Underrated WRs

Today is about guys that are flying under the radar, but shouldn’t be. It’s 5 WRs that deserve way more attention in your drafts … in two minutes or less.

Michael Pittman (IND), ADP 123.3, WR49

Pittman ranked 15th in route participation and 24th in total targets last season, but still finished 44th in fantasy points per game and posted career lows in receptions and yards per game. So what happened? He played through a lingering back injury while battling the 16th-most unrealized air yards. That’s a sign of brutal QB play that dragged down his production from start to finish. His separation and route win rate also cratered compared to the year prior, dropping to 61st and 74th among qualifiers, which further masked his still-strong 22.6% target share. So now that Daniel Jones has won the starting job, Pittman could easily reclaim the 15+ PPR per game mark he hit in 2023. At WR49, you're not drafting a breakout, you're locking in a discounted WR1 with volume baked in and risk already priced out.

Ricky Pearsall (SF), ADP 98, WR43

Pearsall ended 2024 with back-to-back WR1 weeks (WR7 and WR14 overall) while commanding a 21.7% target share and generating 2.84 yards per route run. But what most people forget is he was shot in the chest before the season, then suffered a hamstring injury, and didn’t hit the field until Week 7. Now, Deebo Samuel is gone. Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from his torn ACL and MCL. And Jauan Jennings still hasn’t returned from his calf strain. So Pearsall enters 2025 healthy, with full first-team reps, and the trust of Brock Purdy in a system with the easiest passing schedule in the NFL. That makes him a 1st-round talent who just needed a clean runway. And now he has it in a Top 5 scoring offense, without competition. This is the exact type of WR2 season that wins you your league from Round 8.

Emeka Egbuka (TB), ADP 109.5, WR46

Egbuka has stepped into the Buccaneers big slot role, and immediately earned praise as the team’s most impressive rookie in camp. But the path to volume is wide open: Chris Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle and is expected to start the season on PUP, and Mike Evans turns 32 with a history of soft-tissue injuries. Egbuka was a Top-20 receiver in yards after catch and receiving grade in multiple college seasons and ranked Top-40 in yards per route run as a senior. So with Godwin sidelined, Evans aging, and Jalen McMillan reportedly trailing in the depth chart (and now hurt himself), Egbuka will start Week 1 and is a LOCK for 3WR sets. And in a Bucs offense that ranked 4th in yards per play last year, with a favorable offensive structure and continuity, he’s positioned for immediate value with contingency upside baked in. This is how you get a first-round profile with Day 1 opportunity at a Round 10 cost.

Matthew Golden (GB), ADP 96.5, WR42

Golden had a late-season breakout at Texas with 3.52 yards per route run over his final 6 games and 17 yards per catch on the year. But the real signal is the trust he’s earned: Jordan Love called him “polished,” “lights out,” and “a stud”, and Green Bay’s first depth chart already has him in the WR2 group. Golden was drafted in the 1st round, which represents a huge shift from the Packers’ usual WR strategy. And the team followed that by adding Savion Williams in Round 3, signaling a full WR room revamp. So even if this stays a WR-by-committee offense, Golden’s rapport with Love, his strong hands, and his inside-outside route versatility give him the first crack at perimeter snaps with Christin Watson still recovering from knee surgery. He doesn’t need to be a dominant alpha… just a clean, efficient WR2 with spike-week upside in a system that just led the league in dropped air yards. Golden’s profile isn’t perfect, but at WR42, he doesn’t have to be. All signs point to him being the most undervalued rookie in redraft.

Rashid Shaheed (NO), ADP 147.8, WR54

Rashid Shaheed ranked 1st in air yards share, 3rd in ADOT, and 5th in yards per catch before tearing his meniscus. But he was already mid-breakout before the injury, averaging 73+ receiving yards in 4 of his first 6 games, with a 22.7% target share and 29.8% first-read share. He’s now fully recovered, added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, and is expected to start opposite Chris Olave under new HC Kellen Moore, whose offenses have ranked Top-8 in plays per game in 6 straight seasons. So even with questions at QB, Shaheed brings legit FLEX value on pure role and explosiveness. And he’s the perfect bet in Round 13 for spiked weeks and potential WR3-level volume if things break right. This is the player Moore can scheme into open space, and the Saints’ new offense is built to run HOT and FAST. If your draft has any pulse, Shaheed won’t be available much longer.

So draft these players and you’re well on your way to winning your league.

As promised, in two minutes or less.

Over 12,000 players used this to prep last season. My 2025 Draft Kit is open now, but only a few dozen spots are available this year. I’m keeping it limited so I can give members my full attention.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe