Archived: The 30 TOP Wide Receivers to Draft in Fantasy Football
August 28, 2018
https://www.hankwins.com/the-30-top-wide-receivers-to-draft-in-fantasy-football/
1011
August 28, 2018
Rank Player Team Bye FF Pts Rushing Yards Rushing TDs Catches Receiving Yards Receiving...
https://www.hankwins.com/the-30-top-wide-receivers-to-draft-in-fantasy-football/
985
August 28, 2018
Hey, Hank Petrello here, I can’t stress to you players enough how valuable my...
https://www.hankwins.com/stop-scrambling-guessing-for-winners/
997
August 28, 2018
The postseason will soon be upon us, and the race for spots in the playoffs draws tighter....
https://www.hankwins.com/ranking-10-best-starting-rotations-among-playoff-contenders/
988
August 27, 2018
Certainly, it’s fans are among the most passionate… Undoubtedly, the games can...
https://www.hankwins.com/college-football-week-2-best-bets-4-0-nfl-sunday-is-ready/
947
August 23, 2018
The Wyoming Cowboys will kick off their season on the road against the New Mexico State...
https://www.hankwins.com/wyoming-new-mexico-st-pick-preview/
932
August 22, 2018
The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon, August 25,...
https://www.hankwins.com/nfl-preseason-free-ats-pick-bears-1-5-over-chiefs/
August 28, 2018
https://www.hankwins.com/the-30-top-wide-receivers-to-draft-in-fantasy-football/
| Rank | Player | Team | Bye | FF Pts | Rushing Yards |
Rushing TDs |
Catches | Receiving Yards |
Receiving TDs |
Total Yards |
Total TDs |
ST Yards |
ST TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Brown | PIT | 7 | 326 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 1550 | 11 | 1550 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| The worst season in the last five years for Brown was when he only came in #3 against all other WRs. He’s been the top guy for three years and #2 last year. No downside. No risk. Lot’s of catches, yards and TDs. | |||||||||||||
| 2 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | 10 | 323 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 1460 | 12 | 1460 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Hopkins was the No. 1 WR last year in most scoring systems and that was with Deshaun Watson only playing for half the year. He ended with 96 receptions for 1378 yards and 13 TDs. The schedule is even better this year and hopefully, Watson can last all 16 games. Hopkins has the talent to be the top WR in the NFL. There’s Antonio Brown, Hopkins, and a big gap behind them. Hopkins never had fewer than 14 points in a reception-point league last year. He scored in ten games and caught at least seven passes in nine different weeks. | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Michael Thomas | NOS | 6 | 289 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 1300 | 9 | 1300 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| The Saints saw a decrease in receiver stats for WR in 2017 with one exception – Michael Thomas. After a rookie year stat line of 92-1137-9, he topped that with 104 receptions for 1245 yards and five scores last year. He and Alvin Kamara dominated the box scores for catches and yards. Drew Brees may no longer key on any other WRs or TEs, but he ensures that Thomas remains one of the elite fantasy receivers. | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Keenan Allen | LAC | 8 | 282 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 1280 | 9 | 1280 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Allen’s rookie season in 2013 was surprising – 1046 yards and 8 TDs. But the next three years were never as good and mostly was just injury after injury. Allen played just 23 of 48 games over those seasons. But in 2017 – he stayed healthy. He rewarded speculative drafters with 102 catches for 1393 yards and six TDs. He topped 100 yards seven times and five of those came over the final seven weeks. With Hunter Henry out for the year, Allen’s role is certain to remain very busy. | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Odell BeckhamRisk | NYG | 9 | 281 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1370 | 9 | 1370 | 9 | 50 | 0 |
| Beckham missed most of 2017 with a broken ankle and he was limited to individual drills in the offseason. But he is expected to be back to health and the biggest issue is that he may hold out for a new contract since he is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be paid $8.5M this year otherwise. There is a new offense to learn but Beckham already has chemistry with Eli Manning and elite skills. His draft stock will drop if he does hold out but he could end up as a big value. | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Julio Jones | ATL | 8 | 278 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 1490 | 6 | 1490 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jones remains in his prime at 29 years old and comes off his fourth-straight 1400-yard season. As usual, his catches and yardage rated him as an elite receiver and yet his TD’s did not with only three scores for his worst showing in a 16-game season. The new offense last year impacted all the Falcon’s players but Jones still managed five 100-yard efforts. And more importantly, Jones has never ranked worse than 7th for the last four years. He’s always a safe bet for high yardage and catches. | |||||||||||||
| 7 | A.J. Green | CIN | 9 | 262 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 1290 | 8 | 1290 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Green comes off a very average year for him – 75 catches for 1078 yards and 8 TDs. It bodes well that the same offense returns with OC Bill Lazor and there’s been no significant personnel changes other than upgrading the O- line. Green still lacks a decent No. 2 WR across from him so he’ll always draw the biggest focus from the secondary. That’s why the talented Green can turn in huge yardage one week and then totally flop the next. It is slightly concerning that Green only had three 100-yard games last year – the fewest in his seven seasons. | |||||||||||||
| 8 | Davante Adams | GBP | 7 | 262 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 1200 | 10 | 1200 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Adams becomes the primary wideout with Jordy Nelson gone and already caught 75 passes for 997 yards and 12 scores in 2016 when Aaron Rodgers last played the full season. Even last year, Adams ended with 885 yards and ten TDs. Adams should be a lock for top-ten stats and could still exceed expectations with Nelson gone. Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are a step down from Adams who will finally top 1000 yards. | |||||||||||||
| 9 | Doug BaldwinRisk | SEA | 7 | 260 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1160 | 9 | 1160 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Baldwin turned in top-15 fantasy stats in each of the last three years and that won’t change in 2018. If anything, he should improve on his production with Jimmy Graham gone (and not replaced) and the offense slated to turn to more vertical passing and deeper routes. Baldwin has been good for around 1000 yards in each of his last three seasons along with 7 or more touchdowns. The scoring should rise this year and the yardage and receptions improve at least incrementally. Concerning is that Baldwin entered camp with a “knee injury” and will miss at least “a few weeks”. | |||||||||||||
| 10 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | 10 | 257 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 1200 | 7 | 1200 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Poor QB play caused Thomas to end his five-year streak of 1000-yard seasons. With Peyton Manning at QB, Thomas was consistently gaining 1400 yards per season and scoring double-digit TDs. The last two years have been no better than five scores and Thomas ended with just 949 yards for 2017. The addition of Case Keenum can only help. Thomas may not return to his 1400-yard ways but he’s a safe bet for an uptick in scoring and resuming his 1000 yard streak. | |||||||||||||
| 11 | Tyreek Hill | KCC | 12 | 252 | 60 | 0 | 80 | 1180 | 8 | 1240 | 8 | 220 | 1 |
| Hill broke out in his second season when he caught 75 passes for 1183 yards and seven TDs last year. He also ran for 59 yards and scored on a punt return. He topped 100 yards in four games and gained over 75 yards in each of his final five games. The speedster should benefit from the change in QB with big-armed Patrick Mahome looking to connect farther downfield. His production last year should be the least that he gains this year. | |||||||||||||
| 12 | Amari Cooper | OAK | 7 | 247 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 1150 | 8 | 1150 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| The Raiders exercised Coopers fifth-year option as a show of confidence in the inconsistent WR who dropped ten passes last year. And Cooper turned in his worst season by a considerable margin when he only managed 680 yards on 48 catches with seven TDs. But he was hampered by a concussion and high ankle sprain and Derek Carr admitted that Cooper wasn’t healthy last year. Cooper turned in 1153 yards and five scores in 2016 which included a slide in the second half of that season when he never gained more than 76 yards in any game. Gruden wants the offense to go through him and both Carr and Cooper are healthy now – not the case last year. He’s a candidate for a bounce-back year but still carries risk after a disappointing year and a half. | |||||||||||||
| 13 | Golden Tate | DET | 6 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1180 | 6 | 1180 | 6 | 50 | 0 |
| The only thing different for the 30-year-old Tate is that he is in his final contract year. He’s been worth around 1000 yards in all four seasons with the Lions and yet has never scored more than six times. He’s been a lock for 90 catches and offers very consistent value in reception point leagues. Tate is always a safe bet to end up in the Top 20 every year. And 2018 adds the specter of working for his next contract. The loss of Ebron should end up spreading his production among the other receivers instead of promoting up a different TE. | |||||||||||||
| 14 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | 9 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 1280 | 6 | 1280 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Hilton slumped badly last year. He ended up with 57 catches for 966 yards and four TDs but that was four 100-yard games and then 12 very bad weeks. In his last season with Luck, Hilton caught 91 passes for 1448 yards and six TDs. He topped 90 yards in half of those games. While Luck may be rusty in his return, it has to be a big benefit for Hilton since Brissett couldn’t connect with him in most games anyway. Slight risk for Hilton, but there’s a strong chance he outperforms his draft slot if Luck is anywhere near back to form. | |||||||||||||
| 15 | Mike Evans | TBB | 5 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 1100 | 9 | 1100 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| After posting 96 catches for 1321 yards and 12 scores in 2016, Evans fell to just 71 receptions for 1001 yards and five scores last season while Jameis Winston struggled with a bad shoulder. In the games where Fitzpatrick started, Evans averaged 80 yards per game. Winston is out for the first three weeks but is healthy again. The schedule is better this year and Evans played well with whatever QB started as long as they were playing hurt. He’s topped 1000 yards in each of his four seasons. | |||||||||||||
| 16 | Stefon Diggs | MIN | 10 | 234 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 1040 | 8 | 1040 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Diggs could be an FA next year so he’s got plenty to play for in 2017. Like the rest of the offense, the best seasons for Diggs were the last two years with OC Pat Shurmur. Diggs produced stat lines of 84-903-3 and 64-849-8 despite missing a couple of games each season. Diggs caught that last second 61-yard game-winning TD that beat the Saints in the playoffs. He gets an upgrade at QB with Kirk Cousins joining the team but a new offense and new QB on a team with a great defense and rushing game won’t help Diggs to increase his production. | |||||||||||||
| 17 | Brandin Cooks | LAR | 12 | 228 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 1100 | 8 | 1100 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| The Rams tried to trade for Cooks last year and failed. They were able to swap him and the NE fourth-round pick for the Rams first and sixth picks. Cooks already worked out with Jared Goff even prior to the trade. Cooks only caught 65 passes for 1082 yards and seven TDs in NE but was as good as 84-1138-9 in NO. He replaces Sammy Watkins who only caught 39 passes but scored eight times last year. Cooks topped 1000 yards in each of his last three seasons. The Rams lacked a 1000-yard receiver last year, and so Cooks was acquired. He’s been a top-15 WR for the last three years. | |||||||||||||
| 18 | Allen RobinsonUpside | CHI | 5 | 227 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 1040 | 8 | 1040 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Robinson tore his ACL in Week 1 last year and missed the season. He was limited in 2016 in a dismal offense that ended with a clean sweep of the coaching staff. But in 2015, he was one of the top WR with 1400 yards on 80 catches for 14 TDs as a sign of what he is capable of producing. He becomes the No. 1 WR for the Bears who are refreshing all the coaches and most of the players. Mitchell Trubisky struggled as a rookie but should bounce back this year – potentially with a vengeance given his talent level and the promise of a better offense and schedule. Robinson’s knee is expected to be healed for training camp and this fresh start should be just what Robinson needs to rebound his career. | |||||||||||||
| 19 | Larry FitzgeraldRisk | ARI | 9 | 226 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1000 | 6 | 1000 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fitzgerald seemed done after 2014 when he totaled just 784 yards and two scores. He was 31 years old and ARI struggled with a turnstile at QB and a lack of other WRs. Now three years later, Fitz turned in 1000+ yards in each and totaled over 107 catches in each of the last three years. Now 35 years old, he’s suddenly changing offensive coordinators and scheme for the first time since 2013. OC Mike McCoy had success in the past at Denver though he caught Peyton Manning there as well. With John Brown and Jaron Brown gone, Fitz is the only returning starter from last year. And he’ll have a new QB which at some point will likely be a rookie. Those are all downgrades but he succeeded last year even playing with Blaine Gabbert. He’s unlikely to return to elite numbers but he is clearly the best target downfield for the QB. His targets will remain high if nothing else. | |||||||||||||
| 20 | Marvin Jones | DET | 6 | 222 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 1100 | 8 | 1100 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jones comes off his career-best season with 61 catches for 1101 yards and nine touchdowns. His first season in DET (2016) was good for 930 yards and four scores. Paired with Golden Tate, Jones has finally broken out and ranked 11th in reception point leagues last year. He’s a safe bet for a repeat and could even see a small uptick since Eric Ebron was not really replaced. | |||||||||||||
| 21 | Jarvis Landry | CLE | 11 | 218 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 1080 | 5 | 1080 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| The Browns brought in Landry and then gave him a five-year extension worth $75M. He is definitely central in their plans. The ex-Dolphin just missed his third straight 1000- yard season last year but had a career-best nine TDs. He also led the NFL with 112 receptions while playing with Jay Cutler. Landry is likely to spend most of his time in the slot. There is a new offense being installed by OC Todd Haley that he’s importing from his time in Pittsburgh. Landry draws either Tyrod Taylor or the rookie Baker Mayfield as the passer. That could be an upgrade at least once Mayfield gets up to speed. He’s a bit risky for starting slowly in this new offense on a new team. But in reception point leagues, he remains a safe play for at least five catches per week. | |||||||||||||
| 22 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | PIT | 7 | 217 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1010 | 8 | 1010 | 8 | 300 | 1 |
| Smith-Schuster was drafted with the Steelers 2.30 pick in the hopes he could earn the #3 WR spot. Instead, Smith- Schuster played so well that Martavis Bryant was demoted and now gone while the then-rookie caught 58 passes for 917 yards and seven TDs. He was better as the season progressed, scoring in six of the final nine weeks and breaking 100 yards on three occasions. He already ranked as a WR2 as a rookie. He’ll only improve this year and allow Ben Roethlisberger one of the best 1-2 punches in the NFL. | |||||||||||||
| 23 | Will FullerUpside | HOU | 10 | 216 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 960 | 10 | 960 | 10 | 140 | 0 |
| Fuller’s rookie season was 2016 when Brock Osweiler managed to deflate even DeAndre Hopkins. last year, Fuller missed the first three games with a shoulder injury but then played in four with Deshaun Watson. He scored nine TDs in those four games, doubling up in three of them. Then Watson was injured and Fuller returned to pedestrian stats. His final game with Watson was in Seattle when he caught five passes for 125 yards and two scores. Fuller is already talked up by the HOU coaches and ready to become a big part of the passing game. Though he only played four games with Watson, he caught more TDs in that month than all but two players scored on the entire season. | |||||||||||||
| 24 | Adam Thielen | MIN | 10 | 208 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 980 | 5 | 980 | 5 | 50 | 0 |
| Swapping Case Keenum for Kirk Cousins will be an upgrade but losing OC Pat Shurmur for John DeFilippo may be a downgrade. Thielen broke out with 69 catches for 967 yards and five scores in Shurmur’s first season and then 91 receptions for 1276 yards and four TDs last year. Thielen fractured his back in the playoffs last January but is expected to be fine for training camp. A new offense and a new starting QB throws risk onto any situation, but Thielen is a valuable outlet and Cousins should pick up where Keenum left off. | |||||||||||||
| 25 | Cooper Kupp | LAR | 12 | 201 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 940 | 7 | 940 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Kupp was an excellent addition even as a rookie when he caught 62 passes for 869 yards and five scores to lead the Rams. He caught at least five passes in six of his final eight games. His role is unchanging and could see an uptick. All elements of the offense remain the same other than Brandin Cooks replacing Sammy Watkins. Kupp is already a valuable possession outlet for Jared Goff. | |||||||||||||
| 26 | Marquise GoodwinUpside | SFO | 11 | 198 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 920 | 6 | 920 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Goodwin came over after four years with the Bills and more than doubled his previous best season. He caught 56 passes for 962 yards and two scores. His first three games with Garoppolo all gained more than 98 yards. Goodwin benefited from the injuries to other WRs and at the end of the season, the 49ers took teams by surprise once they started Garoppolo. But Goodwin has chemistry with his QB and he is one of the fastest WRs in the NFL with a 4.27/40 at the combine. He caught 29 passes over the final five games. | |||||||||||||
| 27 | Sterling Shepard | NYG | 9 | 198 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 920 | 6 | 920 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Shepard had to take a backseat to Brandon Marshall last year but ended up as the only notable WR for the Giants. He ended with 731 yards and two scores while being blanketed by opposing defenses since no other receivers merited much attention and he missed five games with an ankle injury. This year, he’s back to starting across from Odell Beckham in an offense that will have a better rushing effort. That’s a benefit to him since the Giants will be using far fewer multiple-receiver sets. | |||||||||||||
| 28 | Chris HoganUpside | NEP | 11 | 197 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 900 | 7 | 900 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Hogan is the starting flanker in his third season for the Pats but he only managed 34 catches for 439 yards and five scores in 2017 and missed nearly all the second half of the season with a shoulder injury. He did little after Week 8 and then turned in six catches for 128 yards and a score in the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. Hogan could have a very nice year with Brandin Cooks gone. He has to remain healthy but hasn’t had durability issues in his past. He’ll cost you like a backup but has a nice chance of stepping up into an every week fantasy starter. | |||||||||||||
| 29 | Sammy WatkinsUpside | KCC | 12 | 197 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 950 | 7 | 950 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| The Chiefs had one of the weakest WR units in the NFL for many years but Tyreek Hill upgraded them last year. Now Sammy Watkins brings optimism that there will actually be two WR to fear, along with TE Travis Kelce. Watkins averaged around 1000 yards in his first two years in BUF before falling off in 2016. One knock was that he struggled to remain healthy and another was that he didn’t have a good QB situation in BUF. He moved to the Rams last year and netted 39 receptions for 593 yards and eight TDs. In the diverse passing attack with Jared Goff, Watkins didn’t often get more than three catches per game but was a threat to score with six TDs over the final nine weeks. Now he lands in KC with big-armed Patrick Mahomes. The early reviews on Watkins were stellar and he is being moved all over the offense. If Mahomes can get up to speed quickly, Watkins is a lock to outperform his draft slot. | |||||||||||||
| 30 | Robby Anderson | NYJ | 11 | 197 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 900 | 7 | 900 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Anderson has a breakout year when he caught 63 passes for 941 yards and seven TDs in 2017. His three 100-yard games happened in the second half of the season. Anderson remains the slot receiver. He led the NYJ receivers last year and can grow with Sam Darnold once he is the starter. Anderson could face discipline from a reckless driving incident but said he did not expect it. Anderson also claimed that he has turned his life around and matured. He should provide consistent if moderate points this year but could see a decrease whenever the rookie Darnold becomes the starting QB. | |||||||||||||