Fantasy Nuggets

Based on last season’s data, here are a few other receivers currently not on many radar screens I will be monitoring. Chaz Schillens only played in eight games last season, but was leaps and bounds better than any other receiver on the roster. If he remains healthy he has the tools to become a top-30 option with Jason Campbell under center. Jacksonville’s Mike Thomas caught 76-percent of passes thrown his way last season, and looks set to start alongside Mike Sims-Walker and should see around 100 targets. Jason Avant plays behind two very small players, and is an injury away from seeing substantial work. He caught over 70-percent of the balls thrown his direction last season and has improved every season in the league. With opportunity he can flourish.


With the departure of Brandon Marshall jersey, Denver’s options in the passing game could be about as big a mystery as figuring out why Africans love the sound that comes from a vu vu zela. Come draft time most will look to go with the sexy rookie selection of Demaryius Thomas or second year dud Eddie Royal as the first Bronco receiver off the board. In deep leagues however, I plan on passing on both and waiting on Jabar Gaffney (currently a 16th rounder according to MockDraftCentral.com) to fall to me. He outperformed Royal in every facet of the game last season, but is still 85 spots lower according to ADP data.


Steve Smith of the G-men was PPR gold last season, hauling in 67-percent of the 159 Eli Manning passes thrown in his direction. Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are set to battle in camp for who starts beside Smith, but you shouldn’t worry about his status in the passing game, as he will once again lead the team in targets and likely haul in 85+ passes this season.
Last season, Marques Colston was a solid big-play option, scoring nine touchdowns while hauling in 66-percent of the passes Drew Brees football jerseythrew his way. Only teammate Robert Meachem (who hopefully supplants Devery Henderson this year) and Reggie Wayne were able to top those numbers. The thing that sticks out about Colston though is through his four year career he has actually caught 69-percent of the 412 passes thrown to him. Since Brees spreads the ball so well, Colston loses a little value in PPR leagues, but those of you who play in standard formats should definitely grab this guy in the late second/early third round with a smile. 


If you don’t think new Wes Welker jersey is the most important piece in New England’s offense, you could seriously be delusional. He not only ranked tops among targets per game last season, but he also managed to haul in nearly 76-percent of the passes Tom Brady intended for him. Now if that isn’t one finely oiled machine I don’t know what is. If Welker didn’t mess up his knee, one could make a valid case for him being the second receiver taken in PPR leagues just behind Houston’s Andre Johnson. Due to the nature of his injury, he is probably the most difficult projection to make this season. If he bounces back to even 80-percent of what we are used to, he still catches 100 balls, so keep your eyes firmly glued on him all summer.
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