While running backs proved to be almost impossible to predict on a weekly basis, wide receivers became the true mark of consistency during the 2015 season.
Two of the top three preseason options turned in the best performances of 2015. Antonio Brown, preseason No. 1, and Julio Jones, preseason No. 3, were first and second for the season.
Although Brown and Jones only mustered 18 touchdowns between them, they were the only receivers with more than 1,800 yards for the season.
The next-highest in yards was DeAndre Hopkins, who finished with 1,521.
Here’s the 2015 recap for the best and worst values among wide receivers.
Best value
Brandon Marshall
Many didn’t know what to expect from Marshall this season. He was on a Jets team not expected to do much, especially on offense, and so many fantasy football owners decided to pass on the All-Pro.
That was a mistake.
Marshall, ranked 19th among wide receivers in the preseason, finished third among wide receivers in points. His ADP was 59th overall, putting him in the late stages of the sixth round.
He was a dominant force on a Jets offense that was much better than expected. He will be rated higher next season, but be careful, since it may be difficult for the Jets to follow the same blueprint.
Worst value
Dez Bryant
The Cowboys were a mess this season. And Bryant’s inability to stay healthy was one of the major reasons for disappointment.
He was the number-two ranked wide receiver heading into the season. His average draft position was seventh, putting him as a top draft choice for a fantasy football owner.
However, he didn’t produce like a top draft pick.
Bryant turned in only 58.10 points this season. His season’s highlight came against Philadelphia in week 9, when he caught one of this three touchdown passes for the season and went over the 100-yard mark for the only time in the season.
Without Tony Romo, the Cowboys offense struggled, meaning Bryant saw far less targets than he saw in past seasons. Adding to his troubles, he missed seven games.
Good value
Allen Robinson
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a surprise hit in the fantasy ranks this season, and Robinson was the biggest benefactor.
He finished with the fourth-most points among wide receivers, which was a massive upgrade from his preseason ranking.
He began the season ranked as the 26th-best wide receiver. His ADP was even worse, going off at 79th overall, putting him as a major steal in the seventh round in a 12-team formats.
His value will skyrocket next season with a young Blake Bortles still getting adjusted to the offense and the Jaguars looking to stay ranked as a top-tier offense.
Bad value
Randall Cobb
Cobb entered the season with high expectations. Without Jordy Nelson in the lineup, many predicted Cobb to have a breakout season in 2015.
That’s why he was ranked as the No. 18 overall player and eighth-best wide receiver. His overall ADP of 20 allowed fantasy football owners to grab him in the second round.
The only issue was that the Packers were a mess for much of the season on offense and Cobb was part of the problem.
He finished with 129.90 points overall and reach double-digits only three times. Two of those three times he reached double-digits were in the first three weeks.
Maybe Cobb will actually benefit from having Nelson back in the lineup next year. Either way, his value will still be high with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but his expectations will definitely diminish.
Good value
Doug Baldwin
It took awhile to earn the benefits from Baldwin, but any fantasy football owner who grabbed him off the waiver wire toward the end of the season likely had a good final stretch.
Baldwin finished with the seventh-most points among wide receivers. What’s even more remarkable about that number is that Baldwin had only one double-digit performance from week 1 through 8. From week 10 to 17, he had only two single-digit performances.
Baldwin was a touchdown machine in the last part of the season, with 11 touchdowns from weeks 12 to 16. That was prime playoff time for fantasy football owners.
Baldwin was the ultimate steal, going off as the 56th-ranked wide receiver in the preseason with an ADP of 167. If he was drafted, he was likely dropped to the waiver wire, until he started his unprecedented outburst.
Bad value
Andre Johnson
The warning labels were plastered all over the place. Even we warned you about Johnson.
But many fantasy football owners didn’t listen. They instead looked at past production instead of future output.
Johnson ended the season with only 74.30 points. He reached double-digits three times. In games where he didn’t reach double-digits, hew was held below five fantasy points.
That’s not a good return on the preseason investment. He was the No. 16 ranked receiver with an overall ADP of 41, putting him in the fourth round.
His problems should be blamed partly on the lack of quarterback in Indianapolis. But that doesn’t brighten his outlook for next year, as his value will drop significantly.
Good value
Eric Decker
Another New York Jets receiver made the list. We already explained why Marshall was such a surprise.
Decker may have been an even bigger surprise. Decker was the 34th-ranked receiver entering the season and had an ADP of 101.
Experts were much higher on Decker than fantasy football owners, giving him quality value even before the season began.
During the season, Decker was a points machine, finishing 10th in points. Not bad for a receiver drafted in the ninth round.
Bad value
Davante Adams
And here’s another Green Bay receiver.
With Nelson’s injury, the expectations naturally rose for the receivers in Green Bay. And those receivers disappointed in fantasy football.
Adams had problems all season with drops and was likely dropped to many waiver wires. He entered the season ranked as the 21st-ranked receiver with an ADP of 62.
He finished the season with only 56.30 points and registered only one performance of double-digits. His production wasn’t because of a lack of targets. Rodgers targeted him plenty during the season.
But Adams just didn’t deliver. His value will go down for next year as he will have a tough time being the regular rotation for the Packers.
