With each fantasy football season, more and more wide receivers sneak into the early rounds of the draft. Now more than ever, there is a wide variety of WRs that offer week-deciding advantages in any matchup. Players like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Tyreek Hill are all capable of 100 yards and multiple touchdowns in a flash.

Given the potential that top WRs offer, it is important to surround them with stable performers. WRs selected in the later rounds are expected to deliver reliable performance week to week. Fantasy managers must effectively identify WRs who will play a major role in their respective offenses in subsequent draft rounds.

The following list contains high-floor wide receivers that will provide consistent performance in fantasy football in 2024. While they may lack truly game-changing upside, they will consistently provide a base level of fantasy points.

Wide receiver with high floor

Diontae Johnson (CAR)

During his five-year career, Diontae Johnson has proven to be one of the league’s most consistent separators at the WR position. It’s no coincidence that he had at least 139 targets in three consecutive seasons prior to his injury-plagued 2023 season. His ability to demand targets at a high rate has always provided a safe floor from a fantasy football perspective.

In Carolina, Johnson will operate as the uncontested WR1 in this offense. His competition for targets mainly comes from veteran Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette. While Thielen saw somewhat of a resurgence in the 2023 season, he began to show signs of age and wear and tear in the second half. In the final seven games of the season, he only managed to surpass 43 receiving yards twice. On the other hand, Legette will likely play a supporting role early in his career. As he gets used to the NFL game, he won’t pose a serious threat to Diontae Johnson’s volume. Expect Johnson to receive an elite target share again in 2024.

At 28 years old, Johnson is still at the peak of his powers. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) efficiency metrics, the 2023 season was his best. His 79.1 receiving grade and 1.97 yards per route run were both career highs. Johnson will look to build on his career year in a more prominent role in Carolina.

The biggest concern for Johnson’s fantasy prospects is the porous offense he finds himself in. It averaged just 13.9 points per game and received PFF’s third-worst offensive grade in 2023. Still, newly appointed head coach Dave Canales will do wonders for this struggling unit. Canales played an integral role in the career revival of Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith. After a disastrous rookie season, Bryce Young will benefit from Canales’ lessons. If Young can deliver on the promise that made him the first overall pick, this offense will take major steps forward in 2024. As a primary target, Diontae Johnson will be the primary beneficiary.

Jakobi Meyers (LV)

Like Diontae Johnson, Jakobi Meyers is an elite separator who has reached a wide variety of targets throughout his career. In Las Vegas, Meyers had to give up his touches to perennial superstar WR Davante Adams. Still, he remains a key part of this offense that is severely lacking in playmakers. He will continue to be a volume-based, high-base option for fantasy managers.

Meyers has posted at least 67 receptions and 800 receiving yards in three consecutive years. He provides consistent production that can be important as injuries and off weeks pile up. Additionally, Meyers’ production could trend upward in 2024. Gardner Minshew’s arrival as the Raiders’ starting QB is a vast improvement over last season’s signal callers. In 2023, Minshew backed up a breakout season for Michael Pittman Jr., who collected 109 receptions and 1,152 receiving yards. Since Pittman and Meyers occupy similar parts of the field, expect Meyers to be targeted frequently.

Meyer’s efficiency metrics for 2023 suggest he will relish the opportunity. According to PFF, he set career highs in yards after contact and missed tackles. His receiving grade of 71.8 was also a respectable result.

Last season, the Raiders’ passing attack ran on two players: Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. Meyers was targeted 106 times as the team’s WR2, while none of the other receivers were targeted more than 37 times. The arrival of highly touted TE prospect Brock Bowers could be seen as a hindrance to Meyers’ depth. However, tight ends in the NFL have historically had a steep learning curve. It’s highly unlikely that a rookie TE will take away a significant amount of Meyers’ depth.

Joshua Palmer (LAC)

The departure of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett leaves an incredible 309 targets free in the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense. Who will take over that absurd number? While rookie Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark Jr. are interesting options, both have yet to build a good relationship with QB Justin Herbert. The same cannot be said for Joshua Palmer. The latter averaged 7.3 targets and 69.0 receiving yards in games in which both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were out in 2023.

Palmer played the best football of his career in 2023, setting career highs in pass percentage, yards per route run and yards after catch per reception (PFF). He proved to be a key contributor last season despite the Chargers’ injury concerns.

Much has been said about the run-heavy offense that Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are expected to implement in 2024. The fact remains that the Chargers will run the ball more than average in neutral play. However, this defensive unit is below average. It allowed the ninth-most points in the NFL in 2023, and the departure of defensive heavyweight Eric Kendricks will leave a huge hole in the linebacker room. Simply put, the Chargers will be stuck in pass-friendly play more often than some might expect. To keep up with opposing offenses, Herbert will look downfield to Palmer early and often.

Josh Downs (IND)

Josh Downs quietly had a productive rookie season, collecting 68 receptions and 771 receiving yards as the Colts’ WR2. Although an ankle injury in training camp temporarily dampened speculation about his breakout year as a sophomore, Downs was fortunately spared a major setback. The former UNC Tar Heel is currently on track to return for the start of the regular season.

There’s no doubt that Michael Pittman Jr. is Anthony Richardson’s first choice. However, Downs has a tight grip on the secondary targets in this offense. In games that Richardson started in 2023, Downs averaged 5.25 passing and 49.5 receiving yards. That would put him at a very respectable 89.25 receptions and 841.5 receiving yards in 17 games. Assuming both players improve with a year of NFL experience, those numbers will only increase.

Efficiency metrics suggest Downs will break out next season. According to PFF, he averaged 5.5 yards after the catch per pass and 1.60 yards per route run in his rookie season. For comparison, both numbers surpassed those of Garrett Wilson in the 2023 season.

Currently drafted as the WR66, Downs offers a steady and reliable performance that is difficult to match in the later rounds of the draft. Once he is fully healthy, he will resume his role as the Colts’ WR2 and see plenty of targets out of the slot.

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