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SEC receiving yardage DFS picks: Analysis for Isaiah Bond, Eugene Wilson and more
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The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, and PrizePicks has revealed projected receiving yardage numbers for nearly a dozen SEC pass-catchers.
As usual, the SEC has numerous wide receivers (and tight ends) who are expected to be amongst the best nationally in 2024. Luther Burden leads the way in that regard, but players like Texas’ Isaiah Bond and LSU’s Kyren Lacy also appear to be poised to make big leaps this fall.
Here are the receiving yardage projections for 11 SEC receivers in 2024 courtesy of PrizePicks:
- Luther Burden, Missouri: 1,049.5
- Kyren Lacy, LSU: 825.5
- Tre Harris, Ole Miss: 750.5
- Eugene Wilson, Florida: 724.5
- Isaiah Bond, Texas: 700.5
- Antwane Wells, Ole Miss: 699.5
- Dominic Lovett, Georgia: 625.5
- Elijhah Badger, Florida: 499.5
- Dane Key, Kentucky: 449.5
- Caden Prieskorn: 450.5
Per these numbers, only 1 SEC pass-catcher (Burden) is expected to clear the 850-yard threshold. Last season, 6 SEC receivers cleared that benchmark (including Burden and Harris).
Here are 3 picks based on the above projections:
Kyren Lacy more than 825.5 receiving yards
Lacy is LSU’s top returning wideout after Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. both went to the NFL this offseason. Nabers and Thomas were 2 of the most productive wide receivers in the country, overshadowing what Lacy was able to accomplish in 2023: 30 catches for 558 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Given that Lacy is expected to be the top guy in LSU’s wide receiver room, this number seems too low. LSU’s offense will look different with Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback and Joe Sloan calling the plays, but there’s still reason to believe that this will be a passing-heavy offense (even if it’s less-so than it was in 2023). When Sloan was last an offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech in 2021, his offense ranked 47th nationally in passing rate (excluding garbage time).
Nussmeier is a quarterback who is not afraid to force the issue with downfield passing. He’s routinely put up good average-depth-of-target numbers in his career when he’s been given the opportunity to play. And despite being a career backup to this point, Nussmeier has already attempted 219 passes in his collegiate career, giving us a solid sample size of what he can be as a passer.
Eugene Wilson less than 724.5 receiving yards
Eugene Wilson had an outstanding freshman season, going for 538 yards and 6 touchdowns in just 10 games. But if you dig into his game logs from last season, it appears Wilson was able to take advantage of some weak defenses that won’t be on Florida’s slate in 2024.
Wilson recorded 64 yards against Vanderbilt, 83 yards against South Carolina, 90 yards against Arkansas and 63 yards against LSU. Over 56% of Wilson’s receiving yards came in those 4 contests. Of those teams, only LSU appears on Florida’s 2024 schedule — and the Tigers figure to be significantly better on defense this fall compared to last season.
Florida faces arguably the toughest schedule in the country this season. The Gators face 8 SEC opponents as well as 3 other power-conference teams in nonconference: Florida State, Miami and UCF. In total, Florida is set to face 9 opponents who have defenses ranked in the top 40 of SP+ preseason defensive projections. The only exceptions are Samford, Mississippi State and UCF. It’s an absolute gauntlet of a schedule that should have a very-real impact on Wilson’s statistical production this season.
Transfer receiver Elijhah Badger could also steal targets away from Wilson. Badger is coming off of back-to-back 700+ yard campaigns for Arizona State.
Isaiah Bond more than 700.5 receiving yards
Bond transferred to Texas from Alabama this fall, giving him what should be a major quarterback upgrade (from a passing standpoint, at least). Last season while playing for Jalen Milroe, Bond recorded 542 regular-season receiving yards. He’s now expected to be the top target for Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns in 2024.
Texas lost both of its leading wide receivers from last year to the NFL, clearing the way for Bond to make a significant impact in UT’s offense. It’s also a great scheme fit for Bond, as Ewers likes to push the ball downfield more than Milroe did. Texas ranked 4th last season in passing plays of 10+ yards.
With running back CJ Baxter expected to miss the season, that could result in even more passing usage in Texas’ offense. From a schedule perspective, the Longhorns have several soft spots on their 2024 slate. Texas will face Colorado State, UTSA, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas — all of whom rank outside the top 50 in SP+’s preseason defensive projections. Colorado State, Louisiana Monroe and Vanderbilt are all outside the top 100.
RELATED: SEC passing yardage DFS picks
How does PrizePicks work?
With PrizePicks, you can put 2 or more selections together and earn money based on how they perform.
PrizePicks allows users to group picks into 1 of 2 categories: Flex Play or Power Play. In a Flex Play, you can still win money even if you don’t hit on all your picks. On Power Play, all picks have to be correct in order to cash — but the rewards are greater.
For example: if you selected the 3 picks mentioned above as a Power Play, you would win 5x your money if they all are deemed winners at the end of the season. If you added a 4th pick to your Power Play, you could potentially earn a return of 10x on your money.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
