Wide Receiver Outlooks: Julio Jones Struggles as Jeremy Maclin Excels

The life of a wide receiver in the NFL can be an interesting one. Why? Well, think about it—as a wideout, you’re not entirely responsible for your success while out on the field. If the ball’s being thrown your way, you’re then eligible for dominance or complete and total failure.

When it isn’t, either you’re not getting open, or you’re stuck in a bad situation. Either way, this kind of working environment means that wideouts, more than just about any other position on the offensive side of the ball, are prone to fluctuating levels of on-field accomplishment.

Still not fully convinced? Seriously, take a look at Julio Jones. Remember how hot of a commodity the receiver was at the beginning of the year? As Matt Ryan’s production plummets, so too does Jones’ ability to remain a top-tier fantasy option. Sure, Jones had a decent game this past weekend at Tampa Bay, bringing in 93 yards on 17 targets, but this is still his second straight week without double-digit fantasy points.

The best part of it all? Next week at Carolina, Jones gets to face arguably the league’s best cornerback in Josh Norman. Delving Deeper, reports Jamey Eisenberg of CBSSports.com, “In two games against the Panthers in 2014, Jones had six catches for 59 yards on 11 targets in one outing and four catches for 58 yards on eight targets in another.”

Additionally, as if the history of the matchup wasn’t damning enough, Norman has shut down nearly every star receiver he’s faced this year. Because of this, Jones should be viewed as a No. 2 receiver headed into this weekend.

But hey, things aren’t all negative—Jeremy Maclin’s stock is on the rise. Admittedly, Maclin got off to a pretty slow start this season, nabbing single-digit points for fantasy fans through a five-game stretch. However, the past two weeks, he’s been unreal out on the field. In Week 12, Maclin had 9 catches for 160 yards, and on Sunday, he caught nine balls for 95 yards at Oakland.

Oh, and over that two-week span, he managed to score three touchdowns. This upcoming weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs face the lowly Chargers, so Maclin is bound to be targeted pretty frequently by quarterback Alex Smith. More than likely, he’ll be open. Every great fantasy team needs a solid receiving core—just make sure you’re shopping the right names to make it happen.