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Fantasy Analysis: Early WR rankings for 2019 fantasy season

By Daniel Davis

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants reacts before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants reacts before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Tier 2: The Really Good

  1. Julio Jones, Falcons
  2. Adam Thielen, Vikings
  3. Mike Evans, Buccaneers
  4. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
  5. Odell Beckham Jr, Browns
  6. T.Y Hilton, Colts
  7. A..J Green, Bengals
  8. Keenan Allen, Chargers
  9. Amari Cooper, Cowboys
  10. Robert Woods, Rams

Julio Jones comes in at #6 mainly because of the ups and downs that the team had last year. New Orleans has taken command of the NFC South and it’s up to the Falcons to dethrone them. There’s one rule I abide by when it comes to WR’s: they go as the QB goes. Matt Ryan has a bad year then a good year. Last year wasn’t good, which means he’s set to blow up this year. Jones is a “squint an eye” early second after a top RB has been selected in the first. I’d be more comfortable taking in the late second as a WR 1, but he’s still got top talent.

Thielen was on my team last year along with Thomas too. The two of them were monsters, but again, the top receivers on this list have one thing in common: talent and good QB’s. While Thielen had a great season overall, he only had 9 games where he killed it and most of his points came in those 9 games. Fantasy “whack-a-mole” is not something I’m ok with playing and Thielen is the perfect player for this game. I’d pick him as an upside WR 1 but expect big fluctuations in his production throughout the year.

Mike Evans has been a consistent player to put up numbers, regardless of the QB situation. The Bucs are trying to come back from a disappointing second half season last year, including a meltdown by Ryan Fitzpatrick on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay is a team that probably won’t go far this year, and I doubt you’ll pick anyone else on this team for your fantasy team as a starter. Evans is a high risk, high reward player. Take caution and only pick if you are confident in your other two players on your team before your draft him in the third round.

With Antonio Brown being shipped off to Oakland, Smith-Schuster becomes the top target on the Steelers. Seemingly, Le’Veon Bell will be shipped off, and Ben Roethlisberger will only have Smith-Schuster to throw to. Another high risk, high reward player.

Odell Beckham has an Eli Manning problem. I caution on taking him anytime before the early second for this reason. Eli is probably not going to be with New York for very much longer and Beckham’s stock plummets as he goes down. Beckham is a very, very high risk and average reward player. However, he’s got talent to make ridiculous catches which keep him in the second tier.

Note: The OBJ stuff was before the trade. Will update as we get deeper into the offseason.

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