Chris Godwin was the industry sweetheart coming into the 2019 season. He was on approximately 99% of the industries undervalued/sleeper lists for his utilization in Bruce Arians “Big Slot” role. His draft day price rose to a 4/5th round regular by opening week. Normally, when that much value is sucked out of a rising draft stock it is arguably better to simply avoid for the price. Luckily, I remained neutral, because after 5 weeks it is evident that Chris Godwin is an elite wide receiver in this role. He is the current WR1 in both standard and PPR formats. He is top 12 in targets and 8th in Air Yards. As noted last week the vital component of this passing game for fantasy value is they push the ball downfield, increasing the value of a target, and compress the target share between two elite players. Godwin is an extremely talented player in terms of metrics and is in the perfect spot to continue to provide WR1 value for the rest of the season.
Risers
Tyreek Hill – This ranking is based on Hill’s expected return to the lineup in Week 6. Hill was the WR1 in standard and half point formats last season. We know he can win your matchup on his own every week, but with the Chiefs current offensive line situation he may have a higher floor this year than in 2018. Expect the Chiefs to start mixing in plays near the line of scrimmage to get the ball out of Patrick Mahomes hand quicker. Hill could be the primary beneficiary of any scheme change that allows him to touch the ball more.
Austin Ekeler – My ranking of Ekeler last week was based on the probability that the Chargers gave him less snaps. The Chargers stated prior to last week’s contest that they were going to slowly work Melvin Gordon into the lineup, but it sure didn’t seem that way as he received the games first 5 touches. It didn’t affect Ekeler’s overall workload at all. They simply moved him to a hybrid RB/WR and played him 65% of snaps. A rash of injuries have hampered the Chargers on both sides of the ball which is allowing Ekeler to maintain a similar average touch count as prior to Gordon’s return.
D.J. Chark – I had doubts that Chark could maintain productivity after only averaging 6.5 targets per game in the first 4 weeks. Then, Gardner Minshew decided to pepper him with 11 targets to propel him to a tie for the team lead. It is time to stop ignoring D.J. He is 6th in the NFL in air yards. He can rise up these rankings quickly.
Fallers
Davante Adams – This drop is solely based on injury. Immediately after Adams injured his toe in week 4 news broke that it was not significant. Then, after a 10-day layoff Adams was announced out in a big game against the Cowboys. This gives me the indication that it is more serious than the Packers originally led on. This is looking like a multi-week injury with the potential to linger for the entire season.
Joe Mixon – Mixon again only played 63% of snaps in week 5. He is behind a terrible offensive line. The team will constantly be trailing. He could beat the odds, but there isn’t much of a difference between he and Carlos Hyde right now to put some perspective on the situation. Touch count in weeks 2-6: Mixon – 70, Hyde – 67. Hyde is on a much better team.
Stefon Diggs – It looks like the Vikings have no interest in using their best offensive weapon. He has 23 targets on the season. That isn’t in the top 50 in football among WRs. He and Corey Davis are stuck in the same anti-success environment.
These rankings are without QBs and based on half PPR setting in a standard 1 QB/2 RB/2-3 WR/1 Flex league:
Rank | Name | Previous Rank |
1 | Christian McCaffrey | 1 |
2 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2 |
3 | Dalvin Cook | 4 |
4 | Alvin Kamara | 3 |
5 | Saquon Barkley | 36 |
6 | DeAndre Hopkins | 6 |
7 | Julio Jones | 7 |
8 | Le’Veon Bell | 5 |
9 | Michael Thomas | 18 |
10 | Chris Godwin | 17 |
11 | Keenan Allen | 8 |
12 | Tyreek Hill | 21 |
13 | Todd Gurley | 13 |
14 | Leonard Fournette | 15 |
15 | Nick Chubb | 11 |
16 | David Johnson | 10 |
17 | Mike Evans | 9 |
18 | Chris Carson | 16 |
19 | Odell Beckham Jr | 12 |
20 | James Conner | 25 |
21 | Cooper Kupp | 24 |
22 | Amari Cooper | 23 |
23 | Travis Kelce | 19 |
24 | Derrick Henry | 22 |
25 | Aaron Jones | 29 |
26 | Kerryon Johnson | 20 |
27 | Marlon Mack | 28 |
28 | Davante Adams | 14 |
29 | Josh Jacobs | 37 |
30 | Tyler Lockett | 26 |
31 | Melvin Gordon | 27 |
32 | George Kittle | 35 |
33 | Tyler Boyd | 38 |
34 | Robert Woods | 30 |
35 | Josh Gordon | 31 |
36 | Mark Ingram | 39 |
37 | Zach Ertz | 34 |
38 | Austin Ekeler | 53 |
39 | TY Hilton | 32 |
40 | Phillip Lindsay | 41 |
41 | Adam Thielen | 45 |
42 | Joe Mixon | 33 |
43 | Marquise Brown | 40 |
44 | Kenny Golladay | 44 |
45 | Allen Robinson | 54 |
46 | Sony Michel | 65 |
47 | Julian Edelman | 47 |
48 | Larry Fitzgerald | 52 |
49 | Jordan Howard | 56 |
50 | Matt Breida | 64 |
51 | Tevin Coleman | 66 |
52 | David Montgomery | 55 |
53 | Damien Williams | 69 |
54 | Devonta Freeman | 50 |
55 | D.J. Chark | NR |
56 | Juju Smith-Schuster | 51 |
57 | D.J. Moore | 60 |
58 | Darren Waller | 49 |
59 | Evan Engram | 42 |
60 | James White | 59 |
61 | Brandin Cooks | 46 |
62 | Alshon Jeffery | 61 |
63 | Sammy Watkins | 43 |
64 | Robby Anderson | 62 |
65 | Stefon Diggs | 48 |
66 | Carlos Hyde | 76 |
67 | LeSean McCoy | 58 |
68 | Will Fuller | NR |
69 | Michael Gallup | NR |
70 | Mark Andrews | 74 |
71 | Austin Hooper | NR |
72 | Courtland Sutton | NR |
73 | Calvin Ridley | 73 |
74 | John Brown | 63 |
75 | Royce Freeman | 75 |
76 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 68 |
77 | Terry McLaurin | 72 |
78 | Ronald Jones | 70 |
79 | Kenyan Drake | 78 |
80 | Emmanuel Sanders | NR |
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