During preseason, it’s always difficult to know exactly how player development and performances will translate into the regular season. Still, there are players who need to be sorted out at times. Whether they’re being overvalued or completely off the radar, expectations can at least be shifted to a certain degree. Preseason can help sharpen what can be a blurry view of the regular season. Maybe we don’t get 20/20 vision -- that’s reserved for hindsight. However, we can at least see the direction the road may be headed.
Fantasy football draft strategy: Preseason Week 2 wide receivers stock report
Which wide receivers are trending after the second week of preseason? We take a look at the fantasy implications.
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With Week 2 of preseason behind us, let’s take a look at few players who are either trending up or down as we head into draft season.
Trending Up
On Sunday, Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson suffered a torn ACL, leaving a huge void on the team's offense. There isn't anyone on the Packers' roster who can replace Nelson. However, the absence of Nelson brings forth a lot of opportunity for young players to shine. Adams finished his rookie season with 38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns. Expect Adams to have every opportunity to more than double those numbers, making for a WR3 floor for the 2015 season. Adams will likely flirt with WR2 numbers on a consistent basis. Fellow wide receivers Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery make for great late-round flyers as they fight for a WR3 position on the depth chart.
Landry led starting receivers in targets on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers. He caught four of his five targets for 20 yards, bringing his preseason total to six catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. He's proving to be Ryan Tannehill's favorite target and should offer WR2 numbers with strong PPR upside.
Johnson continues to prove himself as one of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's favorite targets. On Saturday, Johnson played well, catching four balls for 40 yards and a touchdown in less than one half of regulation. Johnson is being drafted in the seventh round or later in most fantasy drafts -- alongside names like Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith and Roddy White. Johnson is a WR3 at worst, and he offers plenty of upside.
Trending Down
Bryant is still being drafted around the fifth round of most fantasy drafts. Judging by his preseason so far, he's being overvalued. Bryant finished Sunday's game with one catch for 12 yards. More importantly, however, is the fact that Markus Wheaton is ahead of him on the depth chart and playing well in the process. Wheaton caught three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in the second week of preseason. While we could have just as easily placed Wheaton in the "Trending Up" column of this article, Bryant's draft value is arguably the more alarming issue here.
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
Normally, preseason performances for stud wide receivers don't warrant too many overreactions. However, Beckham's fantasy pedigree in 2015 puts him firmly on the radar. Beckham finished Saturday's game with zero catches. He was targeted five times. Of course, the lack of production isn't entirely his fault. Eli Manning has been erratic this preseason. However, it's a reminder that Beckham's draft value is pretty much maxed out in 2015, and he's only in his sophomore season. Beckham had an undeniably stellar rookie season. In fact, it's likely he'll have a great 2015 as a WR1. Still, the risk of even a relatively small sophomore slump makes me feel apprehensive about his asking price in most drafts.
Washington receivers
Pierre Garcon started Washington's second preseason game as Robert Griffin III's primary receiver and was targeted just once. He finished with one catch for four yards on four drives. Griffin's quarterback play and, perhaps more importantly, the team's offensive line have been a disaster. Even if we're seeing an extreme low on what the offense is capable of, it's hard to take any Washington receiver with confidence. DeSean Jackson returned to practice on Sunday after recovering from a shoulder injury. He's being drafted as a WR2/WR3 in most drafts. He should be considered a WR3 at best until we see some sign of improvement during what's left of the preseason.
