Is Commanders WR Terry McLaurin still overlooked in fantasy football?
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Every year, there is a debate on Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin's value across the NFL. Is McLaurin underrated or underappreciated? If you ask any Washington fan, the answer would be an emphatic yes.
Recently, CBS ranked the top 20 receivers in the NFL and ranked McLaurin 15th. However, with the caveat that McLaurin could "explode in 2024" with rookie Jayden Daniels under center. As we've said far too many times, McLaurin has played with a new quarterback every year and has caught passes from 11 different passers in his five NFL seasons in Washington.
What kind of fantasy football wideout is McLaurin?
According to FantasyPros.com, McLaurin is the No. 30 ranked receiver for 2024 fantasy drafts. For a true No. 1 wide receiver, McLaurin is clearly being overlooked.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently named eight receivers who were underrated in terms of fantasy value ahead of 2024, with McLaurin ranked No. 2.
Terry McLaurin is one of a handful of receivers who have eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons. The others didn't have to deal with the sheer amount of quarterback turnover that Scary Terry has seen in Washington.
A rundown of the quarterbacks who started games for the Commanders over the last four seasons doesn't strike fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators. A 36-year-old Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell highlight the list.
Regardless of who has thrown him the ball, he's been a reliable target who could make plays downfield. He was eighth in the league in deep targets and 13th in air yards.
McLaurin has only earned one Pro Bowl appearance. His 2022 season earned him the nod from voters, but that campaign wasn't really much better than any of his other seasons.
The good news for the 28-year-old is that his days of going from quarterback to quarterback might be coming to an end. With the Commanders drafting Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick, they have a promising blue-chip prospect to build around.
McLaurin is going to make life easier for him as a legitimate No. 1 receiver who is too often forgotten.
Yes, McLaurin is underrated and undervalued. If you are playing season-long fantasy football and McLaurin is available in your draft as WR30, you should definitely pounce. There is no guarantee what will happen in 2024 with a rookie quarterback, but McLaurin has produced with much lesser players at the quarterback position. Daniels will be the most talented passer McLaurin has ever played with.
Fantasy owners should bet on McLaurin in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Is Commanders WR Terry McLaurin still overlooked in fantasy football?