X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Veteran Wide Receivers Set to Lose Targets in 2019

Justin Carter determines which veteran wide receivers might lose targets in the 2019 season based on NFL Draft results. These WR could be fantasy football ADP busts or fallers.

It's a yearly cycle: new players enter the league and older players are either pushed out or start down a path that eventually leads to them being pushed out. No one -- not even the Larry Fitzgeralds of the world -- can play forever.

Speaking of Larry Fitzgerald, let's turn to the subject of this article. A whole cast of solid rookie receivers entered the league this past month, which means we're going to be heading towards a corresponding drop in targets for some veteran wide receivers.

Let's look at the veterans wideouts with the most to worry about in terms of usage next season.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

Numbers don't lie and the numbers say that last season Larry Fitzgerald led the Cardinals in targets, but he saw his total share of the team's targets drop from 30.22 percent down to 23.64 percent. Two big reasons for this: a healthy David Johnson, who saw 16.53 percent of the team's targets after a 2017 season in which Arizona's most targeted running back, D.J. Foster, saw just 4.86 percent, and the emergence of rookie Christian Kirk, who was targeted 68 times.

Now, two things about the 2019 version of the Cardinals. One, they've brought in head coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, so we should expect a pass-oriented offense in which more total targets are available for the team's receivers, but the team also brought in two highly-touted rookie receivers, Hakeem Butler and Andy Isabella, who'll need some of those targets. And with another year of development for Kirk, we're looking at a team that's likely to spread the ball around more instead of focusing so much on one wide receiver. Factor in another thing that we aren't supposed to talk about but probably should -- Fitzgerald being 36 this upcoming season -- and there's a drop-off just waiting to happen.

The increased pass attempts should help Fitzgerald avoid some kind of complete bottoming out, but I'm still lower than I've ever been on him in re-draft leagues, and it wouldn't be a shock to see a new target leader in Arizona if Kirk continues the upward trajectory he had last season.

 

Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers

Goodwin was targeted 43 times in 11 games last year. He missed time for personal reasons and while he has the talent to continue being an important part of this offense, some of the team's recent moves suggest that Goodwin won't return to his 2017 level of productivity.

The team spent an early draft pick on South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who, with second-year wideout Dante Pettis, should form San Francisco's receiving corps of the future. Samuel is a good route runner, has good hands, and should be able to make things happen with the ball in his hands. Samuel has the skill to be the top receiver on a team and can play both inside and outside. The 49ers will need to find a way to keep him on the field. They also drafted Jalen Hurd, who will play all around the field and see his share of touches too. They'll have to keep Pettis on the field too, as he showed a ton of promise during his rookie year.

This means that while Goodwin's likely to have a role with the team, he's not getting back to the 2017 level of productivity, especially with a huge chunk of the team's targets getting eaten up by George Kittle. Goodwin's the third or fourth option on this offense and, with so much youth in tow, really only has one direction to trend: down.

 

Alshon Jeffery, Philadephia Eagles

Jeffery is entering his eighth season in the NFL and his third as an Eagle. Last year, Jeffery caught 65 passes for 843 yards in 13 games. It was the fourth year in a row where Jeffery didn't hit 1000 yards, but his per-game numbers were up from 2017, with Jeffery improving in yards per game, yards per target, and catch percentage.

But his catch percentage of 70.7 percent was a career high, and nothing about Jeffery's career suggests that a catch rate over 60 percent is sustainable, so there's that. There's also the introduction of J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the mix, and I'm sure we've all heard the talk about how Arcega-Whiteside is going to be a major red zone threat for the Eagles. He's the kind of big-bodied receiver who can be incredibly useful down in that part of the field.

But opportunities don't just appear from thin air; someone has to lose for someone else to gain, and Jeffery's likely to see fewer red zone targets with Arcega-Whiteside in town, lowering his overall ceiling as his opportunities to find the end zone are reduced.

 

Willie Snead, Baltimore Ravens

Did you know Snead led the Ravens in targets last year with 101? And that he caught 66.34 percent of those targets? No?

Well, I don't see that happening again. The Ravens spent a good amount of draft capital on players who can catch the ball -- whether that be out of the backfield or as a wideout -- and Snead's going to struggle to hold those guys off for snaps and targets. There's Marquise Brown, who gives Lamar Jackson a highly-talented, potential star to toss the ball deep to. There's Miles Boykin, who has good hands and can adjust to poorly-placed balls due to his catch radius. He could wind up as an incredibly useful piece on this offense. There's also running back Justice Hill, who should give the Ravens a back who can make catches out of the backfield and be a more effective version of what Javorius Allen was at times last season.

And that's not to mention the non-rookies. Mark Ingram was brought in as a free agent, and with the Saints last year he was targeted 26 times. And then there's the two second-year tight ends, Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst. Andrews looked like the better pass catcher last season, and I'd expect that to continue, but Hurst should be worked into the mix more and end up receiving more than the 3.86 percent of the team's targets he received last year. Things are more crowded now in Baltimore, so don't expect to see Snead top 100 targets again.

More ADP Busts and Avoids




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Demarcus Robinson

Sentenced to Three Years of Probation
Jalen Nailor

In Line for WR3 Role in Minnesota
Andrew Thomas

Could Miss Start of 2025 Season
Alex Bregman

Expected to Return on Friday
Julio Rodríguez

Julio Rodriguez Won't Suit Up for Midsummer Classic
Trey Smith

Chiefs, Trey Smith Expected to Work Out Long-Term Extension
Bernhard Raimann

a Candidate for an Extension This Summer
C.J. Stroud

Could Sign Multi-Year Deal Before 2026 Season
Kyle Juszczyk

Says Christian McCaffrey Looks Healthy, Explosive
Kyren Williams

Showing Improved Explosiveness
Christian Barmore

"Dominant" this Spring
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF