How to approach low-yardage quarterbacks and their wide receivers in fantasy

Not all WR1s are created equally. The same can be said for every position, but the designation of being a team's top wide receiver will often deliver a little extra push to draft value northward. What kind of impact might a low-yardage passer have on these receivers?

We can look at some of these players from the last few seasons to see the trends.

Geno Smith, New York Jets

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker both finished among the top 10 at the position in fantasy in 2015. Marshall caught 14 TDs while Decker had 12. Since neither was highly coveted entering the season, they were among the best bargains. One slight hitch: Geno Smith was not their QB.

There is a good reason why the Jets may be relenting in their stubbornness surrounding QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and his contract demands. In 2013, Smith averaged 190 yards per game while throwing 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He was only slightly better in 2014 when he averaged even fewer yards (180) but reduced the interceptions to 13.

Over those two seasons, only one player exceeded 600 yards receiving in one year - Decker with 962 in 2014. No one else was close. If the Jets somehow don't re-sign Fitzpatrick and instead go with Smith, it does not bode well for Marshall or Decker, and at least one of them would conceivably bottom out.

Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Sometimes, a talented receiver can spin a bad situation into solid gold. Case in point: Jeremy Maclin on the 2015 Kansas City Chiefs. At 1,088 yards receiving, Maclin was the first Chiefs player in the Alex Smith era to eclipse 1,000 yards in the air. Tight end Travis Kelce managed 875 yards in 2015, but after that things became dire.

Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving in 2014, which was also the season that cemented WR Dwayne Bowe's fall from grace in KC - he was the last Chiefs receiver before Maclin to haul in 1,000 yards, and that happened in 2011.

Maclin proved he can be productive within a conservative passing game. He gave the Chiefs a better option in the passing game and the team improved, but beyond he and Kelce, no one was a legitimate fantasy option and neither Albert Wilson nor Chris Conley offer anything worth considering.

This is a situation where a WR3 like Phillip Dorsett in Indianapolis or John Brown in Arizona would be worth more than Wilson, despite him technically being a WR2. Despite Maclin's talent, Smith's struggles limit his upside where it's conceivable that a WR2 with a strong-arm QB - think Randall Cobb in Green Bay - could be worth as much at a later draft position.

Blaine Gabbert & Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Between the two San Francisco QBs, the 49ers managed 3,646 passing yards - putting them squarely behind 19 other quarterbacks and only barely ahead of Kansas City's Smith. The inability to find stability led to some unfortunate receiving numbers in fantasy. Their leader in receiving yards, Anquan Boldin with 789 yards, didn't even get re-signed.

This is a prime example of how QB futility can negatively impact a receiving corps. Boldin and WR Torrey Smith are both talented and have had excellent seasons both in reality and fantasy. That Smith only had 33 receptions despite playing in all 16 games is a disaster and nowhere near the value expected. He's the WR1 in 2016.

Pundits expect improvement because of offensive guru Chip Kelly getting behind the wheel, but the QB situation has not changed. Still, in Philadelphia, Kelly had solid production from his WR1 spot despite relying on the passing talents of Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Sam Bradford.

Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings

Running back Adrian Peterson is the show in Minnesota and Bridgewater is called upon to simply be efficient when he does throw. He averaged just 201.9 yards passing per game and only threw 14 touchdowns, which meant he didn't belong on fantasy teams outside of two-QB leagues. It also seriously hindered his wide receivers' production.

In 13 games in 2014, Bridgewater only averaged 224.5 yards per game. While two seasons hardly makes a permanent statement, a brand new Bridgewater would be surprising. But he has some weapons at his disposal.

There is some excitement around the receiving corps in 2016 with sophomore Stefon Diggs looking to build on a promising rookie season, and rookie Laquon Treadwell joining the ranks. The problem lies with Bridgewater and, to a lesser extent, the commitment to the running game.

The uncertainty behind Bridgewater's skills as a passer has rightfully dropped both receivers in terms of ADP. With his past numbers, it's reasonable to assume that only one of Diggs or Treadwell will return fantasy value. It could also mean an even split reducing both players' end value.

How This Impacts Your Draft Strategy

In the end, most WR1s will be worth drafting even with unfortunate passing situations, but there are WR2s who need to be considered ahead of those in Minnesota or San Francisco. Or, in the case of the Jets if Geno Smith is behind center, there are those you should wait on instead of reaching for Marshall and Decker.

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees led the NFL in passing yards, and while it seems his receiving corps is often labeled unpredictable or he seems to spread the love too much, he was close to having two 1,000-yard receivers; Willie Snead had 984 receiving yards and TE Benjamin Watson had 825.

Snead may be in tough with rookie Michael Thomas joining the fray, but he's lower on the ADP ladder than perhaps he should be. While he shouldn't be a team's top-3 receiver, he can provide excellent depth and upside in that offense, especially against the weaker defenses. It seems obvious, but wide receivers with top quarterbacks are more likely to return fantasy value.

Other players near his ADP include the Rams' Tavon Austin, both Vikings receivers mentioned earlier, Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson, and Ravens WR Steve Smith. Snead is more attractive than any of those names.