volume target in your lineup.
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
Current ADP: 54.9 (WR21)
Clay's 2020 projections: 63 receptions (105 targets), 1,103 yards receiving, 7 TDs; 4 carries, 27 yards rushing
In an offense that creates open-window throws for quarterback Ryan Tannehill off play-action, Brown brings explosive-play ability to your lineup (20.2 yards per catch in '19) with an anticipated bump in target volume heading into his second pro season.
As a rookie, Brown averaged 2.9 yards per route run. Among those with at least 50 targets, only Michael Thomas was more efficient. In fact, over the past decade (once again, minimum 50 targets), Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. are the only rookies with a rate of 2.3 or better (Beckham averaged 2.8). Plus, we saw the developmental jump from Brown during the season, as he recorded a catch on 16.7% of his routes in Weeks 12-17, which is a bump from the 12.9% of his routes in Weeks 1-11.
Now add those encouraging numbers -- and clear signs of Brown's growth at the position -- to the passing game Tennessee utilizes. With the play-action concepts that create schemed-up opportunities, Brown can produce on crossers and in-breakers. That's why he led the NFL with 543 yards receiving and 91.3 fantasy points on play-action receptions last season. The fit works here, and if we do see a steady climb in volume, Brown can post high-end WR2 numbers this season.
DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Current ADP: 65.7 (WR27)
Clay's 2020 projections: 74 receptions (122 targets), 991 yards receiving, 5 TDs; 2 carries, 9 yards rushing
Given his current ADP, why wouldn't you target Chark? He's the No.1 option for quarterback Gardner Minshew II, an aggressive thrower with second-reaction ability. We saw flashes of Chark's ceiling last season, when he was WR5 during the first five weeks of play. Given that Chark also plays in an offense that trailed on more than 70% of offensive snaps last season, you can count on receiving volume here. The Jags are going to have to pass the ball to stay in games.
Last season, Chark posted eight touchdowns. He can separate and climb the ladder, and his combination of size/speed/strength allows him to finish plays. The matchup ability also pops on the tape when the ball is inside the red zone. The potential is there for Chark to post double-digit touchdowns in Jay Gruden's offensive system. And with his consistency at the point of attack -- he had only two drops on 117 targets last season -- Chark can be viewed as a WR3/flex in both PPR and non-PPR formats. Don't be surprised if he posts lower-tier WR2 numbers this season.
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Current ADP: 70.3 (WR29)
Clay's 2020 projections: 61 receptions (100 targets), 874 yards receiving, 7 TDs; 2 carries, 11 yards rushing
Metcalf is a scheme-specific route runner with scoring upside who fits the Seattle passing game on deep overs, verticals, slants and shallows. In 2019, Metcalf led the NFL with 19 end zone targets, with teammate Tyler Lockett ranking fourth in the league (13). That's a product of the Seahawks' offense and quarterback Russell Wilson. Isolation throws and play-action passes to the end zone.
Plus, the Seahawks will script "shot plays" for Metcalf. As a rookie, Metcalf produced six games with at least one reception of 35-plus yards. That was tied for fifth most in the league, more than Julio Jones, Mike Evans and DeAndre Hopkins. He has big-play juice on vertical releases and crossing routes that create catch-and-run opportunities.
While Metcalf does have a lower floor given the Seahawks' run-heavy approach (they ranked 26th in pass percentage last season), he led the team with a 27.4% target share over the final three games in 2019, including the postseason (one regular-season game, two playoff games). That's why I'm targeting Metcalf as an upside-WR3 heading into 2020.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
Current ADP: 81.2 (WR32)
Clay's 2020 projections: 78 receptions (123 targets), 908 yards receiving, 4 TDs; 4 carries, 25 yards rushing
Since 2018, Boyd leads the NFL with 1,383 receiving yards from the slot. He's a nuanced route-runner with the flexibility and short-area speed to win inside the numbers. And even with a healthy A.J. Green back in the mix, plus the addition of rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins, Boyd should still be viewed as the top slot target in this offense.
Remember, Green has never produced more than 361 slot yards in a season. And last season at Clemson, Higgins saw just 11 targets in the slot. That's key when projecting Boyd's volume with rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who has the anticipatory skills and throwing accuracy to attack the middle of the field. At LSU last season, Burrow completed 78% of his passes to the slot -- with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions. That's one touchdown pass out of every 7.5 throws to the slot.
While we know Burrow will experience some bumps as a rookie, he is taking over an offense that trailed on 70.2% of snaps last season. That means more throwing volume and inside targets to Boyd, who projects as a WR3, with more upside in PPR formats.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current ADP: 134.4 (WR46)
Clay's 2020 projections: 62 receptions (98 targets), 736 yards receiving, 5 TDs; 4 carries, 23 yards rushing
Johnson might have the most upside of any wide receiver on this list with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back healthy for the Steelers. In 2019, playing in an offense that ranked 30th in yards per play -- with subpar quarterbacks -- Johnson still finished as WR39 after catching 59 passes for 680 yards and five touchdowns.
Plus, among the 40 wide receivers with at least 90 targets last season, Johnson ranked fourth in yards per reception after the catch (5.3), trailing only Chris Godwin, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Catch and go. Johnson has the explosive lateral-movement skills and burst here.
While JuJu Smith-Schuster is a volume target for Roethlisberger, we've seen the Steelers produce two high-end fantasy wide receivers before in this offense. In 2018, both Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown finished as top-10 wide receivers, combining for 620.6 fantasy points. If Johnson gets just 36% of that production, he would eclipse 220 fantasy points, which would've been enough to be a top-20 WR in 2019.
Given his current ADP, and the Steelers' pass-heavy call sheet, Johnson should be one of the top sleeper candidates for fantasy managers this season as a WR3/flex.