2019 WR Rankings 1.0: Way-Too-Early Edition

It's July 1st. Preseason is still north of a month from starting. Yet, here we are. 

I almost didn't want to release rankings this early but I couldn't help myself. Like my coffee consumption, addictions must be fed. 

I have spent the better half of the new year analyzing teams to prepare for the upcoming 2019 season. 

Staff changes, signings, releases, drafts, team schemes -- you name it, there's a good chance I've already taken a peek into it. 

That is my philosophy after-all, the foundation for putting together these articles have to begin way-too-early. 

The NFL is a titanic, forever revolving door of changes and updates. 

So that is what I do up here in the bitterly cold winter months of Ottawa, Ontario. I study. I analyze. I interpret. I guess. 

Thanks to this, I have put together solid baseline rankings of the Wide Receiver position for the 2019 season. 

These rankings will certainly change ass we inch closer to September. 

But until then, here is where we stand: 

• My rankings are based on 0.5 PPR scoring. This is a fine balance between PPR & Standard leagues. 
• I've studied all 32 teams offenses from the top (staff/management) down (players) 

With this data, I interpret how offenses will potentially look schematically. I use all this information to predict their offensive performance compared to the prior season(s).  

This allows me to assign contribution volume percentages for each player in that offense. Sound good? Great!

TIER 1: Top 8 Picks

Tier 2: 1st Rounders

Tier 3: Mid Tier WR1

Tier 4: Low Tier WR1

Tier 5: Fringe WR1/WR2

11. Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs put together a great 2018 campaign. Finishing 12th our of WR's. Diggs is a consistent receiver with elite route running, arguably the best in the league. He has earned the respect to be a high volume receiver in this league. I believe that he will continue to put up efficient numbers. However, with the return of Dalvin Cook, I do believe Mike Zimmer leans into that ground game in 2019.

Tier 6: WR2 Territory

Tier 7: Low WR2

25. Robert Woods: Woods' proved to be a viable fantasy option. At one point in the season, he one of the top WR's in fantasy until cooling off, where he eventually would finish 10th on the year. With the return of Cooper Kupp, I expect Robert Woods volume to decrease to a modest number. He was targeted 130 times last year which won't be sustainable in an offense that has so much receiving power. Robert Woods is a great player to have, especially if the Rams lose another receiver to the injury bug, he would once again be thrust into a key role that landed him the WR1 rank last season. 

26. Corey Davis: We're still waiting for Davis to pop off. Entering his third season, he is coming off a season in which landed him the WR28 spot in 2018. The Titans were a mess in the passing game last season, as Corey Davis was the only viable receiver on that team that landed him outside of a top 24 role. While I do believe he has a great opportunity to break into the top 24 this season, the Titans run first, stingy defense approach is going to limit any receivers upside in 2019. 

27. Will Fuller: Another season, another injury-plagued year. Will Fuller is such a threat to opposing defenses over the top because of his elite speed and quickness. When applied in the Texans offense it proves to be so effective and is great for fantasy. Unfortunately, I feel Will Fuller is someone who just can't shake off the injuries. He is the ultimate boom or bust type of fantasy player and is a perfect addition if you have a corp of 2-3 steady WR's rostered ahead of him. If you do draft him, it would be wise to handcuff him to his teammate, KeKe Coutee (also has injury struggles). That way you have a beneficiary to the high powered Texans offense, regardless if one of them goes down. 

28. Emmanuel Sanders: It's not a pretty pick but it will certainly do the job. In the past 5 seasons, Emmanuel Sanders has put together top 24 WR numbers in 4 of the 5 years. Come to think of it, he's the Lamar Miller of wide receivers. He's not going to dominate your lineup but like clockwork, he'll get you 5 catches for 75 yards and the sporadic touchdown. If you commit to RB's early, he is the perfect low investment WR2 or top tier flex play. 

29. Sammy Watkins: With his first season with the Chiefs, Watkins did not make a large splash by any means. Finishing the 2018 season outside of the top 50 for WR's. He missed 6 games last year due to injury and wasn't very consistent. With that being said, with a Tyreek Hill suspension looming, Watkins will be thrust into a role where he should be the #2 in the pecking order of targets, behind Kelce of course. Despite Sammy's struggles and inconsistencies, he provides a massive upside in a Chiefs offense. Because of this, his ADP isn't exactly cheap and I would feel uncomfortable committing a 5th round pick on him when you look at the talent of players that can be had at that ADP. But the upside is there and this is a make or break season for the young WR. 

30. Sterling Shepard: A likely candidate for the #1 receiver in New York. Could be in line for 110+ targets which make for a very safe floor. With that being said, this offense will struggle outside of Saquon Barkley and his upside is limited due to scoring chances. 

31. Tyrell Williams: A former Charger, the 27-year-old will be working alongside Antonio Brown in Oakland. Tyrell is the type of player who excels beating secondaries deep over the top using his lengthy 6'4 frame. With Antonio Brown commanding lot's of attention, I really like Tyrell's upside to generate scoring opportunities along with a healthy amount of targets (~100). He isn't unheralded either, as he produced a 1000 yard season and 7 TDs with the Chargers back in 2016. Every year in fantasy, we see a handful of players who greatly exceed their projections and help teams win championships. Tyrell could quite possibly be one of those guys in 2019. 

32. Cooper Kupp: In 2018, Kupp was having himself a strong start to the season before an ACL tear sidelined him for the year. I firmly believe Kupp is a key component to the Rams offense that helps orchestrate all of their other pieces around them. He runs great routes underneath, has trustworthy hands and keeps the chains moving. If he can bounce back I can imagine him having a very productive year. His TD upside is limited as the Rams have a plethora of talent around them. But he is savvy in the red zone and was able to rack up 6 TD's in 8 games. I fully anticipate his target share to be amongst the highest on the team.

Tier 8: FLEX

33. Alshon Jeffery: While I do believe Jeffery has solidified himself a role in the Eagles offense, I think we've seen the best of him. The Eagles offense is not one I am a fan of from a fantasy perspective. Outside of Ertz and Wentz, the remainder of the team roles consists of murky waters. The team has a lot of depth with varying play styles. So while I feel Jeffery will be able to churn out a few big games this year. I am confident that each week will consist of a new player having a successful week based on their matchup. He offers a comfortable floor, but there are plenty of receivers that offer more upside and consistent play. 

34. Marquez Valdes-Scantling: This young, lengthy WR is a very interesting prospect, but also very hard to predict. At 6'4 he offers long speed and has the potential to be a threat to opposing defenses in the deep parts of the field but he lacks the skills to work underneath in the short-medium levels of the field. However, he has the best chance at being Rodgers #2 target going forward. Which offers a very position to be in, regardless of who you are. 

35. Tyreek Hill: If it weren't for a looming suspension, Tyreek Hill would be much higher up on this list. There have been reports swirling that just a 4 game suspension will be enforced for his off-field conduct this year. Tyreek Hill is the most dangerous threat to opposing secondaries in the deep level of the field. He offers tremendous upside in that high powered offense and proved to be an elite fantasy WR in 2018. With that being said, his value drops considerably depending on how long he is suspended. 

36. DJ Moore: After completing his rookie campaign in 2018, the 22-year-old WR had himself a respectable season. Finishing up the season with 700+ yards off of 55 receptions. The Panthers lackluster offense last year limited his TD upside. But with a hopefully healthier Cam Newton in the mix and the departure of their previous #1 WR (Devin Funchess). D.J Moore is first in line as the #1 WR and can improve upon his performance last year with additional touchdown opportunities (2 in 2018). This offense will still run through their jack-of-all-trades RB, Christian McCaffrey. 

37. Devin Funchess: The former Panther, now Colt, Devin Funchess. While his 2018 campaign was disappointing, his backseat role in the Colts offense can be a great fit for the 25-year-old. T.Y Hilton will continue to be Andrew Lucks #1 option and will draw the most attention from opposing defenses. This will give Devin Funchess the ability to line up against defenses #2 CB's and have more space to work his routes through. The Colts also do not have a slew of talent behind Devin Funchess and T.Y, which makes for a comfortable floor.

Tier 8: Stash

38. Marvin Jones: Injuries hampered 2018 for Marvin Jones. In fact, he is just a season removed from posting WR1 numbers in 2017. He could very well be a hidden gem given his ADP. Jones is the type of player who effectively utilizes his strong short burst agility to work the medium levels of defenses. With that being said, expectations must be tempered as Kenny Golladay is their #1 WR going forward in an offense I believe is gearing towards committing to the run game going forward with the emergence of Kerryon Johnson and stud blocking TE, T.J Hockenson that they drafted in the first round this year. 

39. Golden Tate: Golden Tate struggled last year after being traded midseason from Philly to New York. Will see solid volume as the #2 or #3 target in the Giants offense. He will be the receiver to work underneath while letting guys like Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard work the deeper levels. His upside is limited in an offense that is geared towards a run-first approach through Saquon Barkley.

40. Robby Anderson: Finishing as the WR37 last year, Robby Anderson's career has been a rollercoaster thus far. He is an absolute burner down the field who possesses elite straight-line speed and a lengthy 6'2 body frame. With that being said his limited route tree and skillset will be a weekly boom or bust type player. He also has had character and injury issues in the past. I am going to closely monitor R. Anderson through the preseason to get a better understanding of how prominent of a role he will have in this Jets offense. The pairing of new RB Le'Veon Bell and a deep threat like Anderson is an intriguing one. I anticipate a lot of stacked boxes against Le'Veon Bell. How do you counter? One way is through selling the play action and going deep. To none other than... 

41. Tyler Boyd: Maybe I am being too harsh here as Boyd had a very efficient season with the Bengals in 2018 that landed him as the WR17. There is a lot of buzz around the young receiver to build upon that. I am contrary to that belief. The Bengals were banged up with injuries last year to their TE position (Tyler Eifert) and WR A.J Green. Boyd could very well climb up this list as we inch closer to the start of the season but his volume and touchdown opportunities are going to take a steep hit this season. Which is what propelled him to the strong finish in 2018. 

42. Michael Gallup: Has a great opportunity to grow after showing glimpses of promise in his rookie season. I believe he will be relied on as the #2 WR behind Amari Cooper in the Dallas Cowboys offense. But a limited ceiling due to a team that heavily relies on the run through Ezekiel Elliot. 

43. Allen Robinson: Four years ago Allen Robinson took fantasy football by storm when he posted a 1,400-yard season along with 14 TD's. Since then, he has yet to come even remotely close to that success. Primarily hampered by injuries throughout the years that followed, Robinson has yet to meet up to hopeful expectations of a bounce back year. Will monitor through the preseason to assess where he stands in the offense going forward, but at this point, he is a stash for me. 

44. Courtland Sutton: Had a solid rookie season and should build upon it with the Denver Broncos. Newly acquired QB Joe Flacco is a potential upgrade to their former QB, Case Keenum. The positive note is Sutton will benefit from a high target share as the teams' 2nd best-receiving option. With that being said, the Broncos offense as a whole is one I wouldn't be thrilled to invest into for the 2019 season. 

45. DeSean Jackson: Returning to his former team where he played in his glory days, DeSean Jackson will help the Eagles in the deep game. At 32 years old, he has lost a step from his elite speed but he is still amongst the top deep threats in the game. His ball tracking ability and experience helps make up for that. While he isn't a route running aficionado I noticed he was able to build upon his route tree with his time with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Unfortunately, the Eagles receiving corp is really diverse. His volume will be thinner compared to his time with the Bucs but can be relied upon to score a handful of touchdowns every season. 

46. Larry Fitzgerald: Don't get it twisted, David Johnson may be the focal point of this offense as a whole but Larry has and will be the go-to guy in this new air raid offense. While I do anticipate offensive struggles given a rookie QB and first time NFL coach is in the mix, his volume will be there to continue to put up respectable numbers at the ripe age of 36 come September. 

47. KeKe Coutee: A well-utilized gadget player who thrives around the line of scrimmage in the Texans offense. Up until the injury bug hampered him throughout the season, he was putting up some eye-catching numbers and quickly became a top waiver add. A healthy trio of WR's in Houston can help maximize his chances of having an efficient. The opportunity to be the #3 pass option in a talented offense with Deshaun Watson throwing to you is a big plus. Besides, An injury to the oft-injured Will Fuller can thrust him into a much more prominent role. 

48. Adam Humphries: Departing the Bucs and signing with the Titans in 2019, Humphries was brought in to be a reliable slot option. This Titans offense isn't reliable outside of Derrick Henry at this point but it's very possible Humphries could lead the team in targets and be a consistent contributor every week. 

49. Christian Kirk: Christian Kirk had himself a pretty good rookie season last year for the Cardinals. He will now be reunited with his college football coach, Kliff Kingsbury. I assume a larger role this year but temper expectations in an offense that is sure to go through their growing pains as they try and rebuild. It's hard to trust a player in this offense outside of David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and maybe Kyler Murray. 

50. Robert Foster: Foster came on late last year for the Buffalo Bills and put on a clinic. He is apart of a murky offense with limited firepower hurts his upside greatly. In my opinion, this receiving corp is up for grabs in terms of the pecking order. That alone is upside to be a top target in an offense in the late fantasy football rounds. In the last 4 games of the 2018 season, he put up numbers to earn the WR 21 position.