The obsession with wide receivers in fantasy football has subsided. Now it’s time to find wide receivers who can be consistent in attracting targets.
Fantasy owners figured out in the last couple of years that running backs were more important than wide receivers. That has sent wide receivers down the fantasy football draftboard, making it important to find good matchups in addition to those rare target monsters.
Here’s the fantasy football week 1 start ’em, sit ’em guide for wide receivers.
Start
Chris Godwin vs. San Francisco 49ers
This should be a solid outing for the Tampa Bay offense, meaning Godwin should get some attention. Experts are bullish on Godwin’s potential this year, mixed with a better coaching staff and a more mature Jameis Winston.
Godwin has to compete with Mike Evans for targets, but there should be enough to go around. Godwin showed plenty of promise in 2018, so that is enough to carry over this season. San Francisco was terrible against the pass in 2018, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Trust that the defense will fail once again, leaving room for Godwin to earn a solid target share.
T.Y. Hilton vs. Los Angeles Chargers
I don’t love the matchup against the Chargers, which was a top-tier defense in 2018. The defensive line can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the Chargers gave up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
It sounds like I should sit Hilton this week, but I’m not going overboard with Andrew Luck’s injury. I’m nervous for the Colts to reach their full potential, but it shouldn’t be as big of a drop-off as many are predicting.
Jacoby Brissett is a solid replacement and will do enough to make Hilton a viable fantasy option. He won’t be a WR1, but he should definitely be considered a WR2.
Allen Robinson vs. Green Bay Packers
I was all in on the Robinson hype train last season. That derailed thanks to injuries.
If last season’s playoff matchup is any indication, then this could be a big year for Robinson. Mitch Trubisky needs to have a security blanket. With a rookie running back in the backfield to go along with some other youthful weapons, Robinson should be the primary target.
And that should be a boon for Robinson this season. It also doesn’t hurt that Green Bay was terrible against fantasy wide receivers in 2018. The Packers gave up the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. The Packers have made some upgrades in the offseason, but I’ll stick with Robinson for now as a WR2.
Sit
DJ Moore vs. Los Angeles Rams
How much can we depend on Cam Newton? His passing consistency has suffered in recenter years, so even with Moore coming forward as a starter in 2018, that shouldn’t be enough to trust this offense in week 1.
Moore is going to draw the opposing team’s No. 1 cornerback. Mix that in with Newton’s bad accuracy and this is a situation where you can’t consistently trust Moore on a weekly basis.
The Rams weren’t great on defense last year, but I’m not going to let that dissuade me off of Moore. Until he shows some consistency, he’s nothing more than a possible WR3.
Calvin Ridley vs. Minnesota Vikings
I’m nervous for Minnesota in this game based on Atlanta’s health. The Falcons have one of the better rosters in the NFL when healthy. It was that way last year, but injuries began to pile up early for Atlanta.
However, even with that being said, the Vikings still have an above-average defense that is tough on opposing quarterbacks. The Vikings gave up the second fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2018, and that isn’t an unusual sight. Minnesota is regularly among the better defenses in the NFL.
Ridley showed some promise at times in 2018, but wasn’t consistent. While he may earn more targets this season, I’m not banking my top two wide receiver spots on Ridley in week 1.
Mike Williams vs. Indianapolis Colts
I’m not sure I understand why Williams is being so highly touted.
He’s never been a consistent wide receiver in targets. He has to share the same field as Keenan Allen who is a target monster. And he’s facing an Indianapolis team that was a top-team defense overall in 2018 and should only be getting better.
It just doesn’t add up for Williams on a regular basis, so I’m not grading him as a WR1/2 this early in the season. The Chargers are historically a slow-starting team, so be careful believing this game will be heavily skewed toward the Chargers.
