Joe to the rescue! With the Colts going back to the greybearded
gunslinger Flacco, Downs immediately vaults back into upside WR2
status. During a three-game stretch with the veteran quarterback,
Downs compiled 24 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
The 2nd year wideout has proven to be the most reliable receiver
in the Colts offense as he gets open at will, and should remain
the focal point of the passing game against a suddenly vulnerable
Vikings defense.
It took a bit for his quickness to return after an ankle injury,
but his health and the addition of field stretcher Amari Cooper
has turned Shakir into a slot machine. He’s got 16 receptions on
17 targets in the last two weeks, and should be a big part of a
game that has serious shootout potential. How’s this for efficiency?
Shakir has caught all but TWO of his 39 targets this season.
I’m bucking the trend here a little with Washington. I’m
down on Lawrence as a starter this week, but Parker intrigues
me as a sneaky WR3 with some garbage time upside. To say The Jags
receivers are banged up is an understatement. Kirk, Thomas, and
Davis all left Week 8 with injuries, and while Thomas and Davis
could suit up, Washington looks to fill the role left by Kirk.
He’s a carbon copy of Kirk physically and could be a bail
out target with Lawrence running for his life. If your receiver
room looks more like a hospital ward, call the shot!
With Tua back, sitting a piece of this passing attack is always
dangerous, but Buffalo knows how to keep this offense in check,
and Waddle has only one finish (Week 1) among the top 50 this
season. You probably have to start him between the byes and absolute
wasteland the receiver position is currently, but temper your
expectations.
Jeudy has been a gigantic bust after Cleveland sent a Day 2 pick
to the Broncos in the offseason for him. Horrific quarterback play
aside, Jeudy has only eight receptions in his last four games, and
has yet to reach 80 yards in a game. His lone score came in Week
1, and he seems to have been jumped by his younger and more dynamic
teammate Cedric Tillman. I do think he’ll return bursts of value
with Winston being reckless with the ball, but I’d certainly need
to see some of that before I trusted him in my lineup.
Panther Receivers vs NO
Ok, so Bryce Young leveled up from an unmitigated disaster last
week against Denver, but that’s still not remotely enough
for me to trust this passing game. With Diontae Johnson gone to
the Ravens there are fewer mouths to feed, but the return of Adam
Thielen, combined with raw rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker,
make this a muddled, guess and check fantasy receiving corps.
