WR Breakdown: AFC North 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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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been well known for making great fantasy WRs in years past. While Big Ben may not have a lot of years left, they should continue to have one of the best passing attacks this season. Antonio Brown is the best WR in fantasy and he will consistently be the first WR taken off the board in most leagues. After him, Juju Smith-Schuster should step up into the WR2 role in his second year. He was one of only two rookie WRs to finish in the top 25 and that was with only starting seven games. He has very high potential to repeat that success and build on it this season. The wildcard of this group will be the WR3. Rookie James Washington is expected to take over that role. If preseason is any indication of what’s to come, he could be an early fantasy contributor after getting seven catches for 158 yards and two TDs in the first two games.
1. Antonio Brown (ADP Round 1.06) – Elite WR 1
2. Juju Smith-Schuster (ADP Round 4.05) – WR 2
3. James Washington (ADP Round 14.04) – Worth a bench spot
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals passing offense has been struggling in recent years, but they still have an elite WR with A.J. Green. He should be drafted as a top 10 WR with the potential to be top 5. Dalton has shown in the past that he will throw it towards A.J. Green even when he isn’t open which bodes well for Green’s target share. The WR 2 spot is most likely going to be won by sophomore WR John Ross. Ross has elite speed, but after a disappointing 2017 season, expectations should be tempered. He is going in the second to last round and that’s as high as he should go. Tyler Boyd has a shot at the WR 2 position if Ross continues to disappoint, but he is not worth a roster spot at this time.
1. A.J. Green (ADP Round 2.10) – WR 1
2. John Ross (ADP Round 14.04) – Late round flyer
3. Tyler Boyd (Undrafted) – Not worth a roster spot
Baltimore Ravens
There has been a lot of talk about the QB situation in Baltimore after the Ravens spent a first round pick on Lamar Jackson. Despite the talk, Joe Flacco will remain the starter this season and he has 3 new WRs making up the WR group. Michael Crabtree has cemented himself as the number one target. He could return to his form he displayed during his 2016 season with the Raiders, but it remains more likely that he will be a WR2/WR3 in fantasy. John Brown has impressed on multiple occasions during this preseason and he will be a boom or bust candidate every week. Willie Snead should glimpses of potential during his time with the Saints, but until he proves he can return to that level, he should remain on the waiver wire.
1. Michael Crabtree (ADP Round 4.08) – High end WR 3
2. John Brown (ADP Round 13.11) – Late round boom or bust WR
3. Willie Snead (Undrafted) – Not worth a roster spot
Cleveland Browns
Josh Gordon is finally back. After years of struggling with substance abuse, it looks as if Gordon may have gotten clean and turned the corner. When he is on the field, he is one of the most electric WRs in the NFL. He could finish top 5, but he could also fail one drug test and miss the entire season. Jarvis Landry is very talented and the Browns made a big investment in him this offseason. It is likely that he will be used in more than just a slot receiver role, but questions still remain whether he will get the target share necessary for him to be great. Callaway is another receiver like Josh Gordon who is talented and could succeed if he stopped getting in his own way. There is a good chance he will be given a suspension at some point this season and unless something happens to Gordon, he won’t get the target share to make him successful as a rookie.
1. Josh Gordon (ADP Round 4.12) – High upside WR 2
2. Jarvis Landry (ADP Round 5.02) – Low risk WR 2
3. Antonio Callaway (Undrafted) – Not worth a roster spot