With Week 10 kicking off later today, we are heading full steam ahead to fantasy playoffs. Last week we covered the RB Injury Implications, this week, let’s get to the receiving corps situations that have been shaken up either by injuries or people coming back from injuries. Alternatively, some WR situations will be looking a lot different as the year progresses due to guys regressing/progressing, or QB changes. Fantasy points courtesy of Fantasy Pros.

49ers Receiving Corps

The Players: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Richie James, Trent Taylor, River Cracraft, Kendrick Bourne

Week 15/16 opponents: @Dallas, @Arizona.

Samuel slowed flashes of his former explosive self when healthy this year, but expecting huge things in this inconsistent offense is unrealistic. He is only averaging 11.6 YPC, and his rushing ability has been basically non-existent in 2020. Without Kittle, I expect his volume to rise as the season progresses, but because this offense doesn’t scare defenses with all their injuries, Samuel won’t have enough room to operate like he did in 2019 when he averaged 14.1 YPC and 11.4 yards per carry along with 6 TDs. Samuel is going to need a lot to go right for him to get back on his rookie year trajectory.

Brandon Aiyuk has averaged a serviceable 13.7 fantasy points per game, compared to Samuel’s 13.6. Neither jumps off the page, but Aiyuk has been learning on the fly. If Samuel can get going, it should open up things for Aiyuk to continue getting comfortable in this offense. These two could become sleeper guys later in the year if San Fran falls behind a lot, which is likely. Aiyuk has also displayed excellent big-play ability on the ground similar to what we saw from Deebo in 2019, albeit at a 17.3 yards per carry clip. Yes, that is only on carries, but he has 2 TDs on those carries. These two weapons could complement each other nicely with a better QB. With the QBs San Fran has, they are still valuable flex depth.

Richie James is a big play gadget WR who has averaged 20 yards per catch over his career, but never had more than 10 catches. He is super fast, and if there are injuries above him he is worth a look if you are desperate for flex options. He is an intriguing stash but nothing more. But Bourne has the safer floor albeit a much lower ceiling. Bourne is only rosterable when San Fran is missing multiple guys. This is not a prolific offense. I included the other two simply because with this team’s luck, they might be down three receivers in two weeks. Volume is always a good thing in fantasy, and they might have to get it. Plus you can’t complain about those two matchups in weeks 15 and 16, especially week 15.

Eagles Receiving Corps

The Players: Travis Fulgham, Jalen Reagor, Alshon Jeffery, Greg Ward

Week 15/16 schedule: @Arizona, @Dallas (How weird is that?)

On a per-game basis, Travis Fulgham is your fantasy WR5 on the year. With double-digit targets in three of his last 4 games, Fulgham is a lock to start for nearly any roster. His 15 YPC along with 29 catches for 435 yards and 4 TDs in 5 games is a stat line you love seeing. Fulgham should continue to operate as the WR1 in Philly, and this breakout you are witnessing is very real. This guy is a helluva receiver to be heading into fantasy playoffs with.

Jalen Reagor is special. He was my rookie WR1 coming into the draft, and his fit in Philadelphia seemed perfect. Reagor displayed his big-play ability in week 1 against Washington with a 55-yard catch, and his 14 YPC numbers on limited volume tease at his potential. He is a big play waiting to happen. This man is blazing fast. Expect huge leaps for Reagor as he gets fully healthy and fully realized his role in this offense as the field stretching, screen housing speed demon he is. He and Fulghuman should complement each other quite beautifully.

Don’t fall for Alshon. Greg Ward and his nearly 6 catches per game is the only WR in Philly I have an interest in outside the top two, especially if either goes down. Jeffery is a shell of his former excellent self, and him staying healthy is a colossal ask. Reagor and Fulgham will be must-starts in a week 16 matchup with Dallas that legitimately could have playoff implications. Goodness, the NFC East is awful.

Saints Receiving Corps

The Players: Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris

Week 15/16 schedule: vs Kansas City, vs Minnesota

Michael Thomas is back. No, he did not impress upon his return, but let’s all stop pretending we don’t know who MT is. He was the preseason consensus number 1 for a reason. Nobody in the history of the game gets his kind of volume, and you better believe Brees knows how important he is to their offensive flow. Expect to see the old MT moving forward.

Contrary to what you might think, MT returning should help one or both of Sanders and Smith. Defenses can’t pay any attention to them in an offense that has weapons like MT and AK. Expect slightly decreased volume, but slightly increased efficiency, leaving both as flex depth options with reasonably high ceilings.

The other two only come into play if the big three miss time, which for MT owners, let’s hope doesn’t happen anymore. That week 16 matchup hosting Minnesota has barn-burner written all over it.

Buccaneers Receiving Corps

The Players: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Scott Miller, Tyler Johnson

Week 15/16 schedule: @Atlanta, @Detroit (Two domes!)

What do we have here? Could it be three potential WR1’s? Could be, but they won’t do it simultaneously. Mike Evans 7 receiving TDs are tied for third in the league. He is also posting a career-best in catch % at 65.4, although his volume is approaching career-lows. He averages 5.8 targets and 3.8 catches per game. Evans is only producing 13.3 fantasy points per game, but he has displayed the type of upside you seek in a WR1 with multiple huge games. He will remain a solid fantasy starter, albeit with a slightly shaky floor and slightly capped ceiling due to the talent around him.

Godwin has actually outscored Evans on a per-game basis, at 14.4 points per game. His health has been a concern, but when he plays he is out targeting and out catching Evans, at 7 and 5.6 respectively. The TD numbers aren’t there, but his 80 % catch rate cannot be ignored. He has been Brady’s most reliable weapon when on the field, and should likely see plenty of targets moving forward so long as he continues hauling them in at that rate.

One game of AB in TB is not enough to make judgments on, but I foresee him as the clear third fiddle in this receiving corps. He is still super talented and is fully capable of huge games, but between Evans in the red zone and Godwin with the volume, it is tough for me to like AB in the same way I like the other two. Miller and Johnson only deserve to be picked up if injuries bug more than two of the big guys, because Gronk is gonna eat too, and Fournette is a weapon out of the backfield. Playing in two domes against two terrible defenses also makes these WR options super valuable come crunch time.

Packers Receiving Corps

The Players: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor, Darrius Shepherd

Week 15/16 schedule: vs Carolina, vs Tennessee

Adams is WR1 on a per-game basis in 2020, scoring a whopping 28.1 points per game. His 8 touchdowns in 6 games are bonkers, and with Rodgers playing like he is, there is no reason to think Adams doesn’t outright take over WR1 despite playing fewer than 16 games. He averages over 11 targets a game, along with nearly 9 catches. He also averages 112.5 yards per game. What’s not to like? This guy is the man moving forward.

What I believe is more intriguing is who will eat alongside Adams? Lazard is the clear WR2 in GB when healthy, and his 17.4 points per game average ranks 13th in the league. Yes, he has nearly been a WR1 when on the field. He screams big-play with his 19.5 YPC on 13 catches. That is through 3 games. He gets nearly 6 targets and just over 4 catches a game, which translates into 84.7 yards per game while adding in 2 TDs. Yes, this offense can support two WR1s. If the second one is Lazard.

MVS is averaging only 8.6 fantasy points per game. He showed last year he wasn’t capable of holding down the WR2 role despite the preseason hype and has been surpassed by Lazard. Unless Lazard or Adams goes down, MVS is not startable. Honestly, injuries are required for everyone outside Adams and Lazard to be worthy, considering the emergence of the TE in GB and the pass-catching abilities of Jones and Williams out of the backfield. Expect both those late-season matchups in Green Bay to matter due to seeding and be high scoring. Get you some Allen Lazard asap.

Lions Receiving Corps

The Players: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Marvin Hall

Week 15/16 schedule: @Tennesee, vs Tampa Bay.

Golladay has been impressive albeit slightly underwhelming in 2020, mostly due to injury. He is still averaging huge YPC numbers along with posting a career-high catch rate, but he has missed time and not seeing the volume he was used to the last two years. Expect a healthy Golladay to get it going as the year ends, but his last two matchups during playoffs are not good. Tampa is tough.

Marvin Jones has proven capable of plenty of big games, but as always his consistency makes him more valuable in best-ball formats. Without Golladay, he has 18 targets with 11 catches for 121 yards and 2 TDs. Solid, but unspectacular. He will always take a back seat to Golladay when healthy and has yet to prove he can fill that WR1 role in 2020.

Amendola continues to amaze me, considering his health issues from prior years and lack of said issues in 2020. He is getting over 5 targets a game, and somehow managing 16 yards per catch out of that. He has no TDs and is not worthy of being rostered unless health issues continue plaguing Detroit. Keep an eye on him in waivers, but come playoffs he should not be helping you.

Dolphins Receiving Corps

The Players: DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins, Albert Wilson

Week 15/16 schedule: vs New Enland, @ Las Vegas

Parker has underwhelmed in 2020 to the tune of 12.1 fantasy points per game. That being said, when the volume was there, he has mostly delivered. On 49 targets, Parker has 36 catches for 431 yards and 3 TDs. After a breakout 2019, we expected more of the same from Parker, and perhaps due to inconsistencies at QB, he has not delivered. Expect better things moving forward. Last week Tua targetting him 7 times, and he hauled in 6 catches for 64 yards. he found the end zone the week before in Tua’s first start. If Tua wants to be successful, he must make sure to feed Parker who is clearly the best weapon in this offense.

Williams just hit the IR, and won’t be available short-term. But he makes for quite the sneaky play in week 16 against the Raiders in what would be the title week. If you have a WR go down then, Williams if healthy could provide value in a very plus matchup. Miami is very much in the playoff picture at this point, and Tua should become more comfortable as the weeks progress. These two, along with Gesicki, will be looking at a prime week 16 matchup when it is all on the line. Williams’ health is the big concern here.

Do not waste your time on the other guys. Gesicki should get the lion’s share of the remaining targets if Tua knows what’s good for him. Watch for the return of Gaskin, which should open this offense more, ultimately benefitting this receiving corps. Expect a couple of rookie QB bumps along the way, but I feel pretty strongly Parker is due for a big second half.

Browns Receiving Corps

The Players: Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Week 15/16 schedule: @ Giants, @Jets

Landry has averaged 10.2 fantasy points per game, paltry numbers considering his history. He has seen 50 targets in 8 games and caught 33 balls for 419 yards, but he has yet to score or reach 100 yards in a game. He has not produced the way we have come to expect. To be fair, the Browns have suffered quite a few injuries at their skill positions. Landry is posting his lowest yards per game numbers since his rookie year. With the return of Chubb, and the Browns’ willingness to pound the ball with him, I don’t foresee a significant increase in volume. Don’t forget Hooper returns this week as Brownswell.

Higgins is very interesting moving forward with Odell being done. He is averaging 14.8 YPC on 12 catches but has scored twice to go along with his 177 yards. In his last two games, he has 7 catches on 9 targets for 124 yards. With defenses eyeing Landry, Hooper, and those beast RBs, I expect some breakout performances from Higgins. Combine that with his two-week end of the year trip to NY, and you have a recipe for a sneaky value play in Higgins. I like him as flex depth moving forward unless Baker caves.

DPJ is the guy to keep an eye on moving forward. He disappointed last week after a semi-breakout in week 7 against Cincy, but so did the entire browns offense. DPJ is the big body in this receiving corps, and he possesses interesting red zone upside moving forward. If he can get any volume, his small sample size hints that it could easily translate into big plays. Keep an eye on him moving forward, he may wind up being a highly coveted waiver guy with another strong showing, and let me reiterate that Cleveland has a tantalizing schedule for fantasy playoffs.

Raiders Receiving Corps

The Players: Henry Ruggs, Nelson Agholor, Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards, Zay Jones

Week 15/16 schedule: vs Chargers, vs Miami.

Ruggs is averaging 22 YPC on 10 catches. A small sample size, yes, but exactly the kind of big-play potential we expected. Health has hampered his development, and he has been inconsistent, but he has not had the pressure to carry the offensive load yet. He should have a solid grasp on the playbook and a bit more chemistry with Carr at this point in the season. While I like him as short-term depth, his matchup with Miami is not ideal. The Raiders are likely also be fighting for a playoff spot still, but you would hope for a better opponent in a perfect world.

Nelson Agholor has been a very pleasant surprise in 2020. Despite seeing suboptimal volume, he has scored 5 TDs to go along with 347 yards on 17 catches, averaging a fantastic 20.4 yards per catch, which leads the league among qualified WRs. Think Mike Williams circa 2018. Agholor is also posting a career-best 68% catch rate. Believe the hype, the Raiders have two big play WRs.

Renfrow is the kind of depth you like to have if you are set at starting WR. He will be good for a spot start, but he lacks the big play ability of his teammates along with the upside. He sees decent volume, but you won’t win many games if you are forced to start him on a weekly basis. What happened to Bryan Edwards? he showed promise early before injuries and lack of involvement relegated him to fantasy nothingness. Do not be surprised if he has a big game or two, but Agholor’s ascension has relegated him and Jones to the free agency bin until injuries force them out.

Yes, that was kinda long, but thank you for reading. Is there another Receiving Corps you think will look different come fantasy playoff time? Any WRs you expect to vastly over or underperform compared to where they are now? Comment away. You can find me on Twitter @realryanhicks, and you can follow @BellyUpFantasy for all your fantasy sports desires. Here is hoping your receiving corps dominates the rest of the way.