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Fantasy Football: Making the case for A.J. Green

By Dylan Tice

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) before a week 7 NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs on October 21, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The Chiefs won 45-10. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) before a week 7 NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs on October 21, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The Chiefs won 45-10. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Football: Making The Case For A.J. Green

A.J. Green has been one of the most underappreciated players in recent memory when it comes to fantasy football. The community let the years of 2018 and 2016 go to their heads, since those were the only seasons where Green didn’t play 13+ games. When it comes to WR’s, Green is one of the most consistent when it comes to numbers.

Seasons where he played 13+ games:

2011 (rookie year)- 115 Targets, 65 Receptions, 1,057 Receiving Yards, 7 TD’s

2012- 164 Targets, 97 Receptions, 1,350 Receiving Yards, 11 TD’s

2013- 178 Targets, 98 Receptions, 1,420 Receiving Yards, 11 TD’s

2014- 117 Targets, 69 Receptions, 1,041 Receiving Yards, 6 TD’s

2015- 132 Targets, 86 Receptions, 1,297 Receiving Yards, 10 TD’s

2017- 143 Targets, 75 Receptions, 1,078 Receiving Yards, 8 TD’s

A 6-year sample size is massive, so it’s worth noting that Green averages the following numbers when he plays 13+ games in a season: 141 Targets, 81 Receptions, 1,209 Receiving Yards, and 8.8 TD’s, so statistically those yearly averages would put him as a WR1 each of the last 5 years.

I love A.J. Green in particular in 2019 because the talent around him is the best supporting cast he’s had in his 9 year career. I love what Green should be in the new HC Zac Taylor’s offense as the go-to WR. Seeing that Taylor came from the Sean Mcvay, Los Angelas Rams offense, I’d love to see what Green can do after being held back from Marvin Lewis all these years. On top of that, Taylor should make the most out of Dalton as Taylor was the QB coach for Jared Goff in 2018, who broke out in 2018. Green also won’t see many double teams as in past years thanks to the fact that Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon, and a healthy Tyler Eifert are surrounding him.

When it comes to A.J. Greens ADP, we haven’t seen it this low dating all the way back to 2014. His current ADP has him being taken late in the 3rd round, as the WR12 on average. Green is currently being drafted around players like Adam Thielen, Devonta Freeman, Derrick Henry, and Amari Cooper. I know those players are good and all but when you can practically get Green in the late third, early 4th, that’s league-winning upside.

If he stays healthy, Green will be on a ton of fantasy champion rosters in 2019. His 6 year sample size shows he’s practically locked and loaded as a top-10 fantasy WR if he plays 13 games or more. With this impressive supporting cast, revamped offense thanks to the new coach, Green is going to go bananas this season.

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