The end of the Fantasy Football season is a time to reflect on the previous season. Here is a Dynasty Pulse Check for some 2021 wide receivers who caught my eye.
In this article, I may reference what I believe these three receivers would cost to acquire, but by no means is this a buy low, sell high, start a Twitter poll type of article. My “Dynasty Pulse Check” series will highlight players at each position who have piqued my interest. I try to stay away from the buy, sell, hold rhetoric because the value is in the eye of the beholder.
Here are the first three wide receivers of the series.
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
Lazard stepped up for the Packers in a big way this season, finishing the season with eight touchdowns. The Packers receiver provided glimpses of being a true WR2 this season alongside Davante Adams. Lazard saw a snap percentage of 75% or higher in 10 games.
If you're like me (and Beane based on his presser), you want the Bills to add a WR who is a YAC threat in the offseason. Here are the top 9 WR FA options who offer that.
Mike Williams, Cedric Wilson, Byron Pringle, Braxton Berrios, Allen Lazard are some names worth considering pic.twitter.com/M2dLnSqwuc
— Bay Bills (@BayBills) February 1, 2022
Dynasty Outlook
One of the ways to be a successful dynasty manager is to stay a step ahead of your competition. Per Spotrac, Allen Lazard is heading into the offseason as a restricted free agent. His value may hinge on what the Packers do with Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. As a dynasty owner, I would not hesitate to send out offers to acquire Lazard sooner than later.
If the Packers decide to let Adams walk without a new contract or franchise tag, Lazard may be in a position to challenge for the lead role. His competition would likely be a high rookie draft pick coming in. The biggest concern would be who is throwing Lazard the ball. I think Lazard is worth the acquisition.
Dynasty Trade Idea: Third-round draft pick.
Byron Pringle, Kansas City Chiefs
Pringle is another receiver who, much like Lazard, caught my eye as the season progressed. If nothing else, Pringle has one of the best names in sports. You know Chris Berman prays every Sunday for him to score so he can come up with a cool nickname for the highlights.
The Kansas City Chiefs receiver’s role grew each week. Pringle is not going to wow you with 100-yard games, but he became a reliable red-zone target for Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. With minimal targets to fight for alongside Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Demarcus Robinson, Pringle stepped up and earned his playing time.
Dynasty Outlook
Per Spotrac, Pringle is set to hit free agency this year as an unrestricted free agent. Much like Lazard, it would be wise to get ahead of the game and acquire Pringle if you can. It remains to be seen if the Chiefs have seen enough of Pringle to bring him back. He makes a solid low-end WR2 or high-end WR3.
There will be a market for a reliable target like Pringle if the Chiefs do not bring him back. By no means will he break the bank for a team in free agency. Pringle will find — at a minimum — a WR3 role.
Dynasty Trade Idea: late third, early fourth-round draft pick.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons
In what turned out to be an odd season for the Atlanta Falcons, Gage became a bright spot as the season progressed. He may have only finished with 770 yards and four touchdowns, but Gage showed his true potential each time he was given proper targets.
In the three games he received double-digit targets, Gage had games of 130, 91, and 126 yards, scoring a touchdown each game. After Calvin Ridley decided to step away, Gage had to adjust along with rookie tight end Kyle Pitts to step in as the number one target.
Dynasty Outlook
Much like Lazard and Pringle, Gage has the opportunity to step into free agency. With the uncertainty of Calvin Ridley, the Falcons may want to bring Gage back as their number one option. Whether he is the right guy for that role is surely debatable. Regardless of what happens in free agency, Gage is more than worth a roster spot on your team.
Dynasty Trade Idea: Second-round draft pick.
Honorable Mentions
Three more wide receivers to monitor:
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals, Free Agent: 982 yards, and five touchdowns.
Cedrick Wilson, Dallas Cowboys, Free Agent: 602 yards, and two touchdowns.
Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders, Free Agent: 546 yards, and one touchdown.
Thank you for reading! You can find me on Twitter at @ClintonHolmgren and @IDPGuys. Check out all of my Offensive and DFS work at idpguys.org. You can also see me on the IDPGuys Youtube Channel with various content.
