Can the 29th highest scoring fantasy QB get any worse? Yes, yes he can. Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 2015 low-end QB1 who’s
redefined “boom-bust career quarterback,” is no doubt benched for the season. Now the Jets will see what they have in Bryce
Petty. But for fantasy managers, the
damage is done.
Brandon Marshall’s average draft position by the end of this preseason
was WR-9. Through 13 weeks he’s hovering
near the top 40.
Eric Decker owned a WR-23 ADP this preseason. He was knocked out for the year in Week 3.
Quincy Enunwa has been fantasy irrelevant in seven of his past 10
games.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins would have scored nearly as many fantasy points
this season if he’d been retired. But in
fairness, that has less to do with Fitzpatrick and more to do with ASJ’s
inability to play to his potential.
When we draft receivers or acquire them during the season, we’re
betting not only on their health, but also on the health and abilities of their
QB. We’ve seen over and over what
happens when an injured or self-destructing QB gives way to a dink-and-dunk
backup managing 150 yards a game and an occasional score. Or when an inexperienced starting QB simply
can’t reach the next level midseason.
How many of you burned a first-round pick on DeAndre Hopkins, not
realizing Brock Osweiler would render him mostly unstartable? How many leaned on Alshon Jeffery, expecting
Jay Cutler to be better than the mediocre QB he’s always been?
That’s why the best WR situation generally consists of a team’s
clear-cut #1 receiver catching balls from a QB1: Antonio Brown from Big
Ben. Julio Jones from Matt Ryan. Jordy Nelson from Aaron Rodgers. T.Y. Hilton from Andrew Luck. Amari Cooper from Derek Carr.
When dealing with QB2s, it takes a unique talent (like Mike Evans) to get
the most out of a high-middling QB like Jameis Winston. And when there’s no clear-cut #1 (see San
Diego), it’s a guessing game each week, where you’re just as likely to get
stuck with two points as you are with 10+.
Fantasy frustration at the WR position comes from unreliability. And unreliability comes from one of two
things: limited targets and/or limited QB talent. If you have doubts about one or both, don’t
over-reach; there will be plenty of similar mid-to-high-risk WRs available
later in the draft and throughout the season.