Fantasy Wide Receiver Advice
by Brandon M. of RotoPicks.com
Out of all the positions in fantasy football, none is more boom-or-bust than WR. It's the only position where a player can score 20 points one week, zero the next, and 20 again the week after. That's the statistical nature of the position. A player who catches nine balls for massive yardage and two TDs might follow-up that performance with two catches for nine yards. Wide receivers can be exhilarating or infuriating on any given week. All that being said, there are always reliable WRs for the taking-or at the very least, ways to limit risk when drafting a weekly fantasy lineup.
Basic WR Advice
Remember that a WR's value is connected to his QB. Don't get cute taking a good WR with an unreliable or incompetent QB. Even if the WR is a stud and his matchup is phenomenal, always pay attention to the quality of the QB. If there's an awful QB or a second-stringer under center, look elsewhere for receivers.
Pay attention to receivers who get the most targets and catches (not necessarily the most yards and TDs). Since a QB always has several mouths to feed in the passing game, it can be tough gauging where the passes will go. The best way to determine who will have a productive day is by looking at the most targeted WRs in recent weeks. Often, yards and TDs aren't the best indicators of reliability. A WR can catch an 80-yard TD against a broken coverage, but that doesn't ensure he'll get 80 yards and a TD every week. However, if a WR gets targeted eight or ten times a week, you've found someone worth a start. For advanced players, learn about defensive backs. Some have a reputation of getting burned often. They don't generally last long, but they're out there.
Beware taking stud WRs who have a weak supporting cast. So you're starting a stud WR with a solid Fantasy QB throwing him the ball? It sounds like a lock, but make sure there are other pass-catching threats out there. Otherwise that stud wideout might get smothered with double or triple coverage. NFL defensive coordinators often lock-down on a guy who catches the vast majority of his team's targets. While it's true that great WRs can beat double-coverage, sometimes those studs end up vanishing for the week. Note: The number two receiver may be worth a look in this situation.
Beware of elite shutdown corners. Back in 2008 you could've started the Panthers' superstar WR Steve Smith against the lowly Raiders and gotten a 0 to show for it. In 2009 if you started future Hall of Famer Randy Moss against the Jets, you only got 2 points. What gives? Well, in 2008 the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha was the premiere shutdown corner, and the same goes for Darrelle Revis of the Jets in 2009. There's usually a handful of these devastating shutdown corners in the league, and if you don't pay attention to them, you're stud WR might end up with the statline of a 4th-stringer.
Salary Cap Strategy: Spend Money on Sure-Things and Players With Upside
When spending big money on a WR, always go with a sure thing-a playmaker who gets a lot of targets and catches (the yardage and TDs will come along with it). Since WR can be a fickle position, don't skimp. Pay what you have to for a reliable player.
As for cheap sleeper options, always dig for guys with upside. It's better to gamble on a cheap WR who might get 2 or 12 points than it is to play conservative with a guy who's guaranteed 4 or 5 but nothing more. Roll the dice on a deep threat or a No. 2 WR who faces a soft matchup or a potential shootout. Backups starting in place of injured starters are also a nice angle.
Snake Draft Strategy: Take WRs after RBs. Elite WRs should be snagged right after the workhorse fantasy running backs are off the board, especially since our recommended weekly fantasy site Draftkings has PPR scoring (points per reception). It's wise to grab two workhorse RBs and two sure-fire WRs with your first four picks. With the mid-round picks, keep your eyes out for WRs who may have slipped through the cracks of the 4th Round. WR is a deeper position than RB, so you can still grab quality WRs in the 5th-10th round for your FLEX positions.
Pick 'em Strategy: Make Sure You Can Trust a High-Tier WR
WRs are tricky in Pick 'em leagues. While you can estimate how often a QB will throw or how many carries a RB will get, it's usually harder to gauge how many targets a WR will get-in fact, it can be a coin flip. For the higher tiers, only take reliable WRs with soft matchups; QBs and RBs are usually safer plays, so don't risk a high-tier pick on a WR if you're unsure.
In the lower tiers, however, WRs are often the best choice. Lower tiers often list No. 2 WRs with upside, and those guys can post electric statlines if they get the right matchup. They make for a much better choice than the timeshare RBs or shaky TEs that often clog those same tiers.
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