Fantasy POV: Wide receivers – 1st quarter report card and week 5 picks

The first quarter of the 2020 NFL season is over and it is time to pass out awards to fantasy football wide receivers.  The winners include the brightest and best like Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley of Atlanta and Seattle’s Tyler Lockett. The “losers” include Atlanta’s Julio Jones and Corey Davis of Tennessee.

The following information lists the wide receivers by category and week of the season.  A “1st Quarter” winner and week 5 selection are included for each category.

Surefire Starters

• Week 1 –Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 2 – Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers; (tie) Calvin RIdley, Atlanta Falcons and Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings, and (tie) DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals and Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers
• Week 3 – DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals; Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons and Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
• Week 4 – Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons; Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks and Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
• 1st Quarter – Since the Fantasy POV articles recommend three “Surefire Starters” at wide receiver every week, the best three WRs in this category are DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett.

Summary: It seem like DeAndre Hopkins has been the most consistent wide receiver Om the first four weeks of the season.  He has been targeted 46 times, caught 46 passes for 397 yards and scored one touchdown.  Ridley has 21 catches for 329 yards, but also has four touchdown receptions.  Tyler Lockett rounds out this group of talented “Surefire Starters” with 26 catches for 298 yards and 4 touchdown receptions.  Ridley was listed as “questionable” for week 5 due to thigh and knee issues, so the recommendation is to start Amari Cooper of the Dallas Cowboys instead.

Riding the Bench

• Week 1 – This category for wide receivers did not start until week 2 of the season
• Week 2 – (Tie) Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears and Jamison Crowder, New York Jets, and (tie) Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys and Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
• Week 3 – Jamison Crowder, New York Jets and Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
• Week 4 – JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers and Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
• 1st Quarter – Since our articles recommend two wide receivers ride the bench every week, the co-winners in this category are Julio Jones and Corey Davis.

Summary: The season has collapsed due to injuries and COVID-19 for Jones and Davis.  Jones is still battling a nagging hamstring injury and Davis is out due to the almost daily reports that another Tennessee player or staff member has been diagnosed as being positive with the coronavirus.  Sit both Jones and Davis in week 5.

Underrated

• Week 1 – Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 2 – Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 3 – John Brown, Buffalo Bills
• Week 4 – Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers
• 1st Quarter – Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

Summary: Boyd is averaging 16.8 fantasy football points (FFP) per game. He is currently No. 15 among wide receivers with 28 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown.  You could start him in the “Flex” position for week 5, because he’s graduated from the “Underrated” ranks.  You should consider Justin Jefferson of Minnesota as the most “Underrated” wide receiver for week 5.

Overrated

• Week 1 – Will Fuller V, Houston Texans
• Week 2 – Randall Cobb, Houston Texans
• Week 3 – Will Fuller V, Houston Texans
• Week 4 – Emmanuel Sanders, New Orleans Saints
• 1st Quarter – Randall Cobb, Houston Texans

Summary: Randall Cobb is statistically less productive than Will Fuller V, though Fuller appears twice on the list.  Cobb is averaging 4.5 targets, 3.25 catches and 53.25 yards receiving per game. Put another Texan on the “Overrated” list for week 5.  Brandin Cooks is averaging 5.25 targets, 2.5 catches and 34.5 yards receiving per game.

Sleeper WR of the Week

• Week 1 – Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 2 – Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
• Week 3 – Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions
• Week 4 – Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams
• 1st Quarter – Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

Summary: Golladay missed the first two games of the season, but he played well in weeks 3 and 4.  He is averaging 17 FFP per game and has 2 touchdown catches.  The Lions have a “Bye” in week 5, so the ”Sleeper” to start this week is Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams.