The NFL is a passing league and having a good set of wide receivers on your fantasy football team is vital to success.
The Detroit Lions have subscribed to this idea the past few years too as they have had their best success in the passing game when having three effective wide receivers in the lineup. This is the same strategy that leads to success for your fantasy team. You want two top, dynamic wide receivers and one solid player in most league formats to be very competitive.
Here is what I look for when I’m drafting a top wide receiver in fantasy football:
- Is his quarterback an elite player?
- What is the style of offense? Run first or pass-heavy?
- You want your receivers on a team that throws the ball
- You want a wide receiver on a team full of other weapons alongside him, as it helps reduce double teams.
Top receivers can put up huge numbers and are key to winning your fantasy league, especially when in most leagues, you have to start three receivers and only two running backs. If you can land an elite receiver — or even better, two — it will enhance your chances to be at the top of the standings in your fantasy league.
Here is my Top 10 list for this season.
Top 10 WR’s for 2020:
1. Michael Thomas, Saints – He has been so amazing the past few seasons, averaging 126 receiving yards per season over the last three years, I couldn’t put anyone else at the top.
2. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers – Having him ranked here may surprise most people, but I see him in the perfect situation to fly up charts coming off a tremendous season last year.
3. Odell Beckham Jr., Browns– He says he healthy now, the blonde hair is back, and I expect him to return to his electrifying form where he puts up big numbers each week.
4. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs – Speed kills and Tyreek Hill is pure speed. He also has Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball. Enough said.
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals – The offense in Arizona is projected to be high powered, but I would think Hopkins takes a bit of step back in his first year with the Cardinals.
6. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers – Another player that I have higher than most. He’s young, has the skill set needed to dominate in the slot, and is getting his Hall of Fame quarterback back again this year. I think he will have a huge season on the gridiron to quiet all the doubters.
7. Julio Jones, Falcons – He probably is still the most physically gifted receiver in football, but he’s getting older and he doesn’t score many touchdowns. That bumped him down my list a bit, which could come back to bite me, as I expect Atlanta to have a good offense this year.
8. Mike Evans, Buccaneers – Tom Brady is now his quarterback, and Evans has always been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL. He flies a bit under the radar despite his six straight 1,000 plus yard seasons. He’s only played six seasons in total and has nearly 50 touchdowns in his career during that time.
9. Amari Cooper, Cowboys – One of the top route runners in the sport. He’s also that receiver that can win a week all by himself by putting up 200 plus yards and multiple touchdowns any given game.
10. Davante Adams – Most of the time you will see Adams in the top five on most lists. I’m not a huge fan. He will get heavy volume in the passing game though, so I still had to put him in top pass catchers based on that. He’s only had 1,000 yards once in his entire career.
Lions Players:
Kenny Golladay – I know most Lions fans may be wondering why he isn’t in my Top 10. I just couldn’t fit him in there. He had very good seasons the past two years, but I expect a bit of dip in his production while Matthew Stafford spreads the ball around more again this year in a potentially explosive Lions offense.
Marvin Jones Jr. – Now this is a player that most are forgetting about, but I don’t think the Lions coaching staff has forgotten. Expect Jones Jr. to have plenty of chances to produce if he can stay healthy this year. Try to get him in the later rounds before someone else does, and he will be great depth for you at the position as you can start him as a bye week replacement and feel very good about it.
Danny Amendola – The tenured, crafty veteran had a great season last year in Detroit. I’ve seen him sneak on people’s fantasy rosters in the last round in a few leagues, but I’d stay away. I hope Amendola has another solid statistical season for the Lions, but it’s what he does off the field and in practice that is most valuable to the team. I don’t expect his gameday production to be enough to justify a roster spot on your fantasy team.