Free agent acquisition Terrelle Pryor
could get off to a hot start in Washington with 4 juicy matchups
in his first six games.
A couple of weeks ago, we helped you determine which quarterbacks
had the most and least favorable schedules and the response from
fantasy owners was very good, so this week we will do the same research
for wide receivers.
Beyond just the best and worst schedules in the regular season and
playoffs, I’ll also show you a couple of teams with particularly
easy and difficult starts.
This could be important because the advantage of choosing a player
who starts hot, is that you can trade them at their peak value.
Or trade for another owner’s struggling receiver when you
know the schedule turns in his favor and he’s about to explode.
In business terms you are buying low and selling high … a
virtual guarantee for success.
Overall schedules:
Best –
Seattle – The Seahawk’s
pass-oriented offense will fit perfectly with the league’s
weakest defenses against wide receivers for 2017. That means wideout
Doug Baldwin (currently ranked 11 at the position with a Fantasy
Football Calculator ADP of 26.5) should be pushed higher up your
ranking cheatsheet, into the top-10. Unfortunately, there is yet
no clear winner between Paul Richardson, Tyler Lockett and Jermaine Kearse for the No. 2 slot opposite Baldwin (hopefully to be determined
before the end of the preseason … or at least before your
draft).
Carolina – The Panthers have
the second-best schedule for receivers. It appears Kelvin Benjamin
(26th, ADP 58.7) reported to camp at his old Combine weight and
may be ready to produce quality results this season. Devin Funchess
should lock up the No. 2 spot and in his third season could be ready
to take a big step forward. That might still only make him a WR3,
but someone has to pick up the majority of Ted Ginn Jr.’s
95 targets. He’ll be a late-round bargain considering he’s
not currently ranked in the top-70 at his position.
Chicago – Early reports are
quarterback Mike Glennon and Cameron Meredith having on-field chemistry.
It should go a long way in helping Meredith improve on his 66-888-4
production of a season ago despite four different mediocre quarterbacks.
He takes over the No. 1 role from Alshon Jeffery (signed with Philadelphia).
Add in 12 pass defenses which ranked in the bottom half last season
and Meredith, in his third season, should produce much better results.
Certainly better than where he is currently begin chosen (No. 43,
ADP 104.4).
Worst –
Kansas City – The Chiefs own
the toughest wideout schedule in the league … and that’s
without a second game against Denver’s top-ranked backfield
(they play the Broncos in Week 17 which isn’t included in
the analysis). Perhaps this explains Tyreek Hill’s relatively
low status despite being the team’s No. 1 receiver (19th,
ADP 42.2). He exploded in 2016 - catching 61 balls for 593 yards
and six touchdowns, rushing for 267 yards and three scores and returning
kicks for 976 yards and three more touchdowns. Chris Conley, as
the Chiefs’ possession receiver, and No. 3 Albert Wilson shouldn’t
be drafted.
Cleveland –Corey Coleman (No.
46, ADP 118) and Kenny Britt (No. 50, ADP 125.6) will vie for the
“honor” of being the No. 1 receiver on the Browns, but
neither is being selected very high for obvious reasons. Question
marks at quarterback and a tough schedule should keep you away from
both wideouts. Britt did manage to top the 1,000-yard mark with
Case Keenum and Jared Goff under center for the Rams last season,
but having seen what Brock Osweiler did to DeAndre Hopkins’
value and watching nine games of Cody Kessler, I’m avoiding
both at all costs. OK, maybe in Round 16.
Cincinnati – I’m not saying
don’t draft A.J. Green (No. 5, ADP 10.9), just don’t
take him too soon, as his schedule isn’t favorable this season.
Plus his quarterback, Andy Dalton, must show he can rebound from
throwing just 18 touchdown passes last season, the fewest of his
career. The Bengals added two rookie weapons on offense (versatile
Joe Mixon, speedy John Ross) so might be more inclined to “share
the wealth,” in part to keep Green healthier late in the season.
Playoff schedules:
Best –
A healthy Marcus Mariota (we hope) with talented rookie Corey Davis,
veteran newcomer Eric Decker and Rishard Mathews against three of
the league’s worst pass defenses, sounds like a recipe for
success. They will face; Arizona in Week 14 (No. 1 against the run,
but No. 27 against wide receivers), San Francisco (No. 29) and the
Los Angeles Rams (No. 26).
The Rams actually have the second-best playoff schedule (24.3),
but unfortunately, no passing offense to take advantage of the situation.
The Atlanta Falcons (24.0) and the New York Giants (22.7), third
and fourth, respectively, do have the passing games that should
dominate their weak Week 14-16 opponents.
Worst –
It’s not bad enough that Indianapolis has serious questions
about the health of its starting quarterback, Andrew Luck? If he
manages to get, and stay healthy enough to reach Week 14, he faces
a tough trio in Buffalo, Denver and Baltimore. This doesn’t
bode well for T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief when you need them
the most.
Pittsburgh and Dallas have elite receivers, but come fantasy playoff
time they will best severely tested. Sure, Antonio Brown will get
his targets and receptions, but don’t look for him to carry
your fantasy team against Baltimore, New England and he’ll
be at Houston for your Championship Week. Dez Bryant & Co. will
go to the New York Giants, Oakland and then host Seattle and Richard Sherman in Week 16.
Hot start:
We noted it in the quarterback study that Russell Wilson was set
for a great start and it’s the same for their receivers. Washington’s
new pair of starting wideouts, Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder,
should get off to a flying start, facing four teams ranked 26th-
or worse in their first six games (PHI, @LAR, SF, @PHI).
Cold start:
The Houston Texans face three top-10 wide-receiver defenses to start
the season (Jacksonville, Cincinnati and New England). When will
Hopkins ever catch a break? Perhaps by Week 4 you will be able to
acquire Hopkins at a cheap price just as Deshaun Watson is ready
to take over the role of starter. Baltimore and Kansas City receivers
should also be expected to start slowly.
Note: The "3-gm" column represents Weeks 14-16
2017 Wide Receivers
vs. Opponents Fantasy Points Allowed
Team
Wk 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
3-gm
15-gm
Seattle
32
29
30
14
26
bye
7
5
15
27
32
29
31
6
26
10
14.0
21.3
Carolina
29
11
25
9
19
31
13
22
20
28
bye
17
25
4
32
22
19.3
20.5
Chicago
20
22
3
32
4
21
23
25
bye
32
19
31
29
2
19
24
15.0
20.4
Minnesota
25
3
22
19
13
32
21
24
bye
15
26
19
20
23
2
32
19.0
19.7
Arizona
19
14
10
29
31
22
26
bye
29
12
5
6
26
30
15
7
17.3
18.7
Tampa Bay
28
13
4
7
9
27
11
23
25
17
bye
20
32
19
20
25
21.3
18.7
New Orleans
4
9
23
28
bye
19
32
13
22
11
15
26
23
20
13
20
17.7
18.5
NY Giants
10
19
31
22
8
1
12
bye
26
29
18
15
16
10
31
27
22.7
18.3
Atlanta
13
32
19
11
bye
28
9
17
23
10
12
22
4
25
22
25
24.0
18.1
Dallas
7
1
27
26
32
bye
29
15
18
20
31
8
15
7
16
12
11.7
17.6
San Francisco
23
12
26
27
14
15
10
31
27
7
bye
12
13
5
30
6
13.7
17.2
Houston
6
2
9
30
18
24
bye
12
14
26
27
21
30
29
6
3
12.7
17.1
Washington
31
26
16
18
bye
29
31
10
12
4
25
7
10
8
27
1
12.0
17.0
LA Rams
14
15
29
10
12
6
27
bye
7
5
4
25
27
31
12
30
24.3
16.9
NY Jets
11
16
28
6
24
9
28
20
11
22
bye
23
18
1
25
8
11.3
16.7
Miami
22
8
17
25
30
20
17
21
16
23
bye
9
1
9
11
18
12.7
16.5
Detroit
27
7
20
4
23
25
bye
3
32
24
13
4
21
22
13
2
12.3
16.0
Jacksonville
5
30
21
17
3
26
14
bye
2
8
24
27
14
12
5
29
15.3
15.8
New England
18
25
5
23
22
17
20
8
bye
1
16
28
11
28
3
11
14.3
15.7
Green Bay
12
20
2
31
10
4
25
bye
19
13
21
3
22
24
23
4
17.0
15.5
Indianapolis
26
27
24
12
29
30
6
2
5
3
bye
30
6
11
1
21
11.0
15.5
Tennessee
16
6
12
5
28
14
24
bye
21
2
3
14
5
27
29
26
27.3
15.5
Buffalo
17
23
1
20
2
bye
22
16
17
25
8
18
9
14
28
9
17.0
15.3
Philadelphia
15
18
7
8
27
23
15
29
1
bye
10
13
12
26
7
16
16.3
15.1
Pittsburgh
24
4
13
21
6
18
8
19
bye
14
30
32
2
21
9
5
11.7
15.1
Oakland
30
17
15
1
21
8
18
11
28
bye
9
1
7
18
10
31
19.6
15.0
Baltimore
2
24
6
3
16
13
4
28
30
bye
32
5
19
3
24
14
13.7
14.9
LA Chargers
1
28
18
31
7
16
1
9
bye
6
11
10
24
15
18
17
16.7
14.1
Denver
8
10
11
16
bye
7
8
18
31
9
2
16
28
17
14
15
15.3
14.0
Cincinnati
21
5
32
24
11
bye
3
14
6
30
1
24
3
13
4
19
12.0
14.0
Cleveland
3
21
14
2
17
5
30
4
bye
19
6
2
8
32
21
13
22.0
13.1
Kansas City
9
31
8
15
5
3
16
1
10
bye
7
11
17
16
8
28
17.3
12.3
Steve Schwarz served as the fantasy sports editor of The Sports Network and is the 2014 FSWA Football Writer of the Year.
