WR Best-Ball Tiered Rankings and Analysis (May 2019)

May 22, 2019

Tiered rankings and analysis for wide receivers in best-ball leagues. Phil Clark breaks down the WR ranks for owners in best-ball, BB10 fantasy football leagues for 2019.

Many of you who possess unwavering enthusiasm for Best Ball leagues have already been involved in drafts for this highly popular format. This enticing process allows you to assemble your teams while simultaneously concluding all roster management for the season. Participating in Best Ball leagues can also provide you with an ongoing resource toward fine-tuning your personal draft preparations, which can be beneficial when making your selections in late-summer redraft leagues.

The ranking experts at RotoBaller will continue to assemble tiered rankings in all major formats. This is just part of our commitment to helping you prepare for upcoming drafts, and improve your chances of winning your leagues in 2019. This includes our updated Best Ball rankings, which are designed to help you accumulate the highest point totals throughout the season.

We are also supplying a detailed breakdown of these rankings at the most critical positions, including this analysis of wide receivers. These players maintain a distinct presence in our rankings, as 11 players are located among our top 25, while 20 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

Tier 1  

DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr.

Hopkins has become a mainstay atop our wide receiver rankings regardless of format after his accomplishments in 2018 included leading all receivers in offensive snaps (1,084/99%). He also remained entrenched as Deshaun Watson’s most essential weapon, as his 163 targets placed him among the top five for the third time in four seasons. Hopkins was also second in receiving yards (1,572), third in receptions (115), fourth in red zone targets (25), and touchdowns (11), and was also second in percentage share of his team’s air yards according to Next Gen Stats (44.04%).

Adams has annexed an unquestioned slot near the pinnacle of Tier 1 rankings after commandeering the WR1 spot in scoring for PPR leagues during Weeks 1-16 last season. He also retained a consistent presence among the leaders in every major category, by finishing first in red zone targets (31), second in targets (169) and touchdowns (13), fifth in receptions (111), and seventh in receiving yards (1,386) - all of which also established new career highs. While uncertainty exists below him on Green Bay's wide receiving depth chart, Adams' status as Aaron Rodgers' clear WR1 solidifies the appeal of selecting him in Round 1.

Once you progress beyond the initial disappointment of Beckham's absence from Weeks 14-17, it becomes plausible that he actually does not receive enough credit for what he has accomplished. He still finished as the only receiver to surpass 1,000 yards while playing in fewer than 14 games (12) and has averaged 1,294 yards during the four seasons that he has played in at least 12 contests. Beckham has accomplished it all amid the degenerative status of his quarterback, and he is now primed to thrive as the beneficiary of a significant upgrade under center.

Tier 2

Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, T.Y. Hilton 

Jones led the NFL with 1,677 yards while stockpiling 7,994 in his last five years combined, and finishing either first or second in this category for four consecutive seasons. He also paced the league with 170 targets, finished third in receptions (113), exceeded  100 yards in a career-high 10 matchups, and led the league in percentage share of team air yards according to Next Gen Stats (45.64). Jones also quieted concerns regarding his ability to generate touchdowns by accruing eight for the first time since 2015.

Thomas continues to expand his reception and yardage totals on an annual basis (92/104/125 receptions/1,137/1,245/1,405 yards) by continuing his gradual ascension in both categories. That propelled him to the league lead in receptions and helped him finish sixth in yardage. He was also targeted 147 times, generated nine touchdowns, and paced the NFL in catch rate according to Next Gen Stats (85.03%). He also led the NFL in red zone receptions (24), and his 12 catches inside the 10 were more than any other player. His WR3 finish in PPR leagues from Weeks 1-16 confirms his viability as a late Round 1 selection.

After finishing at WR23 in PPR league scoring during his 2017 rookie season, Smith-Schuster vaulted to WR8 while also finishing fourth in targets (166), and fifth in both receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,426). He also exceeded 100 yards in eight different matchups, which helped him construct an 89.1 yards-per-game average. He will need to prevail against additional coverage that had previously been reserved for Antonio Brown. However, last year's surge in production has merged with his impending responsibilities as Pittsburgh’s primary receiving weapon to supply massive incentive toward securing him during Round 2 of your drafts.

After leading the NFL with 15 touchdowns, averaging 11.2 targets-per-game, then emerging as a consistent source of controversy during the offseason, Brown’s initial season with Oakland will be one of the more intriguing storylines to monitor throughout the year. Comparisons of Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr have been frequent since Brown signed with the Raiders, and it will be difficult for him to replicate his 2018 touchdown total. But his unmistakable talent and the voluminous level of targets that he will commandeer should enable him to reach 100 receptions and 1,000 yards once again.

Evans remains a top 10 receiving option for owners after finishing sixth in standard league scoring, and third in yardage (1,524), yards-per-game average (95.3) and yards-per-reception (17.77). He has also surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his five seasons with the Buccaneers while averaging 1,221 per-year during that span. There is nothing about the arrival of Bruce Arians or the lingering shortcomings of a Tampa Bay ground game that ranked just 29^th last season (95.2 yards-per-game) which suggests any decrease in Evans’ importance to his team’s offense.

Hilton was the only wide receiver to finish within the top 14 in receiving yardage while performing in fewer than 15 games. His 1,270 yards placed him 10th, and Hilton has also registered at least 1,083 yards during five of his last six seasons. He also established new career bests in yards-per-game (90.7), yards-per-target (10.6) and catch rate percentage (63.3%) while pacing Indianapolis in targets (120), and receptions (76). Even though the Colts continue to bolster their arsenal of offensive weaponry, he is entrenched as Andrew Luck’s premier weapon.

Tier 3

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

After failing to achieve sustained health during his first four years as a Charger (26 missed games) Allen has managed to elude problematic injuries during the past two seasons. This has propelled him to averages of 147.5 targets, 99.5 receptions, and 1,294.5 yards during that span. Last season he finished ninth in receptions (97), narrowly missed 1,200 yards (1,196) and confiscated 136 targets. Allen should capture a sizable percentage of the 65 targets that will be redistributed after Tyrell Williams’ departure, and supplies a borderline WR1 option for owners late in Round 2 of their drafts.

If Green had been able to maintain the pace that he had established from Weeks 1-8 throughout the entire season, he would have finished eighth overall with 1,374 yards, 10^th with 90 receptions, and tied for fourth with 12 touchdowns. But former owners are abundantly aware that the promise of a productive season instantly evaporated due to a late October toe injury. A fully recovered Green can function as a high-end WR2. However, he will turn 31 in July and has now missed at least six games twice during the past three seasons.

Thielen accrued double-digit targets during each of Minnesota’s first eight contests and soared into the NFL lead with 96 targets and a 12 target-per-game average. That massive level of opportunity enabled him to secure the league lead in receiving yards (925), and receptions (74). But the script was altered considerably during Thielen’s next eight matchups, as he only reached 10 targets in two matchups, averaged 4.8 per game, and his 116 yards-per-game average plummeted to 56 from Weeks 9-17. His third round ADP requires a belief that the significant second-half drop-off was an aberration - which is not recommended.

Diggs became a top 10 scorer for the first time in his career, while also finishing seventh in targets (149), eighth in receptions (102), and tying for eighth with nine touchdowns. He also commandeered more targets than teammate Thielen during Minnesota’s final seven contests (64/50) and collected 10 targets per game from Weeks 7-17. Diggs also averaged 69 yards-per-game and generated six touchdowns during his last eight matchups.

Amazingly, Cooper will only turn 25 in June even though he has already manufactured 3,908 and captured 278 receptions during his career. That includes the 1,005 yards/75 receptions that he accumulated in 2018, of which 725 yards/53 receptions were generated during his nine games with the Cowboys. He averaged. 8.4 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 81 yards-per-game during that sequence, in addition to producing six of his seven touchdowns. Potential owners should be aware that 397 of his yards were generated in two contests, while Cooper's yards-per-game average plunged to 46.7 during his seven remaining matchups.

Cooks has seamlessly transitioned between three divergent offensive systems and a trio of separate signal callers to assemble 3,459 yards on 223 receptions during that span. He has also amassed 4,597 yards without missing a game since 2015. Cooks should continue to function as a top 15 receiver even with Woods and Kupp contending for targets.

Detroit's sixth-ranked passing attack in 2017 (261 yards-per-game) plummeted to a 20th ranked unit that manufactured 224 yards-per-game through the air last season. But Golladay still managed to flourish amid a seemingly unnecessary yet distinct free fall in proficiency due to a change in the team's offensive approach. He vaulted to WR19 in scoring, eclipsed 1,000 yards in 15 games, and performed on 90% of the Lions' offensive snaps.

After averaging 86 targets during his first five seasons, Woods’ opportunities expanded significantly in 2018 (130), which also propelled him to career bests in receptions (86), yardage (1,219) and yards-per-game (76.2). That placed him 13th or better in each category, while he also finished second among all receivers in offensive snaps (1,041/95%). Kupp’s return will impact Woods’ target total, although it should also deflect the attention of defenders away from Woods.

It is unfortunate that Kupp owners were unable to benefit from a full season of his output and extensive targeting that had been constructed from Weeks 1-5, which included the NFL’s third most red zone targets (11), and averages of eight targets, six receptions, and 88 yards-per-game. He still managed to tie teammate Woods for a team-best six touchdowns despite failing to play one snap beyond early November. A full recovery from ACL surgery would vault him into consideration among your early fourth round options.

Any remaining conviction that Robinson will remotely approach his stellar production of 2015 (1,400 yards/ 14 touchdowns) is dwindling with every passing season. His 2018 numbers (94 targets/55 receptions/754 yards/4 touchdowns) left him at WR41 in scoring which was also sufficient for him to function as Chicago’s WR1. But the results do not compare favorably with the WR4 season that he delivered at the pinnacle of his career. The large collection of potential options for Mitchell Trubisky will make it challenging for Robinson to exceed last year’s team target share. 

As Baldwin was confronted by multiple health issues in 2018, Lockett ascended into a level of productivity that easily surpassed his previous bests (57 receptions/965 yards/60.3 yards- per-game/13.8 yards-per-target). He also tied for fifth overall with 10 touchdowns, although that will be difficult to replicate. But even with the addition of D.K. Metcalf and Seattle's ongoing commitment to the run, Lockett remains a viable target in the Best Ball format.   

Tier 4

Chris Godwin, Alshon Jeffery, Julian Edelman, D.J. Moore, Tyler Boyd, Sammy Watkins, Jarvis Landry,  

Godwin generated 842 yards and seven touchdowns last season, while also tying for third among all receivers with 11 targets inside the 10. But his Round 4 ADP is a byproduct of an impending opportunity to garner a considerable percentage of 179 targets that former teammates DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries received in 2018.

Immediately after Jeffery returned from a shoulder issue in Week 4, he averaged nearly 10 targets per game (9.75) and collected nine red zone targets in his first four games. He also averaged 96 yards-per-game and scored four times. But he could not sustain those results during his final nine contests (5.9 targets-per-game/59.6 yards-per-game/2 touchdowns). His opportunities will remain impacted by the monstrous target volume that Zach Ertz commands (9.75 per-game).

Edelman’s captured 10+ targets in six of his 12 games following a PED suspension, which propelled him to a 9.2 per-game average. His 6.2 reception-per-game average placed him 10^th among all receivers, and he appears destined to join newcomer N'Keal Harry in comprising the Patriots’ top two receiving options.

Moore steadily developed into Carolina’s WR1 last season, while averaging 4.2 reception and 59.7 yards-per-game from Weeks 8-17. He also led all rookies with 960 yards from scrimmage, and 7.9 yards-after-catch-per-reception according to Next Gen Stats.

Boyd entered 2018 with seasonal averages of 56.5 targets, 38 receptions, 414 yards, and 30.1 yards-per-game before igniting during his third season 108 targets/76 receptions/1,028 yards, and scoring seven times. His numbers would have soared even further if not for the sprained knee that sidelined him in Weeks 16/17. He is still just 24 and should benefit from Zac Taylor’s arrival.

Watkins has not performed in all 16 games since 2014, and the frequent failure to preserve his health throughout an entire season remains problematic. However, his reliability issues do not damage your roster’s championship potential as extensively in the Best Ball format.

Landry’s descent from being second in the NFL with 94 targets and a whopping 11.8 per game average after Week 8 to just 6.9 per game from Weeks 9-17 remains concerning. The addition of Beckham and the promotion of Freddie Kitchens are unfavorable developments for his prospects of retaining a consistent target total that would consistently benefit owners.

Tier 5

Robby Anderson, Calvin Ridley, Dante Pettis, Mike Williams, Will Fuller, Corey Davis, Marvin Jones 

Anderson averaged 8.6 targets per game from Weeks 7-16, and only five receivers exceeded the 9.75 per-game average that he attained in Weeks 14-17. He also averaged 90 yards-per-game and scored three times from Weeks 13-16. Now, he should build upon all of his late-season momentum with an improving Sam Darnold.

Ridley assembled the highest receiving numbers from last year’s rookie class (64 receptions/821 yards/10 touchdowns) which helped him finish among the top 20 in fantasy points (WR18). Matching those 10 scores will be difficult, but he could improve upon his 2018 output in the other major categories.

Just before an MCL injury instantly concluded Pettis’ season in Week 16, he had delivered the most impressive output of his rookie campaign during Weeks 12-15 (84.5 yards-per-game/4.3 receptions per-game/68% catch rate/4 touchdowns). He should capture the 49ers’ WR1 role ahead of Deebo Samuel and Marquise Goodwin.

Williams rebounded substantially from his disappointing 2017 rookie season to tie for fifth in touchdowns (10) and seventh with nine targets inside the 10. The departure of Tyrell Williams creates a mammoth opportunity to improve his numbers in multiple categories.

Fuller has manufactured encouraging yardage totals and 13 touchdowns in just 31 career games. But that has been interspersed with an alarming number of missed games that has actually increased during each of his three seasons (2/6/9).

Only Seattle attempted fewer passes than Tennessee last season, and concerns about the restraints that Marcus Mariota’s shortcomings will place on Davis’ production have been magnified by the additions of Humphries and A.J. Brown.

Jones was averaging 6.9 targets-per-game, had accrued 11 red zone targets, and had performed on 93% of Detroit's offensive snaps before a knee issue ended his season in November. He status as a starter is unchanged although frequent aerial assaults are not the primary objective in the Lions' offensive philosophy.

Tier 6

Golden Tate, Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, Tyreek Hill, Sterling Shepard, N'Keal Harry

When the 2018 regular season reached its conclusion, Hill appeared to have surged into unequivocal WR1 status. But now the word uncertainty does not fully define how unpredictable his future truly is. He could be cut, suspended for a short period, or disciplined for an extensive amount of time. His ranking and value will be altered once clarity is achieved with what is currently a complicated situation. Otherwise, the receivers in this tier have the potential to ascend beyond this level, although their outlooks are dependent upon their ability to secure a larger percentage of touches. 

Tier 7 and lower

Tiers 7-10 contain receivers that are located from WR41 to WR89 in our rankings, although various factors could emerge that would create an increase in their value.

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