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Joseph Hutchins | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Wide Receivers
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 8
10/25/18
QBs | RBs | WRs

Bye Weeks: Atlanta, Dallas, LA Chargers, Tennessee

Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Packer Wideouts: Can we squeeze another solid fantasy game out of Marquez Valdez-Scantling?


Grab a Helmet

Jarvis Landry @ PIT: Cleveland’s still finding ways to lose games it has a good chance to win, meaning nothing much has changed since a Week 1 giveaway against the Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. On the bright side, they’ve been in every game but one (a Week 6 drubbing administered by the Chargers) and seem to have solved the quarterback riddle that’s perplexed them for decades. This is good news for Landry, who’s been a heavily targeted option through seven weeks (tied for second overall with 81). He’s coming off a 15-target, 10-reception, 97-yard performance against the Bucs and now faces the Steelers in one of the first 2018 rematches. The former Dolphin notched a season-high 106 yards in that first contest and should be busy again as Cleveland attempts to keep pace with a well-rested and surging Pittsburgh outfit. Don’t sleep on the Brownies the rest of the way.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling @ LAR: The Packers were probably hoping the bye week would give their decimated wide receiver corps some much needed recuperation time, but we’re getting closer to that Sunday showdown with Los Angeles and both Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are still currently listed as “limited participants” in practice. It sounds like they both have a decent shot to play, but that doesn’t mean Valdes-Scantling, the unsung fifth-rounder from South Florida, will completely disappear from the Pack’s offense. He’s got legit top-end speed and has tallied double-digit fantasy points in both spot starts since Cobb and Allison went down. Unless Green Bay’s regulars become full practice participants by this weekend, I’d consider giving him one more run as a WR3 or flex option. The Pack is more than a TD underdog for the first time in ages and that could mean plenty of garbage time production for MVS.

Stefon Diggs v. NO: I’ve told you the Saints field the league’s stingiest run defense, meaning the Vikes may be forced to the airwaves early and often come Monday night. That’s a good thing for the Minny receivers, though, because New Orleans also happens to be surrendering the most points to opposing wideouts (34.9 fantasy points/game). Adam Thielen owners may be smiling ear-to-ear, but there’s even better news for Stefon Diggs owners: The Saints are particularly atrocious against WR2s. DeSean Jackson went for 146 yards and two scores in Week 1. Calvin Ridley went for 146 more and THREE scores in Week 3. Finally, Sterling Shepard notched 77 yards and a score on 10 targets (all receptions) in Week 4. Oh, and if you consider John Brown Baltimore’s second banana, he torched the Saints for 134 yards and a score just last week. Diggs must be started.

Grab Some Wood

Marvin Jones v. SEA: It was always unrealistic to expect a repeat of 2017 out of Jones this season. The Lions turned over a coaching staff, welcomed back a star-in-the-making at his position (Kenny Golladay), and drafted a kid they hoped would finally end years of running back futility in Kerryon Johnson. Johnson’s doing that right before our eyes, meaning Detroit’s ostensible WR1 is back to being who he’s been every other year of his career, a 7-8 fantasy points/game pass-grabber who’s gonna give you some solid weeks but occasionally disappear entirely. The days of Matthew Stafford chucking 650-700+ passes per season are long gone and with other options available (Golladay and Golden Tate), it’s time to be realistic about Jones’ present and future: It’s neither bleak nor exciting, but wholly matchup-dependent. You’ll want to avoid him v. a Seahawks squad yielding 18.9 pts/game the past five weeks (third best).

Paul Richardson @ NYG: Washington is 4-2 and atop the NFC East despite starting a journeyman at quarterback, a 33-year old at running back, and what would easily pass for the most uninspiring wide receiver group in the league if the Bills weren’t in it. Is it time to start considering Jay Gruden a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate? Richardson leads this ragtag WR outfit in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, but that doesn’t make him an appealing fantasy option by a longshot. He’s currently WR64 in standard leagues and a few spots lower in PPR leagues due to low catch volume. That makes him barely roster-able in all but the largest/deepest of leagues. I keep thinking Gruden’s gang will fall on hard times without viable perimeter threats, but it hasn’t happened yet. A similar strategy won’t likely work in fantasy football, so steer clear of Washington wideouts for now.

Nelson Agholor @ JAX (London): Agholor started the season off strong as Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery convalesced from last season’s injuries (22 targets and 19.9 points in his first two games). However, the former returned in Week 3 and the latter in Week 4 and the speedy fourth-year receiver has been mostly quiet ever since (just 33 targets and 20.2 points in his next five). With the Eagles hitting the skids, Coach Pederson will have to make some major course corrections and that could—maybe should—include finding ways to get Agholor more involved. Until that happens, though, it’s tough to rely on a guy putting up only a handful of points per week who’s turned his six red zone targets into four receptions, two yards (!), and a single score. Avoid Philly’s third wheel against a Jaguars squad holding opposing WRs to 17.6 points/game (best in the league).

Good luck, folks!

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers