Fantasy football: 4 bounce-back wide receivers to target for 2018
Which wide receiver is poised for a bounce-back season this year and should be targeted in fantasy football drafts?
In 2017, the injuries piled up in the NFL, taking many pro bowl players down for the count. Wide receiver might’ve been the position most devastated, losing some huge names along the way, some of which are on this list. The players here, when healthy, are some of the best fantasy receivers in the game. Being discussed in this article are the receivers that have the best shot of coming back and reclaiming the dominant form in 2018.
4. Cameron Meredith, Saints
Meredith was impressive when healthy with the Chicago Bears, a big bodied receiver that can high point the ball and run with it is always welcome in today’s NFL. After catching 66 passes for 888 yards in 2016 from quarterbacks Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, Meredith looked primed to have an explosive season and be a weapon for rookie passer Mitchell Trubisky.
But in a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, Meredith tore his ACL and was lost for the entirety of the 2017 regular season. The New Orleans Saints submitted an offer sheet for Meredith once free agency opened and the Bears declined to match the offer, giving Drew Brees another tall receiver to pair with phenom Michael Thomas.
With most defenses likely to focus on Thomas in 2018, Meredith could easily garner 1,000 yards and be a red zone threat for the star quarterback. Meredith in the Saints offense can be a solid WR2 in most leagues, my predicted draft rounds for Meredith would be rounds seven to eight.
3. Julian Edelman, Patriots
Oh, where to start, Edelman was clearly missed during last year’s Super Bowl run in which the Patriots lost to the high-flying Eagles. In 2016, Edelman broke out, catching 98 passes for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl win against the Falcons and had arguably one of the best catches in Super Bowl history.
In the 2017 preseason, he completely tore his right ACL leading to him missing the full 2017 season. Edelman is on track to come back healthy for 2018 but will have to wait until his four-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs is up.
When Edelman is on the field, he is Tom Brady’s most reliable target, his return week five will undoubtedly be a boon for the Patriots offense and PPR leagues everywhere. Edelman should be drafted in the last few rounds due to his suspension, but as the season wears on, he will bounce back on a Patriots team that still needs his presence.