Wide Receiver Best-Ball Tiered Rankings and Analysis (April 2019)

April 23, 2019

Tiered rankings and analysis for wide receivers in best ball leagues. Phil Clark breaks down the WR ranks for owners in best ball fantasy football leagues for 2019.

Passion for the Best-Ball format continues to escalate and the overwhelming response from owners has created an explosion in popularity for these leagues while also creating another avenue to enjoy the experience of participation in fantasy football. Those of you who have already embraced the Best Ball format are fully aware that you are simultaneously building your roster and completing all actual roster management as you create your team during the draft process.

The ranking experts at RotoBaller have assembled tiered rankings in all major formats in order to help you prepare for your upcoming drafts, and improve your chances of winning your leagues in 2019. This includes our updated Best Ball rankings, which are designed to assist you in constructing rosters that will accumulate the highest point totals throughout the season.

We are also providing a detailed breakdown of these rankings at the most critical positions, including this analysis of wide receivers. These players maintain an unmistakable presence in our rankings, as 12 receivers are located among our top 25, while 22 receivers are contained within our top 50. We will continue to update these rankings in Best Ball and every other format throughout the offseason and you can find the latest rankings here.

WR Best-Ball Rankings (April)

Tier 1

DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr. 

Hopkins has commandeered the top ranking among wide receivers following a collection of 2018 accomplishments that included performing on more snaps than anyone at his position (1,084/99%). That translated into a favorable target total, as Hopkins was also the only receiver who collected 10+ in five consecutive games from Weeks 13-17 while placing inside the top five overall for the third time in four seasons (163). He converted his opportunities into outstanding numbers, finishing second in both receiving yards (1,572) and percentage share of his team’s air yards (44.04%), third in receptions (115), and fourth with 11 touchdowns.

Adams is now a fixture in tier 1 rankings after vaulting to WR2 in scoring, and registering career highs in receiving yards (1,386), receptions (111) and touchdowns (13). That touchdown total tied him for second overall, while he also finished fifth in receptions and seventh in yardage. Adams also completed the year with just one less target than league leader Julio Jones (169), despite being sidelined in Week 17. However, he did lead the league in red zone targets (31), and with no genuine threat on the Packers to remotely approach his target total, he will deliver exceptional output once again.

Among the 18 receivers that exceeded 1,000+ yards, only Beckham attained that number (1,052) in fewer than 14 games. His ability to ignite for significant yardage has already helped him eclipse 1,050 yards four times during his five-year career. Now he should benefit greatly by the upgrade from a declining Eli Manning to surging signal caller Baker Mayfield, who has the talent and moxie to propel Beckham toward a 1,200-yard/10 touchdown season.

Tier 2

Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, Antonio Brown

Thomas led all receivers with 125 receptions (7.8 per game), which continued a trend in which his reception totals have improved during each of his three seasons (92/104/125 receptions). His yardage totals have steadily increased during that sequence including the career-best 1,405 that he attained last season. Thomas also led all receivers in catch rate (85.03%), generated nine touchdowns for the second time in his career, and has also finished as a top-five scorer for two consecutive seasons.

Jones has finished either first or second in receiving yardage during each of the last four seasons and has led the NFL twice in the same category during that span. That includes last season's league-best 1,677, which expanded Jones' total to nearly 8,000 yards since 2014 (7,994). He also established a new career high in 100-yard games (10), paced all receivers in targets for the second time since 2015 (170), finished third in receptions (113), and generated the most touchdowns since 2015 (8).

Smith-Schuster is still just 22 but has elevated into the second tier after finishing fourth in targets (166), and fifth in both receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,426). He will now function as Pittsburgh’s WR1 without being encumbered by Antonio Brown confiscating targets, although he will also be confronted with additional attention from opposing defenders that had previously been absorbed by Brown. How Smith-Schuster responds to the surplus of coverage will dictate whether he can continue his ascension among receiving options.

Evans punctuated his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season by generating a career-best 1,524 yards in 2018. He also established career highs in yards-per-catch (17.7) and yards-per-game (95.3) while finishing third among all receivers in both categories. Evans also registered career-bests in catch rate percentage (62.3%) 100-yard games (8) and finished at WR6 in standard league scoring. He does not always elicit the same degree of enthusiasm as some WR1s but remains an excellent Tier 2 option.

Hill provided an overwhelming presence for nearly all defenders that attempted to contain him by exploding for 1,479 yards, 17 yards-per-reception, 92 yards-per-game, and 12 touchdowns. He also finished fourth or better in each of those categories, but his status for 2019 is currently unclear. Hill remains under investigation in an alleged battery case, and could conceivably miss games, or potentially be released by the Chiefs. His ranking will be altered once the fluid situation that engulfs his availability is resolved.

Brown has secured a landing place to exhibit his exceptional talent, which has gradually shifted conjecture toward how proficiently he can operate within an Oakland offense that has undergone an offseason transformation. Brown produced an NFL-best 15 receiving touchdowns last season, finished second in fantasy scoring, and was ultimately just two targets behind  Jones despite a Week 17 absence. While off-field behavior is a concern, his continued ability to deliver a statistical explosion in any given matchup should compel owners to select him with conviction in Round 2.

Tier 3

Keenan Allen, T.Y. Hilton, Adam Thielen, A.J. Green, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks, Kenny Golladay, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Allen Robinson  

After being sidelined for a total of 26 games from 2013-2016, Allen has evaded health issues for two consecutive seasons. That has enabled him to collect 199 receptions, accumulate 2,589 yards, and generate 12 touchdowns during that span while increasing the rationale toward including him in WR1 consideration. That includes the 97 receptions and 1,196 yards that he assembled in 2018, as he captured at least six receptions in nine different contests. He could exceed last year’s target total (136), as a large percentage of Tyrell Williams’ 65 vacated targets should be redistributed to Allen.

Hilton finished 10^th in receiving yards last season (1,270) and was the only receiver within the top 10 to manufacture his season total while playing in fewer than 15 games. He has now registered at least 1,083 yards five times since 2013 while averaging 1,254 during that sequence. He was also sixth in yards-per-game average (90.7), eighth in yards-per-reception (16.7), averaged 8.6 targets-per-game and led the Colts in targets (120), receptions (76) and yardage. He returns as Andrew Luck’s top receiving option while functioning within a Frank Reich offense that finished ninth in pass percentage (61.6%).

Thielen's season-long output was excellent, as he accumulated the third most receptions (113), and finished among the top eight in targets (153) and receiving yards (1,373). However, savvy owners are already cognizant of the sizable decline in opportunities and production that occurred as his season progressed. He was leading the NFL in targets (96), receiving yards (925), and receptions (74) after Week 8, but his diminished output from Weeks 11-17 (61 yards-per-game/5.0 receptions per game) and his targets per-game average from Weeks 14-17 (4.75) should not be dismissed.

Only eight receivers had been targeted with greater frequency than Green prior to Week 9 (76/9.5 per game) before a toe issue derailed what had been a promising season. He had also averaged 6.0 receptions-per-game and 87 yards-per-game from Weeks 1-7 prior to the abrupt end of his production. Potential owners must now decide if they want to avoid a 31-year-old receiver who has missed 13 games in 2016/2018 or trust the same player who also finished at WR10 in 2017.

Only six receivers garnered more targets than Diggs (149) even though he was sidelined in Week 9 (ribs), and the fourth-year receiver finished seventh in targets-per-game (9.9). The massive number of opportunities propelled him to his first 100-catch season (102), his first 1,000-yard season (1,021), and a career-best nine touchdowns. He also captured more targets than Thielen from Weeks 11-17 (64/50), while also accumulating more receptions (44/35), receiving yardage (434/426) and touchdowns (5-2).

Cooper averaged 5.2 targets-per-game and 3.6 receptions-per-game with Oakland from Weeks 1-6, but his career achieved a much-needed restoration after he resurfaced with Dallas. Those averages climbed to 8.4/5.8, and he produced six of his seven touchdowns after becoming a Cowboy. One cautionary result from Cooper’s nine-game tenure with Dallas is that 397 of the 725 yards that he accrued were generated in two contests (Weeks 12/14), while he averaged just 46.7 yards-per-game in the seven remaining matchups.

Cooks has not missed a game in four seasons and has assembled nearly 4,600 yards during that sequence (1,204/1,082/ 1,173/ 1,138). His ability to sustain that level of production despite functioning in three diverse offensive schemes with a trio of different signal callers makes his accomplishment even more impressive. His prowess as a deep threat also remained intact, after he finished fifth with 22 catches of 20+ yards, and eclipsed 100 yards five times. He remains an enticing best ball option who can deliver big plays throughout the season.

Golladay's ranking has catapulted to a more prestigious tier after he thrived amid the deconstruction of what had been a potent passing attack to eclipse 1,000 yards (1,063) and finish at WR19 in his second season. He also finished 15th in targets from Weeks 1-16 (119), collected 15 red zone targets, and played on 90% of Detroit's offensive snaps (904). Continued improvement and another rise in production both appear imminent.

Entering Week 6, Kupp had already procured 40 targets (8-targets-per-game) while averaging 6 receptions and 88 yards-per-game during that span. He was also third overall in red zone targets (11), but what had been an encouraging season was ultimately limited to eight games as the result of multiple knee issues. However, his importance to the Ram offense as both a reliable receiver and effective blocker will assure that he recaptures an integral role upon his return.

Woods finished second among all receivers in offensive snaps (1,041/95%), and he capitalized by establishing new career highs in targets (130), receptions (86), receiving yards (1,219), and yards-per-game average (76.2). That was sufficient to vault the sixth-year receiver into the top 13 of all four categories, while he also generated a career-best six touchdowns. The return of Kupp will create additional competition for targets, although Woods still averaged 7.9-targets, 5.4 receptions and 82 yards during the games when Kupp was in the lineup.

Robinson's career-best numbers of 2015 (1,400 yards/ 14 touchdowns/WR4) continue to recede further into irrelevancy with each passing season. That process continued after the promise of a reinvigorated career in Chicago was disrupted by injuries that limited Robinson to 13 games. Despite his sustained absence, Robinson still led the Bears in targets (94) and receiving yards (754), and he remains a feasible best ball target that can deliver high-quality production during various weeks of the year.

Tier 4

Jarvis Landry, Alshon Jeffery, Julian Edelman, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Boyd, D.J. Moore, Tyler Lockett

Landry was averaging 11.75 targets/6.2 receptions/66 yards during his first eight matchups. But his averages dropped to 6.9 targets/4.0 receptions/56 yards-per-game after Freddie Kitchens became offensive coordinator. Despite the universal decline in usage and production, the arrival of Beckham should create space for Landry, and Mayfield is adept at locating open receivers.

Although a shoulder injury sidelined Jeffery from Weeks 1-3, he still accrued the most receptions (65) and receiving yards (843) since 2014. He will retain WR1 responsibilities. even as Zach Ertz confiscates a mammoth percentage of team targets and DeSean Jackson delivers a cluster of highly productive performances.

After serving a four-game suspension (PEDs) Edelman averaged 9 targets, 6.2 receptions and 71 yards from Weeks 5-17 while performing on 88% of New England's offensive snaps. The Patriots will eventually upgrade their unsightly depth chart. But Edelman should resurface as a vital component in their offense and a reliable point producer for owners. 

Baldwin had performed in all 16 games for five consecutive years with Seattle (2013-2017) before the 30-year old was forced to miss three contests in 2018. Our rankings are constructed under the premise that he will be ready to perform in Week 1 after sports hernia surgery, and will be adjusted if it appears that he will not be available.

Boyd eviscerated his previous career bests by capturing 108 targets, collecting 76 receptions, generating 1,028 yards, and scoring seven times. All despite missing Weeks 16-17 with an MCL sprain. New head coach Zac Taylor’s offense should provide him with opportunities to accumulate respectable production once again.

Moore's is primed to seize Carolina's WR1 role after gradually attaining those responsibilities as his rookie season progressed. His production surged after his snap count rose from 38.5% in Weeks 1-7 to 89% from Weeks 9-17. He also led all wide receivers with 7.9 yards-after-catch-per-reception while pacing all rookies with 960 yards from scrimmage.

As Baldwin contended with troublesome injuries, Lockett emerged as Seattle's most productive receiver. He achieved career bests in receptions (57) and receiving yards (965) and his 10 touchdowns tied him for fifth overall.

Tier 5

Calvin Ridley, Chris Godwin, Corey Davis, Golden Tate, Robby Anderson, Dante Pettis, Sammy Watkins 

Ridley accrued more receptions (64), yardage (821), touchdowns (10) and fantasy points (WR18) than any other rookie receiver, and became the first newcomer to amass double-digit touchdowns since 2014. While replicating his touchdown total will be challenging. Ridley's target, reception, and yardage totals should rise.

Godwin played on 64% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps but still scored seven times, accumulated 842 yards, and tied for third with 11 targets inside the 10. The pathway toward a breakout season has been cleared by the combined exodus of Adam Humphries and Jackson.

Davis led the Titans in every major receiving category but his WR27 finish and 12 games of fewer than 57 yards were disappointing byproducts of a Tennessee attack that ranked 31st in passing attempts. Davis’ potential for production improves if Humphries attracts attention from defenders.

Tate only played on 35.6% of Philadelphia's offensive snaps while averaging a paltry 21 yards-per-game from Weeks 14-16.  But his value has been resuscitated thanks to a four-year contract and a new role as a frequent short-yardage weapon for Manning. Only five receivers exceeded Anderson's average of 9.75 targets-per-game from Weeks 14-17, who also accrued 5.75 receptions and 84 yards during that four-game span.

Pettis has an opportunity to reawaken the statistical surge that he had constructed in Weeks 12-15 when he averaged 84.5 yards/6.4 receptions and scored four times. Watkins is most enticing in the best ball format since his periodic games of high-quality production are often undermined by extended injuries (18 missed games since 2015).

Tier 6

Marvin Jones, Courtland Sutton, Mike Williams, Will Fuller, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald

The receivers that are included in this tier can still be beneficial to their owners, and could easily elevate beyond their current value.

Tier 7 and lower

Dede Westbrook, Keke Coutee, Anthony Miller, DeSean Jackson, Michael Gallup, Curtis Samuel, Sterling Shepard 

Tiers 7-10 contain receivers that are located from WR41 to WR89 in our rankings. However, their relevance could be transformed as situations develop in the upcoming weeks.

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