There’s no position more consistent at the top than wide receiver. Unlike running backs, we pretty much know that Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and Julio Jones (as long as he’s healthy) will have productive days. You just can’t have that confidence in other positions.
However, as consistent as the top wide receivers are in fantasy football, the middle tier is as inconsistent as any position. Lesser known wide receivers can score for your team, but finding the right ones are paramount to your weekly success.
Here’s a guide to navigate week 1 with our start ’em, sit ’em for wide receivers.
Start
DeSean Jackson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Usually I’m not a big Jackson fan. For being the top wide receiver on the Redskins, he’s unreliable for fantasy rosters, putting up big numbers in spurts.
But he had a tremendous camp and this is a contract year. That’s a good start to get on my good side.
It’s not only Jackson’s ability that has me excited for this matchup. I have perceived the Steelers as being much better on defense this season. But injuries have slowed that enthusiasm, especially with news this week that Bud Dupree is on the injured reserve.
The Steelers were one of the worst defenses against the pass last season. I thought that was not going to be the case this season. Recent developments are telling me otherwise. Back Jackson in the opening week and see how far he can take you.
Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Indianapolis Colts
If Ameer Abdullah doesn’t take a step forward as a runner, the Detroit Lions may be in the running to attempt the most passes of any team in the NFL. For Jones Jr. fantasy owners, that offers big upside to his production level.
He was just as involved in Detroit’s offense as Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin during the preseason and I expect his role to be comparable to Tate’s in the offense. Both players should enjoy a steady amount of targets, allowing Jones Jr. to slip into that WR2 conversation in many leagues.
It doesn’t hurt that the Lions may be playing from behind in many games this season, too, offering even more passing opportunities, especially against the Colts. Many experts are down on the Colts thanks to an awful-looking offensive line.
We take too much stock in the preseason, so I’m still backing the Colts as being the team to beat in the AFC South, and thus, will build a decent lead against the Lions. That will force Matthew Stafford to pass early and often, and if last year was any indication, the Colts defense is leaky against high-volume passing teams.
The Colts don’t generally put much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, leaving the door open for Stafford to find Jones Jr. and Tate to offer solid production from both wide receivers. You’re already starting Tate. Don’t leave Jones Jr. behind.
Steve Smith Sr. vs. Buffalo Bills
There hasn’t been any talk of the veteran wide receiver. He’s been out with injury so we haven’t seen him at game speed yet, but does the 37-year-old really have to go through the rigors of training camp?
He’s consistently a guy who is in shape and has a chip on his shoulder. And he just keeps adding chips, thanks to many people who doubt he can be productive as he nears the age of 40.
I’m not huge on his potential to be a fantasy starter each week. But the Ravens have to throw the ball to somebody and Smith Sr. is the No. 1 option on an offense I expect to be better.
And while the Bills are considered a solid NFL defense, they still ranked in the bottom half of the NFL last season in passing yards allowed. They don’t sack the quarterback, which should allow Joe Flacco some time to find his weapons on the outside. Nobody’s talking about Smith Sr. this season. Maybe it’s time we take a look at him.
Sit
Jordan Matthews vs. Cleveland Browns
It’s not the Browns defense that has me worried. It’s that Philadelphia just traded away its starting quarterback.
Anyone who drafted Matthews in the hopes that he could blossom into a solid WR2 for your fantasy football roster should take a step back from that prediction. The Eagles season is officially lost now and Matthews will suffer from a fantasy standpoint.
But it’s not just the lack of quarterback play that has me concerned for Matthews. He’s battling an injury and it appears that he will be limited in week 1 against the Browns.
That makes it even harder for me to pull the trigger on Matthews in my starting lineup. If you have decent depth at the wide receiver position, put Matthews on your bench this week.
Stefon Diggs vs. Tennessee Titans
I like Diggs as a season-long option for Minnesota. He’s the No. 1 receiver on a good team. I’m not a huge fan of the quarterback situation, but I’m more intrigued now that Sam Bradford is in the fold.
But that doesn’t mean I have to like the week 1 matchup.
Diggs will have to grab balls from Shaun Hill at least in week 1 against the Titans. That concerns me greatly. Hill has never been a consistent passer, and with a week 1 road opening, in addition to the reality that he’s going to be benched as early as week 2, has me selling Hill’s and the rest of the wide receivers’ stocks in week 1.
And even though Tennessee was a dumpster fire last year, it wasn’t generally due to its pass defense. Granted, most teams were playing ahead of the Titans, focusing more on the running game. But the pass defense still was top-10 in yards allowed.
That doesn’t bode well for Diggs in week 1. Don’t completely throw him to the waiver wire pool because I believe he has tremendous upside this season. But in week 1, leave him on your bench in favor of better matchups.
Emmanuel Sanders vs. Carolina Panthers
Have I mentioned I really dislike Denver’s matchup this week with Carolina?
Sanders is the second wide receiver on the roster, putting him in my doubtful-to-perform list for week 1. How much trust do we have in Trevor Siemian? He was a seventh round draft pick a year ago.
Were all the scouts wrong or is Denver’s offense in a tremendous quagmire? I’m choosing the latter. And that means Sanders has a tough matchup in week 1 against a Carolina team hungry for retribution.
Carolina is tough on veteran quarterbacks and was so confident in its defense, let Josh Norman go in the offseason. For many that means the Panthers’ defense will take a step back. I’m not as worried as others.
There’s only room for one fantasy wide receiver this week on Denver’s roster. And unfortunately for Sanders’ fantasy owners, that man is Demaryius Thomas.
