WR Breakdown: NFC South Edition
The depth chart for a NFL team can only tell you so much. Sometimes a WR3 on one team may be more fantasy relevant than the WR1 on another. In this series we will be breaking down each team’s WR group and letting you know who is worth drafting:
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Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a star WR in Julio Jones. He finally resolved his contract dispute and has returned to camp. While he finished as the fourth best WR in fantasy last season, there is still room for improvement as his three TDs were the lowest of any WR in the top 25 last season. Given an expected increase in TDs, don’t be surprised when he finishes as a top 5 WR again this season. Behind him you have Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley. Expect both of them to go later in your fantasy drafts. Sanu currently has the advantage for the WR2 spot, but as the season goes on, expect Ridley to get more playing time and be more productive on a weekly basis.
1. Julio Jones (ADP Round 2.03) – Elite WR1
2. Calvin Ridley (ADP Round 10.10) – Higher upside WR4
3. Mohamed Sanu (ADP Round 14.08) – Worth bench spot
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have a formidable receiving corps mixing in the veteran skills of Mike Evans and Desean Jackson with the youth of Chris Godwin. Unfortunately, they will all be without Jameis Winston the first three weeks of the season due to his suspension. This will untimately hurt the value of all three of these receivers over the first few weeks. Evans remains a low end WR1, but he numbers should increase after the suspension. Both Godwin and DJax have ADPs in the 14th round. Godwin has more potential being younger with more room for improvement. Desean can still be worth a bench spot since he has the potential to score a long touchdown any week.
1. Mike Evans (ADP Round 3.02) – WR 1
2. Chris Godwin (ADP Round 14.10) – Sleeper bench WR
3. Desean Jackson (ADP Round 14.06) – Boom/Bust Bench WR
Carolina Panthers
Although Cam Newton always seems to stay fantasy relevant himself, his WRs haven’t been so lucky. With an increase in snaps expected for McCaffrey and the return of Greg Olsen, expect the WRs to have less success than they did last year. Funchess stands to remain the team’s top option after finishing as the 20th WR in 2017. He can be viewed as a solid bench WR or a low end flex. D.J. Moore will be good…eventually. He has all the tools needed to succeed and the opportunity is there for him to take over the number one WR spot when he is ready. Unfortunately like we have seen in the past, it is very difficult for rookie wrs to make an immediate contribution to their fantasy owners. Moore’s current ADP has him at WR48 and it may continue to rise if he finds more success in the rest of the preseason. The panthers also acquired Torrey Smith from the Eagles over the offseason. Although he is currently penciled in as their WR2, expect that to be very short-lived. He is not being drafted and barring an unexpected injury, he should not be on your roster.
1. Devin Funchess (ADP Round 8.05) – Low end WR 3
2. D.J. Moore (ADP Round 10.11) – Low end WR 4
3. Torrey Smith (Undrafted) – Not worth a roster spot
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have had a strong offense for several years and it all starts with QB Drew Brees. With him at the helm, he can typically support two fantasy relevant WRs. Last year after the breakout of Alvin Kamara, the Saints began to employ more running plays than in previous years. In fact, last year Brees only threw the ball 536 times. That was the first time since 2009 that he has thrown less than 625 times in one season. With that being said, Michael Thomas remains Brees’ top target and he will be a good WR1 for whoever gets him. His current ADP has him going as the 5th WR right behind Julio Jones. Cameron Meredith is new to NOLA, but he has been receiving a lot of hype as a potential sleeper. He could put up solid numbers if Sean Payton make him the WR2. Ted Ginn remains what he was last year and pretty much every year of his career. He is a threat for a deep TD any time he plays so that can make him worth a bench spot.
1. Michael Thomas (ADP Round 2.05) – WR 1
2. Cameron Meredith (ADP Round 11.06) – Bench WR. Will depend how much playing time he gets.
3. Ted Ginn (Undrafted) – Boom/Bust late round flyer