In an experts draft the other night, I started out running back, running back. Doing that sometimes leaves you lacking at other positions, specifically wide receiver. But things turned out OK.
Tee Higgins was there in the third, that was nice. He's a top-10 receiver on our initial board for 2025, even as Cincinnati's No. 2. And a few rounds after that, there was Courtland Sutton as a No. 2.
Sutton tends to be lightly regarded, understandable if you looked only at his first-half numbers a year ago. With a rookie quarterback finding his way, he caught 36 passes and 2 TDs the first nine weeks of the season, averaging just 10.9 PPR points. That was well down the list of receivers around the league.
But he sure was good the second half of last season, when Bo Nix was more comfortable running the offense and Sean Payton opened things up. In the final nine weeks of the season (eight games for Denver), Sutton caught 45 passes for 582 yards and 6 touchdowns. He averaged 17.4 PPR points, which was top 12 production at the position.
| WRS, 2ND HALF OF THE SEASON | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | G | No | Rec | TD | PPR/G |
| Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 8 | 72 | 991 | 10 | 29.2 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 7 | 48 | 669 | 5 | 21.1 |
| Tee Higgins, Cin. | 7 | 44 | 570 | 7 | 21.0 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 9 | 67 | 799 | 6 | 20.4 |
| Davante Adams, 2tms | 8 | 53 | 679 | 6 | 19.9 |
| Jerry Jeudy, Cle. | 8 | 57 | 811 | 3 | 19.8 |
| Brian Thomas, Jac. | 8 | 52 | 687 | 5 | 19.3 |
| Puka Nacua, LAR | 9 | 59 | 767 | 4 | 18.1 |
| Malik Nabers, NYG | 8 | 54 | 647 | 4 | 18.1 |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 9 | 55 | 750 | 5 | 17.8 |
| Drake London, Atl. | 8 | 50 | 719 | 3 | 17.5 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 8 | 45 | 582 | 6 | 17.4 |
| Ladd McConkey, LAC | 8 | 47 | 709 | 3 | 17.2 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 8 | 40 | 498 | 7 | 16.5 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 7 | 48 | 534 | 2 | 16.5 |
| A.J. Brown, Phil. | 8 | 44 | 635 | 4 | 16.4 |
| Adam Thielen, Car. | 7 | 40 | 506 | 4 | 16.4 |
| Jordan Addison, Min. | 9 | 44 | 602 | 7 | 16.3 |
| DJ Moore, Chi. | 9 | 61 | 592 | 3 | 16.2 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 8 | 50 | 562 | 3 | 15.9 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 6 | 33 | 360 | 4 | 15.5 |
| Jameson Williams, Det. | 9 | 41 | 640 | 5 | 15.3 |
| Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 8 | 48 | 597 | 2 | 15.2 |
| Jalen McMillan, T.B. | 7 | 27 | 352 | 7 | 15.1 |
| Keenan Allen, Chi. | 9 | 49 | 547 | 5 | 14.9 |
| Nico Collins, Hou. | 7 | 36 | 439 | 4 | 14.8 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 8 | 42 | 508 | 4 | 14.6 |
| Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 9 | 47 | 513 | 5 | 14.4 |
| Marvin Mims, Den. | 8 | 32 | 447 | 6 | 14.4 |
| Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 9 | 52 | 571 | 3 | 14.3 |
| Xavier Worthy, K.C. | 8 | 40 | 403 | 4 | 13.9 |
| Calvin Ridley, Ten. | 9 | 37 | 618 | 3 | 13.2 |
| Michael Pittman, Ind. | 7 | 39 | 442 | 1 | 12.7 |
| Josh Downs, Ind. | 7 | 34 | 392 | 2 | 12.2 |
| Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 8 | 41 | 441 | 2 | 12.1 |
| Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 8 | 34 | 440 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 7 | 30 | 434 | 1 | 12.0 |
| George Pickens, Pitt. | 6 | 24 | 352 | 2 | 11.9 |
| Khalil Shakir, Buff. | 7 | 34 | 350 | 2 | 11.6 |
| Alec Pierce, Ind. | 7 | 18 | 389 | 4 | 11.6 |
| Quentin Johnston, LAC | 9 | 37 | 429 | 4 | 11.5 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling, N.O. | 7 | 16 | 380 | 4 | 11.2 |
| Rashod Bateman, Balt. | 8 | 20 | 309 | 6 | 10.9 |
| DK Metcalf, Sea. | 8 | 31 | 424 | 2 | 10.7 |
| Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG | 8 | 42 | 356 | 1 | 10.5 |
| Kayshon Boutte, N.E. | 8 | 30 | 386 | 2 | 10.3 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten. | 9 | 22 | 389 | 5 | 10.1 |
I'm not suggesting Sutton be drafted as a top-12 wide receiver. You don't have to; he'll be available much later than that. (I took him 25th, and perhaps he'd have fallen a few more spots.) But looking like a nice value at the position, as Denver's No. 1 wide receiver without much competition for that role this season.
--Andy Richardson