Under The Radar WR Signings: Fantasy Risers or Fallers?

August 4, 2020

Mike Riggall looks at under-the-radar running back free agent signings to determine which of these RB will be risers or fallers for 2020 fantasy football leagues.

Due to the ongoing pandemic facing this nation and the world, the 2020 NFL offseason has been a little tough to navigate given the lack of mini-camps and OTAs. The biggest names on the free-agent market this year were Amari Cooper and A.J. Green, both of whom stayed with their respective clubs. However, just because big names didn't sign elsewhere in free agency this year doesn't mean there weren't fantasy relevant moves.

Breshad Perriman was thought to be a bust early in his NFL career and was buried on the depth chart in Tampa Bay in 2019. Due to injury, Perriman saw meaningful snaps down the stretch last year and put up big numbers, but his market was cold because teams weren't banging down the door to pay a guy that's only performed at a high level for just a few games. Outside of Perriman, there were a few veterans that have been in the league for a decade in Emmanuel Sanders and Randall Cobb who may rekindle fantasy relevancy late in their careers with new teams.

Now let's discuss some of these 2020 wide receiver signings that have gone under the radar in greater detail and talk through which of them could be risers or fallers for the 2020 NFL season.

Free Agent WR Risers

Randall Cobb (HOU)

Houston gave Randall Cobb some serious money to come play wide receiver for them this offseason. After trading away their star pass-catcher DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, they are clearly counting on Cobb to come through in 2020. Cobb is currently penciled in as a starter opposite Brandin Cooks and he will kick inside to the slot when the Texans go with three-wide sets. Cobb has been in the league since 2011 but he still has some juice left. Cobb's best years came when he flirted with 100 targets and his most efficient seasons have come when he was targeted further down the field. His new quarterback Deshaun Watson loves to throw the ball down the field which helps Cobb's prospects in 2020.

Cobb has a career catch-rate of about 70% and given his place on the Texans depth chart, it's possible he leads the team in targets this season, especially given the injury histories of Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller. Even going with a conservative projection, if Cobb is targeted just 100 times and catches 70 balls for his career mark of 12.1 yards-per-catch, that will give him about 850 yards which would put him over 150 PPR-points before any touchdowns or rushing yards are factored. At his current ADP which is 204, Cobb could be a league winner in a PPR or deeper formats.

Emmanuel Sanders (NO)

This is hardly breaking news but the Saints have struggled to find a productive wide receiver opposite Michael Thomas over the last few years. Tre'Quan Smith hasn't gotten it done in his first two years in New Orleans but he still figures to play on the outside which means Emmanuel Sanders will kick inside to the slot when three wide receivers are on the field for the Saints. Even at 33 years old Sanders is still moving well and given the presence of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, defenses won't be dictating coverage in his direction. Sanders will likely be volatile because he will be the third option in the Saints passing game behind Thomas and Kamara but at his current ADP of 116 he could be a great back-end starter in PPR leagues and deeper formats.

Breshad Perriman (NYJ)

Breshad Perriman saw an increase in snaps down the stretch in 2019 after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both suffered season-ending injuries. Sam Darnold loves peppering the middle of the field with targets which bodes well for players like Jamison Crowder, Chris Herndon, Ryan Griffin and even Le'Veon Bell. That being said the Jets really only have two guys that can get it done on the outside, and that's Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims, but Mims is going to need time to develop before he does anything as a professional. The Jets are likely to struggle in 2020, especially since they traded away their best player, Jamaal Adams over the weekend, and when they're looking to throw the ball down the field late in games, Perriman will be the guy seeing those targets.

Perriman's ADP is sitting at 137 and he's being drafted around guys like Sterling Shepard, Anthony Miller, DeSean Jackson and Sammy Watkins. Between all of those players going in the 130-range, Perriman has the highest ceiling and he's a steal at his current ADP. We really need to pay attention to the Jets beat writers this summer to see how Perriman is connecting with Sam Darnold during training camp, because if it goes well, he could be very special in 2020. I wouldn't be surprised if Perriman starts getting drafted as a top-80 pick as we get closer to the season opener, getting drafted ahead of guys like Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks who are very volatile.

Robby Anderson (CAR)

Robby Anderson was signed to be the X receiver for the Carolina Panthers and while newly signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater doesn't throw the ball downfield a ton, he's still going to be fantasy relevant. Anderson's ADP currently sits at 158 and he's getting drafted around guys like Nyheim Hines, Blake Jarwin, Jack Doyle, Justin Jackson, Darrynton Evans and Antonio Brown who just retired again, at least according to Twitter. At that point in the draft, Anderson is basically a free pick, and while starting Anderson in your lineup isn't ideal due to his volatility, he's a boom-or-bust option that could come through for you in a big way if you need him down the stretch.

Free Agent WR Fallers

Nelson Agholor (LVR)

Nelson Agholor is seemingly a great fit for the Raiders because Derek Carr is not an aggressive thrower and tends to pass the ball conservatively to the middle of the field where Agholor normally operates. While Agholor is best suited in the slot, the Raiders already have Hunter Renfrow who figures to be their slot receiver and they drafted Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs back in April which crowds the depth chart. When you factor a healthy Tyrell Williams in the mix and Darren Waller at tight end, there simply aren't enough targets to go around in Las Vegas to make Agholor a viable option. Monitor the Raiders wide receivers thoughout training camp though, because if Renfrow suffers an injury Agholor may be in business.

Devin Funchess (GB)

It simply hasn't happened for Devin Funchess so far in his NFL career. Funchess basically missed the 2019-season because of injury but even prior to that he simply hasn't demonstrated athleticism necessary to separate from defensive backs in the NFL. Any hope that the big-bodied receiver may become fantasy relevant in 2020 was doused when he signed with the run-heavy Green Bay Packers. Even if Davante Adams goes down, Funchess will be nothing more than a touchdown-dependent possession receiver.

Marcus Johnson (IND)

Marcus Johnson doesn't really count as a free agent signing because he re-signed with his current team this offseason, but he's still worth mentioning. In T.Y. Hilton's absence in 2019 Johnson was forced into duty and showed flashes of ability with mediocre quarterback play. Now that Philip Rivers is throwing the ball in Indianapolis, Johnson may have had a chance to catch some balls, but the addition of Michael Pittman this April all but put a nail in that idea. At this point, Johnson will only have a chance at fantasy relevance if the Colts move on from T.Y. Hilton or there's an injury to Parris Campbell or Michael Pittman.

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