Fantasy Football 2018: 5 Wide With Upside

Fantasy Football 2018: 5 Wide With Upside

5 Wide With Upside this young season are turning into Fantasy Football stars at the wide receiver position before our eyes, predicting the shape of things to come in future drafts.  As the new crop of subsequent 1st & 2nd rounders hold down WR2 and flex spots in our lineups they’re simultaneously turning defensive backs into defensive hacks.  The first 3 weeks of the 2018 season has secondaries around the league up against the ropes.  Billie Jean King once said, “Pressure is a privilege – it only comes to those who earn it.”  If that’s the case than cornerbacks and safeties should take great solace in the fact that they are hyper-privileged in today’s NFL.

Quarterbacks are dotting up defenses like they’re 99 overall legends vs core elites in Madden Ultimate Team.  If you’re not a Madden gamer, QB’s are passing like the NFL is the Big 12.  Through 3 weeks, fifteen QB’s have at least 800 passing yards, three have over 1000, and fifteen have thrown at least 6 touchdowns.  Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Fitzpatrick have 24 combined.  If 2018 is the year of the quarterback then by default 2018 is also the year of the wide receiver.

Three years ago, fantasy football’s WR1, Michael Thomas and WR3, Tyreek Hill, were diamonds amidst the rough of the wide receiver draft class that was 2016.  A year that saw Corey Coleman, now out of the league, become the 1st receiver selected.  Will Fuller, Josh Doctson and LaQuon Treadwell rounded out the 1st round.  Fuller has shown flashes of big play ability.  Redskin and Vikings’ fans are still holding out hope on Doctson and Treadwell.  It took until the 47th overall pick for Michael Thomas’ phone to ring.  Tyreek Hill waited for 164 picks to scroll along the southern portion of his TV screen before the steal of the draft received a phone call from the Kansas City Chiefs.

2017’s big dogs at the position, in regards to 2018 fantasy drafts, JuJu Smith-Schuster, this year’s WR5, and Cooper Kupp, the WR26, were well-known in August and early September when fantasy football draft days rolled around.  The rest of the 2016 & 2017 WR’s were a dice roll with upside.

There’s a second wave of wideouts drafted in 2016 and ’17 planting their flags in stadium grass, sod and field turf around the league.  These are the future Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas, Doug Baldwin, Julian Edelman, and Golden Tate‘s of the league.  The perennial receivers punching the clock in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and maybe even 1st round of your league’s drafts for the next 5+ year cycle.

Savvy redraft and dynasty GM’s, shrewd daily fantasy players and fans of each player’s particular team’s knew these names before the season.   They may not have expected what’s transpired in 2018, or maybe they did — either way the next generation of valuable fantasy WR’s have emerged.

Fantasy Football 2018: 5 Wide With Upside

Tyler Boyd:

• Currently the WR19 in PPR formats — averaging 17.5 points per game
• 2018 current stats:  21 targets — 15 catches — 249 yards — 2 TD’s
• 2018 on pace for:  112 targets — 80 catches —  1327 yards — 10.5 TD’s

The 6’2″, 203 pound, 23-year-old, 3rd-year wide receiver is 2nd on the Bengals in targets, 2nd in catches, and 2nd in touchdowns, behind AJ Green in all three categories.  Boyd’s 249 receiving yards lead the team out-right in yards from scrimmage.  Boyd’s 71% catch rate on balls thrown from Andy Dalton leads the team.  The Bengals’ passing game under OC Bill Lazor is the best the team has seen since Jay Gruden held the position.

At Pittsburgh University Tyler Boyd, unfairly drew a lot of comparisons to former Pitt Panther, Larry Fitzgerald.  When Boyd’s career at Pittsburgh was all said and done, he was, and still is, the school’s all-time leader in receptions (254) and yards (3361).  Fitzgerald is still the school’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 34.  Boyd is quicker than any 40 times will ever reflect.  He returned punts and kicks in college.  In 2014 he led the ACC in yards per kick return.

Anytime a player has a great career as a return man shows they excel in short area quickness and explosiveness.  Boyd’s 2018 film shows both those assets.  Another thing that jumps out about Boyd when watching his tape this season is his ability to find soft spots in zone coverage and to get open when the pocket breaks down around Dalton.  AJ Green is 30 years old.  Through 3 games, Tyler Boyd is making a very solid case at being the team’s successor to Green in the passing game.  According to ESPN, Tyler Boyd is available in 39% of leagues.

Mike Williams:

• Currently the WR23 in PPR formats — averaging 16 points per game
• 2018 current stats:  15 targets — 11 catches — 189 yards — 3 TD’s
• 2018 on pace for:   80 targets — 59 catches — 1007 yards — 16 TD’s

The 6’4″, 220 pound, soon to be 24-year-old, 2nd-year player was the 7th overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft.  Williams along with Corey Davis were the consensus WR1 and 1A in last year’s draft.  Like Davis, Williams’ rookie season was marred by injury.

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Williams is healthy now and he’s putting the league and the fantasy community on notice.  His 3 touchdowns tie him for 2nd in the league.  Antonio Gates isn’t what he once was and his heir apparent, Hunter Henry went down with a season-ending injury in camp, creating a red zone pass catching void for the Chargers.  2 of Williams’ 3 touchdowns have come in the red zone.  The other score came week 3 against the Rams on a 42-yard bomb from Phillip Rivers.  Williams was matched up 1 on 1 with Marcus Peters and Williams beat the all-pro cornerback by a step on the play before making a beautiful over the shoulder catch in the end zone.

Mike Williams is a beast.  He’s on an offense that boasts top 5 talent at the running back and wide receiver positions.  His quarterback, Phillip Rivers, is a gunslinging, savvy veteran who’s not afraid to throw jump balls to his big targets.  William’s, drafted in the top 10 of last year’s draft is a perfect fit in LA with the Chargers.  As long as the Chargers have a QB that can make all the throws, 6’4″, Williams will be there to make plays and score points.  According to ESPN, Mike Williams is available in 51% of leagues.

Geronimo Allison:

• Currently the WR29 in PPR formats/ averaging 14.3 points per game
• 2018 current stats: 18 targets — 13 catches — 209 yards — 2 TD’s
• 2018 on pace for:  96 targets — 70 catches — 1114 yards — 10.5 TD’s

The 6’3″, 202 pound, 24-year-old, 3rd-year wide receiver is 3rd on the Packers’ depth chart behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb.  Allison has been on the field for 75% of all Green Bay offensive snaps.  If the Packers line up 3 wide — Allison is on the field.  No other receiver is close to challenging him for his role as Aaron Rodgers‘ WR3.  Allison has scored touchdowns from 39 and 64 yards out.  His 209 receiving yards leads the team and only Davante Adams (3) has more touchdowns than Allison (2).

Randall Cobb is a free agent after this season, naturally, Allison should progress into the team’s WR2 role.  Any receiver blessed with the opportunity to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers is going to be fantasy relevant.  I see Geronimo Allison as the next homegrown WR in line to benefit from Green Bay’s pass-happy offense.  According to ESPN, Geronimo Allison is available in 60% of leagues.

Chris Godwin:

• Currently the WR 22 in PPR formats — averaging 16 points per game
• 2018 current stats:  20 targets — 13 catches — 171 yards — 3 TD’s
• 2018 on pace for:   107 targets — 70 catches —  911 yards — 16 TD’s

The 6’1″, 209 pound, 22-year-old, 2nd year player out of Penn State is one of three Buccaneer receivers off to a great start.  Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson have combined for more than 675 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns each.  Not to be outdone, Godwin himself has added 3 scores.  He also ranks 2nd on the team in targets and catches behind Evans.

The Tampa Bay offense is en fuego.  Quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, leads the league in passing yards (1230) and is one of two QB’s with more than 10 touchdown passes.  The Bucs will continue to take chances in the passing game as long as Fitzpatrick remains the starting quarterback.  Head coach, Dirk Koetter, likes to throw downfield and Fitzpatrick doesn’t mind obliging.

The Bucs offense is less than stellar running the football, averaging 72 yards rushing per game — 3rd worst in the league.   Jameis Winston returning to the lineup could be a detriment to the Tampa Bay receiving corps’ fantasy value, in the past he’s been more conservative than Fitzpatrick’s been this year.

Although DeSean Jackson has more receiving yards than Godwin, that stat is deceiving.  Jackson has caught touchdowns from 75, 58 and 36 yards out.  Godwin has the bigger frame and a younger body.  He can withstand taking hits over the middle the Bucs don’t want Jackson involved in.  Godwin is a route technician with great hands, barring any injury, or a dramatis shift in offensive philosophy, he will be fantasy relevant for years to come.  According to ESPN, Chris Godwin is available in 54% of leagues.

Kenny Golladay:

• Currently the WR12 in PPR formats — averaging 18.9 points per game
• 2018 current stats:  28 targets — 19 catches — 256 yards — 2 TD’s
• 2018 on pace for:    150 targets — 101 catches — 1364 yards — 10.5 TD’s

Saving the best for last, the 6’4″, 213 pound, 24-year-old, 2nd-year future star is off to a tremendous start.  Golladay is currently a WR1 in fantasy football (WR12).  He’s 14th in the league in receiving yards and 9th in catches.  He’s taken over the role as the team’s #2 receiver from Marvin Jones.   Golladay is 2nd on the team in targets and catches.  He has just one receiving yard less than Golden Tate, who leads the team in every statistical receiving category.

The Detroit Lions rank 26th in the league in rushing attempts per game and 1st in passing attempts.  If you’re a Golladay owner, that’s music to your ears.  The emergence of rookie running back Kerryon Johnson could turn the Lions offense into a more balanced attack.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  Matthew Stafford has a big arm and loves nothing more than slinging the rock all over the field.  With the weapons he has at receiver, why wouldn’t he?

Golladay’s the team’s tallest receiver.  His above average hand size makes catching passes look easy.  He has 2 touchdowns in 2018.  He should have a 3rd but he couldn’t get his second foot in bounds.  He’s averaging 6 catches for 85 yards per game through the first 3 weeks.

At this point, I feel comfortable starting Golladay every week in my lineup.   Chances are he’s not available in your leagues.  This kid has awesome upside.  If you have a plus situation at the RB or QB or somehow TE position, Golladay is a great target for a trade.  According to ESPN, Kenny Golladay is available in just 14% of leagues

Thanks for reading.  Follow me @DynastyJaco so you don’t miss my follow-up to the NFC version, Nitty Gritty Numbers: AFC Edition.