Fantasy: Wide Receiver Primer
Fantasy Position Primers
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends
Wide Receivers
In the past two days, we've discussed quarterbacks and running backs at length as we prepare you for your drafts. Now we look at the position that has become the deepest in all of fantasy - wide receiver.
It's important to remember that these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete wide receiver rankings here.
Top of the Line
Antonio Brown, Steelers - Brown has quickly developed into the most consistent pass catchers in the game. Playing in one of the league's most explosive offenses, he's a strong bet to finish as the No. 1 fantasy receiver for the second straight year.
Dez Bryant, Cowboys - Bryant leads the league with 41 touchdowns over the last three years, including 16 scores last season. Terrance Williams poses very little threat to Bryant's targets, so expect more of the same in 2015.
Julio Jones, Falcons - As Roddy White takes a step back, Julio is set up to post astronomical totals in his first season under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Julio may not have received a new deal yet, but his day is coming.
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos - Only two receivers have posted double-digit touchdowns in each of the last three seasons - Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas. I'll save this blurb for next year's primer when they do it for a fourth straight year.
Calvin Johnson, Lions - The battle for the receiving throne is hotly contested these days, but a healthy Megatron has a legitimate chance to reclaim his crown. During the second half of 2014, Johnson was on a 98-catch, 1,458-yard, 12-touchdown pace.
Odell Beckham Jr., Giants - It takes an exceptional player to join the fantasy elite after only 12 NFL games. At this point, defenses hoping to slow him down might want to try kryptonite.
Why Not Us?
Jordy Nelson, Packers - If it wasn't for offseason hip surgery, Nelson would be listed with the group above. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in camp, Nelson will be an excellent value late in the second round or early in the third. (Update: Nelson suffered a torn ACL and will miss the season.)
A.J. Green, Bengals - Green played through injuries in 2014, but still managed to post his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. Much like Megatron, Green is about to to remind people just how dominant he can be on Sundays.
Mike Evans, Buccaneers - The 21-year-old was outstanding in his rookie season and will only benefit from the addition of a fearless rookie quarterback in Jameis Winston.
T.Y. Hilton, Colts - Catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the league definitely helps your fantasy prospects. There's no reason why Hilton can't match, or improve on, his career-year in 2014.
Second Fiddle
Randall Cobb, Packers - Cobb may experience some touchdown regression, after finding the end zone 12 times last season, but owning part of the Packers' passing game is never a bad call.
Andre Johnson, Colts - The 34-year-old is going to feel like he found the fountain of youth in the Colts offense. He will be a steady WR2 who will deliver several WR1 weeks for his fantasy owners this season.
Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos - Playing in a new offensive system, Sanders has expressed doubts that he will be able to repeat his 1,404-yard, 9-touchdown effort from 2014. Fantasy owners should heed his warning.
Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers - Jackson led the team in targets a year ago, but will certainly be overtaken by Mike Evans in that department moving forward. Even with fewer looks, the upgrade at quarterback should be enough to give Jackson a chance at his fifth straight 1,000-yard season.
Golden Tate, Lions - Tate shined as a WR1 when Calvin Johnson was sidelined by injuries. Unfortunately, he took a backseat when Megatron returned to the lineup. Johnson may want to hire a food taster, in case Tate gets any ideas.
Eric Decker, Jets - Brandon Marshall's arrival in New York means Decker will return to his more natural role as a second option in the passing game. It's a positive for the Jets offense, but a negative for Decker's fantasy value since he will surely see fewer passes come his way.
Ready for Launch
Brandin Cooks, Saints - A thumb injury limited Cooks to 10 games in his rookie season. A year later, after the departures of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, Cooks is in position to be the Saints' leading receiver almost by default. If he stays healthy, he's a lock for 90 receptions, 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.
Jordan Matthews, Eagles - The hardworking sophomore is doing all the right things as he prepares to take on a larger role in Chip Kelly's offense. Similar to Cooks, Matthews has a high-floor and should provide a solid return on his fourth round ADP.
Allen Robinson, Jaguars - The Jaguars offense hasn't been a quality source of fantasy production in recent years, but Robinson could be the player to change that. A lack of red zone opportunities may be the only thing holding him back from a transcendent season.
John Brown, Cardinals - Brown is poised to play a significant role in a Cardinals' passing game that will welcome back starting quarterback Carson Palmer. The bad news is that his ADP is likely going to skyrocket during the preseason, especially after Michael Floyd dislocated three of his fingers.
Martavis Bryant, Steelers - The Martavis Bryant bandwagon is currently off-roading after Ben Roethlisberger talked up Markus Wheaton as the team's No. 2 wideout. In that scenario, Bryant would see the field in 3-receiver sets, limiting his breakout potential. The doubts are also compounded by a reported elbow infection that's kept Bryant out of practice. (Update: Bryant is facing a four-game suspension to open the season.)
Charles Johnson, Vikings - Johnson's emergence late last season helped Teddy Bridgewater get on track, but the former Grand Valley State receiver still needs to prove himself at the pro level.
Davante Adams, Packers - Adams flashed big time talent last year and continued to impress coaches in the offseason. He will be limited playing behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, but if either player goes down with an injury, Adams will be instantly vaulted into WR2 consideration. (Update: With Jordy Nelson out for the season, Adams will step in as the Packers second receiver.)
Targets Acquired
Alshon Jeffery, Bears - Jeffery finished last season with 145 targets, tied for sixth-most in the league, a number he will almost certainly eclipse this year with Brandon Marshall out of the picture. If Jay Cutler can provide any sort of stability from the quarterback position, Jeffery may challenge for a spot among the NFL elite.
Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers - The receiver who tied Jeffery for the sixth most targets? Kelvin Benjamin. The 6-5, 240-pound wideout has a large catch radius and can outduel defenders to make plays on poorly thrown balls - skills that can help cover up Cam Newton's inaccuracies. (Update: Benjamin will miss the 2015 season with a torn ACL.)
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans - Whoever wins the Texans' quarterback competition will have one mandate: Feed Hopkins the ball. With Andre Johnson gone and Arian Foster sidelined by a groin injury, Hopkins is the only show in town.
PPR Darlings
Julian Edelman, Patriots - While he may be a boring fantasy selection, Edelman is a PPR dream. The Patriots' ball magnet followed up a 105-catch campaign in 2013 with a 92-catch season last year. Even if Brady serves his four-game suspension, there's no reason to think Edelman's volume will be affected.
Jarvis Landry, Dolphins - After a relatively slow start to the season, Landry averaged nine targets per game over the final eight weeks. Ryan Tannehill has a plethora of new weapons, but Landry will remain his security blanket.
Loving the Long Ball
DeSean Jackson, Redskins - Considering the fact Jackson left the high-octane Eagles offense and joined a Redskins team that ranked 26th in points per game, the drop off in his numbers wasn't as bad as it could have been. D-Jax is the kind of streaky fantasy player you're better off avoiding, unless he falls a few rounds.
Torrey Smith, 49ers - We continue to wait for that truly prolific Torrey Smith season. In 2013, he had a career-high 1,128 yards, but only four touchdowns. Last season, he found the end zone 11 times, however managed just 767 yards. Colin Kaepernick's deep-ball accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, making Smith a risky fantasy pick.
Experience Preferred
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals - No one is happier to see Carson Palmer back under center than Fitzgerald. The veteran performed well in four of Palmer's six starts last season, averaging 6.75 catches and 110 yards in those four outings. Fitzgerald will turn 32 before the season, but he still has plenty of good fantasy days ahead of him.
Anquan Boldin, 49ers - If there was an award for the most underrated fantasy player each season, Boldin would be running out of room on his mantel. The 34-year-old finished as a top-25 receiver in each of the last two seasons, but is going off the board outside of the top-40 players at his position this year.
Steve Smith, Ravens - We are all fond of Steve Smith and his in-your-face style of play. So let's not ruin that fondness by overdrafting him. It's easy to remember his big revenge game against the Panthers, but Smith fell off down the stretch last year. As painful as it is, you should be letting someone else select the 36-year-old on draft day.
Marques Colston, Saints - Colston always seems to be dealing with some sort of ailment, but he rarely misses time. While his total yards have declined the last three seasons, the 32-year-old continues to be effective and is worth serious consideration at his 10th-round ADP.
Mike Wallace, Vikings - Wallace brings some upside to an offense that is already on the rise in Minnesota. However, it's important to keep expectations in check. Wallace is not going to be the top dog in Norv Turner's offense, meaning he needs to be treated as a WR3 who will overachieve on occasion.
Brandon LaFell, Patriots - A veteran going to new England and having a career year is something we should be used to by now. LaFell will be affected most by Brady's absence early in the season, but that appears to be built in to his ninth-round ADP.
Roddy White, Falcons - The always candid White has said on multiple occasions during the offseason that he believes his role will be scaled back in the team's new offense. While that may be true, outside of Julio Jones, who is going to catch passes for Atlanta if not White?
Looking to Rebound
Keenan Allen, Chargers - Coming out of college, Allen was one of the most pro-ready draft picks in his class and it showed during his rookie season. However, his skill set is better suited as team's second receiver, not the No. 1 option. Don't be surprised if Allen's rookie year ends up being his best NFL season.
Pierre Garcon, Redskins - Do you remember when Garcon led the league with 113 receptions in 2013? Don't worry, no one does. It feels like it was a lifetime ago. The team is talking up Garcon, claiming they will feature him more, but it's hard to get overly excited about anyone in the Redskins offense.
Kendall Wright, Titans - After a 94-catch season in 2013, Wright hauled in just 57 passes last year. Hope comes in many forms. For Tennessee's future and Wright's fantasy outlook, hope is in the form of rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Quarterback Questions
Sammy Watkins, Bills - Watkins is trapped in a receiver's nightmare in Buffalo. One day, he will wake up and there will be a competent quarterback throwing him passes, but that day won't come this year.
Brandon Marshall, Jets - If you're considering drafting Marshall, you better be confident in Geno Smith's development. Or at least have faith in Chan Gailey's ability to get the most out of his quarterbacks.
Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs - Reuniting with his old coach Andy Reid should be a nice experience for Maclin, but he's joining a team that didn't throw a single touchdown to a receiver last season. Don't go chasing his Philly stats from 2014. A 900-yard, 5-touchdown campaign is on the horizon.
Welcome To The Party
Amari Cooper, Raiders - Cooper has the talent to break out of the gate as a fantasy star. On an offense that will be forced to throw, Cooper has the necessary skills to get open in the pros and will be featured in Oakland's offense from Day 1. Michael Crabtree could also prove to be a reliable option on the other side of the field.
Nelson Agholor, Eagles - Of all the first-year receivers, Agholor was given a gift when he was drafted by the Eagles. Jeremy Maclin left behind 143 targets, and Agholor should see a good portion of them. A strong preseason could fuel a dramatic rise in his ADP.
Kevin White, Bears - Rookies have a tough road earning playing time under head coach John Fox. It doesn't help matters when you are dealing with a shin injury and missing valuable training camp reps. It wouldn't be a surprise if Eddie Royal trumps White early in the year. (Update: White will start the year on the PUP list and may miss the entire 2015 season after undergoing shin surgery.)
DeVante Parker, Dolphins - Parker is also sidelined after having surgery on his foot, but the Dolphins seem more than willing to get him into the mix immediately upon his return. If Parker is unable to take the field in Week 1, Kenny Stills and/or Greg Jennings could see a bump in snaps.
Breshad Perriman, Ravens - A knee issue has Breshad Perriman on the shelf early in camp, too. The rookie seemed like a perfect fit to take over Torrey Smith's role in Baltimore, but Kamar Aiken could be a dark horse to steal the starting job.
Returning From Injury
Victor Cruz, Giants - Coming back from a patellar tendon tear, Cruz avoided the PUP list at the start of camp. The early reports have been extremely positive, making it a real possibility that Cruz starts Week 1.
Brian Quick, Rams - Quick got off to a hot start last year before a shoulder injury ended his season after just seven games. The 25-year-old is still relatively unknown and plays on a very unsexy offense in St. Louis, which is keeping his draft stock low. Quick should definitely be on your radar late in drafts.
Marvin Jones, Bengals - One year removed from a 10-touchdown campaign, Jones will try to recapture his 2013 form. Best case scenario: he's a WR3, making him absolutely worth a late-round flier.
Michael Floyd, Cardinals - At the moment, it's unclear whether Floyd's three dislocated fingers will keep him out for any portion of the regular season. Even before the injury, Floyd may have been the Cardinals' third-best receiving option.
Deep Routes
Kenny Britt, Rams - Britt exhibited WR1-level talent early in his career, but those days have long since passed. Britt should benefit from the acquisition of Nick Foles and could be a serviceable depth receiver on fantasy rosters.
Steve Johnson, Chargers - With Antonio Gates suspended for the first four games, Johnson and Malcom Floyd are both intriguing fantasy options.
Dwayne Bowe, Browns - Bowe escaped Kansas City's passing game, only to end up in Cleveland. That's like digging your way out of prison and surfacing in another prison. The Browns' receiving corps is toxic to fantasy owners, except for the deepest of leagues where you might want to throw a dart at Taylor Gabriel or maybe even Terrelle Pryor.
Phillip Dorsett, Colts - If T.Y. Hilton or Andre Johnson get hurt, there will be tremendous value in either Dorsett or Donte Moncrief.