Fantasy football rankings: 2019 pre-draft wide receivers ranks
By Shaun Evans
Fantasy Football Rankings – Pre-Draft Wide Receiver Rankings
10. Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers)
2018 Stats: 97 Receptions | 1,196 Yards | 6 TDs | 12.3 YPC
Keenan Allen was pretty consistent last season when it comes to fantasy production as he ranked 13th with 17.2 points per game. He did slow down at the end of last season though, recording just 10.4 and 10.8 fantasy points in his last two games. Allen was involved in 87% of the offensive snaps last season while having a target share of 29% which he increased from his 2017 season. While he was up in target shares last season, Allen dropped in end-zone target shares with just 18% while his 2017 end-zone shares were at 32%.
9. Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
2018 Stats: 86 Receptions | 1,524 | 8 TDs | 17.7 YPC
Even with the flip-flopping quarterback situation in Tampa Bay, Mike Evans was able to put up some incredible numbers. Off of just 86 receptions, 31 of those coming contested, he was able to record 1,524 yards and averaged 17.7 yards per catch. Evans has a snap share of 91% while holding a target share of 22% and 32% with end-zone targets. Evans also ranked 10th in fantasy points with 18.1 per game. The Buccaneers have seemed to cemented their choice in quarterback as Ryan Fitzpatrick left during the off-season, Mike Evans should feel more comfortable in the offense with no more question marks hovering over them.
8. T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts)
2018 Stats: 76 Receptions | 1,270 Yards | 6 TDs | 16.7 YPC
When you see a receiver who had only 76 receptions in 2018 you don’t expect to see that receiver close to 1,300 receivers yards but Hilton did just that. The return of Andrew Luck is a major factor in that also. Hilton saw a minor drop in his target shares as he sat at 22% last season but had an even lower target share in end-zone, sitting at 13%. Hilton averaged an impressive 16.7 yards per catch last season. Even with the receptions not there, T.Y. Hilton has the yards per catch to keep his name in the top ten conversation.
7. JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers)
2018 Stats: 111 Receptions | 1,426 Yards | 7 TDs | 12.8 YPC
Juju Smith-Schuster goes from being the number two receiver to the number one with Antonio Brown being shipped out to Oakland. In his sophomore year, Smith-Schuster increased his snap share from 75% to 88% while increasing his target share from 16% to 24% also. He wasn’t the most targeted weapon in the end-zone with his 21% share. I think it’s safe to say Juju should see his share percentages go up once again this season.
6. Antonio Brown (Oakland Raiders)
2018 Stats: 104 Receptions | 1,297 Yards | 15 TDs | 12.5 YPC
Even with a drama-filled ending in Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown was still able to leave his handprints all over the teams season last year, good and bad. Brown was used in 97% of the plays and it was known. Fantasy Points wise, Antonio Brown ranked 2nd with 21.6 points. He had a target share of 27% and an end-zone target share of 46%, ranking 4th. Brown does go from playing Ben Roethlisberger to playing with Derek Carr and a questionable Oakland Raiders offense.