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Utilize our Ranking Hub for QB List’s 2018 Positional Rankings for all of your preseason positional needs.
Below is the Top 41-60 in our Top-80 PPR Wide Receivers.
Tier 6:
40. Kelvin Benjamin (Buffalo Bills): Since his rookie season in 2014, things have only gone downhill for Kelvin Benjamin who found himself on the outs last season and was subsequently traded to Buffalo where he is still the team’s top receiver. Buffalo threw the ball the second least last season (three more attempts than last place Chicago) and is likely to stay near the bottom with LeSean McCoy leading the team’s rush-first offense. AJ McCarron is likely to start as the team’s quarterback with Josh Allen taking over at some point, but neither inspire much confidence. Allen is one of the riskier rookie quarterbacks and overall I am avoiding their offense – stash Benjamin for his upside, but do not expect to rely on him.
41. Martavis Bryant (Oakland Raiders): Martavis Bryant is a dynamic bundle of talent that never fit in well with Pittsburgh. He will compete with Jordy Nelson for the WR2 role in Oakland. As the pre-season progresses it will become clearer – Nelson may have the edge in name only. Bryant is only 26 and looking to finally break out and 2018 may be the year under Jon Gruden. If he does start as the WR2, he would take over for Michael Crabtree and be in line for 100ish targets.
42. Pierre Garcon (San Francisco 49ers): In the four years prior to 2017, Pierre Garcon averaged 128 targets per season and was on track for 124 before going down with a broken neck in Week 8. Garcon will split targets with Marquise Goodwin, but under Jimmy Grappolo get a usable number of short yardage targets and be a red zone threat that should give him weekly value.
43. Kenny Stills (Miami Dolphins): Even with Jarvis Landry, Miami nearly had three players with 100 targets last year. Kenny Stills had the second most on the team with 105 targets (although with a subpar 55% catch rate). Stills has a blend of ability to bring in the deep ball (fourteen 20+ yard receptions) and increased target share to make a viable WR3 (although with a career 45% catch rate his value is capped even with a 20-30 more targets).
44. Robert Woods (Los Angeles Rams): After finishing 2017 with a 65% catch rate (56 receptions on 86 targets), Robert Woods should have a good deal of value even if he is Jared Goff‘s fourth receiver (Todd Gurley finished with more targets than Woods). In my bold predictions, I predicted that the Detroit Lions will have three receivers in the top 30 – in reality the Los Angeles Rams could have three in the top 35 if Woods maintains his catch efficiency.
45. Corey Davis (Tennessee Titans): In a what was an underwhelming rookie year, Corey Davis might not make too big a leap forward in 2018 on a conservative Tennessee offense that only attempted 496 passes in 2017. Davis is the clear WR1 on the team and injuries did play a big role in his depressed numbers (his no touchdowns will not be repeated). A full season will give a better indication of Davis’ ceiling, but there is reason to be conservative in those expectations.
46. Sammy Watkins (Kansas City Chiefs): One-third of Sammy Watkin‘s fantasy points came last year from his eight touchdowns and now finds himself on a redesigned Kansas City offense where he will find himself behind Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Kareem Hunt for targets. Watkins has the talent to make an impact (see 2015), but with only one successful season in four years, there is reason to doubt. Stash Watkins in the middle rounds and bet on his upside (but don’t be disappointed if he disappoints).
47. Cameron Meredith (New Orleans Saints): A popular sleeper in 2017, Cameron Meredith missed the entire 2017 with a torn ACL. He signed with New Orleans in the offseason and will slide in as the team’s WR2 behind superstar Michael Thomas. Meredith last finished a season with 66 receptions on 97 targets (68% catch rate) in about 10 games. Even behind Thomas and Alvin Kamara for targets, Meredith should finish with around 100 targets and if his catch rate sustains (a small sample size to be fair) he should put up a season much better than WR47 – look to snap up Meredith.
48. Devante Parker (Miami Dolphins): If not missing three games with injury, Devante Parker may have finished as the team’s second best receiver. Like Kenny Stills, Parker is expected to see an increase in targets and should finish with more than one touchdown (although he does only have eight total over three seasons, so do not expect too many more).
49. DeSean Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): DeSean Jackson is impressively in his 11th season in the NFL this year and has been remarkably consistent year to year. Expect a 55% catch rate, 4-5 touchdowns, and expecting some decline in his second year with Tampa Bay 800 yards. His first year with Tampa Bay was a disappointment by his career standard and will face stiff competition from Chris Godwin for targets this year so a further decline may be inevitable.
50. Mohamed Sanu (Atlanta Falcons): Even with the addition of Calvin Ridley, Mohamed Sanu is expected to lineup as Atlanta’s WR2 this season. Sanu has an astounding 71% catch rate in his two years with Atlanta (on 177 targets) – punctuated with the 17th most receptions for a wide receiver last year. He has not topped 800 yards in his career and should only be counted on for 4-5 touchdowns, limiting his value outside the points received for his receptions.
51. Jordy Nelson (Oakland Raiders): Jordy, we hardly knew ya. After nine seasons with Green Bay, Jordy Nelson will be suiting up for Oakland as their WR2/WR3. Nelson is slowing down and will not receive the 140 targets per season or 11 touchdown average that he enjoyed in Green Bay at the height of his fantasy value. At WR51, Nelson’s value may be too low given he looked like an elite receiver the first six weeks of 2017, but without Aaron Rodgers he tanked. Derek Carr is not Aaron Rodgers.
52. Rishard Matthews (Tennessee Titans): Rishard Matthews will suffer from a lack of targets in Tennessee. Matthews has yet to put together a full season starting for any team and has flirted with above average production, but hasn’t quite broken out. He is supported by a 60% catch rate and should see 90+ targets this season, so there is some value to rostering Matthews.
53. Paul Richardson (Washington Redskins): For four years Paul Richarson served as Seattle’s deep threat (ranked #2 in deep pass completion last season) – now he signed a five year, $40 million deal that indicates Washington views him differently. Richardson had a career season in 2017 and could continue to break out in Washington although he should fall behind Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson (at least initially) for targets.
Tier 7:
55. Christian Kirk (Arizona Cardinals): The path to playing time is a straightforward one for Christian Kirk who only will be competing with JJ Nelson for targets (and running back superstar David Johnson). Kirk, a natural slot reveiver, should lineup more on the outside and with Larry Fitzgerald as his counterpart – should have lighter coverage than he will in the years to come. At this point in the rankings we are looking for upside and this rookie has it more than any other rookie wide receiver.
56. Michael Gallup (Dallas Cowboys): Although Allen Hurns will get the first crack at top receiver, rookie Michael Gallup has been receiving first-team reps in the preseason and could work into more targets and red zone looks as the season progresses.
57. Anthony Miller (Chicago Bears): Allen Robinson came to Chicago to be the team’s top receiver, but the WR2 position is still in flux. Anthony Miller is talented high round receiver competing largely with Trey Burton for targets in what looks to be a terrible team, but an offense with potential.
58. D.J. Moore (Carolina Panthers): D.J. Moore has had a solid preseason and looks in line to be the team’s WR2 (but the third receiver behind Devin Funchess and Christian McCaffery. Moore may be eased into his target share and even if he starts behind Torrey Smith to start the year, should end the season with modest production.
59. Josh Doctson (Washington Redskins): Two years ago Josh Doctson was one of the top drafted wide receivers, then he missed most of his rookie season and was only marginally effective in 2017. Now, in 2018 he will lineup as the team’s WR2/WR3 and could break out based on the target share with recent signee Paul Richardson.
60. Tyrell Williams (Los Angeles Chargers): Despite playing a full season, Tyrell Williams only netted 43 receptions on 69 targets – a far cry from the 119 a year prior. His target share was expected to decrease with Keenan Allen finally healthy for a season, but Williams received far fewer targets than expected. If that trend continues Williams’ value will be low – if he picks up a few more or Allen misses a few games – it could go up.