Fantasy: Reviewing the WR landscape post draft

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

It's important to remember these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete wide receiver rankings here.

2018 Fantasy Primers

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends

Superhero status

Antonio Brown, Steelers - When you've averaged 1,570 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns per season over the last five years, you are firmly entrenched as the best pass-catcher in the game.

DeAndre Hopkins, Texans - After years of dealing with poor quarterback play, we finally saw what Hopkins could do with a talented passer, and the results were a career-high 13 touchdowns. Imagine what he'll do if Deshaun Watson plays a full season.

Title contenders

Odell Beckham Jr., Giants - An ankle injury forced Beckham to the sidelines for most of the 2017 campaign, robbing the fantasy world of one of its brightest stars. A healthy Beckham will return to a more potent Giants offense, with rookie running back Saquon Barkley helping to bring balance.

Julio Jones, Falcons - A lack of touchdowns hurt Julio's fantasy numbers last season as he posted just three - his lowest total since 2013. A bounce-back year from Matt Ryan could go a long way in helping Jones correct that problem.

Almost elite

Michael Thomas, Saints - Few players have started their careers with 2,382 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns over their first two campaigns. That type of production will continue as long as Drew Brees is under center.

Mike Evans, Buccaneers - The addition of other talented weapons resulted in a down year for Evans in 2017 - a legitimate concern for his fantasy ceiling moving forward.

Davante Adams, Packers - Adams proved himself as the Packers' No. 1 receiver when he continued to produce even without Aaron Rodgers. Touchdowns can be hard to predict, but a third straight season with double-digit scores seems likely.

A.J. Green, Bengals - Issues on the offensive line caused the Bengals' entire offense to crater last season. Green survived with only a minor downgrade to his fantasy stats, but he desperately needs Cincy's other playmakers to step up and take some of the defensive attention away from him.

Keenan Allen, Chargers - After dealing with some unlucky injuries the last few years, Allen reminded everyone of his place in the fantasy landscape with a 102-catch, 1,393-yard, six-touchdown campaign.

Reasons for optimism

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks - With Jimmy Graham and Paul Richardson gone, Baldwin will have a chance to soak up targets, especially in the red zone. Don't fear the addition of Brandon Marshall; his days as an impact fantasy receiver are long gone.

Adam Thielen/Stefon Diggs, Vikings - Thielen and Diggs were outstanding last season with Case Keenum at the helm. Now they get a significant upgrade with Kirk Cousins coming to town.

T.Y. Hilton, Colts - If Andrew Luck returns to his pre-injury form, Hilton's fantasy stock will see a dramatic increase. Hilton is just one season removed from leading the league in receiving yards.

Demaryius Thomas/Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos - Both Denver receivers failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 2017 as they struggled with frustrating play from their quarterbacks. Keenum's arrival is great news for their fantasy prospects, although the team's decision to draft Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton could put their long-term futures in doubt.

Chris Hogan, Patriots - Hogan will be the biggest beneficiary of Brandin Cooks' departure and Julian Edelman's suspension. Hogan was a top-10 fantasy receiver through eight games before missing almost all of the second half of the season with a shoulder injury. With an increase in targets, a healthy Hogan has a chance to be a top-20 option in 2018.

Marqise Lee, Jaguars - The Jaguars' offense is built around their rushing attack, limiting the fantasy potential of Jacksonville's pass-catchers. Lee projects as their new top receiver and has proven capable of delivering when given an increase in targets.

Kelvin Benjamin, Bills - There isn't much to like about the Bills' passing game, but Benjamin enters the year unchallenged atop the team's depth chart. His ADP is so low that he's worth a look in middle-to-late rounds.

Change of scenery

Allen Robinson, Bears - This is a great landing spot for Robinson, who is two years removed from his 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season with the Jags. In Chicago, Robinson gets to play for a top offensive mind in Matt Nagy, while attaching himself to promising young quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

Brandin Cooks, Rams - Cooks fills the hole left by field-stretcher Sammy Watkins and gives Los Angeles a more proven option. The newly-minted Ram has tallied three straight 1,000-yard seasons with at least seven touchdowns in each of those campaigns. Expect Sean McVay to find ways to get the ball in the hands of his new toy.

Jarvis Landry, Browns - The move to Cleveland is exciting for Landry, but could be a problem for fantasy owners who are used to the massive target share he saw in Miami.

Michael Crabtree/John Brown, Ravens - It didn't take long for Crabtree to find a home after the Raiders released him. The 30-year-old still has plenty left in the tank, especially as a red-zone threat. Brown's talent is undeniable, but he'll need to show he can stay on the field before fantasy owners can trust him again.

Sammy Watkins, Chiefs - Watkins' impact on the Rams' offense wasn't always felt on the scoresheet, as he stretched the field and kept defenders honest. It remains to be seen how Andy Reid plans to deploy him, but Patrick Mahomes won't be scared to look for him deep.

Allen Hurns, Cowboys - If Hurns ends up being the Cowboys' defacto No. 1 receiver, he could turn into a sneaky fantasy option.

Jordy Nelson/Martavis Bryant, Raiders - Nelson, who will be 33 when the season kicks off, looks like his best days are well behind him. So much of his fantasy value was derived from his connection with Rodgers, so joining a new club is worrisome. Meanwhile, Bryant is an outstanding talent capable of a breakout season if he can put it all together and avoid another suspension.

Cameron Meredith, Saints - Assuming his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL remains on track, Meredith could be in for a career year as the Saints' second receiver. Meredith will help New Orleans overcome its lack of a game-breaking tight end.

Paul Richardson, Redskins - Taking a flyer on Richardson isn't a bad idea in an offense with unproven options like Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder, as well as a new quarterback who doesn't have ties to any of his new pass-catchers.

Donte Moncrief, Jaguars - Aside from his touchdown-scoring talents, it's tough to get excited about Moncrief in the Jags' run-first offense.

Mike Wallace, Eagles - Wallace can still be an effective downfield receiver and should definitely be on fantasy radars in deeper leagues.

Jordan Matthews, Patriots - After a lost year in Buffalo, Matthews joined the Patriots where he should emerge as their third receiver. A rebound season isn't out of the question with Tom Brady throwing him the ball. Edelman's suspension could help him carve out a role in the first month.

Albert Wilson/Danny Amendola, Dolphins - Wilson has the inside track to take over Landry's job in the slot, however, Amendola will do just enough to make both players unusable.

Torrey Smith, Panthers - Smith's best talent seems to be drawing pass interference calls. He's a quality addition for the Panthers, but not a fantasy option.

Brandon Marshall, Seahawks - It's been several years since we've seen Marshall make a meaningful contribution to fantasy teams. His best attribute at this point is his run blocking, but his arrival will stifle the lottery-ticket upside of Amara Darboh and Jaron Brown.

The future is now

Corey Davis, Titans - His numbers didn't back it up, but Davis looked like a stud receiver while battling hamstring injuries throughout the year. With a new coaching staff and a full NFL offseason to prepare, a breakout year is coming from last year's fifth overall pick.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers - JuJu is a star in the making and will see an uptick in targets with Martavis Bryant traded to Oakland. Rookie James Washington is worth monitoring as a potential Bryant replacement.

Will Fuller, Texans - Fuller scored seven touchdowns in his four games with Watson at quarterback, numbers that are impossible to maintain. The 24-year-old is still an intriguing fantasy asset in the new Watson-fueled Texans offense.

PPR stars

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals - At an age when most players begin to decline, Fitzgerald has transitioned his game to ensure continued success. Fitzgerald was the WR4 in PPR leagues last season as a 34-year-old.

Golden Tate, Lions - With 90-plus catches in each of his four seasons in Detroit, Tate is a steady WR2 in PPR.

Pierre Garcon, 49ers - Garcon was on pace for an 80-catch, 1,000-yard season before an injury knocked him out of the second half of the year. That was before Jimmy Garoppolo suited up for the 49ers.

Julian Edelman, Patriots - After missing the entire year with a torn ACL, Edelman will be sidelined for another four games as he serves a PED suspension. The last time we saw him, he posted 98 catches and 1,106 yards during the 2016 season.

Show us again

Josh Gordon, Browns - Seeing Gordon get his life back on track and return to an NFL field was a great story in 2017. Fantasy owners waiting for him to repeat his outrageous 2013 stat line are fooling themselves, though. He's still a fantasy starter, just more in the WR2 range.

Devin Funchess, Panthers - Funchess broke out last year, but that occurred prior to the arrival of D.J. Moore and Torrey Smith, and with Greg Olsen sidelined for most of the season. Things are getting a little crowded in Carolina.

Robert Woods, Rams - With Cooks joining the Rams, Woods will have a much harder time replicating his solid first season in Los Angeles.

Nelson Agholor, Eagles - Maybe Agholor isn't a bust after all. Two quiet seasons had him trending into bust territory, then Doug Pederson found a way to maximize his skill set, leading to 768 yards and eight scores.

Cooper Kupp, Rams - Kupp led the Rams in receiving yards as a rookie, but he'll have even more competition for targets in his sophomore season.

Robby Anderson, Jets - Anderson might be the best receiver in the AFC East if he can avoid having his off-field issues impact his career. Quincy Enunwa, Jermaine Kearse, and Terrelle Pryor will be next in line if Anderson receives a suspension.

Marquise Goodwin, 49ers - After Garcon went down, Goodwin had a prolific stretch from Week 9 to Week 15 where he was the WR16 in fantasy. Garcon's return will bring Goodwin back down to earth.

Oddly underrated

Tyreek Hill, Chiefs - Mahomes is an unknown value at this point. If he can help take the Chiefs' offense to the next level, Hill's already lofty numbers will surely climb.

Alshon Jeffery, Eagles - Touchdowns are the biggest difference-makers in fantasy matchups, and in the Eagles' offense, Jeffery is a scoring machine.

Amari Cooper, Raiders - Cooper was arguably the biggest letdown in all of fantasy last season, a shocking statement for a player who seemed destined for greatness after his first two NFL campaigns. Jon Gruden wants to build the passing attack around Cooper, which will hopefully reignite his fire.

Marvin Jones, Lions - Jones has 2,031 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first two seasons in Detroit. Kenny Golladay could impact Jones' ceiling, but he's an excellent value at his current seventh-round ADP.

Rishard Matthews, Titans - If Davis doesn't break out as a sophomore, Matthews will be there to pick up the pieces.

Randall Cobb, Packers - With Nelson gone, Cobb will see an uptick in targets, as will third receiver Geronimo Allison.

Is this the year?

Josh Doctson, Redskins - Doctson has the talent to be a true No. 1 receiver in Washington. He flashed it at times last season, now the coaching staff needs to put him in a position to make it a reality.

DeVante Parker, Dolphins - Even with Landry out of the picture, it's safe to wonder if Parker will ever make good on his physical gifts. Stills is the Dolphins receiver I'd rather own in 2018.

Sterling Shepard, Giants - Shepard is a skilled young wideout, but will need injuries in his offense to open up enough targets for him to shine as a consistent fantasy weapon.

Jamison Crowder, Redskins - Crowder appeared to be an ascending PPR star before Chris Thompson's role grew in the offense. Unless Alex Smith locks on to Crowder as his favorite receiver in Washington, it's unlikely he will become the player we'd hoped.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers - Godwin came on strong down the stretch as a rookie. His path to fantasy production will be held back by the number of mouths that need to be fed in Tampa's passing attack.

Dede Westbrook, Jaguars - The Jaguars need to find ways to get the ball in Westbrook's hands. If they do, fantasy owners will be fighting for his services.

Mike Williams, Chargers - Last year's seventh overall pick contributed very little due to a lingering back issue. He's healthy now, but will still have to compete with teammate Tyrell Williams for significant touches.

New arrivals

D.J. Moore, Panthers - Out of all this year's rookie wideouts, Moore has the best chance at a breakout season. The Panthers have been searching for a playmaking receiver since Steve Smith left, and Smith himself called Moore his "spirit animal."

Calvin Ridley, Falcons - The Falcons are a problematic landing spot for Ridley, who finds himself behind Julio Jones in an offense that managed just 21 receiving touchdowns in 2017. One of those touchdowns was thrown by Mohamed Sanu, the man Ridley will need to pull targets away from if he's going to make an impact in Year 1.

Michael Gallup, Cowboys - With no clear-cut top target in Dallas, the third-rounder has a chance to take over immediately. Unless you feel more comfortable betting on Hurns, Terrance Williams, or Cole Beasley to pick up the slack.

Anthony Miller, Bears - With the Bears' offense in position to take a leap forward in Trubisky's second year, Miller could quickly emerge as the second option behind Robinson.

World-class speedsters

Kenny Stills, Dolphins - With Landry now in Cleveland, Stills has a legitimate chance to be the Dolphins' leading receiver. He's currently a steal in fantasy drafts.

DeSean Jackson, Buccaneers - D-Jax had a forgettable debut season in Tampa Bay, but is hoping some offseason work with Jameis Winston will help the pair improve their chemistry.

Ted Ginn, Saints - Ginn admitted last year that his decision to sign with the Saints was, in part, due to hope that Brees would help extend his career. After one season in New Orleans, it seems Ginn made a smart move. Due to his inconsistency, the wideout is a more intriguing pick in best-ball leagues.

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks - Lockett has been hyped as a breakout candidate before, but 2018 will be his final chance to make good on those predictions.

John Ross, Bengals - The former top-10 pick will try to avoid becoming the next Laquon Treadwell.

Long shots

Keelan Cole, Jaguars - Cole won a lot of owners over after racking up 393 yards and two touchdowns during the fantasy playoffs last season. The Jags WR depth chart is crowded, but it's also wide open for anyone to rise to the top.

Willie Snead, Ravens - Baltimore completely revamped its receiving corps, giving Snead an opportunity to revive his career after an incredibly disappointing 2017 season.

J.J. Nelson, Cardinals - The Cardinals' offense will revolve around Fitzgerald and David Johnson, but Nelson has flashed at times in the past. Brice Butler and Christian Kirk are even deeper options worth monitoring.

Ryan Grant, Colts - The Colts' offense will go as far as Luck's arm will take them. If Luck makes a full recovery, guys like Grant and Chester Rogers will have a chance to be fantasy factors.

Taywan Taylor, Titans - The Titans decided against adding another receiver in the draft, leaving Taylor locked in as their slot man.

Looking for work

Dez Bryant, free agent - Dez is no longer one of the NFL's elite pass-catchers, but he should be a top-36 fantasy receiver depending on his landing spot.

Jeremy Maclin, free agent - It's been two years since Maclin was fantasy relevant and the odds of him reversing that trend are fading.

Eric Decker, free agent - The 31-year-old can be a useful possession receiver for a team in need, but his days as a consistent fantasy starter are over.

2018 Fantasy Primers

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends