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Colby Cavaliere | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Wide Receivers
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 1
9/5/18
QBs | RBs | WRs


Bye Weeks: N/A

The Patriots focus on DeAndre Hopkins should lead to success for Will Fuller in Week 1.


Grab a Helmet

Austin Seferian-Jenkins @ NYG: They trust me for the opening week of the Shot Caller’s Report and I put ASJ in as a starter? Madness you say? Maybe, but hear me out. After being an enigma for a few seasons, Seferian-Jenkins put up a respectable 50-357-3 line last season with the offensively challenged Jets. And if you’ve resigned yourself to being a tight end streamer like I have in some of my leagues, there isn’t a much better option that ASJ this week against the G-men. The Giant’s struggles against tight ends became a running joke last season where they gave up by far the most fantasy points to that position. They’ve continued to be victimized this preseason, and the Jags have enough talent at wideout to keep the New York safeties honest. There certainly won’t be many weeks where ASJ is a streamable option, but this is one of them!

Editor’s Note: ASJ missed practice Wednesday with a core muscle issue. Check his status throughout the week.

Michael Thomas vs TB: Despite catching 104 passes last season, Thomas somehow wound up with only 5 touchdowns. That number is due for a serious correction and it starts this week against a defense that looks to be overmatched. Sure the Bucs added some secondary talent in the middle and late rounds of the NFL Draft, but the Saints offense isn’t in the SEC or BIG 12. Entering his third season, Thomas is a polished route runner that has the trust and confidence of Brees. Tampa Bay was a defense to target for wide receiver choices last year as they gave up the 2nd most fantasy points to their opposing pass catchers. 100 yards and a score are easily reachable for Thomas this week, making him a plug and play WR1.

Will Fuller @ NE: Because of an early season shoulder injury, Fuller didn’t get many rides on the Deshaun Watson hype train last season. But they did make the most of their time together, as Fuller was a WR1 in the four games with Watson. With an actual chance to practice this summer, Fuller slides in as a Robin-eque sidekick to DeAndre “Batman” Hopkins. And while the Patriots expend copious amounts of resources trying to keep Hopkins bottled up, Fuller has a chance to do some serious damage. Despite my tempered expectations for Watson, I still think Fuller can be an upside WR2 in Week 1.

Grab Some Pine

Allen Robinson @ GB: Robinson came out of nowhere in 2015 to put up a video-game like 80-1400-14 line. Robinson looked to be on an elite fantasy track, but shoddy quarterback play in 2016, and a season ending injury in 2017 killed all of the buzz. Robinson is back and healthy, this time, lining up for an up-and-coming Bears squad. This team has been a lightning rod of attention this offseason with many prognosticators predicting a Rams-like resurrange. You will find just as many people who don’t believe this offense can excel with a shaky Trubisky. I actually do believe this offense is going to impress when it’s all said and done, but I need to see Robinson put some good play on tape before I can trust him as anything more than a WR3.

Allen Hurns @ CAR: The Cowboys could be the first team in NFL history to run the ball on every offensive play this season. Exaggerations aside, Dallas is missing well over 200 targets from last season with the loss of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, and have done little to add impactful playmakers. It could be that Dallas becomes the source of great receiver value down the road, but with such flux out wide and along the offensive line, I think the Cowboys go with a very run-heavy game plan on the road to start the year. Time will prove if Dak Prescott has the chops to make the receivers on this team fantasy viable, but for Week 1, look elsewhere.

Robby Anderson vs DET: Despite an ugly run-in with the law this offseason the NFL has stayed mum on any discipline, so it’s safe to assume Anderson will be in the lineup this week against Detroit. The Jets stuck with him, as his undeniable talent was on full display in 2017’s breakout season. And ultimately, I think he’ll be a solid target for Sam Darnold, but in Week 1 he’s sure to draw the full attention of shut-down corner Darius Slay, as Jermaine Kearse is going to miss the first game with an injury. Add this to the fact that Darnold is making his first start in the NFL on the road, on Monday night football, and you have more than a few reasons to bench Anderson this week.

Good luck this week!

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers