WR Breakdown: AFC 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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Houston Texans
The Texans have a good duo of Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Hopkins has shown that he is one of the few elite WRs in the NFL so far in his career. In fact, he was the only receiver in the top 10 in fantasy last season who put up at least 7 points in every game. He has been consistently going as the 2nd WR off the board behind AB. He should continue to dominate this season. Will Fuller has shown crazy potential in short spurts throughout his career. Last season in the four games he played with Deshaun Watson, his fantasy PPG was 17.7. If he could put up even half of the PPG he put up during that stretch over the course of a full season, he would easily finish as a top 30 WR. If Watson is to miss time, Fuller has struggled significantly when playing with backup QBs. As of right now, it looks like Watson should be ready by week one.
1. Deandre Hopkins (ADP Round 1.11) – Elite WR 1
2. Will Fuller (ADP Round 6.04) – WR 3
Indianapolis Colts
It feels like I cannot say enough times how good it will be to have Andrew Luck back on the field this season. Brissett was decent when he filled in last year, but we saw how the lack of a starting caliber QB can negatively impact the fantasy ceilings of the receivers around him. Even with the struggles last season, T.Y. Hilton was still able to finish as the 21st WR in standard leagues. It seems that would be his floor and with Luck back, expect Hilton’s numbers to take a big step up. He is currently being taken around 10th WR and he should have no problem living up to that expectation. Ryan Grant seems most likely to take over the WR2 role. He is currently being undrafted in most leagues. While there is no guarantee that Grant will be fantasy relevant, I have a hard time believing that Luck will only have one fantasy relevant WR given his tendencies to throw the ball. Grant should be taken as a late round flyer.
1. T.Y. Hilton (ADP Round 3.04) – WR 1
2. Ryan Grant (Undrafted) – Late round flyer
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have a much different WR group than they did a couple years ago. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are both with new teams. The Jags are banking on young receivers to take the next step and fill those shoes. Lee remains the favorite to be the team’s WR1, yet he is not being drafted until the 12th round. There are only a handful of top receiving options that can be taken that late. He is a great pick at his current ADP. The next man up should be Keelan Cole. He has a string of good games near the end of the 2017 season where he was able to put up 63.5 points in the last five weeks. He has already passed Donte Moncrief on the depth chart despite Moncrief’s big contract. Due to Cole’s familiarity and chemistry with Blake Bortles, he could be a steal late in the draft.
1. Marqise Lee (ADP Round 12.03) – WR 4
2. Keelan Cole (ADP Round 14.09) – Late round flyer WR
Tennessee Titans
The Titans were not a significant fantasy WR group last season and it starts with the QB. Mariota only threw 13 TDs for the season which significantly limited the potential of the pass catchers. That seems like a very low number and it should be expected that he will bounce back from that this season. One factor that could help him improve is the progress of second-year WR Corey Davis. He is currently going in the 6th round which seems reasonable given his opportunity to become their top receiving threat. Behind him are Rishard Matthews and Taywan Taylor. Taylor has been very impressive this preseason and many of the coaches believe he could be a significant contributor this season. As for Matthews, he has quietly been a consistent fantasy WR for the Titans. He has finished as a top 35 WR each of the past two seasons.
1. Corey Davis (ADP Round 6.07) – High upside WR 3
2. Rishard Matthews (ADP Round 14.07) – Bench WR
3. Taywan Taylor (Round 14.02) – Late round flyer WR