Fantasy Football 2019: 5 Bold Predictions

Fantasy Football 2019: 5 Bold Predictions – Wide Receiver Edition

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) prior to the first half of an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Bucs on November 25, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – AUG 06: Mike Evans (13) of the Bucs goes up high to make the catch over Mazzi Wilkins (37) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp on August 06, 2019 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Fantasy Football 2019: 5 Bold Predictions – Wide Receiver Edition

2. Mike Evans will lead the NFL in touchdown catches

How This is Bold:

In Buccaneers’ WR Mike Evans‘ five-year career, his highest scoring total is 12 touchdowns, something he hasn’t accomplished since 2016. Last year, Antonio Brown led the league with 15 receiving touchdowns.

Why This Will Come True:

Last season, although Evans only managed 8 touchdown catches, the big-bodied wideout reached a career-high in receiving yards (1,524), also bringing his efficiency to an all-time high. Despite the lowest target share of his career (23 percent), Evans managed to snag 63 percent of balls thrown his way, also a career-high.

Erratic quarterback play was perhaps the biggest reason his numbers were lacking in the touchdown department, as the Bucs’ starter fluctuated from week to week between Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick. This season, Winston will line-up behind center from day one and hopefully hold the starting spot throughout the season. The last time Winston and Evans played a full season together, Evans finished as fantasy’s overall WR2 with 12 touchdown catches.

The arrival of new head coach Bruce Arians should also pay dividends for Evans (and the offense as a whole), a coach with an extensive history of producing top-tier receivers. Arians’ past traces back to Pittsburgh, where he was the WR coach for both Hines Ward and a young Antonio Brown. He led Reggie Wayne in Indy to a career year in his short time there, and also molded Larry Fitzgerald into one of the league’s best at his position.

Evans is a prime red-zone threat in today’s NFL, as his monster 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and 61.3 catch rate in 2018 (5th-best in the league) would indicate. Look for the Texas A&M alum to produce career numbers this season in a new-look offense that should give him plenty of looks near the goal-line.

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